We're going to the zoo!

Wednesday saw Louise and I going out for a day in London, we chose London Zoo. We managed to get a great deal with our train tickets and entrance fee.

It's years since I've been to London's zoo and the changes were plentiful. We really had a fun day checking out all kinds of animals from lions to monkeys.

Louise was really frilled at a show the zoo put on where they bring the animals out and tell people all about them.

One of the highlights for me was the reptile house (not Louise's most enjoyable part!!), the snakes and lizards were great. The plan had been to go to a gallery after the zoo but we were having such fun that we decided to stay in the zoo all day.

I'm dreaming of a white Easter!!

Easter Monday was fun, it started with a morning full of snow. I told people that it was some of the first ice I've seen in two years!


The snow was fun but not the highlight. Easter Monday for us was to be Easter/Christmas day! Having missed Christmas with everyone here in the UK we decided our celebrations would cover both.

Mum laid on such a great spread even with Christmas pudding!

It was a bit of a full house but we all fitted in and had a lot of fun playing different board games and just gerenrally having a laugh.

More from Devon

Exmoor is great but for me Dartmoor wins hands down. Dad and Pat took us for a lovely drive all over Dartmoor in Devon. A place that can be rather bleak at times but on this day the weather was great.

We stopped off at a place called Princetown which has the famous "Dartmoor Prison" (the prison seen in the story, "The Hound of the Baskervilles"). There we had a cup of tea and a Devon scone with clotted cream (yummy!!).

Maundy Thursday was great, being that we were staying in Exeter we decided to go to the Cathedral for the evening service. It's my first time going to such a service in such a grand setting. We both found the service very special with a senior male and junior male choir singing, the contrast in there singing was amazing.

Exmoor

Part of our time in Devon saw the four of us going to North Devon and Exmoor. It's there where Louise and I had our honeymoon. We stopped of at Simonsbath for coffee and took some pictures of the cottage we had stayed in. Exmoor looked great, a bit different from what it looked like on our honeymoon, there was snow then!

We had lunch in Barnstable, Louise and I had spent quite a bit of time there (it was more exciting on our honeymoon).

I've always said that if I was ever to live in the UK again it would be in Devon; my love for Devon was fed again. Our travels with dad and Pat were great fun, thanks for doing all the driving dad.

More photo's

To see more photo's from my trip to the UK check out my photo blog at:
http://mlk30.blogspot.com/

On the road!

Louise didn't really have much chance to settle before we set of on another journey down to Devon to see my dad and Pat. We travelled down my coach in the pouring rain (I'm glade I wasn't driving). We arrived at Devon and was met by dad. I was expecting him to have changed in the way he looks (shrunk) but he hasn't which I'm pleased about. Seeing him waiting for us filled me with emotion, it's been a long time.

Back at dad's place we met up with Pat who is looking very well but sadly having trouble with a bad leg. We all spent the evening catching up, it was great.

Sunday we all went of to a pub/restraunt called "Carriages" and had a lovely carvery. Wow, we eat well there.

Louise has arrived

Louise sadly was unable to come over to the UK for the full four weeks that I've been here but joined me later.

I stayed the night just outside Heathrow with Jack and Susan. They have a beautiful new home in Feltham. It was great to spend time with them and see how they've been creating both a lovely home and garden.

We set of early to meet Louise at the airport (sadly Louise was also delayed, but not for to long). Seeing Louise come through the arrivals gate was amazing, I can't believe how much I had missed her.

A day out in London

London is such a vast place with so much to do. Mum and I decided to visit first the Victoria & Albert Museum. This museum has a massive range of exhibits from paintings and photography to statues and colossal columns. We had a great time looking around the place.

The V&A isn't far from Harrods, so we popped in their and had a look around, nice stuff if you happen to have a bulging wallet!

Being that I'm now a tourist in London we had to visit the sights! Off we went to Tower Bridge and the Tower of London followed by Parliament Square, Downing Street and Trafalgar Square.

It's hard work being a tourist! London's sites seem to have more of an appeal to me now that they aren't so readily available to me, strange that.

I have to thank my mum for coping with all the walking, she was a little warn out by the time we finished.

God bless ya mum!

Good old UK weather!!

Actually, the weather yesterday was some of the worst seen for some time so the news reports say.

Trees were downed, there was a lot of localised flooding, all in all it was a pretty nasty day. Most of the weather seemed to hit South Wales, Devon and Cornwall but the winds and rain spread pretty much everywhere.

The weather didn't stop us brave, (that's one word for it!) explorers though, we still got out and visited Croydon.

My time here in the UK has been really great, Sunday I visited my old Church (St Peters). Being there was great, St Peters is the place where God poured out His grace on me and saved me. I was invited to talk at a lunch that my Mum helps to organise. The lunch is for some of the older folk in the Church, some who were around when I was first saved. I talked about my life in South Africa and how God has blessed Louise and I. Sharing with them all was very special, in doing so I was able to remind myself of how great our God is and show how God has been at work in my life.

It's Tuesday today and I've spoken to Louise via Skype; man I'm missing her so much. It's the longest we've ever been apart in our married life together. As I said earlier, being in the UK has been great but I've not been able to enjoy it to the fullest because part of me isn't here yet. Louise arrives on Friday and I can't wait to see her.

So, that's about it for now.

God bless you all.

(Photo's from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7287722.stm)

Starbucks!

Well Don, I went to starbucks just for you!

I've found that my time has been pretty full since I've been here which has been great. Mum and I have spent a good amount of time just being together, it was nice to simply walk around the shops with her (prices here seem to have dropped on a lot of things).

I've spent time with both Steve and Jason. Steve and I met up and checked out a new display of Wimbledon Football Club memorabilia. It was a fun day (even getting on the wrong bus eh Steve!).

Jason was great and ended up being my driver for a day. We drove around my old stomping ground looking at the changes the biggest being my old home, looks like new things are happening there.

Today I'm hoping to spend a bit of time with Trev and then tonight I'm going out for a meal with a number of my mum's friends, some who I've known pretty much all my life, it should be another great day.

That's about it for now.

God bless you all.

Trip to Kew

Wow, its great to catch up with people eh?

Sunday I went to Mordern Baptist Church with Jason and his great kids. It felt like I hadn't seen him for a couple of days rather then a couple of years. Jason is doing well and the kids look great, big but great (they've grown so much). Our visit to MBC was very exciting, though I went to the wrong service really, most of my friends went to the earlier service but we will all get together soon.

Monday I went to Kew Gardens with mum. It was a bit cold and much of the trees haven't given their spring display yet but it was a great day. We went into some of the different houses to see some of the more exotic shrubs and things. It felt strange seeing various plants that we have in our garden at home on display. It was a great day with Kew giving us both much too enjoy.

I've also been able to spend a good amount of time with my brother and His wife. They've had me stay over in their beautiful new home, Trev's been showing me what a great cook he is (show off). Trev and I went out for a nice long drive on his day off through much of Surrey, Sussex and Kent. We stopped of in Dorking for coffee which was really nice. Seeing some of the areas where I would often have walked reminded me of days past (I have to say that I miss the English countryside a lot). Trev has also been the one who has made sure that I've had a good supply of curry (Trev, you are the best) Wow, it's so nice to have a proper "ruby" again!

Today I'm meeting up with Steve in Sutton, a day that should be filled with us doing a lot of catching up, I can't wait.

 

That's all for now folks.

Marching Army!

So, Saturday I got to see AFC Wimbledon play Hastings. We won the game 4-0 (Go Wombles). It was great to be back watching my team, it's sure been a long time considering how often I used to go. The ground has changed a bit with a new stand for the home fans, it sounds great when the fans are singing.

Not only was it the first day that I got to see AFC, I also met up with my old mate Steve. We've been going to footy together for years. Man it was good to see him; all seemed just like old times.

With a 4-0 win for the Don's we are now in second place and hoping for promotion. The team I saw should be able to do it. I have to say that I didn't really recognise to many of the players, the team seems to change often.

This is Haydon our team mascot!

DON'S GO MARCHING ON!

My travel to the UK!

I'm here, and loving it.

The journey was an experience. Everything started great with Louise's folks kindly taking me to the airport and seeing me off (thanks again guy's). I left Port Elizabeth and arrived in Jo'burg.

The walk to international departures takes you all over the place, including out into one of the many car parks. But all was well I made it to international departures and started my wait for my plane.

Things started to go a bit wrong from their. First the departure gate was changed then a delay was announced. One hour, not so bad I felt till one hour became four hours. There were a number of very angry travels I must say. For me, staying calm about it was the way to handle it, being frustrated wasn't getting anyone anywhere. My only real fear was that we would end up being put in a hotel for the night. SAA found us a plane and a great crew and finally we set off. I only managed a rather broken night’s sleep but even that is better then what is normal for me.

Arrival in the UK took a while due to their being no place for the plane to taxi too. I was concerned because I knew I had family waiting for me. We did depart from the plane and my luggage made it all the way from PE (thanks luggage guys).

How does the saying go? “We fly by faith, not by sight”!

All the problems were worth it for that moment when I saw my mum, Jack and Susan. We hugged and the joy was amazing.

So I'm here, safe and sound. I've much to look forward too of which I will try to record on my blog (not least, the arrival of my wife).

God bless you all.

Photo update

Hi guy's,

I just wanted to let you know that I've updated my photo blog with some new pictures.

Check it out by clicking the link below:

http://mlk30.blogspot.com/

February in J'bay!

Man, it’s been hot!

I've heard all about how hot February can be here in SA but this is my first real encounter (last year it was wet for half the month).

I still love the hot weather but now I can actually understand why the locals are always so thankful for cool wet days, when they come now even I feel the relief they bring. So with this in mind, my trip to the UK and cooler weather might actually be quite refreshing in more ways then one.

I can't believe that in a week I will be in there.

I was actually talking the other day with Louise and thinking about how different I feel about life here in Jeffrey’s. If Louise and I had gone to the UK at Christmas, I'm not sure that I would have wanted to come back. Now things seem to be changing, theirs an expectation in Church which I'm buying into that has me very excited. Strange, but I almost feel like I'm going to miss something while I'm away. So now I'm set and ready to experience the UK in a way I've never done before. It’s not my home now, I love family and friends there but SA is home now. Will my trip confirm that fact or what?

The front of our home is having something of a face lift! We are putting up a wall. We decided to use a local company to do it, they have a team of guys who have been doing all the grafting (rather them then me in this heat!!) I’ll put some photos on my photo blog when it’s all done (http://mlk30.blogspot.com/).

God Bless Ya!

UK..... am I really going?

I've been booking travel tickets for my trip to the UK. Louise and I are going to my dads for a week; I managed to get a coach ticket for £1, that's pretty cool eh? The plan is for Louise to come back via Bath Spa where she is getting together with her good friend Desi. I’m well pleased that they will be able to touch base.

So what’s it going to be like going back to the UK after nearly two years?

Will there be loads of changes? Will I seem different to friends and family? Will they seem different to me?

I was saying to Louise the other day that I can’t actually believe that we are going to be walking around in London together. I know it sounds silly but doing so is going to blow my mind some what, I’ve kind of gotten use to life in the Bay and the streets of London are very very different. I’m going to feel like a tourist in my own country, that’s weird man!

Trev just sent me a picture of a curry and a nice cold pint of Caffreys, wow, I’m really looking forward to sharing both with you Trev, I hope your buying!!

God bless you all.

Away hey!

Thankfully I've been able to renew my visa. So I'm here in SA for at least another couple of years, what a relief to have all the application stuff behind me.

Things seem to just get better for Louise and I at the moment, her passport is here and within hours of picking it up we had booked our flight tickets for the UK. I'm looking at a month their with Louise joining me for the last two weeks. We're going to have something of a full program with a visit to my dad's among other things. Wow man, I can't wait to catch up with everyone.

Life here in the bay has been nice, the weather has been cooking, hitting February means hot hot hot, not something an Englishmen is really used too eh? Our Associate Pastor is here and settling in nicely in Church, its great to have someone who has a real passion to reach young adults, a group our Church is really short off. I'm very much looking forward to working with him.

Recently Louise and I had a nice proper date night, its been sometime since we've really done so; we went to a restaurant called "Three fat fish", a nice restaurant with an outside deck area where we enjoyed dinner together.

That's about it for now.

Visa, visa, !!

I haven't posted much for a week or so, so first let me just catch up with things. Louise and I have enjoyed our break over Christmas and New Year and have used the time to rest (sheer bliss). We had some great weather and spent part of the time at the beach swimming, however for us both, sitting reading filled most of the holiday.

We're both back at work now, that means back to studying for me. I've just submitted some assignments and work that I've done on my recently completed module (Christian spirituality), I look forward too hearing back from my tutor as to how I have done.

It's not all been work for us both, this last weekend saw us going for what has to be the best swim I've had since I've been here in Jeffrey's. While in the sea I enjoyed having loads of small fish swimming around me! It's been a time of first's for me lately; while walking my dog early one morning I saw my first ever meerkat in the wild(I've only seen them in zoo's before), and was also treated to a great spectacle while driving through to St Frances; a herd of ostriches being herded, like cows, down the road. Driving very slowly past them was fun as they all peered into the car!

We have also seen the arrival of our Churches new Associate Pastor and his family (Donovan, Caryn & Kylie) which is really great news. They seem to be settling in well and I look forward to seeing how God will use this family.

That's about the fill of what has been going on in my life in the past week or so. Now down to explaining the title to this post. I'm living here in South Africa on a "temporary residents visa", this has to be renewed every two years. You may remember an earlier post of mine talking about our previous wasted trip to PE to sort this out. Today we went on the right day and with the right paperwork together with everyone's prayers (many thanks). We did however go with some concerns about the submission of my police clearance certificate (something I did before leaving the UK), my current visa shows it still pending. This was done before leaving the UK as I've said, so we were asked to submit a letter stating this with my application. We now find ourselves having to wait another week for it to go through so that I can go, once again, to PE to collect it. The guy who served us was the same friendly guy we saw at our previous visit and he was great. I hope I picked up the right signals from him, that the police clearance won't be an issue, however, we still must wait. Please do continue to pray, until I have the visa in my hand, nothing is sorted. I know that God answered prayer for us in that I felt real peace while in the office and with us getting the friendliest looking staff member working there.

GOD IS GREAT

PS. Louise put together a newsletter about our past year which can be read by clicking on the link below:

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ddp84qn2_0gp9kt669

Left to Tell

I've just finished reading one of my Christmas presents. It’s a book called 'Left to Tell' and is the story of a young Rwandan lady by the name of Immaculée Ilibagiza.

 

(Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust by Immaculee Ilibagiza and Steve Erwin)

This book is an autobiography which portrays Immaculée's life and experiences during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.

I'm not going to give a history lesson here partly because Rwanda's history and the events leading up to the genocide go back years. I will say for those not familiar with this shameful period of human history that the conflict was mainly between two tribes, the Hutus and the Tutsis. Over come by evil, the Hutus tried to kill all Tutsis.

Immaculée's story is about so much more then these killings. Her story is about an incredible relationship that she has with our Almighty God. This relationship is tested in ways that seem totally unimaginable for me. Some of the things described in this book that Immaculée and her family went through made me sick to my stomach but some how Immaculée is able to hold on to God through it all.

Can a person forgive as God calls each of us too? This story describes the struggles Immaculée had in forgiving but also the amazing truth of how God can make it possible for a person to forgive the worst of human atrocities.

As I read this book I went through all kinds of emotions and thoughts, I found myself questioning myself.

In 1994 I was a train driver on London Underground and it’s likely that while Immaculée was going through such terrible things I would have been simply getting on with my life complaining about my job and paying little attention to what was going on in the world.

• Why are we so numb to such horrors today?
• Why are such things happening in this civilized world of ours?
• Weren’t the terrible killings of thousands of Jews in the Second World War meant to have taught us to never allow such things to happen again?
• Are we aware at this very moment what maybe happening right now in parts of the world, maybe in Kenya with all its political unrest or in Pakistan for example?

Immaculée turned to God in prayer seeking for Him too intervene, I think we all need to follow her example.

This book, if read by you, will shock, upset and anger you. It will also challenge, inspire and remind you that God is real and can be found by anyone who seeks Him.

A braai with friends

Last night Louise and I went to a braai around Alfred and Michelle's house, there were a number of us there and we had a great time. I off cause didn't really fancy going when it actually came to getting ready to go there. I tend to always feel like that when it comes to social events, why? I had a great time with everyone, which is normal, so why do I never really fancy going to such things? I think it may be due to a lack of confidence in my self in social settings. I sometimes don't know what to say or do and then feel un-comfortable!

Social skills are like most skills, they are learnt, and this year I want to get better at such things. It’s going to take me stepping out of my comfort zone, at least to some point, but the truth is, doing so is often very rewarding. My friends at the braai were all Christians and our conversations actually encouraged my faith and my desire to live for God. I hope that I too may have been able to encourage others in the same way.