Monday, October 31, 2005
RIP David
Well, David died this afternoon. It's horrid, even when you're expecting something, that it hits quite hard. It's 11 years tomorrow since my Dad died, so I guess there's some feelings hanging around about that too. Tomorrow is the first November 1st since 1994 that has been a Melbourne Cup day. Isn't it silly the little details that stick in your mind. It was a horse called "Jeune" that won that year. (which I just translated on babelfish and it means "young person". If I'd ever studied French I'd have known that!)
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Men are from Mars....
This week Mars is the closest it will be for the next 13 years.
Last night I made a gif for my class today, of tonight's stars. I realised on the way home tonight that it's about an hour out, cos I forgot about daylight saving, but such is life. Mars is soooooo red when it rises, not till about 10pm. So, adjusting for time, this is the view from Pakuranga, from about 8pm tonight. Each shift is 1 hour. (click to see "readable" size)
Went to visit my friend David at the hospice tonight on the way home. We think it may only be a matter of days now. He didn't have the energy to talk, so we just sat (or lay, in his case). I can hardly believe how much determination and courage it took him, only a week ago, to get on his feet and do his farewell speech. Today, he said the burden was overwhelming, and his mind was racing with all that he yet wanted to say and do, but had no energy for. He is so thankful to be pain-free. Small mercies, eh? I was glad to have time to chat with his wife and kids on their way in for the evening. She in particular is stoically "muddling through" (her words). It's a strange kind of limbo.
Last night I made a gif for my class today, of tonight's stars. I realised on the way home tonight that it's about an hour out, cos I forgot about daylight saving, but such is life. Mars is soooooo red when it rises, not till about 10pm. So, adjusting for time, this is the view from Pakuranga, from about 8pm tonight. Each shift is 1 hour. (click to see "readable" size)
Went to visit my friend David at the hospice tonight on the way home. We think it may only be a matter of days now. He didn't have the energy to talk, so we just sat (or lay, in his case). I can hardly believe how much determination and courage it took him, only a week ago, to get on his feet and do his farewell speech. Today, he said the burden was overwhelming, and his mind was racing with all that he yet wanted to say and do, but had no energy for. He is so thankful to be pain-free. Small mercies, eh? I was glad to have time to chat with his wife and kids on their way in for the evening. She in particular is stoically "muddling through" (her words). It's a strange kind of limbo.
Monday, October 24, 2005
Labour Weekend
Goodness me. It says my last post was early September. Shocking!
I have been inspired to post by this article, about "Kumara the hot potato in UK"
Having just enjoyed a roast leg of lamb, with accompanying spud, pumpkin and kumara, it seemed appropriate. I'm horrified by how much they are selling for over there, when they are sooooo accessible and soooooo reasonably cheap here.
I was inspired to go looking for kumara recipes.
It's Labour Weekend here again, where we supposedly celebrate the great achievement of the trade unions, of the 8 hour working day. Gosh, I've heard of it, but what is it? Still, at least we get this glorious sunny day off.
Yesterday, I joined with some other graceway-ites to take our turn to read in the bible podcast. I read a few chapters in Zechariah and Malachi, and then my friend Marti got the transition into Matthew and the genealogy! I was delighted to then have a great chunk of the Sermon on the Mount as my final reading. After Marti had gone, Christine arrived, and told us that she'd taken her friend to church earlier in the morning. The person on "reading the text" didn't turn up, so, the minister, Jodie, turned on the podcast, and it was Marti, reading from the first chapters of Matthew. After this weekend, it will then be available, in chunks, for downloading.
Mark is in the middle of a series titled "generous orthodoxy", at Graceway at the mo. Last week he talked about evangelicalism, and this week was social justice. So, rather than talk about it, we went down to the complex where Mark and Bridget are going to be moving soon, so that they can foster more children at once, and worked on preparing the walls of their unit ready for painting. It was lovely to sit round in the sun afterwards and chat over the BBQ.
It's been a hard week, too. I went back to my previous school for a couple of hours on Thursday, so that I could be there to farewell and thank a dear friend. He has been battling cancer for a long time now, and has been told he probably only has 2-4 weeks left. He was so brave and determined. He managed to stand, to speak, and to laugh at times. It was good that he had opportunity to hear and treasure the kind words and appreciation that so often is only spoken at funerals. The school are going to have a mufti day this week, as a fundraiser, so that his wife and 2 children (under 10) will be able to do something special when he is gone from them. He goes into the Hospice this week.
I have been inspired to post by this article, about "Kumara the hot potato in UK"
Having just enjoyed a roast leg of lamb, with accompanying spud, pumpkin and kumara, it seemed appropriate. I'm horrified by how much they are selling for over there, when they are sooooo accessible and soooooo reasonably cheap here.
I was inspired to go looking for kumara recipes.
It's Labour Weekend here again, where we supposedly celebrate the great achievement of the trade unions, of the 8 hour working day. Gosh, I've heard of it, but what is it? Still, at least we get this glorious sunny day off.
Yesterday, I joined with some other graceway-ites to take our turn to read in the bible podcast. I read a few chapters in Zechariah and Malachi, and then my friend Marti got the transition into Matthew and the genealogy! I was delighted to then have a great chunk of the Sermon on the Mount as my final reading. After Marti had gone, Christine arrived, and told us that she'd taken her friend to church earlier in the morning. The person on "reading the text" didn't turn up, so, the minister, Jodie, turned on the podcast, and it was Marti, reading from the first chapters of Matthew. After this weekend, it will then be available, in chunks, for downloading.
Mark is in the middle of a series titled "generous orthodoxy", at Graceway at the mo. Last week he talked about evangelicalism, and this week was social justice. So, rather than talk about it, we went down to the complex where Mark and Bridget are going to be moving soon, so that they can foster more children at once, and worked on preparing the walls of their unit ready for painting. It was lovely to sit round in the sun afterwards and chat over the BBQ.
It's been a hard week, too. I went back to my previous school for a couple of hours on Thursday, so that I could be there to farewell and thank a dear friend. He has been battling cancer for a long time now, and has been told he probably only has 2-4 weeks left. He was so brave and determined. He managed to stand, to speak, and to laugh at times. It was good that he had opportunity to hear and treasure the kind words and appreciation that so often is only spoken at funerals. The school are going to have a mufti day this week, as a fundraiser, so that his wife and 2 children (under 10) will be able to do something special when he is gone from them. He goes into the Hospice this week.
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