Tuesday 26 February 2008

All the more for us

Tonight our bible study group was due to meet around at our house given Lisa & Steve are still away. It was just one of those weeks though where everyone had something on or had something come up. In the end there was only me and Joanne and Anthony who made it. Still, it meant more of Joanne's birthday cake to go around, eh? It was very tasty.

Happy Birthday, sweetie! ;)

Sunday 24 February 2008

In summary

Ok, only time for a quick summary of the week since I wrote on Tuesday, I'm afraid, but I thought I better write something to fill in the blanks before anyone else tells me off.

On Wednesday afternoon we had the disputes tribunal thing regarding the payment for the wall we had built across our garden. I probably can't write too much about the details here (and it would take too long) but in summary, the dispute was resolved ammicably and we don't feel hard done by, so that's good. We paid half of the amount the builder considered due and he had to take the other half on the nose. Feels about right really, but a big relief to have it all dealt with now. It was just a shame that it had to come to that.

On Wednesday evening we had the first Christianity Explored session, as I've mentioned before. There were perhaps not as many people there as we'd hoped (some people who had signed up didn't make it) but the bottom line is that there were some people there, and if one person gets to hear the gospel faithfully explained then it's worth running the course.

Thursday evening saw us lose 9-8 at footy, but I so enjoyed this week's game compared to last week's game when we won 16-3. It was a real battle right up to the final whistle. Last week our opponents gave up at half time effectively, and then the game isn't enjoyable for anyone.

On Friday evening Joanne and I went to the cinema to see Jumper. It was ok, I guess, fairly enjoyable but I wouldn't advise anyone to rush out to the cinema to watch it. I couldn't help think of Hayden Christensen as anyone other than Anakin Skywalker and the film really felt more like a pilot for a TV series than a proper movie.

On Saturday my dad got back from his coach trip and was understandably full of stories of the places he'd been and the sights he'd seen. I think it's fair to say that he rather likes Nuzziland. Tomorrow he heads up north to spend a few days each with both of Jo's parents. I know he'll have a great time up there and that Shirley & Tom and Len & Val will take good care of him and give him opportunity to take lots more photos.

Last night Dad took us out for dinner, which was nice. I'd booked us a table at Stromboli which Lisa at work (or at least, she used to work with us) had recommended. The food was tasty, it was a nice place, but somehow I got given a kid's portion of the pasta I ordered.

And then finally we arrive at today. We had Wally & Rosemary (our vicar and his wife) over for lunch after church. We've been trying to arrange something with them for a while and we finally got a date in the diary. It was nice for them to be able to come over and meet Dad while he was here too. It was good to hear a bit more about them and their history and what brought them here and stuff. And also to be able to share a little of our history with them too. At Joanne's request, we ate bobotie. I have a great recipe for the Cape Malay dish (thank you, Helen) that always goes down well. I not sure me having it with HP Sauce is necessarily authentic (and I'm sure my South African friends would tut in disapproval, eh, Ruth?) but I'm not a fan of fruit chutney and it achieves the same end really.

Tuesday 19 February 2008

More than a postcard

I've had some texts in the past couple of days from my dad. He seems to be have a great time on his South Island tour. He's getting mostly beautiful blue skies to make most of the stunning views it seems. I don't think he was quite prepared for just how amazing the scenery would be. You can see pictures and watch films and stuff and think you know what to expect, but when you're surrounded by the natural beauty, in the middle of it, it's another matter. To quote my dad - "Blown away is right. What a country to live in". Indeed.

Tonight I went along to the first evening of the Men's Christchurch Convention. It's always such an encouragement to get a group of Christian men together to pray, sing and hear God's word faithfully taught. This year's speaker, at the 4th annual MCC, is Richard Coekin, the convention chairmen of the London Men's Convention that I've been to in the past at the Royal Albert Hall. I guess some of you in London will have heard of Richard before and maybe will have heard him speak too. He is speaking on Hebrews 11 and 12 over two nights. Tonight's talk was great - challenging and encouraging. It's just a shame that I'm going to miss tomorrow's talk. At least I can get it on CD later, eh? The joy of MP3s.

The reason I can't go tomorrow is due to the Christianty Explored course Joanne and I are helping lead that I've mentioned before. It's the first night tomorrow. If it's what you do, please do pray for tomorrow evening. We really appreciate your support in that way. Thank you.

Sunday 17 February 2008

Finally a bit of blue sky

Christchurch finally rolled out the welcome mat for my dad today with beautiful, cloudless blue skies. You wouldn't believe it rained for the past 48 hours or so and that makeshift ponds had formed where once there had been only been a hollow. The ducks seemed to be loving these new aquatic playparks.

We decided to take advantage of the great weather and headed out straight after we'd finished at church. Our first stop was for a spot of lunch at the Watershed pub where we'd helped Bek celebrate her birthday earlier in the month. It really is a great location by the estuary. We sat and enjoyed our food while watching kite surfers out on the water.

After lunch we drove over to the gondola. It was a perfect day for it as the whole of the Canterbury plains lay spread out before us, the glistening blue Pacific over to the right and the Southern Alps over in the distance, the sunlight reflecting off their snowy peaks. We could see right up the coast to the Kaikoura ranges, close to where we were just yesterday.

Back down at the car we loaded up and headed for Sumner and the beach. It was a little manic over there, what with the sunshining after a week or so without much of a break in the clouds, so we just kept on driving. Through the back of Sumner we headed and up onto the Summit Road into the Porthills. I know Joanne hates the tight, winding roads smothered with weekend cyclists but it really is a spectacular little trip. The views are something else. Round each corner you focus on something new.

By now it was mid-afternoon, and time for afternoon tea, natch. We headed off down Dyers Pass Road and pulled in at the Sign of the Takahe. High teas all round sat in the sunshine overlooking the city. I think I've found a new spot in Christchurch to add to my favourites list. Plus, a little stroll away is an awesome look-out spot where you can fully appreciate the view.

I think it was good Dad got to see Christchurch in all its glory before he heads out on his South Island tour tomorrow.

Saturday 16 February 2008

"Thar he blows!"

I'm going to start by taking you back to Thursday. So much has been happening in the past few days, new experiences for both me and my dad, and I don't want to miss getting any of it down.

After the disappointment of the cancelled hot air ballooning (I have re-booked us for early March, just before Dad goes home) and a bit of a nap our first port of call on Thursday was the Air Force Museum just down the road in Wigram. Sure, it's not quite Duxford but it was never going to be was it? Nevertheless the museum does a great job of telling the story of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. From its inception when the government began assisting two private flying schools for Kiwi training pilots to fight in WWI as part of British Royal Flying Corp, through Henry Wigram's efforts to form the New Zealand Permanent Air Force in the Twenties, through the Kiwi squadrons that fought for the Allied Forces in WWII in both the European and Pacific theatres, to the current RNZAF, it's all covered. Plus they have some awesome restored planes too. They have both a Spitfire and a P-51 Mustang, two of my favourite WWII planes, so I was more than happy.

Next on our agenda was the International Antarctic Centre, which was where we had my work Christmas party. It's one of the essential things to do in Christchurch really. To be honest, it's a little disappointing. There's a room when the temperature gets down to minus 18 or so (my Dad works with refrigerated lorries and cold-stores so that's not a big deal for him really) and a room where it "snows" bubbles and the light changes to reflect an Antarctic Year. The whole experience is saved, however, by the combination of the Hagglund ride (that is one amazing vehicle!) and of course, the penguins. Everyone loves penguins. Even if they do smell of fish.

The final thing on the agenda for Thursday was the usual 5-a-side footy game. Joanne and Dad both came to watch. It was Joanne's first time seeing me play competitively and Dad brought his camera. It was weird having them there. I never usually get nervous before the game each week but suddenly I was wracked with butterflies. The pressure to perform was overwhelming. I needn't have worried, luckily. We played some great football as a team, scoring 16 to our opponents' 3.

And so now we come to Friday and waking up to torrential rain. Knowing how changeable the weather can be and given our hotel in Kaikoura was booked and paid for we loaded up the car and drove off regardless.

Our first stop north was even before we exited the city. Dad loves everything aviational and spends hours playing flight sims, especially flying commercial liners. So for his joint Christmas and birthday Joanne and I bought him a Flight Experience package. Basically it was half an hour in a state of the art flight simulator fully controlling a Boeing 737 as it took off from Christchurch circled over the Banks Peninsula and landed back at Christchurch airport. At least that was the theory. The pilot giving Dad instructions told us that a few pilots don't survive the trip, with some even failing to get off the ground. Dad's flight sim hours paid off though with a near impecable flight coupled with lots of positive noises from the instructor. It was all very impressive. Dad was easily in the top 20% of people making their first flight with the machine, we were told.

As we got to the outskirts of Christchurch the rain began to let up and the two-hour drive north on highway 1 was not as wet as we might have expected. Still, clouds hung around and we only got rare glimpses of blue sky. It didn't spoil the drive though, the scenery is stunning whether the sky is grey or blue, especially so given it was Dad's first experience of the sheer variability of the Kiwi landscape. Kilometre by kilometre it changes and you never know whether the next stretch will be flat fertile plains, barren moors, alpine forests or craggy mountain passes. It is certainly a lot more interesting that driving mile after mile along UK motorways.

We arrived in Kaikoura and decided to go for a bit of a wander first. Our first excursion was not for a couple of hours so we had time to grab some lunch and check the place out before we checked in to our hotel. As we drove round a bit we accidentally stumbled across a seal colony at the end of the peninsula. We got quite a shock. There were just twenty of so fur seals just lazing around on the rocks, quite oblivious to the crazy tourists snapping away with their cameras. I guess the seals have seen it all before.

The first thing I had planned for us was a kayaking trip. We were a bit worried as the wind was pretty strong and there were some mighty big waves we could see. We had heard that all the whale-watching trips that day had been cancelled and also the rain was on and off. Rather fortuitously the weather cleared a bit when it came to kayaking time. Also, due to the nature of the peninsula and its bays and coves, the swell didn't effect all of the sea, if you see what I mean, so where we went out was pretty smooth.

It was great to kayak up to the seals on the rocks and get a whole different vantage point. We were able to get so close to them. The seals kind of reminded me of a cross between dogs and bears. But with flippers, obviously. I felt so spoiled being able to see them in their natural environment. It is a completely different experience from seeing them in a zoo or somewhere.

Another highlight during the kayaking for us was when the ugly grey clouds that had been enveloping the mountain range to the north of Kaikoura lifted to reveal a dusting of snow. It really completed the vista. It was a little strange to see snow in February, what with it supposedly being summer and all, but mountains look better when they're snow-capped.

We had dinner in one of the oldest hotels in Kaikoura, one that dates right to the whaling-days of the town. Beautiful food, as with most places in Nuzziland, and Dad was introduced to Monteiths while England finally won an ODI in NZ.

And so finally, we arrive at today. We were booked on the 7:15 whale-watching boat and were more than a little nervous given all Friday's boats were cancelled and the forecast was for more SW-erly wind. My alarm went off at 6am (after less sleep than I would have liked due to Dad's snoring) and I decided the best thing to do first would be to phone the whale-watch people. There would be no point getting up if it was rough our there and the boats were cancelled. My "can you tell me what it's like out there?" was met with a "dark". It is no time for humour when I've only been awake two minutes. After I'd sewn my sides back up I managed to extract the fact that at the present the boats were still on schedule but they were expecting high winds at any time. Surely we couldn't have another ballooning experience with an early morning get-up followed by hope and then disappointment could we?

Well, no, we couldn't. Not this time, at least. The wind stayed off, we checked in, got on the boat and headed out into the greyness, although the threat of the wind hung around like a bad smell.

It didn't take us long to sight our first sperm whale. The boat before ours had reported seeing one dive about half an hour before and so we headed out to the same spot, expecting him to surface soon. We weren't disappointed. However much you look at pictures and watch videos of whales, to actually be there, only fifty metres away from this colossal majestic beast, is something else. And it's all very exciting seeing the whale on the surface, seeing the spray spurt from the blowhole, but the real excitement comes when they dive, with that trademark shot, tail in the air as they head back down to the feeding ground.

We were really quite spoiled this morning in the end. We didn't see just one whale, but two, as another surfaced a little later not too far way from us. And then, just to complete the experience, the first one resurfaced and we got to see him do it all again.

Running out of time, the boat headed inland. As well as resident sperm whales, Kairkoura is also home to dusky dolphins. It wasn't long before we came across a pod of two hundred or so of the playful little fellas. Just like the seals, it really is such a different experience to see them out in the wild, in their own environment. Joanne and I swam with dolphins in Mexico but to see this many, all together, swimming and jumping alongside the boat, just having fun for the sake of it rather than because they were trained to do so, was just awesome. I wish I had the words to do the whole experience justice.

It was only when we got back to the marina did we realise just how lucky we'd been. All of the boats following ours had been cancelled. The high winds had arrived.

For the return drive to Christchurch we took a different route, the inland route. It was a bit longer but I thought it would be nice to go a different way. Once again, the scenery was breath-taking, ever-changing, and although the cloud and rain spoiled the views it added to the atmosphere.

Friday 15 February 2008

It's all backwards

Why is it that when I had to sit in the office working all day every day in January the weather was fantastic, and now that my Dad's arrived and we need good weather to the all manner of outdoory stuff I had planned it's bucketing down?

Thursday 14 February 2008

Having wind

My alarm went off at 4am and after the initial "what on earth is that?" confusion I got up to phone the hot air ballooning hotline. A recorded message with a Bristolian accent told me the flight was on. We were a go.

A rush job of getting ready was followed by the drive to the carpark of a suburban mall where a stream of cars arrived and parked up. It was still very dark. It all felt very clandestine.

A few minutes later two busses, each towing a trailer carrying a big basket, turned up. At least we were in the right place.

What followed reminded me of that American film about people chasing tornados starring that bloke who played the president in that other film. We would drive twenty minutes or so and then pull over to let the drivers and balloon pilots inflate and let fly a small yellow balloon to judge wind direction. The company has ten sites spread over Canterbury so that they can get everything right and cover all eventualities.

One eventuality that they couldn't cover was the southerly front coming in earlier than expected and making wind conditions incredibly eratic. So two and a half hours after being told the flight was on, the same Bristolian accent informed us that we wouldn't be flying after all. Safety has to come first. I can understand that. It's still disappointing though.

Now, where's that phone number for re-booking?

Wednesday 13 February 2008

Fresh eyes

It's been really fun wandering around Christchurch today with tourist's eyes again. The day started quite grey, but by lunchtime, after we'd done a few jobs I needed to get done around town, the sky cleared and the sun came out and Nuzziland welcomed by Dad properly after being a little shy for the first twenty hours or so.

We drove round a little to try and get him some bearings, went shopping for some clothes he'll need but didn't bring, wandered into town to get him a camera case, did the essential tourist thing of going on the city tram tour and then drove out to New Brighton for a coffee. Have I mentioned I love that pier before?

Tomorrow we've got a hot air balloon ride scheduled (although the weather forecast makes it look like it's unlikely to proceed unfortunately, despite the brilliant blue sky I am currently sitting under). I just phoned the company for instructions on where we have to meet and when. It appears that I have to phone them at 4am for the recorded message about whether we get to fly or not before meeting up in a carpark behind a mall somewhere in town if it's all going ahead. 4am! That's quarter to stupid o'clock. 4am.

Tuesday 12 February 2008

First aid parcels

My dad came bearing gifts - Douwe Egberts coffee and milky ways for Joanne and chewing gum for me. The black cherry pie filling wouldn't fit in his suitcase.

Delayed

My dad's flight from Sydney to Christchurch has been delayed. I guess that means I've a free afternoon.

Blue-sky lunchtimes

I really love working so close to the Botanic Gardens, being able to go for a wander at lunchtimes, to sit by the river and watch the punts glide by. Definitely a nice way to spend an hour. When it's nice weather, that is. Like yesterday. Today, on the other hand, is not so nice. When Dad arrives this afternoon he's going to wonder if this is summer after all. The weird thing is that it's still warm, probably nigh on 20 degrees, but just grey. So grey. It's almost enough to make me feel homesick, clamouring for the grey Februarys of my youth. Almost.

I do hope the weather improves while my dad's here though. January has been such a great month, weather-wise while February so far's been a bit rubbish. And typically, I've been told, February is the better, more stable month. There's so much I've got planned that's weather-dependent.

I relaised yesterday that our six months of being in Christchurch has been and gone. Last Friday marked the six month point since our arrival down here. I've said it before, but time really does fly doesn't it? I've spent a bit of time recently looking over all the old posts from our first few weeks in Christchurch. It's so weird how the words can evoke the feelings from back then as well as the memory of the events. I am so glad I did this whole blog thing. It will definitely be something I look back over in the future. Like reading an old diary, I guess.

This Sunday just gone at church, after the service, a sausage sizzle was organised. Basically a barbecue was fired up and hundreds of sausages were cooked (while the barbecue worked, that is) while the church family and visitors (it was a guest-focussed service this week) can stand around chatting and stuff. A very good idea, I think. The reason I mention it particularly though is that the first time Jo and I visited St John's, three years ago pretty much to the day I guess, was the same sausage sizzle event. Back then we were just visiting Christian family we had been regularly praying for. And now we're part of that Christian family. Three years ago we never would have imagined that would be the case in three years' time. We never know what God has in store for us, eh?

Last night Jo and I met up with Cam and Ryan to discuss the plan and the format and stuff for the Christianity Explored course we're helping lead that starts next week. If you want to pray for us and for the course please pray we'll have time to do the prep we need to thoroughly despite my dad being around, that people who have signed up would come through the door next Wednesday evening, that people would continue to invite their friends and family along to the course, and that ultimately people would come to know Jesus through the course as their eyes are opened and the Holy Spirit works in their hearts. Thank you. If you don't want to pray for us, you can ignore that whole last bit.

Saturday 9 February 2008

Mellow yellow

The manager of the shop where we bought most of our furniture gave us a voucher for lunch for two at the Clearwater resort the other week. Today we made use of it. Clearwater is where the PGA Championship of New Zealand will be held this coming week. It's a lovely place and the restaurant overlooking the lake and the 18th hole was gorgeous.

It was such a mellow, relaxed lunch. A couple of hours in a virtually empty restaurant with superb food and a great view. We'd have happily paid to go there so the fact it was effectively free was a bonus. The hot chocolate pudding (with melting centre, natch) with coconut sorbet was delicious.

It's all been go in Christchurch this week. The airport was closed when a woman on an internal flight tried to hijack the plane and then attacked the pilot and co-pilot with a knife. Not your usual Canterbury tale.

Thursday 7 February 2008

The key to the door

Tonight Al & Naomi hosted a surprise 21st birthday party for Rebekah. It was such a lovely evening and so nice to see everyone there wanting to wish Bek all the best for her birthday. Everyone went to such an effort too, with a barbecue put on, salads and stuff brought and some awesome desserts. It really has struck me time and time again how the church family at St John's are there for one another and go out of their way for one another. Real demonstrations of Christian love.

There were loads of people there tonight. (And we knew most of them too! Maybe we're getting settled, eh?) It was impressive that no-one let it slip to Bek in the run up to the party and it really was a huge surprise for her. I do feel for Simon though. He was wracked with guilt about having to 'mislead' his wife. I'm sure she'll forgive him ;)

The rest of Waitangi day was pretty relaxing for us really. A nice lie-in (the gym on Saturday mornings and church on Sunday mornings means that the number of lie-ins we have is minimal) was followed by a trip to the gym, lunch in a coffee shop and then a few errands. The afternoon was spend relaxing before we went out tonight. I wish every Wednesday was as laid back.

Tuesday 5 February 2008

Howzat!

It's a good day to be an Englishman in Nuzziland. The cricket boys made a great start to the tour tonight.

It's a good day to be a New York Giants fan too. Yesterday, in case you missed it somehow, was the Superbowl, and the unfancied Giants beat the previously unbeaten Patriots in a rollercoaster game with an awesome climax. Both teams scored early on and then the second and third quarters passed with New York's defense dominating and their offense misfiring. But then it all came to life in the fourth quarter. New York scored to take the lead then with 2:45 or so left the Patriots retook the lead and it looked all over. The Patriots were going to go unbeaten through the season, only the second team ever to do so. But the story had one final twist in the tail as the Giants drove the length of the field, including one spectacular play, to retake the lead with only 30 seconds or so remaining. The invincibles had been defeated.

And I got to watch it all. One good thing about the timezone I now live in is that the Superbowl is on on a Monday afternoon rather than overnight on a Sunday. No more staying awake till 4am. Instead, I took the afternoon off and joined 15 or so people Simon had gathered at the Holy Grail sports bar in the city centre. The place was heaving. I was quite impressed. The Holy Grail is a cool place too with a huge bigscreen thing. Almost cinema size. It was all round a great afternoon. The group I was with, including Kiwis, an Aussie, a Fijian and another Englander, didn't have extensive American football knowledge. I think I could count on one hand the number who had watched a whole game before. But by the end, they were all converts. The Superbowl afternoon could become a regular thing.

Tonight we went to a lovely pub called the Watershed along by the estuary. It doesn't so attractive when you say it's next to the estuary but it's a lovely spot. And a lovely little pub. The toilets have to be seen to be believed and the icecream dessert was very gastropub. We'll definitely have to go there again. We were there to celebrate Rebekah's birthday. 21 today. Happy Birthday, Bek! It was a shame that it wasn't warm enough to sit outside but it didn't spoil the evening. And we got to meet some new people too.

One week today my dad will have arrived. Exciting, eh? It'll be great to see him.

Ooh, and we have a day off tomorrow. Feb 6th is Waitangi Day. I like having this bank holiday in the middle of the week thing.

Monday 4 February 2008

Typical

Why does it always, without fail, rain the day after you wash the cars? It feels more like a February day in the UK here today than a February day in NZ.

Saturday 2 February 2008

I feel like chicken tonight

We tried out the Christchurch Nandos for the first time tonight. Mmmmm, peri-peri.

So who's Maui again?

Wow. The weeks really fly by, don't they? I can't believe it's Saturday evening again already. Only just over a week now till my Dad arrives in Nuzziland. Exciting, eh?

We've been quite busy again this week, hence the lack of an update. Work's been pretty full-on too (why is it that you only realise a database report is broken when the information is needed NOW?) so what evening's we've not been busy have been spent doing nothing at all.

On Thursday we went round to Dave & Julia's for dinner. They're a lovely Canadian couple we met first on the church parish camp back in November. We've been promising to arrange to meet up pretty much since then but you know what it's like. On Tuesday they're heading off overseas for a year (including a few months with Dave working at Tunis University) so it was now or never. Well, now or not for a year would be more accurate I guess. It was nice to hang out with them and see their house. They showed us pictures of how the house looked when they first moved in. Julia, it seems, is a more than handy builder and carpenter. It's just amazing what they've done to the place.

And dinner I had to shoot off for the late 5-a-side footy slot. I don't know if everyone if my team had just eaten a burger and sausage and stuff before playing, or whether it was just me, but either way, the less said about out performance the better. They were the top team in the league, I guess, and had one awesome player who pulled the strings and is definitely one of the best footballers I've ever played against (definitely up there with Mark the student who worked with me for a year in London and the kid in the Marseille shirt who joined in in a kick-around with us in a park in Watford after a Grimsby game once), but we still should have performed better.

Last night, Dan and Katherine (who we first met back in August at lunch at Sarah's on our first Sunday at St John's, the day we provisionally bought our house) held a 'young couples' get-together thing. It was a great idea really. We all went round to their place (well, more accurately, Dan's folks' place), about ten or eleven young couples from church just to hang out, have some food and get to know each other a bit. There are so many young couples at St John's and it's hard to meet them all so it was really good to get together. Loads of the people there I didn't even recognise. One of the downfalls of a bigger church, I guess. The plan is to all meet up and encourage each other in our Christian marriages maybe four times a year or so. And as we do that we'll recognise each other at church and speak to each other there as well and stuff. Anything that means we get to know other people better is a grand idea as far as I'm concerned. Well done, Dan & Katherine. Brilliant idea.

Today we went to the gym this morning and then picked up Simon & Rebekah. Christchurch City Council is really good at putting on free stuff over the summer, like the kite thing last Sunday, and one thing that's on at the moment is an open-air theatre thing called The Complete History of New Zealand Abridged. Joanne and I had been to see The Complete Works of Shakespeare Abridged and The Complete Bible Abridged back in London so thought it sounded like fun.

The weather forecast was meant to be a bit drizzly but optimism abounded as we headed off with our picnic to grab a pozzy in the Botanic Gardens in front of the stage. We were so lucky with the weather in the end, the clouds cleared, the sun came out, and the play was very well done. I actually think I learned quite a lot about this Nuzziland place in the 1,000 year history done in under 90 minutes but there were a lot of the more cultural jokes that just went completely over my head. I had to stop leaning over to Jo to ask her to explain them as it was starting to annoy the people sat behind us. I guess it would be like making a Kiwi watch The Complete History of the UK Abridged and having references to Mr Blobby, Pan's People and the PG Tips chimps.

This evening, at Dave's request, I've been copying all the Barge sermons and talks I have on my laptop to a DVD for them. There's about 350 in all, I think. One for everyday they're away almost :)