The West Wing

I can’t decide if today has been a very active day or a very inactive day. On the one hand I went for a walk with J on the beach this morning, then ran errands (in the heat!!) and then this evening went for a long cycle ride (which included some rather steep hills!) On the other hand I have watched rather a lot of West Wing episodes (I’m not going to say how many because I’m a little embarrassed!!) I’m loving it though!! And I checked it out through the library so it’s free!!! Bonus.

 

My teaching registration came through yesterday which means I can now teach in WA. So today I sent my CV to two local schools to offer myself for supply work. We’ll see what comes.

Sweeny Morv – butcher of Mosman Park

I’ve have my sideburns removed. And it pains me. This is Jonathan as you hopefully have guessed. It happened yesterday and mostly because I was too Aberdonian, … let me take you there. Wednesday afternoon…

“You’re hair needs cutting”

“Can you just do it? With the clippers? Just the back and sides”

“OK”

“I’ll do the sideburns tho”

“OK”.

And before I could say “Dodgy tasting London meat pie” there was a snipping around my left ear and I was Forrest Gump.

However I have to say she did a great job with the rest and genuinely didn’t mean it – so she says. I’m only allowed to blog this on the understanding that I say some nice things to balance it out. So I’m off to say them to her.   Big shout out to my awesome wife – I do love being married to you. Even though you’re deluded!

ps any snood players out there?

snakes and spiders

Jonathan is at a tutorial tonight learning about snake, spider and dodgy marine animal bites. We live in the most dangerous country in the world I reckon!! Hopefully when he returns this evening he will know all he needs to know… Incidentally we had our first cockroach incident the other day. I am NOT a fan of these creatures!! J took it outside and gave it a good talking to…

cards

Kari Jo has introduced me to the most excellent art of card sending. Before I moved to NYC writing cards was something I was strongly encouraged to do after birthdays to thank people for their gifts and often I wrote the cards but then they sat around for a few weeks waiting for a stamp or an envelope or an address and often times the didn’t make it to the intended recipient. Not now!! I always carry international and local stamps with me and have a supply of card and envelopes and addresses are always to hand. I have been absolutely converted!! How splendid is it to receive a hand written card or letter – not necessarily because it’s your birthday or because you’ve done anything but just because someone is thinking about you. Anyway, I got thinking about this because a couple of weeks ago Jonathan got a thank you card from a patient. This lady sent a card to him at the hospital thanking him warmly for the way he treated her. She said she was “taken seriously, dealt with promptly and in such a pleasant way.” She went on to say that he was a credit to his profession. How sweet is that! Muchos respect to this lady for taking the time and J was so touched. Modesty means he told only me about it and now I’m telling the world but… my encouragement to you is to send more cards. It truly is a good use of time (perhaps not resources though – my environmentally aware husband isn’t so sure about the eco effects of card sending!!) Thank you KJ – you’ve taught me many many things!! 

no computer

Jonathan has been working on the computer today which is great because it means he’s been at home all day but bad because now it’s 11:42pm and I’m too tired to blog!! Okay so I was wrong about the football result!! I/We do miss Jose so much!! More tomorrow… 

Eggplant

KJ asked and so I’ll tell you all… the eggplant is going to be used to make a recipe from Once Upon a Tart – one of my favourite cookbooks!! – I’m making the pasta, eggplant, fennel and olive salad!! We eat a lot of salads these days – it’s too hot to have the oven on for any length of time!!

Chelsea

PS Come on the Blues!! First trophy of the season coming up…

reading…

This is what happens when my husband goes to work and I read and think!! Yesterday it was fruit and lots of cleaning, today it’s theology… I’m just preparing you!!

So, I’ve got a lot of time to read and think which I LOVE!! I‘m reading three books at the same time (just like my mum!!) and doing an OT and Romans study. All these books are challenging me but it’s been the Romans study today that is giving me most food for thought. I’ve been reading in the counseling book I’m working through about the fear of man which affects the way we act and this has led me on to thinking about motivations: why do I do what I do? Truthfully a lot is to make my life easier – I eat well so I don’t get sick which would just be annoying! I do nice things for Jonathan because then he’s happy which makes my life easier. I go to church because I know it’s important to do not because I always want to (that wasn’t true in NYC for a minute!!) but it’s still all done from selfish motivations. Everything I do is for me – my good deeds aren’t good when you get down to it. Romans tells me that every good deed is good in form and motive. I have the form down pretty well but the motive lets me down every time – there is no good deed, no not one!! Joey said something similar in Friends once!!! This realization of my lack of goodness causes me to lift my eyes in a nervous way – how will God respond now He knows the truth?!? Amazingly He knows it already and it doesn’t change the way He sees me. Bunyan says – God can’t say “where is your righteousness?” for it is before Him in heaven in the shape of Jesus – He is my righteousness. I will NEVER measure up but God gives me this passive, perfect and free gift of positional right standing before Him. How cool is that?!

fruit

Isn’t there just something exceedingly naturally attractive about a bowl of fruit and veg? Unfortunately we have to keep our fruit bowl in the fridge so things don’t go off as quickly! 

playgroup, cycling and a/c!!

Well what a busy day I’ve had!! Playgroup this morning – met some lovely mums and toddlers although I felt quite bereft of a Cates kid – I’ve never been in that kind of setting without at least one Cates child in tow!! It made me feel a little like I was back in NYC though which I loved!! J and I then cycled to Freo which didn’t take too long and wasn’t too hot. We’re loving the cycling at the moment although factor 30 and almost entire skin cover-up are required still!We arrived back to our flat after the cycle to find the air conditioner had been fitted – ah bliss!! Granted either we’ve acclimatised or it’s getting cooler. Either way we don’t need it on all the time but it’ll be lovely to have it on those scorching days predicted for next week.