question

Does one drip from a tap constitute a dripping tap?!? I say ‘no’, J says ‘yes’. Can anyone help us?!

I’m reading a book called “Why Warriors Lay Down and Die’ about Aboriginal culture and interactions with the west/dominant Australian culture (it focuses on one particular group in the North). It’s a fascinating book and I’m learning a whole lot which was be useful when I go back to teaching. The focus in the book is on health care and education so it hits both me and J. One interesting thing today was that this Aboriginal group practice active listening so when you are talking they listen intently and don’t think about how to respond. When you finish talking they then think about a response to all you’ve said which takes around 10 seconds. This has led some to think that the people are slow or simple but in fact they’re taking in the entirity of what you’ve said and are thinking carefully about a response – that seems a lot more honouring! Interrupting someone who is talking is seen as the height of rudeness and replying immediately when someone takes a breath shows you weren’t listening to everything. I do recommend the book!

dr j

One of the perks of being a doctor’s wife is learning all sorts of interesting things. J is now studying for his clinical exams and has requested my help – to pretend to be a patient! Today was neurological exams and I am relieved to say that I appear to be fully functioning and in tip top health!

Busy couple of days for me – when I say “busy”, I mean more activity than usual!! I led two home groups (Wednesday and Thursday evenings) and ran the playgroup on Thursday (the lady who normally runs it is in Canada for 6 weeks). All went well. I’m starting a study in home group on Christian vocabulary so last night we looked at ‘called’, then it’ll be ‘justified’, ’sanctified’, ‘adopted’, ‘regenerated’ and ‘glorified’ although I’m not sure of the exact order yet. Starting catechism up again on Sunday and leading Sunday school – see, that kinda makes me busy!

We watched (some of) our wedding video again the other night – GENIUS!! Thanks again Orrs!! We especially were loving your bit right at the end of disc three – definitely makes us smile

Just a wee weather update to end – it’s delightful!! Low 20s oC, blue skies (mostly), slight breeze – just perfect for a summers day as far as I’m concerned (J did point out that in summer the temperature doubles – I think I’ve forgotten how horrible it was!!)

welcome to the family

Alex John McLay!!!! We’re so glad you came. Congratulations Mark and Gill and big brother Joshua!!

Photos to come (that means you have to send me some, Mark!!)

what must I do to be saved?

Well, I went back to basics today and tried to answer that question. I do know the answer but it was good to take time and work through it. This catechism stuff is definitely making me think!

the big piece of paper was my spidergram answer to the question!

the computer was to refer to the Redeemer study notes on Acts – a GREAT study if anyone is looking for one!

A BIG, MASSIVE happy birthday to Meg and Neil Rosie!!! Hope you’ve had great birthdays – Neil in Dunedin, Meg in Banchory!

jet lag

Poor J:

bed 9:40pm

awake 11:30pm

awake for almost five hours (even after tea and toast and listening to 2.5 hours of a medical podcast!)

asleep 4am – ish until 10am

And then to work at lunchtime.

I did have a rather scary moment in the night when I woke up (around 3am) and went to get water in the kitchen. J was concerned I was sleep walking and so came through to check. I didn’t know he was awake and just saw this figure in the doorway – goodness gracious I was suddenly wide awake!

Started writing out the new catechism booklet for church today and got stuck on the answer to “for whom did Jesus die?” I got all tangled up in Calvinism and Arminianism!

Congratulations to Hugh and Stephanie who had a baby girl last week!!

wordle

this is a great program (KJ I reckon you’ll love it!) You basically put in any text and it takes the words used most often and makes them bigger and the words used less often it makes smaller. The one above was my most recent sermon – what a relief God was used most often!

24 hours

24 hours is all the time required for us to be back before booking our next flight – a one way ticket to NZ!! (Don’t worry mum it’s one way because we don’t know how long we’re staying not because we’re staying forever!) So at the end of January we’re leaving Oz for good and heading back to Aotearoa – the land of the long white cloud. Bring it on.

Lovely chilled day today and a great trip to the beach. I have to say that I was roasting – already – how wil I cope with the summer?!

back in Oz

Jonathan vs Morven ways to travel:

go to the gate as soon as you arrive at the airport (M)

stay and wander and wait until the last minute before going to your gate (J)

book window seats so that you can sleep the whole way (M)

book aisle seats so you can get up and wander about (J)

take hand luggage if at all possible and avoid checking in bags (M)

don’t mind checking in luggage (J)

eat very little (if at all!) because you’re asleep (M)

eat all the meals provided and snacks and Morven’s! (J)

watch nothing (except on one of the flights I watched 30 Rock because the Cates love it!) (M)

watch lots of movies (J)

 

Thankfully we’re still in the honeymoon phase of marriage where these differences are seen as cute and quirky!

All in all a very smooth trip back to Oz and (because I’m super organised and particular about these things!) we come back to a clean flat with fresh sheets on the bed – bliss!

Thanks to all you Scottish people for a great trip home. Next trips will be to NZ and NYC!!

fond farewell

Well, this is our last night on Scottish soil for a few months which, for someone who is used to skipping off round the world, is actually very sad. I think I’m getting to the stage where I’m feeling ready to stay in one place and I reckon this may be the last time we leave for such an extended period (do I hear our parents whooping in delight?!)

We’ve had a BUSY but lovely two and a half days in Aberdeen trying to see as many people as possible – Pete (always a pleasure, never a chore), Mike (great to catch up), Paul and Meg (always fun), granny (just LOVELY), Mission people (Alastair, Andrew, Ann-Wilma, Becky, Mark, Ellie, Anita, Stephen – so good to hear your stories), Graham and Hazel (encouraging stories) and of course the Jones’ – one of our favourite families. They have extended warm hospitality to us even though Gill is 4 days away from her due date and feeling pretty uncomfortable. We do so love these three (soon to be four). And Joshua is just adorable and able to say ‘Chelsea’ quite spectacularly which his daddy loves! Happy Birthday Mark – thanks for sharing your cake with us!

And so off to bed in preparation of a 5:30am taxi ride to the airport…

busy busy

My life has gone from moseying along at 3 mph to full speed 100 mph dash. This morning is the first time since we arrived back that I’ve had a leisurely time. It’s been FANTASTIC though and just lovely to catch up with family and friends. My only complaint is that it never seems like you get enough time with anyone and so saying goodbye to my folks yesterday was very sad!

So, we’re back in Aberdeen with quite a few more people to see and then we head to Oz on Friday morning. This trip has given me quite the desire to head back home as soon as we can – or at least not live on the other side of the world for TOO much longer.

I’ll sort through photos properly when I get to Oz but here are some sweet ones from our weekend with J’s family.

J’s immediate family

J’s extended family

J making friends with his niece

me and Joshua playing in Dave’s amazingly constructed cardboard house – it was HOT in there!! I did request A/C and so the roof was adapted to allow some air flow but still…

we went for a walk up Scolty – lovely!

the heather was simply STUNNING