thursday

Rachel went off today on a 13 hour day trip and I had such plans to get things done. I had playgroup this morning but then I was going to do some cleaning and catch up on a sermon and prepare some meals and do the ironing. That all went out of the window when I was phoned after playgroup and asked to preach on Sunday morning! So, I planned a talk this afternoon!

We’re heading off tomorrow to New Norcia for a trip which we’re really looking forward to. It’s Australia’s only monastic town!

tourist day #2

Ever since we came to Perth I’ve wanted to visit the Freo prison – for no reason I just thought it’d be interesting and I’ve never seen an old prison before (for the record I’ve never seen a new one either!) Anyway, J wasn’t that keen so I seized the opportunity having Rach here and we went this morning. I have to say, I wasn’t disappointed!!

This is where they carried out the hangings (obviously!) I reckon next time I teach capital punishment I’ll be able to use this picture!

We also went to the Freo museum which was good too. There was a light and sound exhibition that was really cool and had lots of hands on things to do. This is the second museum I’ve been to recently where they have things in it from my lifetime (remember the old dial phones?!) I’m beginning to feel a little old!

Things at church are getting more bizarre  – it looks like a large number have left and then tonight a couple who are very involved announced that they’re moving away from Perth and have been planning it for a lot longer than all the other stuff that’s been going on. There seems to be a big clear out but that could be quite exciting. This is without doubt the most random church situation I have EVER been involved in!!

Ruby Tuesday

Man on Wire last night – we recommend! It is truly amazing what he did! Evidently the human body is capable of great things although I did feel a little queasy at times as he was balancing on a wire between the twin towers!

This morning we had the joy of looking after Ruby – for four hours. Jonathan, Rachel and I all had quite the workout. It was raining so we had to think of fun things to do in our apartment. Of course boys tend to be MUCH better at coming up with fun things so we…

made a wee house

did some jumping

sang some songs

… as well as doing forward rolls and lots of dancing. We were pretty exhausted when she left!

This afternoon Rach and I went out for a cup of tea. It was all very refined and proper – we were like ladies who lunch! J is starting night shift tonight and so went for a sleep this afternoon – with all the activities this morning I doubt he had any trouble getting to sleep!

tourist day #1

With Rach being here I have an excuse to be all touristy and do things I haven’t done here before. Today we went to the Museum of WA and also looked at the Earth from Above exhibition which was good! Some of the pictures were amazing although there were NONE of Scotland or NZ!!

Tonight we’re off to see Man on Wire…

Enrique and Rachel – guest blog

The main news today is the arrival of Rachel Stevenson from NZ who’s here for a couple of weeks  – woohoo! She’s the first of the two Kiwis coming to visit. Olly J arrives next month. I think mainly she’s here to banish the threat of aimlessness since the big exam is over. Strange to not be studying. Morv has made up a full timetable for the next couple of weeks including Rottnest Island, shopping and New Norcia monastery. So we cracked open the bottle of champagne that mum and dad sent over (thanks – shout out to you) -  “to the entry of friends and exit of exams”.  I’m on glass number 2 and as many of you know half way through this one I may fall asleep or start singing Enrique Iglesias. I can be your hero baby….

J

birthday gifts

I attended a wee girl’s third birthday yesterday. She’s from playgroup and there were other playgroup mums and kids there too. What struck me was the sheer quantity of presents this wee girl received. I mean seriously!! There’s no need surely?! And she was just overwhelmed and got fed up opening gifts after the third one choosing instead to play with a paper Australian flag stuck on to a cocktail stick!  I got her a little gift (glitter powder) but when I tried to wrap it realised that Jonathan had taken the sellotape to work. I looked around for a substitute and discovered… velcro dots. That’s right I velcroed her gift shut!!! Classy.

The next three month roster is out and we see that J is not rostered to work Christmas day which is lovely! He didn’t even need to ask for it off. He has asked for a week off in early December though and they said no! They didn’t have enough cover. We had hoped to go down south then so we’ll see if they can rearrange.

Today is the fourth day in a row over 30oC which is some kind of October record – and it’s still ony spring! Oh boy.

freedom

Jonathan had today OFF!! He’s had days off while he’s been studying but today was different. And it was a scorcher – almost 36oC!! What to do on a day like today? The beach of course!

That’s him there doing his Baywatch running!

Right now he’s cleaning out the ’study’ which will revert back to being just the laundry. He’s also taken down all the paper from the walls and I have to say I actually quite miss learning things in the toilet!!

One image that’s stayed with me is of the poor people who didn’t pass the exam. You could see them staring at the paper on the wall with the list of names hoping that their name would somehow appear if they looked at it just one more time. So sad and so public!

PS There are more SNL sketches if you haven’t seen them

engagement shout out

J has just made the excellent suggestion that we give a one-year-on shout out to those key people who made the engagement work so well. So…

Dave W – for the initial encouragement when J tentatively shared a thought he’d had to fly to NYC (and with Maz helping to book the flights)

J’s parents – for helping with travel arrangements and keeping the secret!

Kari Jo – for keeping such a BIG secret

Caroline (or Betsy?) – for so sweetly sharing her pink princess umbrella!

My NYC friends for welcoming J and throwing our engagement party (on such short notice!)

AND…

The lady at the subway in JFK for helping J buy the right ticket to get into the city and to the upper west side!

HE PASSED!!

At 3pm this afternoon they put a sheet of paper up with the list of successful candidates and Dr Wraight was there!! What relief, what joy! Although I think it hasn’t really sunk in for him! That’s it – no more exams ever (unless he chooses to do some more!) And then in the soiree after he was introduced to one of the head consultants from Christchurch who was really positive about J going there! So not only did he pass but he networked as well!! J does reckon that the only reason he passed was because he is too Scottish to be willing to pay another $2000 to sit it again!! The photo below contains the other doctors in J’s study group who passed (and the consultant who gave them dinner every week!) I think J owes a lot of thanks to these people!

And today has another significance… on October 19th last year I stood in the rain in Central Park under an umbrella and J uttered the immortal line ‘can I share your umbrella?!’ What a year it’s been! We’re off out to dinner to celebrate!!!

NB It ALL kicked off in church this morning and has the potential to be a really difficult situation. Any of you that pray we’d value your prayers!

2 down, 1 to go

Well the general feeling after today is that things went okay – mostly up, one wee down – he’s tentatively positive. The last clinical is tomorrow morning. The sweet thing for me was that he was able to come home in between the exams for a couple of hours for lunch! We’re almost almost there!!

I got a sun hat today – ain’t no sun getting to my fair skin! It sure is heating up!

So, what to do the night before your last medical exam ever (hopefully!) – watch The Office!! Love it.