Monday, June 18, 2007
Poor old shoe
I put on my trusty sandles this morning on my way out the door to go for a swim, and found to my shock and horror they'd broken! While having been wearing down for some time now they were still highly functional (although far from pretty) until the toe strap broke. Good for short walks still, unfortunately, based on a similar demise of some black sandles I got when last in Toowoomba, I deem them dangerous for day long wear.
I've had these shoes for a good 3 years now, and only bought them when I was at the coast due to my others giving me horrible blisters. I thought them terribly ugly but they were CHEAP, and soon grew on me. A bargain bin $20 buy has been one of those long time shopping successes... and I am sad.
Here's hoping Stanley tomorrow will provide a faithful replacement!!!
P.s. My two pairs of Docs though are still holding up strong after 7 & 5 years respectively, some of the only shoes that have survived HK without needing re-soling
P.s.s. Yes - a very boring blog I'll admit, but to honour these sandles less would be a travesty
Sunday, June 17, 2007
My Day
Whilst browsing through Harbour City I grabbed a loaf of bread and a mango juice from the bakery and stood listening to the free concert being given. It was amazing standing there listening to this very talented gentleman play, and then watching him ask for requests and play the tune (sometimes after listening to how it actually went on someone's mobile phone).
I walked through Kowloon Park on the way home, realised that we've got 418 days until the Beijing Olympics and hopped on the mini bus home.
After two phone calls, I'm lying on my bed, typing this and listening to Talking Life on 96.5.
A FABULOUS DAY :)
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
A Joke!
Why is PMS called PMS?
Because Mad Cow Disease was already taken
Sunday, June 10, 2007
A Lovely Visit
It was really encouraging too, and I was very much blessed with her simple, heartfelt statement that she believes God's got some really exciting things ahead of me. With my distinct lack of trust in him, it was nice to know that I truly am in safe and caring hands.
... dreaming more of opening up a tea shop...
Friday, June 08, 2007
Weather Forecast for this week!!!
and it continues on just like this!!!
Monday, June 04, 2007
... we're not in Kansas anymore...
As I'm going to be leaving though in 3 months my eyes are opening up to the things that really startled me when I first came here - Take this picture for instance, it's 32 degrees outside with 60% humidity and after doing washing and a bit of pottering I'm hiding away in air-conditioning and a summery dress sweating, and people are wandering around outside dressed like this whippersnippering the lawn, cleaning rubbish, sweeping paths!!! Seems strange not to see the whipper-snipper accompanied by the boots, stubbies and Bonds Singlet.
Yesterday on the the bus home, I saw a man surrounded by rubbish getting out from swimming in the polluted shipping channel that leads into the Tsuen Wan harbour. (I almost got off the bus at the next stop to take a photo, and am regretting my refraining)
Or this photo from when Barb Bluett visited and we snuck into the Peninsula to use their flash (and WONDERFUL) toilets. Next to the Rolls is a car decked out for a wedding... yup... look closely and you'll see Hello Kitty toys stuck to the bonnet parked outside one of the most prestigious hotels in HK.
Tonight I'm heading into town with Debbie to grab a Fullers Organic HoneyDew and I'm looking forward to seeing more of this delightful City State.
I'm going to miss Hong Kong!
Friday, June 01, 2007
Perspective
I have a skewed perspective. I often think the worst situation will happen, or that someone who has always been faithful will be unfaithful. That I will let people down or that people won’t “perform” as I’d expect and I’ll be disappointed.
No matter how history has proved otherwise, I still doubt, not only others and myself but also God.
It’s a wrong perspective, and one I want to fix, but I know I can’t alone. It’s there for whatever reason and I need God, by his Grace to change my perspective. Part of the reason I know is tied into the fear I hold on to in my life, partly because it’s always nicer to think the worst and then be surprised by something better, and in many ways I think its also part of my perception of God.
It's a damaging habit though, and one I'm not proud of.I know that God is loving. I know that he is patient. I know that he is generous. I know that he won’t give a stone when we ask for bread. I know from my privileged Western background he’s always been faithful. I know that he invented the concept of Grace. I still resent some of the challenges though, and I question this image of God when I see the tragedy so many go through, and I struggle with the “problem of pain”… or famine… or war.
I still think at times that God will let me go. That he won't run after the 100th sheep, that he won't welcome the Prodigal Son.In light of this ongoing battle, lack of trust and abundance of insecurity I was really encouraged by this song of Matt and Beth Redman’s, along with the story behind it:
Verse 1:
Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
Your perfect love is casting out fear.
And even when I'm caught
in the middle of the storms of this life,
I won't turn back, I know You are near.
PreChorus:
And I will fear no evil,
For my God is wi th me.
And if my God is with me,
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?
Chorus:
Oh no, you never let go,
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, you never let go,
In every high and every low
O no, you never let go
Lord, you never let go of me.
Verse 2:
And I can see a light
that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare.
And there will be an end
to these troubles, But until that day comes,
We'll live to know You here on the earth.
Bridge:
Yes, I can see a light that is coming
for the heart that holds on,
And there will be an end to these troubles,
but until that day comes,
Still I will praise You,
still I will praise You.
©2005 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Listen to this song here:
http://chrisleigh.vox.com/library/audio/6a00cd97014dcc4cd500d41424e8ae3c7f.html
An interview with Matt Redman covering this song can be found at:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/interviews/2007/mattredman-mini-0207.html