I have noticed a weather pattern over the last 20 or so years- it always rains on my birthday.
Tonight (the early hours) is no exception.
* * * *
Today is jam-packed full of plans- I'd better get some sleep so I can cope with it all!
Trac has been flooding the fridges with roast chicken, kebabs, and something secret she won't show me all day, and is talking feverishly of plans for crepes, deserts, salads and serviettes tomorrow; our friend and interpreter Kate and probably her boyfriend Roslun and maybe a friend of their's, Daniel, who she's trying to set me up with (she's wasting her time), are coming over for lunch because they can't make it for the ; party tonight! We've invited over 30 people to our little house! I've demanded that the boys make it their plan to be here, and we have food galore, the chocolate game, M&M relays prepared (in our line of work we're never short of games to play!), good music and a healthy mix of Aussies, other random internationals and Russians! We have a lot of cleaning and tidying to do before then- so I'll say goodnight and get some rest ;-)
(Something you have to make allowances for as you get older, right dad?)
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Music
I love my Russian church. As a family we're getting to know some of the other members and leaders, and they are so passionate about living for Christ. I respect and admire them. I love how Russian our church service is, too. It's on the occasional side that we sing songs that I know the English lyrics to- we prefer Russian songs, and we praise God with Russian rhythms that just call my feet to dance!!
On Sunday the pastor's wife asked me to come to music practice with the musicians on Tuesday, and the music team practice on Thursday. I was so excited- I've been itching to play with other musicians for months- years! And all my memories from my years on the Grace team came flooding back- both the good and the difficult ones! All precious and character building, in their own way ;-)
Well, tonight was Tuesday and so off I went, caught the bus all on my own (a small feat in itself) and went to church and played. My guitar is getting repaired by the music master at the musical college in town (some of the cream-coloured capping over the top of the neck had chipped off) so I played an electric guitar. I found that my memory for chord patterns has improved with my age (which took a giant leap forward about 30 minutes ago!! (>_<) and everything I've ever learned came back to me. Woohoo!
I'm looking forward to Thursday. The team leader, Sergei, asked me if I can sing in Russian. I guess I can, if I have enough time to learn the songs. Now this WILL be a challenge!
On Sunday the pastor's wife asked me to come to music practice with the musicians on Tuesday, and the music team practice on Thursday. I was so excited- I've been itching to play with other musicians for months- years! And all my memories from my years on the Grace team came flooding back- both the good and the difficult ones! All precious and character building, in their own way ;-)
Well, tonight was Tuesday and so off I went, caught the bus all on my own (a small feat in itself) and went to church and played. My guitar is getting repaired by the music master at the musical college in town (some of the cream-coloured capping over the top of the neck had chipped off) so I played an electric guitar. I found that my memory for chord patterns has improved with my age (which took a giant leap forward about 30 minutes ago!! (>_<) and everything I've ever learned came back to me. Woohoo!
I'm looking forward to Thursday. The team leader, Sergei, asked me if I can sing in Russian. I guess I can, if I have enough time to learn the songs. Now this WILL be a challenge!
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
MAY DAY picnic in the park
It has become a tradition- for a family that's lived here for two years, anyway.
May Day, public holiday and beginning of the spring celebrations that fall across the first 10 days in May, is spent in the park. We weren't the only ones there, either.
We have "our" little secluded spot by the river that we always head for.
And do we know how to picnic!
Bringing in the supplies ;-)
Trac and Pete setting up camp
Beckles and I lounging around
Beckles
Me and Jake
Luke, Becky, Roma and Jake
Luke. Please refer to him as "Cool Dude"
The muddy remains of our snowboarding slope
May Day, public holiday and beginning of the spring celebrations that fall across the first 10 days in May, is spent in the park. We weren't the only ones there, either.
We have "our" little secluded spot by the river that we always head for.
And do we know how to picnic!
Bringing in the supplies ;-)
Trac and Pete setting up camp
Beckles and I lounging around
Beckles
Me and Jake
Luke, Becky, Roma and Jake
Luke. Please refer to him as "Cool Dude"
The muddy remains of our snowboarding slope
благая вест
Our church- Blagaya Vest- is AWESOME!
It's hard to give you an idea.
we go for the rock version of praise songs, we listen to the instrumental "Theme from Local hero" originally by Dire Straits during our tithes and offering (why don't we do that in Australia?!??) and... we just love it.
Sorry these photos aren't very good but this is what it looks like from my point of view.
His kingdom, his power, his glory will be forever!
It's hard to give you an idea.
we go for the rock version of praise songs, we listen to the instrumental "Theme from Local hero" originally by Dire Straits during our tithes and offering (why don't we do that in Australia?!??) and... we just love it.
Sorry these photos aren't very good but this is what it looks like from my point of view.
His kingdom, his power, his glory will be forever!
Late Snows
The snow had melted.
It was sunny. Getting warm. Then one day, on April 29th, we woke up to see...
A big snow fall.
Wet snow sticks to everything. It was a beautiful salute to the end of winter.
Goodbye! Goodbye white coldness! We'll see you again too soon.
It was sunny. Getting warm. Then one day, on April 29th, we woke up to see...
A big snow fall.
Wet snow sticks to everything. It was a beautiful salute to the end of winter.
Goodbye! Goodbye white coldness! We'll see you again too soon.
Unrecognised Genius
You've met Jenya before. Here he is, just to refresh your memory...
He has a gift. He can break just about anything he sets (or doesn't set) his mind to, simply by walking past it.
But there's another side to his gift- he is a creative inventor.
He can take any household appliance and, much to Peter's frustration, take it apart and make it "better" and/or something completely different.
Anton and Jenya had a friend give them a tatoo recently. Once the scabs had come off (I know, ewww) they weren't happy with the result. So Jenya took apart a battery-operated nail buffer, remains of the OLD laptop, electrical tape and a guitar string and made himself a tatoo machine.
As much as they said it didn't hurt, I'm sure it did! But, I have to admit... they did a good job!
Don't try this at home folks.
He has a gift. He can break just about anything he sets (or doesn't set) his mind to, simply by walking past it.But there's another side to his gift- he is a creative inventor.
He can take any household appliance and, much to Peter's frustration, take it apart and make it "better" and/or something completely different.
Anton and Jenya had a friend give them a tatoo recently. Once the scabs had come off (I know, ewww) they weren't happy with the result. So Jenya took apart a battery-operated nail buffer, remains of the OLD laptop, electrical tape and a guitar string and made himself a tatoo machine.
As much as they said it didn't hurt, I'm sure it did! But, I have to admit... they did a good job!
Don't try this at home folks.
Ice Fishing
There is a man, Victor. He goes to our church. And he keeps his car out the front, at our house. So we see him in passing nearly every day. (Incidentally, his wife just had a baby boy. Congratulations Victor!)
Well- he invited us to go ice fishing with him several times. Finally Pete was able to take him up on the offer- bundled up in as many warm clothes as possible, off they went, to spend the day on the ice, hauling in fish.
Pete in action
Victor
Fishing people scattered across the bay
The ice is about 1 1/2metres thick- enough to hold the weight of a vehicle
Well- he invited us to go ice fishing with him several times. Finally Pete was able to take him up on the offer- bundled up in as many warm clothes as possible, off they went, to spend the day on the ice, hauling in fish.
Pete in action
Victor
Fishing people scattered across the bay
The ice is about 1 1/2metres thick- enough to hold the weight of a vehicle
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