Categories: family, friends, cinema, life
Date: 26 July 2008 00:34:40
Thanks Miss Lisa and Ishmael: all is fine -- just a bit busy.
Sunday a friend came along to my church; she, being musically talented in singing and piano playing, seemed rather fascinated by the chanting of our parish, particularly the chanting while reading the Epistle and Gospel of the day. She has just left for the US, for a few months? years? who knows?, away, to do some travelling and to spend some time overseas. It has been a great blessing and joy to renew our friendship over the past 9 months or so; and to be able to be a support, help and encouragement to each other. God is truly gracious in the people He provides to help us. She wanted to see how we worship before she left for the US; she is rather interested in how different churches worship -- and what they believe [she is an evangelical Anglican].
Monday evening I was a bit under the weather so I took it easy and watched several, perhaps more than several, episodes from the House M.D. DVDs I bought.
Tuesday evening I watched the amazingly powerful movie Walk on Water. The movie concerns Eyal, a ruthless and talented Israeli Mossad agent, who, after his wife commits suicide, is given the mission to track down and kill an ex-Nazi officer, who may still be alive despite belief to the contrary. He pretends to be a tourist guide, befriending the ex-Nazi officer's grandson Axel who is in Israel to visit his sister Pia who is in Israel living on a kibbutz. As I wrote, I found this such a amazingly powerful film, looking at what holds us back from seeing "the other" as a friend, even from seeing them as a human being. It is about overcoming our prejudices, and the need to let go of these, and to move on and deal with the past and our own issues, so that we too can "walk on water". The acting, particularly that of Lior Ashkenazi's Eyal, is superb, and I found the performances very moving. A rather good soundtrack too. A tough film, when taken to heart [and it is hard not too], but a rewarding film as well.
Wednesday evening I went to BodyJam, and then ruined any effect exercise may've had by a most wondrous and large dinner at a friend's place to farewell the friend mentioned above. Three very talented ladies, with backgrounds from Vietnam to Hong Kong to Cambodia, whipped up a rather superb Japanese meal of udon noodles, tempura, sashimi and teriyaki chicken -- and a dessert of chocolate fudge brownie cake [that famous Japanese dessert! :)] It was wonderful to catch up with them: they have get-togethers almost every Wednesday I believe, and we are all originally friends from the same church, though some of us have moved to other churches. I had lost contact with a few, and contact with several others was very irregular: thanks be to God He brought us together again.
Thursday evening is trivia night -- second. Not bad at all. We were coming first after the first round, but a few hiccoughs sent us down one. Still very happy.
Friday I had a three-quarter day at work, as I was off to the airport to say goodbye to my friend heading to the US. It was not sad or teary, but rather joyful: she has been through a lot emotionally lately and some time away, with a friend in the US as well as some travelling, is something she is very much looking forward to, so how can we not be happy for her? Even if she will be greatly missed. I hope to get to the US to visit her and our mutual friend soon, and we will see her, and perhaps him, back in February for a friend's wedding.
Friday evening was playing with my niece. She asked me to tell her a "funny Bible story". I asked her what she meant, and she replied, "The one with me, you, Max, PJ [her dogs], Billie [our dog] and the big rat." Perhaps my Bible knowledge isn't what it should be, but I do not recall that particular story. I started one with her waking up and her mummy and daddy making her breakfast, at which point I was reprimanded for including mummy and daddy as they were not in the story! I speeded ahead to the big rat swinging on her favourite swing, then Skye swinging on it, with me pushing her higher and higher, and then her playing with the dogs. Look for this gripping tale in a New Revised Version coming soon. I then started on Noah's Ark, but apparently didn't get to certain parts quick enough for her liking, so she moved me on with hints.
Also, I was rather proud to hear from Skye that in her swimming lessons, which she started again yesterday, she has moved from the "baby's pool" [one of not a great depth] to the "big pool". She was so happy, and I so happy for her.
A dinner awaits tonight at a friend's place in the city; we are getting together with a friend who is here on a break from now living in London. Looking forward to it, and seeing him again; and I am looking forward to a rather restful Saturday day. More episodes of House M.D. and some reading I think.