Sorry to those who check out this blog from time to time...I have been very slack and blame it totally on facebook!
J and I (Liz) are heading to Sydney on Thursday for a quick trip to catch up with family. There are so many people I would love to see- but unfortunately I only have a short time. So I apologise again to all my lovely friends who I do miss- but will not be able to see this time. We hope to plan a longer trip back as a family sometime in the future in which we will be able to see more people.
So I will post again when I get home. And will just leave you with a few pics of a day out I had with some friends and the kids recently...thankyou Braden for the photos!
[actually...might go to bed now...and post pics later...]
Tuesday 30 October 2007
Friday 7 September 2007
Two Weeks Away
We are home and well and truly back into the swing of things after being away for two weeks. We had great time, firstly in a cottage owned by friends in the country in Derbyshire, and our final week was in Haworth- home of the Bronte sisters and 'The Railway Children'. We were happy in the end that we didn't brave the english beaches- as the weather wasn't what we'd call 'summer'. Although we did get some sunshine...just not all that warm. It took us the first week to really unwind- and we are still working out the whole holiday thing with kids. We had lots of fun- but it's never totally relaxing.
Highlights of our holiday included taking a trip on a steam train through the county, some great walks, the hot tub and taking the kids to their first theme park- in pouring rain (it was a highlight for them!!).
I'll let the pictures tell the rest.
A walk and a climb in th Peak District - 'Black Rocks'
One of our favourite places- Chatsworth
'Gulliver's Kingdom'
Snaps from the cottage in Haworth
Tuesday 7 August 2007
update...
We're on holidays and the sun is shining. All is good.
J is out of nappies- even better!
We're looking forward to having a few weeks off- we are going away next week for a fortnight- and are spending this week in the garden.
Oh yeah.. J turned two a couple of weeks ago- we are very thankful for her- we all had lots of fun celebrating her birthday- she had a little party with a couple of little pals- and we had a family day on her actual birthday. We took her to Chatsworth House and visited the kiddies farmyard and adventure playground. Have attached some pics.
Will be in touch again soon. xx
Tuesday 24 July 2007
Pottering
I haven't posted much recently about how we are going- so here are some thoughts.
On the whole we feel pretty settled- although we have begun to feel pangs of desire for Sydney. We definitely feel the weight of the blessings which we have here- which we may not have had in Sydney, but we do long for deeper familiarity with people, places and things. Summer over here has been grim- its pretty much been raining for the past two months- and kinda cold. So we are staring to feel that a little. And the days are getting shorter again...
Andrew and I were chatting in bed last night and were trying to remember the last time we 'pottered' (no ref. to Harry!). We have a very lovely elderly gentleman who lives next door to us- who seems to have all the time in the world to potter. He grows tomatoes- they are his babies- and he seems to watch them hour by hour- checking for snails.... Maybe he doesn't feel like he's pottering- maybe its hard work...but it looks to us like he's pottering. I remember I used to potter...alot...but at the moment everything seems so hectic- even a 'leisurly' stroll to the park is a bit of an expedition. We feel like we go from one thing to the next- to the next- to the next. Its the nature of life this side of heaven I guess- and a stage of this life- that will pass- but one which I need to relish in the joys- as they too will pass.
We have three weeks holiday in August. We are regretting not making plans to go abroad for some guarenteed sunshine- but are praying for some here. It should be a good time to refocus- have fun together and think about the coming months and how we can use them to best serve God. And read some HP.
Andrew is loving his work- but needs a holiday and some time for exercise. Don't want to write too much on his behalf...
I am feeling spritually and physically refreshed after a few days away on a conference a couple of weeks ago- and a day in London with Amy last week- probably the reason Andrew is in need of a holiday- lots of time on his own with the kids...
F is loving life- Shrek is the latest obsession. We are working on listening and obedience.
J is loving her big brother- but hating the toilet. We are having a go at losing the nappies- not too much success at the moment. We'll give her til the end of the week to make SOME progress and then may try again next year.
I am very thankful that the sum of our problems is lack of sun, lots of wee on the floor and a bit too much on.
We really are on the whole very content- but its harder to write about all the good things!
Better go get J's birthday cake out of the oven- yes we have made it through the first two years of JB!! I love her so much.
xx
On the whole we feel pretty settled- although we have begun to feel pangs of desire for Sydney. We definitely feel the weight of the blessings which we have here- which we may not have had in Sydney, but we do long for deeper familiarity with people, places and things. Summer over here has been grim- its pretty much been raining for the past two months- and kinda cold. So we are staring to feel that a little. And the days are getting shorter again...
Andrew and I were chatting in bed last night and were trying to remember the last time we 'pottered' (no ref. to Harry!). We have a very lovely elderly gentleman who lives next door to us- who seems to have all the time in the world to potter. He grows tomatoes- they are his babies- and he seems to watch them hour by hour- checking for snails.... Maybe he doesn't feel like he's pottering- maybe its hard work...but it looks to us like he's pottering. I remember I used to potter...alot...but at the moment everything seems so hectic- even a 'leisurly' stroll to the park is a bit of an expedition. We feel like we go from one thing to the next- to the next- to the next. Its the nature of life this side of heaven I guess- and a stage of this life- that will pass- but one which I need to relish in the joys- as they too will pass.
We have three weeks holiday in August. We are regretting not making plans to go abroad for some guarenteed sunshine- but are praying for some here. It should be a good time to refocus- have fun together and think about the coming months and how we can use them to best serve God. And read some HP.
Andrew is loving his work- but needs a holiday and some time for exercise. Don't want to write too much on his behalf...
I am feeling spritually and physically refreshed after a few days away on a conference a couple of weeks ago- and a day in London with Amy last week- probably the reason Andrew is in need of a holiday- lots of time on his own with the kids...
F is loving life- Shrek is the latest obsession. We are working on listening and obedience.
J is loving her big brother- but hating the toilet. We are having a go at losing the nappies- not too much success at the moment. We'll give her til the end of the week to make SOME progress and then may try again next year.
I am very thankful that the sum of our problems is lack of sun, lots of wee on the floor and a bit too much on.
We really are on the whole very content- but its harder to write about all the good things!
Better go get J's birthday cake out of the oven- yes we have made it through the first two years of JB!! I love her so much.
xx
Thursday 12 July 2007
Bye Bye Aimes and Rory
One of my very best buddies, Amy is leaving me! After living in London for 3 years Amy and Rory are moving back to Sydney. Even though we haven't seen heaps of each other in the last 6 months- it has been great when we have- and it's been great knowing she has been in the same time zone for a short while. We will miss you both- and hope you come back to visit sometime soon!
Amy came up from London last week to hang out with me and the kids- poor thing- I dragged her along to Finn's Sports day among other things. But it was lovely to chat, catch up on things, and be so encouraged by all the work they have been doing for God in London. Amy is a true inspiration when it comes to evangelism- a real gift.
I am heading down to London for a day next week- to say good bye- really looking forward to it!
The Godmother
Thursday 5 July 2007
A visit to York
Its still raining- yes- the worst Summer that anyone here can remember. But for those who may have been wondering- the floods have not hit our part of Sheffield- we are just a bit soggy.
Since our last post we have done a couple of things worth mentioning.
Last week was my 30th birthday- and I had a great one. I have really been reminded of how much God has blessed me in the past six months. One of my big prayers was that I would make a friend quickly. Last Thursday night one of the lovley girls at church organised drinks and dessert (or puddings as they call it) at her place for my b'day. It was a really fantastic night- loads of girls from church- some of whom I have become quite close to- and others I am still getting to know. I felt very spoilt- but also very blessed.
Thankyou also to all my wonderful friends in Australia who sent me birthday wishes. I miss you all loads- and think of you much more than my phonecalls/ emailing would suggest. And to those who missed my birthday all together- I miss you too and you make me feel a whole lot better about myself- as I am so very hopeless at remembering birthdays!! I'm working on it...
Breakfast in bed!
The next day- we headed to Hull- for one of the highlights of my time here in the UK so far! Hull is supposed to be a bit of a deadend city- not much there to see or do.... But on Friday night our very own Colin Buchanan was performing for the kiddies. I am a huge fan of Colin- and as usual- he was entertaining- and sang out his fantastic tunes and we all bopped along. I was amazed by Jai- who really got into it and was dancing her little legs off. Pitty about the smelly nappy throughout the whole show. F loved it too-Colin sure brings the gospel to the mouths of very small children.
After meeting Colin and convicing him to visit our church next tour- we headed to York where we had rented a town house for a weekend break. I loved York- beautiful old city- very Roman- lost of ancient architechtural remains- great shopping- and a good kid friendly pub!
Still raining
We visited the National Railway Museum- which was great fun for the kids- probably even better in a couple of years.
Since our last post we have done a couple of things worth mentioning.
Last week was my 30th birthday- and I had a great one. I have really been reminded of how much God has blessed me in the past six months. One of my big prayers was that I would make a friend quickly. Last Thursday night one of the lovley girls at church organised drinks and dessert (or puddings as they call it) at her place for my b'day. It was a really fantastic night- loads of girls from church- some of whom I have become quite close to- and others I am still getting to know. I felt very spoilt- but also very blessed.
Thankyou also to all my wonderful friends in Australia who sent me birthday wishes. I miss you all loads- and think of you much more than my phonecalls/ emailing would suggest. And to those who missed my birthday all together- I miss you too and you make me feel a whole lot better about myself- as I am so very hopeless at remembering birthdays!! I'm working on it...
Breakfast in bed!
The next day- we headed to Hull- for one of the highlights of my time here in the UK so far! Hull is supposed to be a bit of a deadend city- not much there to see or do.... But on Friday night our very own Colin Buchanan was performing for the kiddies. I am a huge fan of Colin- and as usual- he was entertaining- and sang out his fantastic tunes and we all bopped along. I was amazed by Jai- who really got into it and was dancing her little legs off. Pitty about the smelly nappy throughout the whole show. F loved it too-Colin sure brings the gospel to the mouths of very small children.
After meeting Colin and convicing him to visit our church next tour- we headed to York where we had rented a town house for a weekend break. I loved York- beautiful old city- very Roman- lost of ancient architechtural remains- great shopping- and a good kid friendly pub!
Still raining
We visited the National Railway Museum- which was great fun for the kids- probably even better in a couple of years.
Tuesday 19 June 2007
Officially Lost
Well, on Friday, a week after I boasted of the beautiful sunshine we were enjoying, more rain fell in Sheffield in 45 minutes, than usually falls in the month of June! Lots of floods and dramatic news coverage.
As the rain fell, Andrew dropped into the supermarket to pick up some things for dinner. Whilst shopping, a security guard watched a 'suspicious looking man' smash the driver side window of our car and snatch our sat nav. I was very sad! Our sat nav (generously passed on to us by Andrew's brother, Charles), has become one of my very good friends over the past 6 months. Anyone who has driven with me knows what my sense of direction (or rather, lack of) is like- and to be able to just get in the car with the kids and not to have to think about where I am going- has been a bit of a luxury- but fantastic! Getting the maps out will be good for me- I might get a bit more of a sense of the direction I am going in- and work out where things are in relation to each other!
Andrew battled the down pour on the way home- having no window.
Determined not to let this ruin our day off- we taped some plastic to the doorframe- and headed to the leisure centre with the kids for the afternoon- we had a swim and grabbed some dinner- and the kids had a great night's sleep.
Window is now fixed.
As the rain fell, Andrew dropped into the supermarket to pick up some things for dinner. Whilst shopping, a security guard watched a 'suspicious looking man' smash the driver side window of our car and snatch our sat nav. I was very sad! Our sat nav (generously passed on to us by Andrew's brother, Charles), has become one of my very good friends over the past 6 months. Anyone who has driven with me knows what my sense of direction (or rather, lack of) is like- and to be able to just get in the car with the kids and not to have to think about where I am going- has been a bit of a luxury- but fantastic! Getting the maps out will be good for me- I might get a bit more of a sense of the direction I am going in- and work out where things are in relation to each other!
Andrew battled the down pour on the way home- having no window.
Determined not to let this ruin our day off- we taped some plastic to the doorframe- and headed to the leisure centre with the kids for the afternoon- we had a swim and grabbed some dinner- and the kids had a great night's sleep.
Window is now fixed.
Sunday 10 June 2007
As Promised
A quick pic of the vicar making breakfast...he he he!
Andrew was accused of being 'a fake' yesterday at his first wedding here at Fulwood- beacuse he didn't wear his 'dress' and collar!!
Saturday 9 June 2007
Summer Time
Well it's hard to believe we have made it to Summer. I have promised some people some pics of where we live- so I'll use the sunshine today to show off our back garden. The sunshine seems to lift people's spirits- and we have loved getting out into our garden. Today I spent the whole day lazing in the garden while the kids splashed in the paddling pool- and raced around. J is still struggling with the concept that her new swimmers are supposed to get wet! We have massive bumble bees everywhere- poor F got stung yesterday- good to know he's not allergic to them!
Andrew did his first wedding over here today- which is the first of many this Summer.
We are hoping to clean up the bbq and get it into action soon. It's amazing how one sunny day gets you all inspired...we could be back to 12 degrees tomorrow!
For Marnie and Granny- the strawberries and sunflowers are alive and well- will send some pics when we yield our first crop!
And when the house is tidy, I will post some pics of our house!
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