Last Breath of Summer





The lagoon in Weston-Super-Mare
















Yesterday was my first visit to Weston-Super-Mare, and it was a perfect day to be spent by the seaside. It's now the last day of September, and the weather suddenly turned to summer. It's 27 degrees outside and the sky is a clear blue. Our washing is out drying in the sun and the strawberry plants are still in bloom. Suddenly it doesn't feel like autumn anymore. What gives it away though is the early sunset and the colours of the trees.
Today is the end of what turned into a 3-week holiday, starting on nights this very evening. Time has finally come to re-unite with antibiotics, wound dressings and obs charts, oh joy.

All Love

Life Sucks, Thank God I Love You

Today's been good, but then it's Wednesday, so of course it's been good. Had a sweet quiet time, listening to Blindside while reading Matthew 7:7, thinking about what I really ask for, seek and press into in life. I'm not too concerned about the future, maybe because I don't care too much. After all I live for death rather than life, and I don't mean that in a depressing kind of way. Although, truth be told, most of the time I think that life generally sucks. Maybe I've seen too much pain and suffering, knowing that behind most smiles people are broken and pretty messed up. No, life isn't easy, it's full of traps and tramps. So, I decided not to hang on to it too dearly, but rather let it hit me and take the blows bravely. Life is somewhat like a storm, and it's just a matter of when it'll finally get the best of us. God is not like a storm though, he is the sunshine breaking through the thick clouds, making life more endurable and making me want to fight a bit longer. There's a song we used to sing in church when I was a kid, With Jesus in the boat I can smile in the middle of the storm, and however silly it may sound, it's actually true. So maybe I don't love life, but I surely love the people in it - every single broken soul. And that thought makes me smile.

All Love

The English Riviera



Holiday round II took me to Torquay, at the very south of England. First I stopped in Taunton where Rachel (my former house mate) works and spent a day there before we headed south to Torquay together. Rachel lent me her bike while she was working and I went on a 20 mile bike ride around the country side, all the way up to Wellington monument and back. Uphill my tummy started rumbling and my legs started to ache, and so I had to take a break photographing bulls just to settle my stomach and regain energy. By the time I got to the monument I was starving, but managed to miss the pub's food serving hours by 10 minutes and therefore had to settle for a small bag of crisps and a pint of water for lunch. By then anything would do, and because most of the remaining journey was downhill I managed to survive. Just about. Later me and Rachel caught the train toward Torquay where we were served dinner by Gemma. Then three tired birds went to bed early, ready for a full on day Saturday.



Bullies





Saturday had a brilliant start, heading down towards the coastline for a morning swim in the sea. It was cold and refreshing, the amazing feeling of salt water in my face. I felt very very happy. Then we went for brunch at a cafe overlooking the harbour, watching the end of the rugby game, which Ireland gracefully won, sipping tea and enjoying a warming full fry. After that we went back to Gem's den and caught a ride with Red Emma to Plymouth to watch Amerca's cup, a catamaran race. We were probably the only ones cheering loudly, but how could we not, over excited as we were, cheering the Swedish team through both loss and victory. After Plymouth we went back to Torquay, met up with a girl Gemma and Rachel met in South America and went out for Italian and dancing.

 

Warmed up by Gem after swimming


 

America's Cup in Plymouth


 

Woop Woop, go Sweden!!


Sunday was a day of snoozing and recovering. We managed to get ourselves out for a walk along a beach somewhere near Brixham, enjoying more beautiful scenery and fresh air. Then back for some Tacos and drinking hot chocolate watching film in bed.

 

Gem, me and Rachel


  

Skimming Action



Monday morning I packed my bag and went down for a last view of the sea before I caught the train back to Bristol. I can still remember the sound of the waves rolling in and I do miss it. I owe BIG thanks to Rachel and Gemma for an amazing weekend with brilliant company, and another thank you to Tim for lending me his shoulder for the snooze on the train back.

Boots off for wading in water

Waiting for train

Thursday (which is not tomorrow I was so kindly reminded by my polite driver) my next journey begins - I'll be heading down to Holland accompanied by two lovely strangers to go boating in Rotterdam.

All Love

London Calling

Just got back from London, my first stop during my three weeks of holiday. On my way there I got a call from Linda, my childhood friend, commenting on the hotel I booked. She's obviously not used to the British standard cause when I arrived I couldn't see the problem. The sheets were clean and the shower was working. The squeaking bed and naked lamp bulb were minor details. It's not like we were gonna do nothing but sleeping in the bed anyway...

Victoria Station, waiting for Linda who got lost in the tubes

Our first evening was spent in 'Round Midnight, a brilliant blues bar, listening to live blues and sipping red wine. It was an amazing night and I felt very happy, and I'm sure Linda felt the same despite yawning and putting her hands over her ears. Earlier that evening I made the discovery that splashing spicy oriental soup in the eye can be quite painful, and it's not recommended.

Our second day we went to The Natural history Museum, where Linda lost her rail ticket and I lost my energy. We got inside information from Matt who can't dance about where to find good RnB in London, and so went out for some clubbing. When we at last managed to find the place they asked me for ID before I even got to the queue, saying I didn't look older than 20. He did reassure me though, telling me I definitely looked older than 18. Oh well. Getting inside we had to walk through a metal detector, and they went through our bags thoroughly. They never have this procedure in Bristol, and I realised I left my swiss army knife in the bag, which of course they found and decided to keep. Inside at last I decided to put my bag on the floor, but before I knew it I was surrounded by three security men who told me to hand it in or wear it. I promise, I couldn't fart in there without them telling me off, security was everywhere. If I stood in front of the ventilation for 2 seconds I was told off, if I held my glass on the wrong side of the rail I was told off, they even told me off for possibly thinking about going where I shoudn't go. But apart from over engaged security, the music was brilliant and the people happy - and so we danced! Getting home we were ripped off by a young Australian guy who cycled us all the way to our hotel. Expensive but quite entertaining.

Linda, waiting for goat cheese

Third day, Saturday, and we decided to do less walking. We went through the shopping area and then strolled over to Green Park to lie down in the sun and eat ice cream. By the time we got out of the tube it started raining. So we bought ice cream and layed down under some trees, which actually wasn't too bad. Later that evening we went to see Wicked, one of the big musicals in London, and we really enjoyed it. Early night as Linda had to take a taxi at 03:30 in the morning. We said goodbye and I went back to sleep.

Swedes in Green Park

Sunday morning I went to Hillsong for the morning service, and it was really good. There's a reason I cannot wear eye makeup to church these days. Went straight from church to the coach station to catch my bus back to Bristol. On my way back I couldn't forget some of the people we met in London, there's just so much poverty and loneliness in the big city, it's quite heartbreaking.

Now I'm off to see Troll Hunter with Jim, cause that's just my kind of film... eh.

All Love