Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Hard Labour Weekend

This weekend was mostly devoted to putting together the foundations of the deck outside our main lounge door.

I've come to the conclusion that the ground in Halfway Bush is 10% soil, and 90% Rock.

Next Step is to throw on the Joists, and then the pretty decking.

Big ups to Daniel for giving me a hand with the Nails.


Labour Day Hike to Nicols Falls























































A really cold, wet, windy day, saw the big boys off for a quick hike in the bush, below the tree-line for a bit of extra shelter.

Nicols falls was the destination, which is a short sweet hike in the leith stream catchment. Blimmin good fun.

No tears, only one injury. Mine. 'Twisted the knee again.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Pain is Simply Weakness Exiting the Body.......

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

School Crazy Hair Day














































Yep, that's paint, not dye (which is worse?)

Monday, October 15, 2007

On the Run





























Yesterday was cool. Literally. Gideon entered the 2km kids race of the Outram 'Hill Free Half Marathon', and had even been training for it over the last 4 weeks.

Training usually involved running 10-20 laps of the park behind our house every few days, although we did manage to go for a run at Ross Creek one fine Saturday.

The race was for children aged 12 years old, or younger. Gideon (nearly 8) put in a solid 5th place, railing the course in nine minutes flat.

Proud Dad? yep. Living my life through my kids? Hope not.

Gideon made sure that everyone knew that he beat all the girls too. Yeah baby.

Japan/China Update

Hi everyone back at home. We have had a lovely day for Rod and Akari`s 1st wedding anniversary. We went to their Union Church for 11am service - left here just before 10am with two train rides to get there.
We met a number of folks there after the service at coffee time - one ex Wellington, and a couple from Ohio originally but living in Tokyo and who are viziting NZ next month. Pete has given them his work business card so they have a contact number.

We had lunch at a fast foods place -not bad either for two of us who don`t love McDonalds!

Then we walked on a few blocks to a huge reserve area where we visited a famous traditonal Shinto Shrine. While there we watched two different wedding processions.

By the time we eventually got home from our wanderings it was after 5pm. Akari and Rod produced a delicious meal. They then produced a stunning photo of them in trad. Japanese wedding clothing which they had taken at a photo-shot just before they shitfted to their apartment here.

The temp has dropped a little over the past couple of days which is great for us.Must stop now as time and access running out. Love to you all. Pete(Dad), Marg (Mum), Rod and Akari

Friday, October 12, 2007

Bring the Love

Last night (after lifegroup, and watching the Breakers pull a big win), Grunta nudged down to the 'Cook (a world-famous-in-Dunedin student watering hole) to help out with the 'Bring the Love' initiative. The whole thing kicked off at about 10:30, and I didn't get home until about 1:30.

Better the official website explain what the initiative is all about.

I got involved with a few others giving free 'taxi' rides to drunk kids walking home in the rain, and we found that the whole thing was really well recieved by the students 'out on the turps'.

Let's hope the initiative gains momentum for 'O' week in February so we can tackle the whole binge drinking issue properly.



Update on Mum and Dad's Trip to Japan/China.

I really dig the bit about the caravan..

Hi Everyone,

We arrived with the only minor hitch of getting on the the fast train instead of the cheaper slower one. It all turned out OK, when I turned my cell phone on and found that it would work. So I called Rod and he was able to get to the station we were meeting him at earlier and be there when we
arrived.

Today Marg has been catching up on missed sleep. I have been and walked to the next station Oji and after Rod came back from class him and I went to a tower building where I took some photos from the 17th floor. It was reasonably clear, but hard to tell how far we could see.

The apartment is bigger than our caravan, but with 4 beds made up has little more floor space left.

We have been made very welcome and are enjoying the experience and company.
Love Pete

Monday, October 08, 2007

Sentenced to Hard Labour...

This weekend saw the grunta earning his keep at home. The current project (why finish the other projects when you can start a new, more interesting one), is to put a deck out from our new(ish) sliding door. The temporary plank to is now two years old and slowly rotting, so a more permanent structure is required.

The initial task for this project was to lower the ground level where the deck will be, so that there is enough space below the door level to install some posts, bearers and joists. Lowering the ground level involved removing 9 cubic meters of soil. It took about 12 hours of digging, and erm, almost killed me.

A couple of magic moments occurred amongst the back breaking wheelbarrow work. The best one was watching the four boys, the youngest of these somewhat devoid of clothing on his bottom half, going hammer-and-tongs digging with Dad on a balmy Friday evening in complete harmony with each other. No fights, no grizzling, just 4 boys, a dad, and a whole s*** load of dirt.

The other moment was at 8:00 on Sunday night, when I filled the last wheelbarrow, and realised that we had knocked the whole thing off in one weekend. It was a really satisfying feeling.




A Storm in a World Cup

It was a bit of a shame about the All Blacks, but don't let the media savage them, it was just a game of rugby.
We can't justify to judging our guys on a given performance on a given day. They're fallible human beings, not gods. If we beat everybody every time, sport wouldn't be very interesting.

The Kiwi 'Can-Do' Psyche has been built from being the underdogs punching above our weight, not from assuming that we are a superior race of rugby heads that are invincible, and smite everyone with ease.

Stuff Worth Hating - borrowed from Mike Griff

Let me tell you what I hate... I hate seeing people lonely, isolated, cut-off, lied to, and disconnected from the One who is Life itself. I hate it. At creation the first thing that God ever said was not good - was someone alone. That's why we are trying to build community. That's why we are trying to life together. That's why we believe in unity. That's why God blesses unity. And that's why we MUST continue, through the ups and downs, to do life together, with the Holy Spirit present and leading us.
That kind of togetherness is why God continues to add to our numbers. As we do Life together, we find that God is in our midst. Then when we are with others, we find we bring Life to them. Jesus in us, Jesus with us, Jesus through us. Life to people who are missing something. Our privilege and our responsibility.
So may we renew our determination to do Life together. And may we renew our love for others that compels us to bring Life to them, wherever they are.
Loving others, because He first loved them,

Friday, October 05, 2007

More Christchurch Trip Pics





























































































Photos from: Orana Park, Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum, Science Alive, and Twizel/Firlie Playgrounds.







Thursday, October 04, 2007

Back to work in Dunedin

It's all on back at work at the moment, but not as busy as Sarah, who is coping pretty well with the four boys being home all day everyday for the school holidays this week.

We are currently prayerfully considering a short term mission trip to The Phillipines in January, and also a shift to Twizel in the next year or so.

Thanks to the Mum and Dad and the Cropps for their awesome hospitality last week.

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Daniel's turned 2!





Yup, the wee monkey is two years old. Daniel celebrated in style with his great grandma and others at Orana Park in Christchurch last Friday. Sarah pushed the pram, while Grant pushed Grandma's wheelchair.

All good fun, we also enjoyed eating the lollie cake made by Nanna and Caleb. top effort Caleb.
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