Saturday, August 27, 2005

Relaxing in the hills

Well, I'm now relaxing amongst the rolling hills of the Natal midlands. It's good to be able to just catch my breath for a bit. With nothing to do and no people to see I am forced to take it easy for a while.

Yesterday I went into Durban and visited my friends on the Doulos. That was cool. It was good to see everyone again. Good also to see the ship in action. I enjoyed spending time (with those I could), just relaxing on board and chatting. Good times!

Being away in the country means less access to Internet. This then explains the quiet patch. Hopefully once I'm in Turkey I'll be able to get a permanent connection soon.

For now though I'll enjoy the rest!

Friday, August 19, 2005

Goodbye Pretoria

Well, this is my last day in Pretoria. After what has been an incredibly busy week! It's hard to realise that the this chapter is over and that the next is about to begin. But I'm on my way, finally!

The one annoying think is having to pack up all over again. 20Kg of luggage really isn't a lot. And since that's all they'll let me take on the plane that's all I'm taking with me. Each time I think I've narrowed down my possessions enough I discover I still have too much. How much junk can you collect in 6 months? I'm amazed!

Still, I'll have to make it work somehow. It really has been easier than expected to get rid of my things. I just don't have any attachment to material possessions. That really has helped. I see that as a really positive aspect of God in my life.

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

A visa is a wonderful thing

This morning I trekked out to the Turkish Embassy to check up on my visa. And they were kind enough to offer to let me stay in their beautiful country for 1 year. Isn't that nice of them?

But only on condition that when I'm finished for the year I can speak fluent Turkish.

I think I can manage that. So the last hurdle is conquered and I'm on my way!

Monday, August 15, 2005

Slow Progress

Progress may be slow, but things are still moving. I have been learning all through the last year to trust in God and let him work out the details. There really is no use worrying about things if he is in control of my life.

This said, he still tests how far I will go before I start to worry. With time drawing near and still no visa in hand I must admit I did start to worry a little. What if I don't get a visa? What will I do then?

Needless questions though. Tomorrow I go to collect my visa. As promised, on time. One thing about the Turkish embassy, when they tell you it'll be done by a certain time...It's done in that time. Very un-African!

Looks like I'm on my way!

Friday, August 12, 2005

Can it be?

Can it be that another week has passed?

It seems ridiculous how fast time is moving. Well this week has been better than expected, after the bad start. I seem to be constantly busy though. There is still so much to sort out.

My folks are coming up here tomorrow, which will be nice. They'll be around for the next week or so. It will be good to see them again.

Mostly at the moment I struggle with procrastination and time management. With so much to do I tend to get a bit overwhelmed. And then end up procrastinating and doing nothing of what I should be doing. Why is it that we put off what we know we should be doing, in favour of the trivial?

So I'm thinking of adding a prayer list to the sidebar here. Just a few things that people can pray for. I'd like some ideas... (Hint, Hint)

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

Weekend = Blue

Most people have blue Mondays. I think I had a blue weekend. This just wasn't my weekend....

First I started to get sick. You know how you just know you're gonna big sick in the next few days and you just can't do anything about it. Like that.

Then our fridge broke. First we thought it was just the freezer that had stopped working. So we moved all our frozen stuff to another freezer. But then later we realised it was the whole fridge. Too late, however, as all my food became infused with the lovely taste and smell of gas... Threw it all away!

That wasn't to be the end though...

Next our whole drain system blocked up. We have a French drain and so there is no easy way to unblock it. Have a shower and you find yourself knee deep in water by the time you're finished.

But it gets better...

Sunday night I wasn't feeling too good, with a pain in my shoulder. So I took 2 Myprodol and figured they'd knock me out till morning...

Wrong!

I lay in bed contemplating the ceiling. Completely unable to sleep. So I decided to read. I figured a few chapters of reading would make me sleepy enough to fall asleep...

Wrong!

05:30 Monday morning I finished my book... And just as the sun rose I fell asleep.

And there ended my blue weekend... [Insert creepy music here]

Thursday, August 04, 2005

Busy, being busy

You know, it's so easy to get busy. I have so many things that need to be finalized in this month. And all of them take time. Partly I have myself to blame since I'm a natural procrastinator. And most of what I need to do could probably have been done long ago.

This weekend was my boets birthday. *****Happy Birthday ANDREW!!!!******* So we had some cool family time. Plus I have brought all my stuff out of storage, so sorting all that was a weekend task. One which, admittedly, I did not accomplish very well...

In preparation for the big move I brought everything I own to Pretoria. After sorting through all my junk I put most of it up for sale. It was a feeding frenzy! I didn't realise all my old junk would be in such high demand. I sold most of it off cheaply. It seems better to me that somebody else can be blessed by it. Rather than it stays in a box for years to come.

Laters,