This was perhaps the toughest assignment for the book club so far.
We all ploughed through Michael Hoffmann's translation of this grim novel,, set in Romania at the height of Ceausecu's regime.
It is a frightful, grim shocking account of how low humanity can stoop and how miserable life can be
Tuesday 26 January 2010
Monday 25 January 2010
25th January Conversion of St Paul
St Mary Abbots
Paul - human, road to Damascus, grit and honesty.
Conversion:
Old Testament doundation:
Covenant
Turn to Me
David - Job
New Testament
John the Baptist/Jesus/Paul
Characteristics of Conversion
repentance
transformation
new life
Conversion as the "foundation of the authentic Christian life"
Paul - human, road to Damascus, grit and honesty.
Conversion:
Old Testament doundation:
Covenant
Turn to Me
David - Job
New Testament
John the Baptist/Jesus/Paul
Characteristics of Conversion
repentance
transformation
new life
Conversion as the "foundation of the authentic Christian life"
South Africa - the return
I didn't have email access for the latter part of the trip - at least not on a daily basis.
Cape Town proved to be a brilliant destination for the last week of my holiday.
The hotel - at the Waterfront - was a brilliant run place to stay with gorgeous breakfast and a breathtaking view of Table Mountain.
Did the great drive to the southern most tip of Africa - cape point - and visited the wide variety of beaches along the road of the Twelve Apostles.
The food was great and the company was superb.
J's family reunion proved to be much easier than I thought - not least because they had wall to wall English Premier League football on (3 games in all) so watching Manchester United v Burnley in 32 degrees wasn't that bad at all!
I will be back!
Cape Town proved to be a brilliant destination for the last week of my holiday.
The hotel - at the Waterfront - was a brilliant run place to stay with gorgeous breakfast and a breathtaking view of Table Mountain.
Did the great drive to the southern most tip of Africa - cape point - and visited the wide variety of beaches along the road of the Twelve Apostles.
The food was great and the company was superb.
J's family reunion proved to be much easier than I thought - not least because they had wall to wall English Premier League football on (3 games in all) so watching Manchester United v Burnley in 32 degrees wasn't that bad at all!
I will be back!
Tuesday 12 January 2010
11th Jan Zulu Land
Great day today.
Starter with an early breakfast before setting off on a great drive to to see new parts of Durban and to spend most of the day in the Zulu live history centre.
We got there in time for lunch and enjoyed an open air meal in 30 degrees.
Ryan decided on the ultimate challenge: eating crocodile meat in a compound of live crocodiles - which proved to be a laugh for everyone - particularly when the guide got two of the crocs to move!!
Then we visited the crocodile park and saw the various stages of croc development from the youngest to the oldest (104 years old).
Then it was time for the snakes- a bit more scary - ending with Zulu culture, dancing and marriage!
A great day all round.
Starter with an early breakfast before setting off on a great drive to to see new parts of Durban and to spend most of the day in the Zulu live history centre.
We got there in time for lunch and enjoyed an open air meal in 30 degrees.
Ryan decided on the ultimate challenge: eating crocodile meat in a compound of live crocodiles - which proved to be a laugh for everyone - particularly when the guide got two of the crocs to move!!
Then we visited the crocodile park and saw the various stages of croc development from the youngest to the oldest (104 years old).
Then it was time for the snakes- a bit more scary - ending with Zulu culture, dancing and marriage!
A great day all round.
Sunday 10 January 2010
Sunday 10th January
Up late for me - and then off to gym for a good work out.
A light lunch of bananas and chocolate before Ryan acted as chauffeur to the Gateway Shopping Centre followed by a fascinating trip via Umhlanga Drive - past the casinos, through town and then back the docks, wilson's wharfe and maiden wharfe road with its record number of railway crossings.
Touring the Bluff was fascinating - seeing the Navy Base and Millionaire's mile.
Evening of toasted sandwiches and south African red wine.
A light lunch of bananas and chocolate before Ryan acted as chauffeur to the Gateway Shopping Centre followed by a fascinating trip via Umhlanga Drive - past the casinos, through town and then back the docks, wilson's wharfe and maiden wharfe road with its record number of railway crossings.
Touring the Bluff was fascinating - seeing the Navy Base and Millionaire's mile.
Evening of toasted sandwiches and south African red wine.
Sat 9th
A good night's sleep and breakfast buffet - everything you would wish to eat.
We went then to see the new Durban World Cup Stadium next to the Sun Coast Casino where the famous and rugby stadium and swimming pool also are.
Then, in the afternoon we went to Ushaka - a beach complex with a water wonderland.
In the evening Manchester United grabbed a point against Birmingham whilst our hosts put on a Braai (Barbecue) where lots of meat and food was prepared.
Another good night's sleep.
We went then to see the new Durban World Cup Stadium next to the Sun Coast Casino where the famous and rugby stadium and swimming pool also are.
Then, in the afternoon we went to Ushaka - a beach complex with a water wonderland.
In the evening Manchester United grabbed a point against Birmingham whilst our hosts put on a Braai (Barbecue) where lots of meat and food was prepared.
Another good night's sleep.
Friday 8th Jan
Arrive in Johannesburg.
What a change in temperatures from -2 in London to +32 here.
Great airport - all upgraded for the World Cup.
South African Airlines found us a seat on the flight to Durban because of the delay.
Landed at `1300 and temperature rose.
Transferred to hosts - very cloudy, warm and refreshing.
Great welcome dinner of home made lasagna and curry.
Early night having missed a night's sleep. But it was great and Africa - well super.
What a change in temperatures from -2 in London to +32 here.
Great airport - all upgraded for the World Cup.
South African Airlines found us a seat on the flight to Durban because of the delay.
Landed at `1300 and temperature rose.
Transferred to hosts - very cloudy, warm and refreshing.
Great welcome dinner of home made lasagna and curry.
Early night having missed a night's sleep. But it was great and Africa - well super.
7th Jan Departing London in the Ice
J and I began our journey to South Africa and it ends tomorrow in the sun of Johannesburg.
The trip to Heathrow was eventual - hours then to check in and the flight delays increased as the ice and snow gripped the airport.
An Iran Air aircraft slipped off our stand resulting in a 2 hour delay.
But the Virgin 747 800 series took off 2 hours later and I was bound for my first ever visit south of the Equator.
The trip to Heathrow was eventual - hours then to check in and the flight delays increased as the ice and snow gripped the airport.
An Iran Air aircraft slipped off our stand resulting in a 2 hour delay.
But the Virgin 747 800 series took off 2 hours later and I was bound for my first ever visit south of the Equator.
Sorry it's been busy
Sorry not to have updated the blog over the past month.
It has been the best Christmas ever. A super build up in Kensington followed by the family Christmas party in Brough.
Then a few great days with Jonathan in Birmingham and London followed by a truely special Christmas in Kensington.
New Year with Carol Ann and friends - what can I say?
The off to South Africa
It has been the best Christmas ever. A super build up in Kensington followed by the family Christmas party in Brough.
Then a few great days with Jonathan in Birmingham and London followed by a truely special Christmas in Kensington.
New Year with Carol Ann and friends - what can I say?
The off to South Africa
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
