I’m 40,000 feet above the Indian Ocean & 4 hours from Melbourne. Travel time’s elastic, Melbourne 9 hours ahead of U.K time; I just wish my body was a bit more elastic, shoe-hened into these battery planes! God willing we land at 22.15, 2nd June, after 2 flights (Glasgow/Dubai/Melbourne) & 24 hours on the go. I ditched the dressing gown & slippers to get under the 23 case kilos & stuffed my hand luggage with study books, only to find out that they now allow 30 kilos on Emirates. Never mind, more space for bringing stuff home!
Trying to sleep on a plane’s like cat napping in a cardboard box, hopeless, but the inflight entertainment system is braw: 100’s of films & tv programs to choose from. Current films Rocknrollar, The Wrestler, Marley & Me, & blasts from the past in Roseanne & Fawlty Towers have kept me going (tried not to let the lass next to me see that I was crying at the end of the dog story!
Thought I’d never get away from the house yesterday, we tracked back three times for forgotten stuff, & failed to find my driving license; at least I had my passport & tickets! There’s always something.
So, this is the start of the NUrk Blurk, a weekly blog to keep the interested few up to speed with my Study Leave & Ozzy Odyssey. No sooner am I in Oz than I’m up early for a businessman’s breakfast & conference with Richard O’Brien (pulpit swapper). He works with the Scots Kirk & has particular focus on working with the business community & discipleship groups. In the evening I’m attending the ‘State of Origin’ Rugby League game, which is the Celtic - Rangers game of RL here, without the bigotry & violence. I’ll be shadowing Richard Thur’ & Fri’, before heading up to Sydney on Sat’, for a week, to stay with the Bartletts (friends from Regent College, Vancouver, & my other sabbatical 10 years ago). David’s kindly driving me about & introducing me to church leaders & projects where Christ is cutting through the secular culture & influencing communities & cultures. Then it’s back down to a Sports’ Chaplaincy Course in Melbourne & another week’s study before Dorothy & the gals join me for 7 weeks at the O’Briens (manse swappers), preaching once a week. The last couple of weeks of Aug’ Sandy will be out with us for holiday time.
So there you ‘ave it. Plug in as you please. God’s Best to you all! yours truly leg-jaged : >
Kneel
p.s. landed safe n sound!
Minister
