Just a really nice time hanging out with Nicky & Toby and family, watching Eurovision - why did Estonia not get through, that was a cracking entry! - (and the football, although I have to say that I wasn't paying much attention to that). Getting my head in gear for trip to Venice next week... looking forward to that, it all depends on the crowd that turns up on the day! [View Full Entry]

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To come, team training, a time of practical and spiritual preparation for the summer, based around the theme of being 'servant-hearted'! Philippians 2 (New Living Translation). See online Have the Attitude of Christ 1 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. 3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 [View Full Entry]

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Thursday 1st May Lovely breakfast at 6.50am (UK time, body thinks it's 2.30am!) of a cheese croissant which had clearly been in the hot cupboard for several hours!! Landed safely at 7.35am after circling London about 3 times. Quickly through passport control, wait a while for my bags - starting to think they're not coming, but they arrive (my cheap bag has not endured well, but everything still seems to be in there - I haven't checked for breakages yet... it was marked as fragile, for all the difference that made!). Straight through customs, to find that my Mum had arrived [View Full Entry]

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For this summer I am working as a voluntary tour leader for Oak Hall, a Christian holiday company based in Otford, Kent. I went on their trips (ski trips initially) as a guest, enjoyed them and came back often physically tired, but spiritually refreshed, and always with a number of new friends - some of whom I've stayed in touch with, some, inevitably not! Facebook always helps though... After discussions with Tim today, this is my planned itinerary (always subject to change): * 24-31 May Venice This one's definite (Venice, Venetian Riviera, Verona, Burano, Murano) * 7 June - 5 July: [View Full Entry]

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Tuesday 29th Made it awake 520am, headache nearly gone. By 6am am fully packed, eaten breakfast and we're soon on our way to the Rodoviario where I can catch the bus. We arrive 640ish. I know there's a bus 721, but check if there others earlier - nope - and the 721 is now going 741 and is the first. Pay my R$67 and plonk myself in the waiting room. See the bus arrive and head out, load baggage and head onto my seat with my newspaper (hmm, Portuguese) and snack-pack I've been given. Bus driver tells us 2 hours 10 [View Full Entry]

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Sunday 27th So that was my last night at Gaynor's and after making sure that I had everything including my mosquito net we headed off to church. Another beautiful day as we stuffed my bags into Gaynor's car. The church was busier than last week and included the chaplain/some of the crew of a British warship en route to Argentina. They're away from home for 7 months and I realise that tomorrow I've been away 7 months, but also that I'm nearly at the end! After church say goodbye to Gaynor then head back to Roy & Noreen's where I'll be [View Full Entry]

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Saturday 26th Another early start, another bus ride in on the busy roads. The surfers are again out in the bay, and the waves are still breaking on the beach... Where there should be NO waves! At 630am it's already 23 degrees, so it's going to be another hot day. In the city, back on the internet trying to sort out my hotel in Sao Paulo. When Gaynor's assistant arrives about 11am I get ready to head out. Decide to walk down to the Botanic Gardens... Takes 2.5 hours before I arrive as I go via a few shops and Park [View Full Entry]

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Thursday 24th After another 530am start join Gaynor on the bus into town. She's going to show me how to make my own way back if I like. Takes the usual 1.5 hours this morning. I get time on the internet again then head over to the hotel to meet Linda. Lila is there but Linda isn't... My fault! Get into an internet café and we arrange that I'll wait there. Meantime is a message from Gaynor that the ferry has had an accident which means that traffic won't be great tonight! Once we meet, go for breakfast at a juice [View Full Entry]

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Wednesday 23rd April Another public holiday, another bit of a lie-in. Before too long we're headed into Niteroi where I get a few photos of the view across to Rio, see the island of the Monks, Niemeyer's 'spaceship', before we head round to the fort. Given a really interesting tour of the fort (yes, it's in Portuguese, but Gaynor translates), given lots of stories about events of the past. It's still an active fort so some areas are out of bounds. We head to Bob's Burgers for lunch (bit of a Brazilian institution, and means still haven't had a McDonald's for [View Full Entry]

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Tuesday 22nd April Managed to get up 530am, and was ready to leave by 615am. Gaynor usually gets the bus from central Niteroi but as yesterday/tomorrow are public holidays the city should be quieter. Amazingly we make it in in 45 minutes - normal day would take about 1.5 hours. Get an hour or so on Gaynor's assistants computer before she arrives for work. I thought the city tour I'd signed up for with the rest of the group was meeting 1pm, but messages on Facebook indicate otherwise so I catch a taxi to the hotel for 1030am. Everyone turns up [View Full Entry]

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