Blogs from Oceania - page 6511

An entry from the very chilled out town of Wanaka. It's not a motor home - it's a monster on four wheels! Pick up overly-large vehicle from Christchurch and opt to join the anti-clockwise stream of campervans circumnavigating the South Island. Head North to Kaikoura where we say hello to some seals basking on the rocks (them not us). From Kaikoura to laid-back Nelson, where we spend a couple of days kitesurfing. At Abel Tasman national park in the far north, we spend a day kayaking to a marine reserve, where some more seals swim along beside us, then hike back through rain forest (us not them). See some rocks shaped like pancakes in Hokitika, want to eat some pancakes, then drive to Franz Josef, home of the eponymous glacier. Heavy rain wakes us on ice-hiking ... read more

Laura and I left the girls behind and headed onto Wanaka the next day. Wanaka is a really cute little holiday town that is a ski resort during the winter and a lakeside holiday destination in the summer. In true South Island style, it was raining! A new frind of ours cooked us a lovely dinner and then a group of us headed onto the local cinema. It was so cool, instead of uncomfortable cinema flip down chairs, there were actual sofas, bean bags and even a car so you could pretend you were at the drive in! We watched Apocolypto which was good but a little bloody! At the interval (yes they have an inteval and you can order meals to be ready for then) they had freshly bakes the most heavenly cookies in ... read more

Well it is now Sunday 21st Jan and our last day in Sydney - it is hot hot hot, although Manly Beach is closed because surf's up - but up too much - honestly these Aussies are such wimps! We arrived last Monday to find my friend Pippa and her youngest son Tom waiting at the airport to meet us - haven't seen her for 15 or so years so amazing she recognised me! She had arranged for us to use the house of a friend of hers - well what a house and what an area - we were so sad not to be staying in a hot, dusty caravan park! The next day we headed into Darling Harbour in the city to wildlife world with Pippa and her boys, Tom, Max and Joe. Kieran ... read more

It has been one week in Oxford and still loving it. It has been a busy week, and time flew by… The first day (Sunday Jan 14’07) we heard the staff’s testimonies (what God has done in their lives). It was really great to hear their stories. The next day (Monday Jan 15’07) all the student’s gave their testimonies (30 of us, about 5min long each) it was very emotional but amazing. Right away you feel closer to everyone and it is a very open and accepting atmosphere. Oh and my bags arrived! That was a huge relief ? Tuesday Jan 17’07 our first day of Lectures. We learned about Worship, the different ways you can worship God (not just through song, but also serving others and pretty much everything you do). We also learned about ... read more

Not much to report except that's it's very sunny here and 30+C and I really must get some sunscreen very shortly. Please don't think I'm trying to brass anybody off considering the weather back home. It really is alarming to hear about the resultant tragedies in Britain and throughout Europe and I sincerely hope that things aren't too unpleasant for any of you. I've just learnt that the Villa managed to scrape a win with 2 very late goals (one of which they scored themselves). I'm at a huge Internet cafe (how does one put accents on letters) near Central Station having consumed a generous breakfast in a food cafe. I'm going to keep in the shade as much as I can today and in the week, when it's, presumably, quieter I'm going to take a ... read more