update eight: foolin' around
'The Fool' statue in Christchurch... very applicable this week, as the city has been playing host to the International Busker's Festival... 10 days of street entertainment; all day - everyday - all over the city centre... I spent 2 day's at the festival, one with Andrew and Christine where we saw "Mario Queen of the Circus....' he turned out to be a german juggler with a ludicrous moustache, whose act was set to the soundtrack of Queen hits with a Grand Finale of crowdsurfing to 'We Are the Champions....' yes, I totally agree, it sounds ridiculous, and how on earth do they dream up these routines!? but I have to say, it worked!!
My second trip was an afternoon on my own, a perfect day with the sun shining, crowds out in force (for NZ!!) and a great load of acts going on all over the place. My favourite bit about the day was the fact that you could actually see! If a similar event was held in London you would not have a hope of getting within half a mile of the act and you would most likely be spending your day examining in great detail, the backs of the heads of the people in front of you.
Whilst the quietness and lack of people issue here takes some getting used to, particularly after having lived in very central London prior to coming here, it has fantastic benefits for these kinds of events.
Without the crowds you dont get the stress and adding the sun into the equation means you end up with a formula of top quality enjoyment!
Christchurch has just launched its Summertime events programme and it includes such delights as open air theatre productions in the park, a family kite flying day at the beach and an evenings classical fireworks show - all absolutely free and all things that you know you can go to and you dont have to arrive 3 weeks in advance 'cos the crowds are too big etc etc. As my friend Jarrod would say in his understated way......."Very good."
Also this week.... the family and I were invited to a BBQ lunch by Piers, a guy from church. I was expecting a gentile lunch on the patio type of affair and even considered slipping on a sundress as it was a fine day... so was greatly surprised (and relieved that the sundress had stayed in my wardrobe!) as Andrew announced "we're here!" as we pulled up into a field in the middle of nowhere, only to find Piers and his son cooking up what looked like half the contents of the local zoo over a brick furnace affair in the surroundings of a very well-equipped 'scout' camp... complete with everything (yes even the kitchen sink.... they actually had 2!) all they were missing were their woggles! Anyway it turns out that they regularly spend the summer months camping out on a piece of land on the farm they used to own.
We had a great time, it was so stereotypically rural Kiwi I cant even begin to tell you... kind of like stepping into a living museum of NZ life. We were joined for lunch by Roger (the present farm owner) he was Kiwi-Man personified. After lunch he disappeared off back to work on his quad bike complete with trailer (and obligatory dog) , leaving behind only a cloud of dust and his mobile phone (I was strangely disappointed he had a mobile phone...)
Josh's 'catch of the day'
hmm... something a bit fishy about this...
The afternoon took on a slightly surreal edge as we were invited to play croquet.... all very english, except for the fact that the croquet 'lawn' boasted several mounds that could seriously rival Everest. Croquet 'Kiwi-Style'!
Simeon's uphill struggle on the croquet lawn (just like to take this opportunity to point out that I beat both boys!)
That's been one of the best things about living with a family over here.. You get the real Kiwi lifestyle, and thats something I was really keen to experience when I came over. I dont want to be a long-term tourist or view NZ from the confines of an english community which is quite easy to do here. The Allan- John's have been so great at including me in so much as 'one of the family' and I've learnt loads from all of them and had so many authentic experiences-quite priceless!
This week Ive had a few low patches, just a couple of times when things have got to me, and I just cant keep going! I feel sometimes like Im in a perspex box here, and I can't 'buy into' the NZ lifestyle that I can see and love as much as I would like to due to numerous constraints. We were singing an old hymn the other day at church and one of the lines was something about being empty-handed, it really made me gulp as thats how I feel over here. (Im not in so many ways but when I compare myself to friends and others my age I can't help but feel like I dont have very much!!)
Thats all worldly desires though and the low patches do pass. At the end of the day I can survive without my own house, a husband and family, healthy bank balance, funky clothes, blah blah blah! All things I want so much but God knows what I NEED and He is providing on a day-to-day basis and that's what Ive promised to trust in, so why am I surprised and frustrated when thats what life is like!? Having said that I know that God is an abundant God who gives over and above (like the trip away Rachel and I experienced) and this is just a season (just dont know how long that season is going to be and right now though and it seems like eternity!)
Anyway so I pulled myself together after one afternoon of wallowing and took myself round to Jissica and Imma's (I mean Jessica and Emma's) to say Hi and to see if they wanted to come out and play later this week, ended up staying for 2 cups of tea and a long chat with their dad and stepmum and am taking the girl's out this saturday and going back to tea with the whole family!! Excellent!
Another plus point this week was meeting Bridget, she is a pastor at one of the churches in Rangiora and a friend of Christine and Andrew. Christine and I popped in (just to say helllo!) one evening and we ended up staying for a couple of hours. Bridget is fab, she is in her early fifties and single (phew!! another one of our endangered species in Rangiora!) and she's one of those people you come away from spending time with feeling really good about life and I really hope to see more of her now we've met!
So thats my news this week. Look forward to hearing yours!
lots of love
cx
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