Love this!

World Science Festival 2009: Bobby McFerrin Demonstrates the Power of the Pentatonic Scale from World Science Festival on Vimeo.

10 Weeks In

My updates have tailed off a bit since the beginning of October. Completely, actually! Not because life has stopped or because I have sat in a darkened room or because I've been out of web-contact. 

I think it's because I have had to focus on living, and haven't had the parallel energy to comment on it all. Once again I realise, as I look back into the blur of the last few weeks, that the process of assimilating new information...meeting new people...figuring out new roads and navigating new areas...applying for new jobs and imagining myself in new places...is pretty much all-consuming.

If I was a computer, I reckon all my RAM and the capacity of my processor have been taken up with all of this general 'newness'. Functioning well...but with very little spare along the way.

And now I'm 10 weeks here. 10 weeks. Two and a half months. 70 days.

10 weeks here and now with a job. 

It all happened really fast and came out of nowhere, catching me by surprise, triggering a few days of intense thought and prayer as I faced an application deadline in decision making. 

Having fallen in love with the school as I walked through the gates for the first time, somewhat bemused by the deep sense of home-coming that stirred in my soul, I applied for the job in Te Puru School, was called for interview, invited to join the team and, the following day, worked my first days here in NZ doing some relief teaching for them. 'Rabbit in headlights' pretty much sums up my first day. Realising my eyes were opening wider and wider as the day progressed and my mind saturated with a whole new plethora of newnesses!

Now, a couple of weeks in and with some more teaching days under my belt, I love this school more and more! Sounds gushy and all...but tis true. The kids are great, the staff are so friendly and welcoming and the team feeling within the school is tangible and inviting. I can't quite believe that this is now my school too.

I start at the end of January 2012 - in the meantime am popping in to help out a bit.

I grabbed some photos last week. Gorgeous, huh? 

Right on the beach on the shores of the Coromandel...overlooking the sea...where an occasional pod of orcas swims by...

Te Puru School Office and Staff Room

My new classroom! That's the beach just over the low fence...

The fab pirate's ship - popular with the kids

So, job - check!

Accommodation looking hopeful too. Will keep you posted. In the meantime, I'll continue here with my parents - good to reconnect after 11 years of living on opposite sides of the world.

Looking back and looking forward...10 weeks behind me and the next 10 weeks in front of me.

The journey continues...

Pancakes....or pikelets??

I'm in the kitchen in Napier, helping to create scotch pancakes....except here, they're called pikelets! Aaron, my second cuzzie, is hard at work with the frying pan. He seems to have made a huge amount of mixture...and is making the pikelets HUGE, just to use it all up! Hmmmmm....engineer's logic, I think!

Here he is...

Even in NZ!!

Flags are everywhere! On the road down to Napier, I passed some signs..."Go Ireland"..."Scotland the Brave"...all alongside All Black flags, of course!
I love the way this country has absolutely and wholeheartedly got behind so many of the Rugby World Cup teams and are delighting in the whole buzz. It's infectious!
Here I am on the roadside down to Napier...

Those are tyres in the middle of a big field....that's serious commitment to supporting!

Scots v English tonight.

South to Napier

I jumped into my car on Thursday morning, picked up a coffee on my way through Thames and then headed south, driving down long straight roads under big skies, following the weaving curves over the Kaweka Ranges (stunning!) before descending down into Hawkes Bay and Napier.

My car and I have fully bonded and I knew the joy of the open road, having time to meander, think, pray and enjoy the blue skies and beautiful scenery. Being in some space has been good for my soul...

Napier has been a time of rich conversations, quiet processing (lots of this happening in my soul and mind as I assimilate and adjust and think forwards) and pitching in with life here. 

My thoughts are increasingly turning towards jobs and possibilities re places to settle. With my application for registration finally in the post and away, I am getting my cv up to date and doing some research regarding different cities...particularly Tauranga, Auckland, Cambridge and Napier. I'm asking questions, listening to people and paying attention...

Thinking...

Sunshine!

After 2 weeks of much rain and general chilliness, the sun made an appearance today! Dad, Mum and I went for a wee walk this afternoon and I took a few shots.
Beautiful, isn't it?

Heading towards the sea...

...I turned around and took a piccie of Dad and Mum's house. I know...it's THAT close!!

The view along the coast towards Thames...just stunning!

Haircut

I know it shouldn't really be a 'thing'...but it definitely felt a significant step of courage, or something close to it, to walk into a hair salon and sit in the chair today! My first cut in NZ...it made me feel a bit vulnerable...would she cut it in the way I like...do the ways in which I describe what I want translate...?Different country, different culture...eeek!

The result..?

A Car

Yay! I am now a car-owner-down-under!
Having researched on TradeMe (the NZ equivalent of Ebay), I ventured out with a prayer and SatNav into the depths of Auckland to find a car. Definitely not my favourite thing to do on my own, hence the prayer...!
So, I arrived eventually at a yard that seemed to hold some good cars and wandered in to have a look. The sales guy came out and said hi. I heard the accent and immediately asked him where he was from... 'Glasgow, hen!' he said....and I almost hugged the man...but instead bought a car from him.
A beautiful Golf GTi turbo, silver with clean interior, great alloys and a real kick when put my foot down.
I picked it up from William today...and I have to say, it's a whole pile of fun to drive!

Buy a car - check!

Day 4

The past few days now feel a bit blurry to me as I look back. I feel like I'm here...I think.
I've made steps forward in very practical things and, I reckon, these are helping to settle me into the reality of being here.
Open bank accounts - check
Find coffee shop - check
Register with Doc - check
Join the Library - check
Apply for NZ Driver's Licence - check
Register with Inland Revenue - check
Apply for Police Check - check

Not bad for 4 days in... Am enjoying the feeling of productivity and savouring my unusual efficiency. Lorna, once again, you'd be proud!!

Now I'm searching for a car and waiting for my police check to come through so that I can apply to the Teaching Council... If successful with them, I can finally begin applying for jobs.

It's been pouring with rain pretty much since I arrived - which is somehow ok, strangely! Similarity with the UK is easing the transition I think. Being with family is really good - have popped in to see my sister everyday so far - just cos I can!
Poppableness is a good thing!

New Zealand

I'm here! I've arrived! Tired but well. Aware of the beginning of something new...aware of pretty big stuff happening...aware of the unexpected normality of these first few moments...aware of thoughts circling around a sleep-deprived mind...
I'm here.

I'll blog again tomorrow after some shut-eye...bed, here I come...

I'm here!!

Mum, me and Aunty Shirley

Fire

Watching Gavin burning off the undergrowth and scrub around the house was a helpful reminder to me of the sometimes necessary paring back and pruning that needs to happen in order to allow new growth to come.
A picture for me of the leaving process that I have undergone over these last months.

Gav is also future proofing - minimising the unnecessary tangles of dry and dead wood so that any potential bushfire is starved. Somehow this strikes a chord with me also.

Enjoy the pics...more at the side...

Almost There

I leave tonight for NZ, the last leg of this physical journey lifting off at 2355 this evening. I'm ready to arrive now and to start engaging with this new life I'm entering.
In a really right and healthy way, the UK seems distant and apart. It was a good thing to take some time to transition gradually to NZ. There has been a physical transition...and also emotional and mental ones.
These are not finished yet - I face too many new things in these next months, too many unknowns. The Transition Trail continues.
I don't feel anxious - a gift from above - aware, though, that there will be challenges.
But deep in my soul, I hear the Voice that reminds me, 'Do not fear for I am with you. Take one step at a time and do what is in front of you to do.'
I'm listening...and stepping....
Next step - a plane out of Perth tonight. Some more goodbyes...
NZ tomorrow.

Kangaroos and Giraffes

As I've mentioned previously, Gav and Dee's home is out in the bush in a stunningly beautiful area in the hills near Perth.
One of the really fun things, whilst visiting here, has been seeing kangaroos bouncing by as they have wandered through the garden. There's a field down the road that seems to have many also. They are funny looking creatures, in the same class as giraffes and elephants for me. I look at them with a critical eye and think, 'That just shouldn't work'...but somehow it does.
And then I marvel at God's creativity all over again.
Giraffes are my favourite animals - in part, because of the fact that they are so very out of proportion and they just shouldn't 'work' but instead, in a thoroughly counter-cultural way, they are just beautiful.
I love it!
We're going out for a walk through the bush today. I'll take my camera and keep it handy - maybe get a shot or two of some 'roos.

Trampoline

When Ben arrived home from Kindy yesterday, the trampoline beckoned us all. What a lot of fun we had bouncing together, singing songs and playing games.
By the way...seriously good leg workout too!

Perth

We headed downtown today and enjoyed a river ferry, a tasty burger and a wander around Perth Zoo. All while the sun shone from a cloudless sky.

It was beautiful!

A very pleasant, good fun day with Gav, Dee and Ben! 

Check out the rest of the Perth photos in the slideshow to the right.

Australia - Day One

10 hours of the best sleep ever and I woke up to a beautiful morning in the bush in Hovea, just outside Perth. Gav and Dee live in a gorgeous place - tall trees, huge boulders, big skies - all just outside the windows.
I feel like I'm almost here...another good sleep tonight and I should be right.
We went out for lunch today to the Margaret River Chocolate Factory... Need I say anymore? Yum!!
Have loved meeting my godson, Ben, recently turned 5. His question today, "What is outside space?"
Once again I realise why I love hanging out with kids!

Down Under!

I'm here...down under! I've crossed the equator and am now in the southern hemisphere. I've also crossed the dateline and lost a day that I will never have again...at least not for the foreseeable future!
Sitting in Brisbane airport now delayed due to a missed flight. Actually, quite nice to have the extra couple of hours to catch up with myself.
My flight down was on this big beast...

I had a bulkhead seat with no one next to me...all the legroom at a fraction of the price of the seats in the nose of the plane! Once again, I feel so well looked after.

I slept and watched movies, most of which I can't actually remember. No doubt I will have that deja vu feeling in the future as I find myself watching a movie...and having to work out where I could possibly have seen it before!

The one I do remember is 'Soul Surfer'. Worth watching - the story of a girl who lost her arm to a shark.
I definitely respond to what I watch (that's why I tend to avoid scary films etc)... After this one, I stuffed my arm in my bag and stood taller. The twinkle was showing too as I laughed at myself!

Better go - flight calling to get to Perth...

Lollipops...

We've watched Hannah and Caleb playing soccer the last couple of days... They did really well - and it was fun watching them. Fun to listen to the commentary from the sidelines too!

Lollipops appeared and were enjoyed by all.

Note to self - in future lollipop pictures, remember to place lollipop in the middle of mouth and avoid chipmunk face! Thanks, B & P, for sharing that one....not!!

Goodbye Chicago....

I'm sitting in LAX waiting for my next plane which will take me to Brisbane.
I've munched some tortilla chips and had some soup in an airport restaurant, mindful that I will probably be fed on the next flight.
Barrie, Pam and I spent much of the journey to O'Hare in quiet - with little flurries of conversation. What was there to say? The tears were close to the surface for me...these are dear friends...and the words that really wanted to be spoken wouldn't surmount the lump in my throat. I think they understood though. Kindred spirits do.
The miles disappeared, the I90 was clear and the airport arrived too soon.
A quick goodbye, tears and hankies - and then a big laugh...humour spotted even in the midst of this! How I will miss them!

Check in done (love my new suitcases!!)...
security entered...
scanned - check
swabbed - check
patted down - check
...and no man's land here I come....
...straight to the nearest Starbucks!

I love America!!

Now, 13.5 hours in the plane. My kindle is loaded...my headphones are at the ready...flight socks unrolled and waiting...all the little things that I love to have handy are syphoned off into a 'sub-bag' ready for under the seat...overhead locker awaits my other cabin bag... I'm good to go!

Will update when I get down under...

Onwards...

Tomorrow, I leave for Perth, Australia. I can't quite believe it. Suddenly my month is finished here and I don't know if I am quite ready for it to be done. It's another goodbye...

I have been in the midst of lists today...making sure I have everything I need...everything done...everything ready...
We've been at football (soccer) games last night and this morning - Labour Weekend Tournaments in which Hannah and Caleb are playing. The games are continuing throughout the afternoon but I have had to draw back in order to prepare for leaving. Another time I wish I could be in two places at once.

How do I feel about leaving?
Sad...and excited...and sad...and excited...and...and...and...

I'm so looking forward to seeing Gav and Dee....but I'm going to miss my friends here very much. All the smiles and laughs...all the mocking and fun...all the chats and sharings...the evening beers and pretzels...the ease of just hanging out.
I'm going to miss them, my family here.
My comfy cardi Orrs.

Hot!!

On our way back from Cincinnati, look what the temperature gauge was showing...

Eek!!

It was hot!!

Dick and Sibyl

Pam and I drove down to Indiana this week, passing through Indianapolis and on towards Cincinnati. We were heading for The Springs, new home of Dick and Sibyl Towner.


The Springs


A road trip is always fun and this one was no different. Pam and I talked and laughed and sang on the journey down. She drove and I 'D-Jayed'.
We arrived at lunchtime, walked in and felt the 'homeness' of Dick and Sibyl straight away. Even with boxes lying around (they only moved in a few days ago), the house is beautiful. Outside, the farm is green and peaceful. It's all gorgeous.
Our 24 hours there felt luxuriously long and unhurried. We went to church on Wednesday night at Crossroads church in Cincinnati. Once again, I knew that the Lord had gone ahead of me.
The sermon was all about Adventures - apt timing or what?! It was so good for my soul to hear these words as I was thinking ahead to climbing aboard a plane on Sunday and heading off for the next part of my adventure...


Here is the link - well worth listening to...


Crossroads Church - Adventures


The rest of our time at The Springs was relaxed and replenishing. Sibyl and I went for a walk and talked and talked, sharing our common current adventures. Seeing them establishing their home is making me excited in anticipating establishing mine - wherever it is!

The Springs - Dick and Sibyl's new home

Inside one of the 4 cabins

Overlooking the lake - blethering time over breakfast!

Dick and Sibyl

I am so glad we made it down to see The Springs. It is good to move forwards having lingered for a while in the Towner's company.

Broken Fingers

As many of you know, I often have a bandaid on my left pinkie. This is because it usually has a tear in the glove and the plaster is to cover the gash and stop the tear splitting any further.
My brand new hand developed a tear within a few days of being in Chicago...so I donned the plaster and on I went as usual. The neat thing about the plaster is that it is a conversation starter. Where people might be reluctant to say, "What happened to your arm?", they feel much freer to ask, "What happened to your finger?" There are usually smiles and chuckles as I explain that I have broken it. I get asked a lot!
I spent some time with good friends of mine, Mike and Teri, the other week. What a treat it is to hang out with them!
Apart from being fab and real comfy cardi friends, Mike and I also share limblessness - for him a leg and for me an arm. I love sharing this with him - a rare and valued fellowship.
Because of this friendship, I was able to go and meet the team who provide Mike's legs for him in the hopes that they might be able to do something to help my pinkie situation. I was pretty sure anything they could do would be limited apart from replacing the whole glove, but this didn't matter because it was just being able to go and meet them that meant the most.
My ability to enter the world of prostheses is just part of my life...and I take it for granted at times. This time, I drove towards the clinic with eagerness. I have loved being here in Chicago - it has been SO good for my soul - but it has also been tiring on my 'arm-front'. I have been asked so very often about my arm and have danced the dance of sharing and bridging and setting folks at ease. It's been good but has taken its toll. So many people have asked....everywhere....everyday...
This is why it was so good to be able to head into a world, even just for a couple of hours, in which I was not different...where no one stared...in which it was normal to have a limb missing.
The moment Greg and Brian came into the room - in fact, the moment I sat down in the surgery - I could feel my soul draw in a long, sweet breath and then relax.
A moment or two of feeling at home.

We sat and blethered for a few minutes. What a cool thing these guys do! They are so passionate about it all...it was a real treat to hang with them for a while.
I asked to see around the workshop.

Check it out...

All in all, a special time coming at just the right time for me. I am so grateful to God for it. He knew I needed it, had it in mind for me and set it all up without my knowing how much I needed it!

Barrie and Pam

Reading back through my posts, I realise that I haven't actually introduced Barrie and Pam.
Here they are...true comfy cardy friends!

Sisters??

The most often asked question of this visit has been directed to Pam and me wherever we have gone...
"Are you sisters?"
Everyone has asked it - in stores, restaurants, checkouts, school, social gatherings and so on. Very fun...
It's made us both smile often!

So, what do you think? (This is an older photo of us both - standing on Crofter's Hill above Loch Tay in Scotland. I'll upload a current one of us also - once I get it off the camera.)

Sisters?

Time!

I can't believe it! The time has flown by...and yet in many ways I feel I have been here for ages. It's funny how subjective time is. During the midst of my stay, it was feeling deliciously long...and now, as I'm coming to the end, my visit here suddenly feels such a short time. Like, my arrival is becoming increasingly clearer in my memory and yet everyday takes it further into the past. Weird!

My current time puzzle is a humdinger. Or at least I thought it was until Barrie and I sat and figured it all out. My brain is still feeling a bit stretched!

So, the thing that started all of this was the realisation that I leave here this coming Sunday 4th Sept (still in slight denial about this and readying hankies) and arrive in Perth, Australia on the 6th September - 2 days later...! I know I cross the dateline - and so my question was, "Where does the time I lose go?'
At this point, somewhat stupidly it has to be said, I was thinking that my flying time was approx 15 hours. This left me with about 12 hours unaccounted for...12 hours that everyone else would live but I wouldn't because of the whole dateline thing...Hence my deeply profound questions...where does my time go? Will I just age 15 hours whilst everyone else ages 27 hours?? And so on...good questions, as I'm sure you'll agree?

At this point, Barrie said this just proves that the manmade invention of time is flawed! I thought he made a good point and presented it well...! He throughly enjoyed my thinking he was right, commenting that this wouldn't happen in real life but only in Blogsville! I am SO misunderstood!!

But then, we looked at each other and said...hold on, this CAN'T be right. Actually, Barrie's mega-mathematical brain kicked into action and he looked at me like I was speaking nonsense (a common occurrence - that particular look, I mean!) as I spouted all my questions as above .

To make an already too long story short...and to reassure you all that I have not actually lost the plot...
I won't lose any time as it's going to take me every second of those 27 hours to get to Australia! 27 hours!! Oh, man! And there I was thinking 15 hours would just about do it. Doh!

Well, there you go. It all goes to prove that the world is a big place...and that Pippa should read her itinerary much more carefully!

Thanks, 'arrie!

Willow Creek - a journey across the carpark

I went to church on Wednesday night as they have a midweek service and it was really good to be there.
It was a beautiful evening and my camera was handy so I did a bit of extremely amateurish filming on the way so that those who haven't been here can visualise where I am.
Apologies for the shaking...was trying not to look like a total tool as I walked along, talking away quite the thing (apparently to myself!)...
Truly, I feel that I am beginning to settle into this whole 'look-like-a-complete-tourist' thing. It is actually quite liberating.

So, you ready?

Lights...action...

Enjoy the movies!

Rain...Ummmm...maybe not

So, the rain didn't come like I predicted...! Instead it was sunny and 95F...!
The USA is SO different from Scotland - and I love it. When it rains, it really rains and then it all goes away and the sun comes out and it's hot again.
Love it!
Much as I love Scotland (and I really do), I am not going to miss the weather!

Checked the temps a couple of days ago.

Edinburgh in the middle of summer 59F....Auckland in the middle of winter 61F...

I know!!

Front Porch Thoughts...

I don't have my lenses in yet so the world is looking pretty blurry this morning from the front porch. The wind is picking up and the trees across the street are waving at me.
I think it might rain today. I love the rain here - it doesn't hold back one smidgeon, pelting down with full force and glorious freedom. The sky grumbles and light flashes. I love it!

Came across this little movie today. For those who don't know, Wellington in NZ recently had its first snow in over 80 years.  I think I love this little movie because I see the child in these people peeking out in wonder...stopping to savour and just plain old enjoy. I love the smiles on the faces and the instant camaraderie that is shared.
Captivated in the moment.
Just like kids...seeing things freshly that to us adults have become stale and invisible. It makes me want to see with their eyes.
I think this video captures some moments when that 'seeing' is happening.
Of all the things that kids can teach us (and they can teach us loads), this is way up there!

Makes me think of this neat quote from G. K. Chesterton...

"Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, "Do it again"; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, "Do it again" to the sun; and every evening, "Do it again" to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we." 

I hope you have a day sprinkled with some unexpected moments of 'seeing'. 

Kiwi!

Love this!

Downtown!

We went downtown early this morning to gather together with loads of other people for the Willow Chicago service. It was great to be there!!
The church meets in the Auditorium Theatre - a gorgeous building - and we went today because they were celebrating the opening of their new ministry centre.
During the service, we heard the story of how the church has given and given (with joy!!) in order to gain a space in which they can really serve God. It was very cool! We had a tour around the ministry centre and it was just beautiful...and totally functional. It is where the kids in Promiseland will meet on a Sunday, the worship band will practice, the various admin/office-based roles will happen, where people will hang out....and...and....and...!
Very cool!

Then, having met with other believers and sung and listened and shared and learned and celebrated, we headed onto Michigan Avenue for some lunch.

Fortified, relaxed and REALLY enjoying the beautiful day, we headed across the street and into Millennium Park... The Air and Water Show is on in Chicago this weekend so there were loads of people, boats and aeroplanes! The jets rocketed by, flying so closely together that the thought crossed my mind that if one of the pilots were to sneeze, jerking the helm (right term?) even slightly they could be in real diffs!! Fun to watch though...and, I bet, VERY fun to fly!! "I feel the need...." ;)

We saw the famous Bean...

...strolled along to Navy Pier - my neck craning this way and that as I took in the skyline. I was such a tourist!! Fiona, think London...and multiply by about 10!! :)

But I couldn't help it...it was such fun to see it all! Check it out...

Pretty cool, huh?

As we meandered towards the car, we passed these guys. I love what they can do with a plastic bucket and a couple of drumsticks!!

Hope it plays for you.

So, a really good day!

No deeply profound thoughts or contemplations apart from a marvelling at the creativity of man... a wondering about how the city developed and took shape...an enjoyment of the sun on my shoulders....and a real contentment in hanging out with the Orrs...thanks, guys!