When I last wrote, I was heading to Bangkok to visit Mai and her family. I was so touched and blessed by them. They work very hard and have recently been encouraged by being able to rent a new church with a house attached to it so that they can set up a home for children. The idea behind this is to have 5-6 orphans come and live as part of their family and teach them about family life! I was also very encouraged meeting a young missionary family who have come from South Africa to work with the Thai people and it was great hearing a bit of their story. Mai's mum worked very hard all day as they had just received the keys the day before I arrived. I don't have a before shot but she really transformed this place!!!
While she was working so hard, Mai had been showing me some sights around Bangkok and we took a river boat cruise. Now I can say I have been on a river Taxi!!!! In effect that is what it was. It is a commuter boat used by Thai's going to and from work! It's a quick and great way to get around and beats sitting in Traffic, especially when it is very hot!!
As yet, I have not confirmed my plans for New Year! Apparently the fireworks in Sydney are not to be missed and this is probably the only opportunity I will ever have to see them! So I should stay for that and then make my way up the coast to Cairns!!!
I arrived in Sydney on Wednesday and I was so relieved to reach here and to see my good friends Adam and Christyn!! We had a lovely couple of days together before they had to head off up the coast for SU camp. They trusted me with their home, handed me the keys and off they went. They have been super hospitable! Adam really wanted to show me Sydney and took me for some lovely walks to the National park nearby and I saw some beautiful birds in their natural habitat!
Unfortunately the weather was not great for my first couple of days as it was raining. But thankfully the sun came out for Christmas day and after dinner I learnt how to surf on Bondi Beach!!! Adam's sister Belinda, kindly hosted me for the day and made a beautiful dinner. Her husband Terry, from Santry in Dublin, made me feel so at home. Their kids Marcus, Erin and Catherine were great fun on Christmas morning all overjoyed by Santa's gifts!!! I couldn't believe not only was I on a beach on Christmas day but BONDI beach!!! There were at least 10,000 of us and the beach was packed! It didn't feel like your average Irish Christmas but it was such great fun!!! I have to say I really enjoyed not having to work at all this Christmas and also not getting caught up in the busyness, therefore allowing me time to remember the true meaning of Christmas. We went to mass as a family both Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. I have to say Christmas morning mass was lovely even though Father preached the same sermon word for word and used the same jokes!!!! One of them goes like this: Two men are talking about Christmas and one says 'Look at what I got my wife for Christmas' and he showed him a beautiful diamond ring. 'Wow that is some size of diamond!! the other one said, 'But did I not hear that your wife wanted a BMW for Christmas?' Ah yes she did but you see it is much more difficult to fake a BMW!!!!!'
So it came and went like any other day and now it is Boxing day and I have been left, minding yet another house and this time a 3 month old kitten!!! The Farelli's have gone camping and have so kindly let me stay in their home!!! It is a beautiful place just 10 minutes walk from the beach and Bondi junction. I plan to get acquainted with more local beaches in the next couple of days!! There are some beautiful ones here in Sydney which are less populated than Bondi!!
Sydney is an awesome city and I really enjoyed my day at Manly with Adam. We took the ferry across the harbour and enjoyed stunning views of the opera house. We tasted some good fish and chips and a I took dip in the sea while Adam preferred to hold the camera!
While she was working so hard, Mai had been showing me some sights around Bangkok and we took a river boat cruise. Now I can say I have been on a river Taxi!!!! In effect that is what it was. It is a commuter boat used by Thai's going to and from work! It's a quick and great way to get around and beats sitting in Traffic, especially when it is very hot!!
As yet, I have not confirmed my plans for New Year! Apparently the fireworks in Sydney are not to be missed and this is probably the only opportunity I will ever have to see them! So I should stay for that and then make my way up the coast to Cairns!!!
I arrived in Sydney on Wednesday and I was so relieved to reach here and to see my good friends Adam and Christyn!! We had a lovely couple of days together before they had to head off up the coast for SU camp. They trusted me with their home, handed me the keys and off they went. They have been super hospitable! Adam really wanted to show me Sydney and took me for some lovely walks to the National park nearby and I saw some beautiful birds in their natural habitat!
Unfortunately the weather was not great for my first couple of days as it was raining. But thankfully the sun came out for Christmas day and after dinner I learnt how to surf on Bondi Beach!!! Adam's sister Belinda, kindly hosted me for the day and made a beautiful dinner. Her husband Terry, from Santry in Dublin, made me feel so at home. Their kids Marcus, Erin and Catherine were great fun on Christmas morning all overjoyed by Santa's gifts!!! I couldn't believe not only was I on a beach on Christmas day but BONDI beach!!! There were at least 10,000 of us and the beach was packed! It didn't feel like your average Irish Christmas but it was such great fun!!! I have to say I really enjoyed not having to work at all this Christmas and also not getting caught up in the busyness, therefore allowing me time to remember the true meaning of Christmas. We went to mass as a family both Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. I have to say Christmas morning mass was lovely even though Father preached the same sermon word for word and used the same jokes!!!! One of them goes like this: Two men are talking about Christmas and one says 'Look at what I got my wife for Christmas' and he showed him a beautiful diamond ring. 'Wow that is some size of diamond!! the other one said, 'But did I not hear that your wife wanted a BMW for Christmas?' Ah yes she did but you see it is much more difficult to fake a BMW!!!!!'
So it came and went like any other day and now it is Boxing day and I have been left, minding yet another house and this time a 3 month old kitten!!! The Farelli's have gone camping and have so kindly let me stay in their home!!! It is a beautiful place just 10 minutes walk from the beach and Bondi junction. I plan to get acquainted with more local beaches in the next couple of days!! There are some beautiful ones here in Sydney which are less populated than Bondi!!
Sydney is an awesome city and I really enjoyed my day at Manly with Adam. We took the ferry across the harbour and enjoyed stunning views of the opera house. We tasted some good fish and chips and a I took dip in the sea while Adam preferred to hold the camera!
That's all for now. When I next write, I will have seen in the New year and who knows what else will have happened in that time!!!! I hope you all had a super Christmas and Happy New year!!!
God bless
1 comment:
Happy New Year Jane!! Did you see the Sydney fireworks then? It was lovely to see you over Skype. I hope your day worked out well! We partied all day at New Year, but were in bed before midnight. xo
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