Time marches on...

We have reached the one week left stage!

I am currently in the middle of The Great Adventure, which is a Scripture Union Holiday for 11-14, held at St Martin's Ampleforth. There are 54 young people and 27 leaders and I am Chief Caterer. Today is the outing day and they have all gone to Robin Hood's Bay and Whitby and I had a couple of hours in bed! The potatoes are in the oven and the chilli made, teh cheesecake is chilling and so there is only the beans to open and that will be tea ready.

I was getting a little concerned that I wouldn't be ready to leave on teh 24th and so I did the only thing a man can do in this position... I sent for my mother! She and Barbara are coming over on Tuesday to help with the 'last push' on the packing and tidying, this means it will all be done in time, they are great slave drivers those two!

It is finally sinkin gin that I am leaving the country and won't be back for a long time. So much willl happen here that I won't be a part of and that saddens me. The team from One UP are meeting and I won't be there because I will be in the air on the way to Karachi. BUt I know that there will be lots of exciting things for me to do when I get there as well.

My friend Andrew is coming out to see in mid October as part of his travels in his Gap year after finishing at Oxford, and it will be fun to be able to play the host to him. Others have also said that they will be coming to see me which will be great.

So I return to Great Houghton on Saturday, and then Sunday I am at Holy Trinity, Stalybridge to preach and attend a bun fight in my honour. Monday more sorting and a trip to Darlington to drop of One UP stuff at Meg's and say goodbye to here and her sister Dot. Tuesday is the last push and a meal with Dave and Jayne, Gary and Jane, Joy and all the kids. Wednesday move out of the house in Great Houghton, move in to Bill and Gwen's. Thursday last minute preparation and then Friday the same, dropp car of at Andrew's get him to drop me of at David and Michelle's and get them to drop me off at the airport and then the adventure really begins... to be continued!