I rose just after 7.30am, checked my e mails and Facebook, replied to a couple and had a bowl of Weetabix. I dressed and departed for church, we have reached the Fifth Sunday in Lent and we were looking at Ezekiel and the Valley of Dry Bones this morning.
After church I went to the Avari Hotel to join their health club, Olympia. I then availed myself of the facilities and spent a very pleasant time swimming in their open air pool, managing to swim half a mile, I then adjourned to the Jacuzzi.
From there, I visited the greengrocers and the Bread People and headed off home. I settled down to a brunch of warm croissants, freshly squeezed orange juice and fresh coffee and began the Saturday Telegraph General Knowledge Crossword (provided as ever by David and Katey via email from Belfast!), with an episode of Star Trek Voyager on the DVD.
Before settling down to brunch I started preparing dinner, by placing two pieces of fresh tuna in a marinade of lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, spring onion and fresh coriander. Later, this will be seared in a hot frying pan before being served with a homemade mushroom risotto containing both button and oyster mushrooms.
Now those wondering about my health and weight will be pleased to hear that I have lost half a stone since my TIA four weeks ago, and now I will be exercising regularly I hope that this will continue and even speed up a little.
Exercise wise I have set my self the target of swimming the Channel before I leave for the UK on 21st June! This of course will be done in stages and in the heated pool of the Avari rather than the cold waters of the actual English Channel. It means that I have to swim 1344 lengths or 21 miles in the next 14 weeks, approximately 96 lengths a week, I have already done 32 lengths today, but will have to get a ahead a little as I will be away next week in Egypt so may not get chance to get all the necessary lengths done.
I am now sat (in just my underwear, sorry if anyone is eating whilst reading this) with the ceiling fan turning and window open as the sun sets over the houses opposite content with myself and my life here.
Like Edith Piaf, ‘J’ne regrette rien’ about my life up to leaving the UK last August. I enjoyed much of my time in Stalybridge and my teaching career at Trinity. Equally, I am glad that I moved to Barnsley and ‘tested my vocation’ for Priesthood in the Church of England, if for no other reason I can answer the question, ‘Why are you in Karachi/Pakistan?’ with the response ‘because I didn’t want to be a Vicar in the Church of England’!
I am thankful to God for bringing me to this point and also to all of you reading this, that made the move possible. As John Donne said’ No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.’ Being here, apparently alone, I am very conscious that I am indeed part of a continent of friends and family that are supporting me with their love, prayers and practical encouragements, emails, text messages, looking after my finances, looking after my car, leaving comments on here and Facebook, etc. I am really grateful to all of you for your support.
I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers…your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you have refreshed the heart of this saint. Philemon vv 4 & 7 (with slight editing by me).
Well the tuna should be well marinated by now, so my culinary adventures are about to begin in the kitchen. Also the power has not yet been off today which means I probably have that to look forward to, probably just as I have finished preparing the ingredients, but then again T.I.P. (This Is Pakistan) and I love it with all its imperfections…
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