Fresh Expressions...

I had a great day yesterday, with more new experiences.

I am now the proud owner of an Oyster card and have used on both buses and underground. This again is an everyday experience for thousands of Londoners but I am enjoying the novelty. I can't actually remember the last time I was on a bus, it must now be several years ago. Buses are, in my opinion, something to be avoided in Karachi, both whilst driving and also as a means of transportation!!!

The number 4 bus carried me from the end of Aberdeen Park, all the way to St Paul's and it was then a short walk over the Millenium Bridge to the Tate Modern where I met David. We then went on a wander round the gallery, but I have to confess that we spent more time reminiscing and catching up than we did looking at the artwork, so my knowledge of modern art is not that much greater than it was before I went. Though I do now know that the Futurists were, and I'm quoting, ''a bunch of facist b******s''!

I haven't seen David in 7 years so it was great to catch up and see what he is up to at the moment. He is currently waiting and working for his big break! He has done some set designing for smaller productions in London and is now working freelance on a variety of projects and waiting to make the connections necessary to progress in the theatre world. It was great to have the chance to go back over his time at school and catch up with news on other members of his class. It also reminded me of one of the reasons I love teaching so much. I looked at David and saw a young man brimming with possibilities and I had, if in only a tiny way, contributed to making him the man he is today. It is one of the greatest joys, but also biggest responsibilities, that my job entails.

After a delicious dinner at the British Film Institute we went of to church at St Mary's, Wolnott. This is the church where John Newton wrote Amazing Grace and is currently the home of Moot, which is an experiement in new expressions of church by the Diocese of London. After a week of teaching the guests at SUbmerge that we cannot put God in a box, it was interesting to be with a community of christians that are trying to live that out on a daily basis, trying to find new and different ways to worship God through all their actions and words. They are currently in a state of flux with many exciting possibilities ahead of them, so I will interested to see how their ministry grows.

Today, I will be making my third theatre trip in 5 weeks, as Kirsten and I head of to see Billy Elliot at the Victoria theatre. We are also planning to have dinner in China Town before hand, and if possible I would like ot squeeze in dessert in Hagan Dars in Leicester Square, but in the past it has always been very busy in there.

I am also thinking forward to my trip to Prague in a couple of weeks and was looking yesterday for a church to attend onthe Sunday morning. A little later I overhead a conversation nteh lounge and it turns out that a couple staying here at the Highbury Centre, are members of the International Church of Prague! So I have collected information from them and will hopefully, be joining them due my trip. Just another example of the goodness of God...