New Experiences...

I am glad to report that at nearly 39 there are still new experiences to be had!!

I spent last week at SUbmerge in Salisbury, which is the Scripture Union Camp for 11-14 yaer olds. This is my 19th year as a team member and it was a sobering thought to think that all the guests and some of the team had not even been thought of, when I first joined the team.

I am also sat typing this inthe lounge of the Foreign Missions Club, Highbury, which is where my SU adventures started in May 1991. We used to use the club as a base for our team training, so it is nice to be here again. I would recommend the FMC if you are ever looking for accomodation in London. It is very reasonably priced and has easy access to the city centre, and it even comes with free parking!! It exsists as a place for missionaries to stay when they are here on fulough, but is happy to let rooms to anyone when they have spare capacity. Check it out if you need a place to stay in London www.thehighburycentre.org

SUbmerge this year was fantastic, the guests were amazing and the team were outstanding. As ever it was a tiring week, lots of late nights and early mornings but God was at work and we had a great time. We had a couple of visitors during the week including the Chief Exec of Scripture Union (ie big white chief) and of course he was there when I was leading the session on the last full day! He was very complimentary which was encouraging.

The new experiences that I speak of started yesterday thanks to the directions I was given by the AA routeplanner website!! So fo rthe first time ever I found myself driving through central London. Now I am aware that for many people this is a way of life, but for me, it was something new. Idid get lost a couple of times, but thankfully, Kirsten was on the end of a phone with her A-Z and was able to direct me accordingly. I have to say that I found the driving very easy and it was nice to be able to switch back to Karachi style driving again. ThoughI did have to remember that although cutting people up is required in London, so is stopping at red lights!

After a couple of detours including a short drive in Hyde Park, I successful navigated to HIghbury and had a quick shower and then headed of to Islington High Street to meet James and have some dinner. We strarted in Sampler which has a system by which you can sample a variety of different wines. Sadly, my knowledge of wine is about as extensive as my knowledge of the Ukranian film industry, so it all just tasted of wine to me. That being said, in one of the red wines I did detect the 'overtones of cherry', unfortunately, the 'hint of nutmeg and woodsmoke' completely passsed me by!!

Today I am meeting David, who is one of my ex-pupil, who has just graduated with a 1st in Theatre Design, and he is going to take me on another first, tour around the Tate Modern. Again, my knowledge of modern art is in the same catergory as wine, and Ukranian films, so I am hoping that David can act as my teacher and I will come out filled with a new understanding!!

Then tomorrow after a day of lounging I will be meeting up with Kirsten so that we can head of the to the theatre to see Billy Elliot.

As I wandered along Islington High Street yesterday I thought to myself what a wonderful life I have. I have a job that I love, and it gives me the time and money to enjoy my time away from school. I do know that I am blessed adn I thank God, fo reach of those blessings, and I am looking forward to the rest of my time in the UK. More news later...