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Now you might be thinking that this a strange way to open a posting on the 30th November. My reason, is not because I have gone completely barmy(though I am), but because today is the 1st Sunday in Advent and for Anglicans worldwide this is the first day of the church year.
This has led to me putting up my Christmas decorations, a process that took about 90 seconds!! I have arranged my 5 candles to form my Advent crown. I have also placed Mary and Joseph into their positions in the nativity, to await the arrival of the infant Jesus.
Yesterday saw my mother depart back to the UK after four very enjoyable weeks here in Karachi. She has had an absolute ball and has thoroughly enjoyed every minute of her time here. She is already planning her return trip, when she has saved enough for the fare!!
One of the jobs we managed to do whilst mum was here was spend the rest of the money I inherited from my grandmother. Mum and I went with Maria to Afghan carpets 
and bought a couple of ru
gs. We were very grateful that Maria was there as she is a whizz at bartering. With her help we managed to reduce the asking price from Rs 104,000/- to Rs69,000/- and, as you can see, I am now the proud owner of two fantastic carpets.
Last week was a busy one at school with meetings regarding parent handbooks and parent involvement in school on Tuesday and Wednesday. These were followed by the PTA Meet and Greet on Thursday. Normally this would have happened early in the year. However, the first couple of weeks of this term was Ramzan and so we waited until after Eid, then sadly there were security concerns and so it was postponed until last Thursday.
There are now only 3 weeks until we finish for Christmas and I am really looking forward to the break. We do need to give a bit of a kick start to the rehearsals for 'Hobson's Choice'. As ever, some of the cast seem reluctant to learn their lines! Also the accents are causing some what of a problem, the lad playing teh Scottish doctor, sounds as if he comes from Mumbai, and the lad playing Willie has a fantastic Tyneside accent, it a real shame that Willie is from Salford...
I am now a clergyman!!
During today's morning service at Holy Trinity Cathedral, Karachi, I was ordained Deacon, by the Rt Rev Sadiq Daniel, Bishop of Karachi and Baluchistan. I was also welcome as an honoury member of staff at the cathedral.
It was a wonderful service and I was very touched that many of my friends here in Karachi took the time to be there and support me. It was also very special to be able to have my mum and godson here as well. The service went really well and I am really looking forward to role in the church.
I am really pleased that Thomas has been here, and even more so given the horrendous journey the poor lad had. He left Cairo on Tuesday night, three hours late, which meant that he missed his connection in Doha. Qatar Airway.s first suggestion was that he wait 24 hours and then fly on the next morning. This idea was rejected!! Their alternative suggestion involved Thomas flying to Dubai and picking up the 8am flight and arriving in Karachi only 6 hours later than planned.
This seemed an excellent solution and in fact would fit in well with our plans. So the flight departed on time and Thomas drifted off to sleep. Then, an hour and half into a two hour flight, he awoke to discover that he was heading once again for Dubai!! The reason was high winds here in Karachi meaning that the aircraft could not land.
He finally left Dubai once again at 3.15 and landed safely here at 6.15. Mum and I met him at the airport and then headed straight off to the Country Club. We passed a very pleasant couple of days by the pool. The water looked very inviting but was icy cold and so we were only in for a few minutes, and took refuge in the sauna and steam room.
The rest of the time has been spent shopping, mainly for clothes, as Thomas likes the kurta that are available here as they are very suitable for the Egyptian climate.
After the service, a group of us retired to the Sheraton Hotel for a lovely breakfast and then the three of us came back to the house. We had a game of Super Scrabble (like ordinary Scrabble only with a bigger board and more tiles) and I am pleased to say that I won, and also managed to get out three 7 letter words!!! Then this evening we had dinner with the Ryans which was a lovely way to end what has been a very special day for me.
I am also grateful for all the messages of encouragement I have received from my friends in England, Northern Ireland and Kenya and for all of you who have been praying for me. Please keep it up as I move on with God into this new phase...
Today was the first day of half term and so we packed up the car, and headed off to Hawkesbay for the day. We were accompanied by Kathy, Zulema and Zayyam and we really did have a grand day. We went to Turtletops and had a couple of hours in the sea playing with the waves, with a delicious lunch thrown in for good measure. It was lovely to be out of the city for a few hours and water was the perfect temperature and the sun was warm but not over powering.
Mum is really enjoying her time here, and is looking forward to getting out a bit more this week, whilst I am on holiday. Her greatest worry is that she is going to put on a hugh amount of weight. She is convinced everyone here is trying to fatten her up!! She is slowly coming round to the realisation, that when you are invited to someone's home they will roll out plenty of food to go with the drink.
Thomas finally has his visa and so Qatar Airlines willing he should arrive here at 5am on Wednesday morning. The three of us will then go to the country club for a couple of nights, before returning to the city in time for my ordination.
I am now getting quite excited at the prospect of becoming a clergyman. On a day to day basis it will not change what I do. I will continue in my work at school and will continue to work at church as a Non Stipendary Minister (NSM). The main difference now, will be that I get ot wear a dog collar, though not one made of leather with studs, as one of my friends suggested...
Last evening whilst returning from the petrol station, with yet more petrol for the generator, I saw something I had not seen before. In front of me was a guy riding a motorcycle with a pillon passenger. Nothing unusual in that you might think, however, the rider of this bike was not only talking on his mobile phone, but also on another phone he was sending a text message. Only in Pakistan!!
Life is returning to normal after the school closures of the other week. Sadly, there have been further terrorist attacks in Rawalpindi and Peshwar, with further loss of life. The bomb in Peshwar killed many women and children as it was detonated in a market place. The one in Rawalpindi was exploded in front of a hotel. Thankfully, Karachi is still peaceful, but many are wondering when trouble will come here.
School will be closed nest week for half term and we are hoping that after the break, everything can return completely to normal. I do have several things planned for the holiday but more of that in a moment.
On a brighter note, the mothership has landed in Karachi!! My mother arrived on time at 13.55 on Saturday afternoon after having had a very enjoyable flight in business class with Emirates. She had been 'facilitated' from the plane door, to the car park which made her pass through immigration very smoothly.
She has been keeping herself busy since then with some shopping, and lunches out. She has also been to the British Women's Association weekly meeting and she is now part of the team running this year's Christmas Bazaar!!
On Monday, along with Kathy and Zulfi and their children, we are off to the beach for the day. Tuesday after another BWA meeting mother and I will take lunch and have a little light retail theraphy in the afternoon.
Wednesday, should see Thomas arrive from Cairo and then in the afternoon we will all head of the Country Club for a couple of nights of peace and quiet and a little luxury!
Saturday, Thomas and I have an appointment with the marvellous Mavis and her colleagues at Clippers where we will be treated to a few hours of pampering.
Then on Sunday 15th November, I will cease to be a layman, when I am ordained Deacon and become The Reverend Michael Philip Pearson B.Ed(Hons), but you can all still call me Michael!
I am collecting together the necessary paraphanalia of my new condition, and already have my clerical shirt and dog collar and I will be able to collect my cassock from the tailors on the 10th. I am really looking forward to the service and am delighted that mum and Thomas will be here in Karachi to share the day with me. After the service a group of us will be heading to the Sheraton for a breakfast buffet. Then in the evening, the family, ie mum, Thomas, Andrew, Tamkeen and I will be having a celebratory dinner chez Ryan.
After half term we have just five weeks and then we will be on our winter break. After spending my third Christmas in Karachi, I will be heading to Egypt to spend a week with Thomas. Our plan is to fly down from Cairo to Luxor, which will be a new experience for Thomas, and spend a few days in a family run hotel just a few minutes walk from the River Nile. We shall see the new year of 2010 in at a party organised by the hotel, and hopefully a fuluka ride on the Nile.
Until then there is much school work to be done, and so I suppose I should get on with it...
and bought a couple of ru
gs. We were very grateful that Maria was there as she is a whizz at bartering. With her help we managed to reduce the asking price from Rs 104,000/- to Rs69,000/- and, as you can see, I am now the proud owner of two fantastic carpets.
