Today has been another lovely Christmas in Karachi.
I arrived back after the Midnight Communion, and had a hot chocolate, with a nip of something to keep out the cold, after all the temperature had dropped to about 16 degrees Celcius!!
The this morning it was back to church for the Nativity. The children were wonderful and it was great to see them enjoying themselves as they retold teh Christmas story.
For there, after a quick change, it was to Kathy and Zulfi's once more for drinks and nibbles, Then to Judith and Bunny's for Christmas Lunch. I am very fortunate to keep being invited back. The food is always delicious and the company fantastic. We laugh and sing, well Bunny does and we have a very relaxing, very enjoyable time.
I have spent the last couple of hours calling various places in the UK and passing on my greetings and getting a low down on the current snow situation. I am now going to settle down with a drink and some 'Midlife Christmas' courtesy of Miss Victoria Wood.
One of the most challenging parts of the Christmas Story, for me, are the words above, spoken by Mary to Gabriel, after being told she would be the mother of Jesus.
Mary was probably no more than 14 years old when the angel came to her. She lived in a society where an unmarried mother faced being stoned. Yet when Gabriel outlined God's plan to her, her response was, 'I am the servant of the Lord. May it be to me as you have said.'
I have to be honest, this has not always been my response. There have been times when I have struggled to accept God's will and even time when ihave actively worked against. However, every time I hear Mary's words, I am challenged once again.
My prayer for 2010 is that I might be the servant of the Lord, and be as willing as Mary to accept God's direction of my life.
Christ the Sun of Righteousness shine upon you,
scatter the darkness from before your path,
and make you ready to meet him when he comes in glory;
and the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be upon us, and remain with us and those for whom we pray,
this Christmas time and always, Amen.
Friday, 25 December 2009
Thursday, 24 December 2009
To Hala and back...
Yesterday, 17 of us made a road trip into interior Sindh. We departed Karachi at 8.30 and set off for the town of Hala, about 4 hours drive. Hala is famous for its pottery, particular blue and white tiles.
We visited the pottery and watched one of the potters working on a hand powered wheel. He made it look so easy and produced six pots in about as many minutes. Faraz, one of our group, was persuaded to have a go, and although it was less 'Generation Game, than had I had a go, it was certainly more difficult than it looked.
Kathy was very excited to find a brick in the yard with her initials on. This was good news for Zulfi as it's Kathy's birthday next week and now he has the present covered!!
From the pottery we went to the bazaar and purchased some traditional Sindi products including a Sindi Topi and Ajrak shawl for me!
After this we more on to the block printers and saw the time and effort required to prepare the Ajrak cloth. All the printing is done by hand and there are 18 processes involved in making the cloth, including at one point, camel dung!!
After a visit to teh shrine a Bhitshah we headed back to the city. We had intended to visit Hyderabad, but when it was reveal that its only attraction was a Pizza Hut, we decided we would rather get back to the city in the light.
today has been most relaxing. Just after 11 I set off to Clippers to place myself in the strong and capable hands of the marvellous Mavis. After a haircut and a shave, Mavis set to and gave me a wonderful head and shoulder massage and facial. Just under 3 hours later I emerged very relaxed and with a face like the baby's proverbially!
I collected fresh bread from the bakery, and after my shower, tucked into a delicious sweetcorn chowder prepared in advance by my own fair hand.
I am now listening to the service of Nine Lessons and Carols from King's College, Cambridge, being reminded, yet again, of the wonderful news that 'unto us a child is born, and unto a son is given'. That amazing and outrageous news that Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us.
Jesus, the living word, has dwelt amongst, lived here on Earth, that we might know him and that he might set us free. May you know the love of Christ in your life, this Christmas time and always...
We visited the pottery and watched one of the potters working on a hand powered wheel. He made it look so easy and produced six pots in about as many minutes. Faraz, one of our group, was persuaded to have a go, and although it was less 'Generation Game, than had I had a go, it was certainly more difficult than it looked.
Kathy was very excited to find a brick in the yard with her initials on. This was good news for Zulfi as it's Kathy's birthday next week and now he has the present covered!!
From the pottery we went to the bazaar and purchased some traditional Sindi products including a Sindi Topi and Ajrak shawl for me!
After this we more on to the block printers and saw the time and effort required to prepare the Ajrak cloth. All the printing is done by hand and there are 18 processes involved in making the cloth, including at one point, camel dung!!
After a visit to teh shrine a Bhitshah we headed back to the city. We had intended to visit Hyderabad, but when it was reveal that its only attraction was a Pizza Hut, we decided we would rather get back to the city in the light.
today has been most relaxing. Just after 11 I set off to Clippers to place myself in the strong and capable hands of the marvellous Mavis. After a haircut and a shave, Mavis set to and gave me a wonderful head and shoulder massage and facial. Just under 3 hours later I emerged very relaxed and with a face like the baby's proverbially!
I collected fresh bread from the bakery, and after my shower, tucked into a delicious sweetcorn chowder prepared in advance by my own fair hand.
I am now listening to the service of Nine Lessons and Carols from King's College, Cambridge, being reminded, yet again, of the wonderful news that 'unto us a child is born, and unto a son is given'. That amazing and outrageous news that Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us.
Jesus, the living word, has dwelt amongst, lived here on Earth, that we might know him and that he might set us free. May you know the love of Christ in your life, this Christmas time and always...
Friday, 18 December 2009
End of term...
It is with much rejoicing that we have reached the end of term! Yesterday was a fun one in school. It was party day in the Primary school they had Santa as their guest of honour. He was not played by me! I pointed out during my first year here, that my natural bonhomie should not be mistaken as festive spirit!
In the Secondary school we had an inter House competition with a variety of events including a quiz, football, table tennis, badminton, chess and bridge. The Vikings were the victors (no pun intended as all our houses are named after warriors) and we passed a very pleasant morning. Sadly, in all the business of the week I forgot to ask anyone to order the doughnuts, so we had to go without!
Last night, I went to Pompeii, not the city in Italy, but the fantastic Italian restaurant here in Karachi. They really do serve the most delicious food and the world's best creme brulee. I went with Andrew, as he was wifeless, Tamkeen having left for Dubai on Monday to spend a few days with her parents. Andrew will collect her on his way through today so they can spend the winter break in England. They are also making plans for next year, and sadly it doesn't include staying in Karachi! Whilst I will miss them dreadfully on a day to day basis, the bonus is that I will hopefully, have a new country to visit, during my far too infrequent holidays!
This next week will see me celebrating my third Christmas in Karachi and I am really looking forward to it. What I love most about being here is that I miss all the materialistic build up that is experienced in the UK.
We have our Carol Service on Sunday evening which is conducted in both English and Urdu and is a great experience. We follow that with a bonfire and barbeque in the cathedral compound, which is a lovely way to spend a Sunday in December! Given the weather reports I suspect there won't be many barbeques back in Blighty this weekend.
Monday and Tuesday will involve washing and ironing and getting ready to leave on Sunday, and probably some preparation for next term. I will also try and squeeze in some Urdu lessons, as I have been very lax over the last few weeks and I really do need to start putting in a little more effort. If I, like the secondary students, had received an Effort and Attainment report from Akhtar on Friday I suspect it would have been D4, and that would have been generous!
Wednesday is Road Trip day! The Keirle-Ali's and various others are boarding a Coaster and driving off towards the horizon. We are heading to Hyderabad and some other places, but at teh moment have no idea where! I will give you more details when I get back.
Christmas Eve will involve, my now traditional, trip to Clippers for a hair cut, facial and massage. This will be followed by a steaming bowl of Sweetcorn Chowder and The Service of Nine Lessons and Carol's from King's College, Cambridge. Then dinner with the Keirle-Ali's and Midnight Communion at the Cathedral. Christmas Day will start with a service at the Cathedral and then I will be joining friends for a meal and celebrations.
Boxing Day will be final preparations for my trip and then drinks and nibbles round at Gill's.
Then early Sunday morning, the wonderful Methab will collect me long before the sun has risen and take me to the airport and Oman Air willing I should arrive in Cairo around 3pm local time. Thomas will leave Manchester that afternoon and Turkish Airways willing should arrive in the early hours of Monday morning. After an evening in Cairo we shall fly down to Luxor and have three nights by the Nile which will include the 'complusory' (it really does say that on our reservation!) New Year Buffet at our hotel. Then back to Karachi in time for school on the 4th January!
Last Thursday, after school, I wandered out of my office onto the playing field and found the secondary boys in the middle of their football practice with Mr Turner the PE teacher. As I stood there, in my short sleeved shirt, on the 17th December with the temperature a very pleasant 20 degrees, a smile came to my lips and I thought once again how much I love being here. I am well aware that Pakistan is by no means perfect!! But at the moment there is no where else on earth I'd rather be...
In the Secondary school we had an inter House competition with a variety of events including a quiz, football, table tennis, badminton, chess and bridge. The Vikings were the victors (no pun intended as all our houses are named after warriors) and we passed a very pleasant morning. Sadly, in all the business of the week I forgot to ask anyone to order the doughnuts, so we had to go without!
Last night, I went to Pompeii, not the city in Italy, but the fantastic Italian restaurant here in Karachi. They really do serve the most delicious food and the world's best creme brulee. I went with Andrew, as he was wifeless, Tamkeen having left for Dubai on Monday to spend a few days with her parents. Andrew will collect her on his way through today so they can spend the winter break in England. They are also making plans for next year, and sadly it doesn't include staying in Karachi! Whilst I will miss them dreadfully on a day to day basis, the bonus is that I will hopefully, have a new country to visit, during my far too infrequent holidays!
This next week will see me celebrating my third Christmas in Karachi and I am really looking forward to it. What I love most about being here is that I miss all the materialistic build up that is experienced in the UK.
We have our Carol Service on Sunday evening which is conducted in both English and Urdu and is a great experience. We follow that with a bonfire and barbeque in the cathedral compound, which is a lovely way to spend a Sunday in December! Given the weather reports I suspect there won't be many barbeques back in Blighty this weekend.
Monday and Tuesday will involve washing and ironing and getting ready to leave on Sunday, and probably some preparation for next term. I will also try and squeeze in some Urdu lessons, as I have been very lax over the last few weeks and I really do need to start putting in a little more effort. If I, like the secondary students, had received an Effort and Attainment report from Akhtar on Friday I suspect it would have been D4, and that would have been generous!
Wednesday is Road Trip day! The Keirle-Ali's and various others are boarding a Coaster and driving off towards the horizon. We are heading to Hyderabad and some other places, but at teh moment have no idea where! I will give you more details when I get back.
Christmas Eve will involve, my now traditional, trip to Clippers for a hair cut, facial and massage. This will be followed by a steaming bowl of Sweetcorn Chowder and The Service of Nine Lessons and Carol's from King's College, Cambridge. Then dinner with the Keirle-Ali's and Midnight Communion at the Cathedral. Christmas Day will start with a service at the Cathedral and then I will be joining friends for a meal and celebrations.
Boxing Day will be final preparations for my trip and then drinks and nibbles round at Gill's.
Then early Sunday morning, the wonderful Methab will collect me long before the sun has risen and take me to the airport and Oman Air willing I should arrive in Cairo around 3pm local time. Thomas will leave Manchester that afternoon and Turkish Airways willing should arrive in the early hours of Monday morning. After an evening in Cairo we shall fly down to Luxor and have three nights by the Nile which will include the 'complusory' (it really does say that on our reservation!) New Year Buffet at our hotel. Then back to Karachi in time for school on the 4th January!
Last Thursday, after school, I wandered out of my office onto the playing field and found the secondary boys in the middle of their football practice with Mr Turner the PE teacher. As I stood there, in my short sleeved shirt, on the 17th December with the temperature a very pleasant 20 degrees, a smile came to my lips and I thought once again how much I love being here. I am well aware that Pakistan is by no means perfect!! But at the moment there is no where else on earth I'd rather be...
Thursday, 10 December 2009
Poorly, sick not well...
I am writing this from my bed of sickness (well to be pedantic, my chair of sickness). I have been feeling lousy for the last couple of days and finally succumbed this morning and have taken the day off. There is nothing seriously wrong, but school has been like Eyam the last few days, so it is unsurprising that one of the little darlings has given me some of their nasty germs!!
The Christmas season has begun here. On Tuesday, Robert Gibson, British Deputy High Commissioner for Pakistan, played host to the British Women's Association's Christmas Carol Concert. It was a lovely evening with a mixture of carols and Christmas songs. I took part by retelling the Christmas story and the evening was rounded off with mulled wine, sandwiches, Christmas cake and mince pies out on the lawn. By the time I got home I was feeling very nearly Christmassy!
There are now just six school days until the end of term and we are all ready for the break. There are still several things left to do, end of term reports, parent teacher conferences and an Inter House Competition on the last day. Roll on December 18th...
The Christmas season has begun here. On Tuesday, Robert Gibson, British Deputy High Commissioner for Pakistan, played host to the British Women's Association's Christmas Carol Concert. It was a lovely evening with a mixture of carols and Christmas songs. I took part by retelling the Christmas story and the evening was rounded off with mulled wine, sandwiches, Christmas cake and mince pies out on the lawn. By the time I got home I was feeling very nearly Christmassy!
There are now just six school days until the end of term and we are all ready for the break. There are still several things left to do, end of term reports, parent teacher conferences and an Inter House Competition on the last day. Roll on December 18th...
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