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...