Welcome to Bings blog the Dunedin edition

Well, I'm back, set up and ready to go. It seems so long ago that I was up in sunny Hamilton enjoying the fine WARM weather that the North Island had to offer. Lets start from there and work our way to the present.

Tuesday
Spent the night packing the car and reflecting on Parachute. Realised how suck it could have been if you didn't know anybody (the old lonely in a city of 28,00 people scenario). Very thankful for all the people I knew up there, and how cool it was too see them all again. Also realised how cool it was to get to know Cameron better on the way back. I guess we've known each other for so long, we never knew where we were coming from or where we were going. (If that makes any sense).

Wednesday

Got up early to catch the 8am ferry with Dad. Sailing was smooth, but weather was cloudy. Slept about half the journey. Must have been pretty tried. Drove down to Kaikoura- didn't realise how tired I was,about 20 km from Kaikoura (130km or so from Picton) I clipped a road marker losing my passengers side mirror and a door moulding. I'm glad Dad was alert enough to push the steering wheel the other way. Changed drivers and slept. I definitely learnt the answer to "How tired is too tired?" and I'm very blessed that it was only the car that was damaged.

I just broke Gus' "air stix" electric drum sticks thingy. Opps

After that the rest of the trip was uneventful and after resuming driving at Cheviot(hour and a half ? north of Christchurch) the only problem was driving in peak time traffic in Christchurch itself. It was sooo slow.

Thursday

I must have been pretty shattered- my left leg ached from having to "punch" the clutch so much. Visited CookieTime, and then onto Dunedin. Dad did most of the driving today, and I did most of the sleeping. Also brought a new mirror and mould for a small accident $78.50 wasn't exactly comforting. Drove from Palmerston though, and Dunedin turned on a stunner. It was cold, wet and misty- about 20m visibility. Ah, welcome back Bing!. The flat was in good nick, Sam's room stunk worse than David's and Jeremy all that "no mail" is sitting on the kitchen table about 20cm high. Cleaned the fridge to the stylish tunes of Paul Coleman, and started on the oven. Eveything's so dusty.

Friday

More cleaning and unpacking- arggh I have way too much crap. Also brought a bookcase and printer. I so don't want to spen anymore money this week. Dad was great and cleaned both of the bathrooms for us, plus fiddled with the sensor light out front. It has been a really cool time to hang with Dad, and He's taught me a lot. Went for a drive out round South Dunedin last night, I can't believe how wet it was. It was also cool having Dad there in the car, just reassuring me of what I was doing, and also correcting me when I'd do something stupid, like go on the green man, rather than arrow- pedestrian habits die hard huh? Called my supervisor and got laughingly told off for speaking too corporately. I didn't realise that 3 months of office work did that. : )

Saturday

The now. I'ts now 6:22pm. It's freezing, Gus is unpacking his stuff and We've been catching up (and breaking his stuff). Dropped Dad off at the airport- He laughed when I told him that parking was only a dollar for an hour there. Must go to the supermarket otherwise it's jam on toast for tea. Considering "borrowing" Penny's TV so can watch useless programmes in the down time between services tomorrow, Penny if you're reading this is that ok? Also had a really good prayer time today. I haven't had a proper one for quiet a while with all the travelling. So often it's been "God, thank....zzzz", and I have been starting to feel it, so it was cool to meet up again. Bible reading's also become a bit routine too.

I better go. The garden is kinda OK, I have gardening gloves so will try give it a tidy tomorrow. Oh, and our number is (03)-471 9929. Currently Gus and I are here, Dave O'Byrne cvrashes in tomorrow some time, so feel free to visit, call if you're in the area (hint, hint Abbey)

Well tomorrow is the last day before the rest of the year, so I better enjoy it

Bless ya,

Bing

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Don't dream its over.

But it is, Summer as we know it is finally over. As of tomorrow, My Dad and I start the long slow trek back to Dunedin. But it did finish with a bang.:)

Parachute was soooooo awesome. I couldn't really pick a highlight- Relient K was cool (except for the attempted ripping of Eyeore), Newsboys and PC3 rocked, Form was on form, and Hillsongs and Parachute Band were also pretty good. Brooke Fraser was disappointing, and Darlene Zsezch ("Check") was surprising bouncy and entertaining.

I went up with Sam, Thida and my friend Cameron. It was a good trip up, best described by " um, take that left we just passed". we alos got lost on the way to Roslyn's and ended up calling Life Fm and asking for directions- but we found it of course, and our male sense of direction was oh so spot on! (In our favour we didn't actually have a map). It was cool to have Life Fm though- ah, how I've missed it. I've realised that I've even started liking Guy Sebastian's (Aussie idol) song just cos it's about God and that get a lot of mainstream air play. Arggh. (no it really isn't that bad)
The Waikato was boiling over the weekend- mid twenties, but so humid! I'm now quiet brown, and some mean tan lines

Ros' family was so giving and hospitable. It was such a blessing to be at their place, especially being able to retreat from the sun back to their place for a shower and some watermelon. Their family is just so nice. Ros' sisters Cathy and lauren are very friendly, and her parents are very wise, good Godly people. We chose to sleep in on monday morning, and it was quiet cool to have a yarn with them.

Another family who took care of us was Jess McClean's family. They were so nice,they let us store stuff at their tent everyday, and invited us to their place last night in Tauranga. That was a lot of fun hanging out with Jess, Dave Lim and Rach B (who were also staying there), and her family was very friendly- we had quiet a few laughs. They also had a big property in the edge of Tauranga, and it was great to have a run around.

The drive home was neat. I got to drive from Rotorua to Waiurou(?)- It was so wet on the Desert road. Ahh, the irony.

I'm now going to go to bed, cos of the early start.

Oh, Gus: I got your email, but can't reply cos of the server being busy- I'll give you a copy of the tenancy agreement on Saturday. Can you please set up the power account for Thursday? I don't know where from. Text me cos email could be a bit hairy for the next few days. I'll get the account going for the phone.

Night.



Hope to see you all in Dunners- give me a yell

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Did you know that you will probably have to read something 3 times before you understand it?

And that is probably the most comment related title I'm ever going to do.

It seriously rained today. Not constantly, but quiet hard showers. My poor little water logged car stalled seven times on the way to work today, 4 in the driveway, 3 at the gate into work. Which was closing- kinda getting that train-coming-stuck-on-tracks-feeling. thankfully, this happens to people often (they misjudge the wee speed hump) and the sensor stops the gate.

This compounded by being kept awake for several hours by the rain, and it being my second to last day of work. It was cool- one of those days were you put heaps of effort in and don't seem to get anything out. Hmmm, that sounds backward, let me explain.

I think after last week's little episode I've kinda grown up a bit. I realised (was shown) how hopeless it is to do things in your own strength. I realised I couldn't even submit myself to God and take up the cross He has given me daily (hourly, secondly). So, I guess I've started relying on him a lot more, and accepting that I can't even do something like discipline myself without help- what was it that Mother Teresa said? "You don't realise that Jesus is all you need, until Jesus is all you got"- ok, so i'm not an expert on it yet, but I don't think this made as much sense at the start of the summer.

I'm also learning about patience- accursed Shane Warne Cricket- I so can't score all those runs.

The Blackcaps won in Wellington :) What a great game.

Newcastle won. Nuff said.

Sam's car has broken down:(, but she'll be right for Parachute- I hope. Course!

Sweet, well i'm going to take another crack at those runs- 241 runs in 43 overs without losing your cool. i never thought it could be so frustrating, but there are certain applications to life...

Gung He Fat choi- Happy Chinese New Year!

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3 more days of work!!!

I am very happy that work is nearly over. I'm feeling very wasted and am glad it's a long weekend. Not that i haven't enjoyed it, but i'm just feeling that I need to get some of my own time. And yes I know I can kiss that good bye studying med, and doing the doctor thing, but I guess I have learnt this holidays what's really important to me. God, family/friends, ministry/work. And how i want to spend my time. I've also learnt a lot about politics and corporations, but I won't waste the space here.

This week, I've probably spent about half mytime making stuff up as I go along, and feeling horribly lost, without much support or guidance. I guess I was being slightly immature about it, and complaining about not getting any training or anything, and having to re-invent the wheel. Ok, so I was supposed to get training, and John (the new old guy) was good with what he could remember, but i was signing it and I guess I felt really responsible. So here I was praying feverently (and quiet whingingly) to God about how life was getting hard, when he reminded me that I had choosen to do this for the rest of the year (being uncomfortably out on a limb), and that I was the most qualified person for the job (no manager or senior staff). So ok, it didn't always work- I think we made up about half of it, and I didn't exactly like how everybody just kinda gave me stuff and expected me to do it, especially after confessing to not knowing how to do what they wanted, and promising to find out if they would just let me know who to contact... anyway, fire can destroy or refine, I know where I'd like to be after this time.

Another reason I've been quite appreciative of the struggle at the moment has been the book I've been devouring at the moment. Its called "The Heavenly Man" about this guy in China called Yun, who was persecuted relentlessly for being a Christian and speaking out against the "Three-self patriotic church" (The communist-"allowed" religion).
This guy has an indescribable testimony, and is really awesome. If I told you any more, it would shame the book- so if you can find a copy read it (or borrow mine once I've read it a few more times)

Oh, and Gus, you really are a computer bogan.

Oh yeah, have i told you guys I'm getting a car for Dunners? it's my Granddad's 89 Ford Laser, which he GAVE me, cos he wanted a new one. I so could not afford to buy something like this, so it is a real blessing. I can't wait. The street at the back of the flat will be kinda full though. : )

All the best to the guys (generic) going to Chile- I hope all you's staying behind are making your "I'll pray for you's", "I'll pray for you's"

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i swear I'm never drinking another cup of coffee at night again... anyone up to go to a cafe?!

Today was one of those days, were everything comes at you, and you are so unprepared. For the past week I've been the only one in Purchasing, because my colleague left and my manager's been away. This unfortunately meant i had to know stuff. Today it got worse with the arrival of a new colleague, who had some experience in the department previously. He still needed training however, and also computer log on to do his job. Well the training was easy enough to bluff through, and get him to ask questions, but without a computer...

arrggggh, I hate bueracracy(?)

It was so frustrating to try find jobs for him all day, and I really appreciate my trainers for the paitence they must have shown with me. I guess it's a good lesson to see what its like from the other side. I really do wish I could have some more training though.

sorry this isn't particularly interesting, work does that to you on occaisions. Abbey and Sam's blogs look really good though.

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I'm back

...but not tonight. gotta get up early so i get to "the Street" in town.
There will be a blog soon. The modem died in the computer and stopped it from initialising (Their word not mine). so now we have a brand spanking new modem, and the difference is amazing.
SL8R

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