new

yesterday was the start of a few days off.  i went to a gallery with a friend.  it was a week of new things...

start of the new week

drinks in a new gastro pub that has opened locally (will post more on this another time)

new warhol exhibition at the lowry, salford

i love the building...

and across the canal, the new bbc north studios, media city.

Emma

Beautiful children

These are some of the images from Thailand- the houses in the mountain villages, the orphanage and the beautiful children with their amazing smiles......

Jane

best laid plans

plan for this morning; jump in the car, head to wales.  last night; my car made other plans. the garage turned it around.  plans were already re-arranged.  so today brought a different plan.  breakfast out. an hour in the park with a niece.  flowers. i bought them for mum.  now they adorn my lounge.

Emma

can we talk about the weather?

seriously.  it's summer.  so what's with all this rain?  i know manchester is renowned for the stuff. but. it's. july.  this looks like it could be february.  or march.  but this is today. and yesterday.  and if weather reports are to be believed; tomorrow.  and tuesday.

buck up summer.  come back and play.  we're ready.

Emma

early evening sun

i arrived home from work today with a head full of jobs that needed to be done.  

but really.  did they really? 

it's forecast rain at the weekend.  i can do them then.

Emma

Good times

Tonight we had all the children from the really poor orphanage over. We took them swimming, and then they came back for tea. Today was about making children happy. We had borrowed costumes for them, and when the children all arrived they dived in to choose one they liked. We took the girls to the changing rooms and they were all shy about wearing costumes, and came out with their costumes over their tshirts and leggings. When we had explained (with no English) how to wear a costume they all ran into the pool and were so excited.
Afterwards they came back for tea and we showed them how to make sandwiches. They put jam, ham, tuna, cheese and salad all on one sandwich! The best was when we gave them ice creams, some children came back for at least three more!
Today was about seeing how homes can be opened to the poor, how simple things of swimming and tea can mean so much.
The hardest part was saying goodbye, as we probably won't see them again before we go home. I will miss their smiles.

Jane

Space

Well after all the hard work of the last few days I have a couple of hours of space. If I had to say what days are for, space would probably not be top of my list. I'm not very good at it, it's much easier to fill your life with lots of stuff than have time with nothing.
So, reflecting over the last few days the lasting image is of the orphanage we went to on Tuesday, where the children had so little, lived in such poor conditions, and were so lovely. Their laughter and enjoyment whilst playing with balloons was just the best.
So has this trip taught me stuff? It has stretched me, and I have done things I never thought possible. I have been alongside people and observed the different ways people live. I have realised how small my faith is and how my relationship with God needs so much more work. Maybe that's why space is important so there is time for these things.

Jane