Fast Times at Canowindra High

In preparation for Easter, the centre at Canowindra is currently going through a 'Screen Fast'. What this means is that we are trying to fast from TV/Computer screens during the Lent period. So why am I updating the blog, you may ask, as doesn't this involve breaking the fast? Well, there are levels of fasting and what I'm doing is not using a 'screen' for 'enjoyment' during Lent. This means no computer, PlayStation or TV for entertainment purposes. As I don't enjoy updating my blog then my fast remains unbroken while I write this...

Actually, the purpose of the fast is to deny these things the level of control in our lives that they seem to have. For some of the students, pulling themselves away from films, video games and Facebook is a really tough thing to ask. It seems to me that we've become somewhat addicted to the screen when it comes to spending our 'free' time. It's also about freeing up some time to do more productive things. So I'll be doing a lot more reading and (hopefully) boardgaming over the next month. I might use the PC for relaxation if it's for something constructive (like writing and the like). I think that this will be a really useful discipline for me, as I lose a fair amount of time each day to browsing the Internet and making my way through the X-Files. I'm currently watching Season 7, so it'll be a month until I can carry on and pick up from episode 9 (Signs and Wonders, X-Philes).

Just to keep you all informed - Ruth and I have finally got our bridging visa, which is good because otherwise we would have had to leave the country today. We're waiting for them to process our application and make a decision, which may well not happen until the baby is born. A decision being made any earlier would require direct intervention from God, so let's pray for that, eh?


Despite having just graduated, my education continues. I spent some time yesterday laying new turf in parts of the garden, all in the name of an easy life. I am looking for a garden that requires minimum care, so Ruth and I decided to increase the grass quotient. It works well, except for the fact that I hate mowing it. We didn't quite have enough turf to do the whole garden, but we did most of it. Some of the fellows came and helped us out - but only for a short while. Most of it was done by myself and Les, one of the staff team who looks after the centre. Well, he did most of it. I was quite happy to watch a 79-year-old lay my turf for me. What are you looking at me like that for? If it makes it any better, at least I wasn't shouting "FASTER! GO FASTER, OLD MAN!" as he did it.

There is a price to pay for a nice garden. If I'm not the one that has to pay it, then all the better.

Third Time Lucky...

Hey everyone. Well, the big news is that we finally got our visa application off. It will have arrived on Friday, which is good news because our current visa actually runs out in seven days. As always, everything runs to God's timing and not ours. I think we're beginning to learn our lesson about trusting Him to sort everything out in His timing - so hopefully now He'll stop doing this to us.

The other big news is that I graduated yesterday. For the third time. I've already gone through this with King's College and Spurgeon's, so as you can imagine, it was a nice change to go through it again on the other side of the world.


However, I was a little disappointed to find that Aussies do the graduation thing the same way as we do in the UK. I was expecting a bit of local flavour, you know, maybe corks hanging from the bottom of the tassle on the cap or something.

I also wasn't too pleased with the way that the cap made me look. It's not exactly a flattering look, especially for one with such a hairstyle as mine. So I decided to take matters into my own hands...


After all, "When in Rome..." and all that. After two previous graduations it was nice to do things a little differently this time and acknowledge my Aussie hosts by wearing an Akubra hat. CRIKEY!!


Spot the Englishman. It's like Where's Wally? but totally different.

Anyway, I had a really great time at the graduation. I enjoyed it, and felt very pleased that I've cleared this final hurdle. Canowindra is going really well - I feel that this is what I've been working up to for the past two years and that I'm finally doing what I came to Australia to do. I'm excited about what I'm doing and what I hope that God will do through Ruth and I while we're here. As I've said in a previous blog, there's no better place to be than where God wants you. Now that the visa application is off I can focus on the next few months of teaching and discipling, as well as the baby coming in May. We'll see what God does now!