Learning to Walk

waiting

For the past few weeks our boiler has been making a bit of a funny noise when it is first switched on.  I thought initially that it was the wind making a 'whistling' noise through the pipe, but I have decided I should get it checked.  Especially because my Dad is coming up for the weekend, the boiler is in his room, and there is now way that anyone would be able to sleep through its 'singing!'

I was told that the engineer would be here between one and three.  It's now twenty-to-four and I'm still waiting...

the last 8 days

In the last 8 days we have travelled down to London where we spent a very enjoyable Christmas with YKW's family.  Then, on Thursday, we travelled up to my parents.  We will be flying back up to Glasgow on Wednesday.

London was great; amongst other things we had an early Christmas present of afternoon tea at a very posh hotel, we visited 'The First Emperor: China's Terracotta Army' at The British Museum, and we had a meal at one of the loveliest steak restaurants that I have been to in the UK.  Since coming up here we have done some shopping in the sales, we've had all 3 brothers with all 3 female companions plus Mum and Dad in the same place for the first time in ages, and today it's my grandparent's 57th wedding anniversary for which I cooked a meal.

So a pretty full schedule and I'm looking forward to a couple more days relaxing and beginning to get my head back into gear for the work that I need to get on with as soon as we hit the ground in Glasgow.  But it will be good to get back and there's lots to look forward to getting on with.

date night

Friday night, as has been mentioned previously, is date night and tonight's date is perhaps the most exciting yet.  A few weeks before our wedding we went to the Hawks end of season dance.  Two friends from down south were with us and decided that if they won anything on the raffle that was based in Scotland they would give it to us.  As a result we will be staying here tonight.

I am excited as it will be my first time visiting Edinburgh for a decent amount of time (during which I don't have to play rugby) and because we will get to go for a drink in a pub called the 'Kenilworth' which also happens to be the name of the town where I was brought up.  It'd be rude not to!

picking up pace

Life is beginning to seriously pick up pace.  This week I started a distance learning module on Judaism.  I have completed the first 2 'units' so far, which have basically taken my up to the destruction of the temple in 66AD (if memory serves me correctly - it might have been 70, or perhaps they just can't quite nail down the date...)  So far it has been revision and padding out of stuff that I have already covered in biblical studies modules, but the next section sees me into uncharted territory.  The course is 8 units long and at the halfway stage there is a small test in order to make sure that you are on the right lines.  I am finding the course surprisingly enjoyable given the amount of reading - although I sometimes think that 'take brief notes' should result in less than the 8 pages or so that I seem to scribble down each time!

So that has been my morning and well into the afternoon for the past couple of days.  Today is a little bit different.  After a morning prayer meeting I am back home doing various bits and bobs for work.  Then this afternoon there is a staff meeting.  I am really enjoying my job.  Of course there are challenges and not so fun bits, but it is a great thing to have been able to get involved in.

Tonight we are planning a night off together.  Gym (did I say off?!), tea, and perhaps a film.  Tomorrow will be another 'unit' of Judaism and then my rearranged meeting with the Director of Ordinands, and hopefully some news on if and when I will be put forward for the next step...

domestic bliss!

I'm not quite sure what I thought rugby free Saturdays would be spent doing but so far the day has consisted of cleaning the flat, sorting out through more piles of 'stuff' that we have both accumulated, and other general things.

Still, there is light at the end of the tunnel... I get to watch Wales get pumped by Argentina this afternoon!