bright sunshiny day...

Waking up in Castlewellan Castle on Sunday morning (looking out the window at the breathtaking sunshine on the Mournes) was followed by great teaching on grace, good craic and a lovely drive back to Belfast. I crashed a sunny & chilled BBQ in the afternoon (complete with badminton and my fabulous wee nephew!).

Then I got a chance to hear the legendary journalist John Pilger being interviewed by William Crawley in downtown Belfast. Very interesting discussions - I seriously could have sat and listened to him all day.... just an incredible amount of experience and understanding of the historical/political dynamics in different parts of the world (obviously from his perspective, but is a very interesting one!) He’s deeply cynical about a lot of things, including the future of independent journalism, Obama, possibility of resolution of Israeli/Palestinian conflict, the UN in its current form etc. He was also very critical of British and US foreign policy, while being optimistic about developments in South America. He said he was most proud (in a humble way I think) of keeping going over his long career, and also having the chance to give a voice to people who needed one. Very inspiring guy. One quote of his (not from last night, although he did say this indirectly):
“It is not enough for journalists to see themselves as mere messengers without understanding the hidden agendas of the message and myths that surround it.”

Followed up by spontaneous chat over good coffee.... you could say it was the perfect day.... And the sun is STILL shining :)

patches of sunlight

"We - or at least I - shall not be able to adore God on the highest occasions if we have learned no habit of doing so on the lowest. At best, our faith and reason will tell us that He is adorable, but we shall not have found Him so, not have 'tasted and seen'. Any patch of sunlight in a wood will show you something about the sun which you could never get from reading books on astronomy. These pure and spontaneous pleasures are 'patches of Godlight' in the woods of our experience."

CS Lewis, Prayer: Letters to Malcolm Ch17

(Ok, so I know just posting a quote is blatant lazy blogging... but I love them... and YAY for sunshine and experiences in life to taste and see that He is good...)

where'd the sunshine go?

Just went for a walk... (yes, I know I wrote a serious post about procrastination, but still have to get out of the house sometimes or I’ll go crazy!) Seriously though, what happened to the sunshine and the possibility of summer? It’s cold! I’m not sure why I’m surprised anymore...

Found an old, battered and forgotten football on my travels on the beach (aka stones & seaweed) which made my day... To be fair it probably wasn’t forgotten, just its owner probably thought it had had its day... But it was one of those ones that are just flat enough to make you feel like a genius with keep-ups. Must have kept me entertained for a good half hour... Thankful for simple pleasures on a cold, gloomy day.

But still wanting the sunny days to come back!

nothing but blue skies

It's the end of a crazy week... full of randomness, stress, banter and spring!
Random? Bowling (check out my team below)
Stress? My dissertation presentation is done and dusted. Wahey!Banter? We had our physio formal last night! (i'm getting old... i'm paying for 2am today)

Spring? Loving the sunshine and daffodils this afternoon (about time!!).... i was a little optimistic with shorts and tshirt... but nearly! Even the thought of flipflops makes me happy. Let's hope it's not fluke weather...

Still can’t believe it’s April already!

have you ever seen...

I love sunsets. For 10 years of my life, we could watch the sunset at the back of our garden through the silhouette of eucalyptus trees...I miss that view. I'm getting to see loads at the minute because the sun's always setting as I'm leaving work these days and I drive mostly in the direction it's setting. In my unrealistic world I think I'd like to live on the western side of a land mass (odd that I've thought about this I know...) because sunsets over ocean are just the best combination ... ie west donegal or the western cape of south africa being my 2 experiences of this ocean/sunset combo. Anyway, here's a poem...

The Sun by Mary Oliver

Have you ever seen
anything
in your life
more wonderful

than the way the sun,
every evening,
relaxed and easy,
floats toward the horizon

and into the clouds or the hills,
or the rumpled sea, and is gone--
and how it slides again

out of the blackness,
every morning,
on the other side of the world,
like a red flower

streaming upward on its heavenly oils,
say, on a morning in early summer,
at its perfect imperial distance--
and have you ever felt for anything such wild love--
do you think there is anywhere,
in any language,
a word billowing enough
for the pleasure

that fills you,
as the sun
reaches out,
as it warms you

as you stand there,
empty-handed--
or have you too
turned from this world--

or have you too
gone crazy
for power,
for things?

view out my window

the sunrise this morning...

surprised by sunshine

This was the perfect way to spend a morning - reading in the sunshine at the park five minutes down the road. (so far, good book by the way...) Sometimes I think I forget that Belfast can actually be really beautiful when the sun shines...

sunshine

So, the sunshine is a bit of a distraction at the minute... it IS lovely and went up to Knockagh monument after my exam today to clear my head and see the gorgeous view - but I have to say it always seems to arrive just in time for exam season! Think my verse for today/this week is....
"Whoever watches the wind will not plant, whoever looks at the clouds will not reap." Ecc 11:4
In other words, stop thinking about the sunshine and get back to the books! All I can say is that it better hold out till saturday when I finish!

Just thinking as I write a post about the weather that I have definitely been away from Africa for too long if I'm distracted by sunshine... ahhh...

The cyclone and earthquake this week put a different perspective on watching the wind. Watching the news tonight from Burma and China, I feel like sometimes my life can be so wrapped up in the trivial. But somehow I know God is still God in the earth-shattering storms at the other side of the world as well as in the mundane of revision and sunshine.

sunset

took a wee dander to the park today to watch the sun set. it is definitely my favourite time of day... when the shadows get longer and everything turns a funny colour before the sun disappears... there's something about going to the park by yourself that i love. it forces you to be quiet; it inevitably forces you to think about something other than the trivial.

yay for sunshine! even if it is still crisp and cold it gives a whisper of hope of spring being around the corner...