the stabilisers were off. the challenge was set... two takes and we had a flyer
Thursday, 12 August 2010
Monday, 2 August 2010
Wednesday, 30 June 2010
hurricane season
planning a trip to haiti during hurricane season does not make a good combination.
but then again neither does zero budget, planning on getting across the border on the back of a motorbike to save on costs, the crazy heat and the rain.
but then again neither does zero budget, planning on getting across the border on the back of a motorbike to save on costs, the crazy heat and the rain.
Tuesday, 29 June 2010
world cup woes
i'm working my way through the stages of grief just like all the others in the country right now. i think i'm nearing acceptance.
i've been looking forward to this tournament over the past 2 years and got my hopes up.
they got knocked out, or more like "slam dunked" out, on sunday by germany 4-1.
the problem is the team (not the players) is not good enough... no matter how much i justify and listen to all the reactions they didn't win because they were not the better team.
it's gutting as there's a huge discrepancy between "my hope" for this team and the "reality" of them. i sense that a pattern is emerging as i've said something like this before and the solution is either i lower, or boycott, my hope or we improve the reality.
i've been looking forward to this tournament over the past 2 years and got my hopes up.
they got knocked out, or more like "slam dunked" out, on sunday by germany 4-1.
the problem is the team (not the players) is not good enough... no matter how much i justify and listen to all the reactions they didn't win because they were not the better team.
it's gutting as there's a huge discrepancy between "my hope" for this team and the "reality" of them. i sense that a pattern is emerging as i've said something like this before and the solution is either i lower, or boycott, my hope or we improve the reality.
Friday, 25 June 2010
tools for self reliance
what i love about my job is i get to meet a range of pretty committed groups and people in trying to change a small part of the world.
this morning i sat with a small outfit that started out about 30 years ago through giving out some tools to help a few people set up their businesses. however after awhile they observed that tools that they were giving were being pinched by other people because they were so valuable in certain parts of africa.
they got angry initially. but then after pondering it realised that the tools were valuable and sought to understand why people were stealing them. then asking those that would be stealing whether they would like to have some of their own to build an enterprise. they therfore got smart.
after 30 years they said to me it is less about the tools themselves and now more about the people. the tools are just the means to build a livlihood.
like i said i get to meet some interesting people and groups working for some pretty interesting ways to change a small part of the world. i love my job.
this morning i sat with a small outfit that started out about 30 years ago through giving out some tools to help a few people set up their businesses. however after awhile they observed that tools that they were giving were being pinched by other people because they were so valuable in certain parts of africa.
they got angry initially. but then after pondering it realised that the tools were valuable and sought to understand why people were stealing them. then asking those that would be stealing whether they would like to have some of their own to build an enterprise. they therfore got smart.
after 30 years they said to me it is less about the tools themselves and now more about the people. the tools are just the means to build a livlihood.
like i said i get to meet some interesting people and groups working for some pretty interesting ways to change a small part of the world. i love my job.
Monday, 21 June 2010
Friday, 18 June 2010
world cup fever
love it. hate it. indifferent.
so often the hype is somethink like this:
but... when the game starts it's more like this:
so often the hype is somethink like this:
but... when the game starts it's more like this:
Wednesday, 16 June 2010
when your papa throws you in the air
one of the favourite parts of my day is coming home.
usually the following happens: i walk in. i see that initial smile from my children. wait. it hits them and then they charge into me shouting "papa!". very fast too. sometimes knocking me over. either they're getting big or me older.
depending on the time of evening i'm then thrown into a bout of requests, feeding, nappy changes, milk preparation, tidying, teeth cleaning and bedtime stories.
the transition from working to being a dad is instant.
yesterday i was throwing reuben in the air as i did with caleb and joshie. he smiled. laughed as his his flopped around. i felt like a king and he my prince. as i did so i had this strange sensation sweep over me of fathers lifting their childen across the ages and the world today... and then the feeling morphed into a strange sense of fellowship with them. i thought of my father. my grand father. those around me who have children and even those who do not who have been lifted by their parents.
it's simple. to be thrown around or be the one lifting.
usually the following happens: i walk in. i see that initial smile from my children. wait. it hits them and then they charge into me shouting "papa!". very fast too. sometimes knocking me over. either they're getting big or me older.
depending on the time of evening i'm then thrown into a bout of requests, feeding, nappy changes, milk preparation, tidying, teeth cleaning and bedtime stories.
the transition from working to being a dad is instant.
yesterday i was throwing reuben in the air as i did with caleb and joshie. he smiled. laughed as his his flopped around. i felt like a king and he my prince. as i did so i had this strange sensation sweep over me of fathers lifting their childen across the ages and the world today... and then the feeling morphed into a strange sense of fellowship with them. i thought of my father. my grand father. those around me who have children and even those who do not who have been lifted by their parents.
it's simple. to be thrown around or be the one lifting.
Tuesday, 15 June 2010
meet nit...
some of our colleagues in cambodia shot a film about one of the groups they are partnering with...
Friday, 4 June 2010
let no one ever...
"... Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting."
Mother Teresa
Monday, 24 May 2010
"at the end of the day we have an expensive car and they haven't"
having three young kids comes with certain logistical considerations. take getting in and out of cars for example. easy- unplug your seatbelt. be pounced upon by one of your children who was that much faster than you. the others realise the one that got away and start to request, if they are polite, but more realistically scream, for equality of freedom. hands, yours, by now, are pinned down by a heavy child. 3 voices increasing in decibels.
that's before you open the door.
in this particular sunday afternoon we had parked the car. angie went to get joshua out and as she had eventually climbed out she went round to get him. he was kicking against her playfully and with a step back she accidentally knocked the car next to her. the lady screamed "CAREFUL!" we apologised quickly as we were at fault.
angie went in to the supermarket with two excited boys.
the owner of the victim's car came back and after hearing of the knock examined his car. i apologised again. he accepted it and said "after my day, this is the least of my worries"
then as he left he shouted at the kid on the other side of his car for having their door open. whilst pulling away he said to his girlfriend about the knock: "at the end of the day we have an expensive car and they haven't".
he's right however, he must have spent a fortune on his car and it is, "at the end of the day", an expensive one. Certainly more than ours. In fact most cars are more expensive than ours as I have never bought a car.
that's before you open the door.
in this particular sunday afternoon we had parked the car. angie went to get joshua out and as she had eventually climbed out she went round to get him. he was kicking against her playfully and with a step back she accidentally knocked the car next to her. the lady screamed "CAREFUL!" we apologised quickly as we were at fault.
angie went in to the supermarket with two excited boys.
the owner of the victim's car came back and after hearing of the knock examined his car. i apologised again. he accepted it and said "after my day, this is the least of my worries"
then as he left he shouted at the kid on the other side of his car for having their door open. whilst pulling away he said to his girlfriend about the knock: "at the end of the day we have an expensive car and they haven't".
he's right however, he must have spent a fortune on his car and it is, "at the end of the day", an expensive one. Certainly more than ours. In fact most cars are more expensive than ours as I have never bought a car.
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
So we now have a new PM
as I write the bbc are showing the clips of Gordon Brown's resignation and David Cameron's declaration of his new role and service to the country.
i'm reading a lot of notes of disgust and many of relief, some even ecstatic about a change. many opinions. many voices.
public service as got to be one of the hardest roles.
i always loved how socrates described this harshness when describing his "philosopher gaurdians":
...Those who belong to this small class have tasted how sweet and blessed a possession philosophy is, and have also seen enough of the madness of the multitude; and they know that no politician is honest, nor is there any champion of justice at whose side they may fight and be saved. Such an one may be compared to a man who has fallen among wild beasts --he will not join in the wickedness of his fellows, but neither is he able singly to resist all their fierce natures, and therefore seeing that he would be of no use to the State or to his friends, and reflecting that he would have to throw away his life without doing any good either to himself or others, he holds his peace, and goes his own way. He is like one who, in the storm of dust and sleet which the driving wind hurries along, retires under the shelter of a wall; and seeing the rest of mankind full of wickedness, he is content, if only he can live his own life and be pure from evil or unrighteousness, and depart in peace and good-will, with bright hopes.
i'm reading a lot of notes of disgust and many of relief, some even ecstatic about a change. many opinions. many voices.
public service as got to be one of the hardest roles.
i always loved how socrates described this harshness when describing his "philosopher gaurdians":
...Those who belong to this small class have tasted how sweet and blessed a possession philosophy is, and have also seen enough of the madness of the multitude; and they know that no politician is honest, nor is there any champion of justice at whose side they may fight and be saved. Such an one may be compared to a man who has fallen among wild beasts --he will not join in the wickedness of his fellows, but neither is he able singly to resist all their fierce natures, and therefore seeing that he would be of no use to the State or to his friends, and reflecting that he would have to throw away his life without doing any good either to himself or others, he holds his peace, and goes his own way. He is like one who, in the storm of dust and sleet which the driving wind hurries along, retires under the shelter of a wall; and seeing the rest of mankind full of wickedness, he is content, if only he can live his own life and be pure from evil or unrighteousness, and depart in peace and good-will, with bright hopes.
Friday, 7 May 2010
election fever
voting. hung Parliament. proportional representation. coalitions... it's all happening here.
it's been an exciting race. the anticipation and desire for change has been exhilarating. i was up late last night watching gleefully at the commentary, speeches and it was great tv.
however, i'm still slightly worried that i'm voting for somebody and someone who i don't really want to be there. all the candidates had their merits. but i really find myself not trusting politicians with my precious "trust" to run this country. it's more like i'm voting on who i don't want to be there. i value my vote and value this amazing right that i have been given to do it, but i just don't like the who i'm voting for.
i kinda like caleb's suggestion the last time i was in this place.
it's been an exciting race. the anticipation and desire for change has been exhilarating. i was up late last night watching gleefully at the commentary, speeches and it was great tv.
however, i'm still slightly worried that i'm voting for somebody and someone who i don't really want to be there. all the candidates had their merits. but i really find myself not trusting politicians with my precious "trust" to run this country. it's more like i'm voting on who i don't want to be there. i value my vote and value this amazing right that i have been given to do it, but i just don't like the who i'm voting for.
i kinda like caleb's suggestion the last time i was in this place.
Monday, 12 April 2010
skywalker
"I was in a plane and we were high up. I stepped out of the door and was walking in the clouds with God. I asked him: "how big are you?" He said He was 30. I then got back in the plane."
... caleb recounting his dream to me. wow.
... caleb recounting his dream to me. wow.
Thursday, 11 March 2010
sleep
i fell asleep putting joshua to bed at 7.15pm... and then transferred myself to my bed and got up proper at 6.30am. interestingly, i woke up with joshua in my bed, but i'm pretty sure i didn't transfer him.
more sleep in a single hit than i've had in a long, long time... felt like a teenager again.
more sleep in a single hit than i've had in a long, long time... felt like a teenager again.
Saturday, 27 February 2010
birthday parties
just back from a 4th birthday party for caleb.
7 words: insane, frenetic, exhausting, fun, 55kids, survival and insane.
7 words: insane, frenetic, exhausting, fun, 55kids, survival and insane.
Friday, 12 February 2010
Thursday, 11 February 2010
Davos#9: rest
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