Bob "the brave"

He was with us barely over a week.

He was the first to swim out and explore the new fish tank that the boys received earning him the title "the brave". He helped his friends. He was spirited and adventurous.

Today Bob breathed his last. Floating up to the top and found his own "Elephant's graveyard" place tucked away between the very fine slot between the filter and the edge of the tank.

He was Reuben's fish. Chosen, named and followed by Rube.

Can't believe how emotional it has been.

Best friends

Life long friends. Quite a dynamic duo indeed :) :)

5 years on

Went to a church service dedicated to Haiti in West Peckham this morning. 

Frederick, a UN worker, was crushed by the collapsing building in Port au Prince around 5pm on 12th January, 2010. He was a resident of West Peckham. Today, five years on, his family convene to remember him and pay their tributes. 

Having grown close to this precious family over the years, it was a honour to light candles, shed tears and give thanks for a son, brother, cousin, nephew and neighbour who I was told I would have really liked. I wish that we could have had that chance.

A friend of ours was asked to share and he said when looking at the bigger things we get a perspective of the hopeless (poor government, public criticism of the aid not getting to where it needs to and so on). He shared at the local level the people he knows are full of hope. Hope for a better future for them and their children. He shared a few powerful stories to showcase that people change people... This is happening at local level. Within the hospital the patients were singing, praying and encouraging each other. Whilst written off with no chance to live they and their familes have come together to help each other and showcase humanity at its finest.

Very humbling.

Getting ready...

The nursery is done. What a relief. Phew! 

Amazingly all this has come from friends, family and others. 

We are so blessed :)

Christmas Day photos

A few snaps from today... Merry Christmas :)

Thank you for 2014

I love our work Christmas party. Had a great day yesterday with the fam.

Also amazing that one absent member 'turned up' despite not being able to make it via the tesco online delivery services who came with chocolates and drinks- he even delivered a lovely message. 

What a wonderful bunch of people who give up so much simply to serve others.

From Caleb

Just come in and found this on my bed from Caleb. Very thoughtful. :)

Love these guys

Over ten years ago a couple believed in us and asked us to step out and dedicate our lives to help others. 

It was amazing to have them back in our house today.

Thank you for all you done and especially for believing in us. 

On the south bank

Faces

Friends

Nice to visit my old and close friend James today.

Known each other since we were 7.

Happy birthday Joshie

Seven years old!

God mother's wedding 27.09.14

Reuben was a page boy at his god mother's wedding this past weekend 

Kazakstan a missed opportunity

I am not going to Kazakstan.

I was refused entry at the check in desk. 

The problem with having subcontractors and insufficient understanding between parties. 

Doesn't really matter to me their particular misunderstanding but what does very much matter is that due to this I was not allowed to board a flight. Due to this I have lost face and reputation with all those who I was hoping to meet. Due to this I am now not going to enjoy a country which I was very much looking forward to experiencing.

My colleague said to me, well maybe there's a reason for this. Whilst offering little comfort it does strike me as a "one of those times" that can be a pub yarn or wisdom point when speaking to others about flights that went wrong.

Clearly not onwards and upwards in this case.

Kazakhstan Calling

I'm off to Kazakhstan in 10 minutes.

The schedule: Car to Airport. Plane. Stopover. Plane. Airport to Seminar. 2 presentations. Seminar to Train. Overnight train to Shymkent. Meet with charity partners and tour their site. Overnight train. Reflection Day (or meetings) and catch up. Overnight (hopefully on a non moving bed). Plane. Stopover. Plane. Car to home.

It's back to school time again

At Bolton abbey again

Malham Cove

Bridge sitting in the Yorkshire dales

The ice cream farm

This place is brilliant!

Billy Bob's ice cream parlour in the Yorkshire Dales.

They had a barn with this inside!