Thursday, December 28, 2000
Today hasn't seemed to be very productive but I guess it probably was. My main achievment was that I once again reinstalled ALL of the software on this laptop. I haven't done it for over six months which is amazing for a MS Windows machine. It all went on ok so over the next month I should be able to get it all re-configured again to the right settings. It also needed doing as I had run out of room and often some functions wouldn't complete.
In the early arvo I went to visit the house that my parents own but rent out at Deception Bay. It needs some carpentry and guttering work done on it soon. I'll try and do it for them so that it doesn't cost them so much. The house is being paid off by the tennants but they could look after it more and possibly keep it a bit tidier.
[ 2:16:50 AM ] +
Tuesday, December 26, 2000
Well the holidays have been going well and so well and so relaxing that I haven't written properly in this journal for quite a few days. I will make up for that now and document many of the things that have happened in the past couple of weeks.
The house I am staying at is really nice and EASY to look after since all I have to do is water the plants a few times a week. My mates dad comes around and mows the lawnwhich is fantastic but I wish he didn't do it at 8am after I have had a long night on the computer.
Last Friday night I was thinking about having dinner but didn't want to eat alone so I rang a mate named james to see what he was up to. He and a few others were on their way into town to see some freee fireworks. I quickly got ready and met them at the location and walked around and chatted to those I don't see too regularly. Times like this are great to encourage and be encouraged.
After coming home late I stayed up and did some more on my web projects. I have an OK phone connection after spending about an hour on the phone to the Telstra technician last week trying to work out why I keep getting disconnected every 5 minutes. It all works fine now so I can build an up load my sites with greater easy, although it is very slow. I have also changed servers and have this site on a few service that should suit me for a long time to come. I can have as many email accounts as needed so I'll set up a few for friends and obviously family.
I have been going to Birdgeman Downs Baptist that past few weeks since I live much closer to it than Ashgrove. Last week I also did a few days carpentry work on the new church they are building. I was needing some work so I can pay for the trip (that is less than a month away) to Mexico. Other friends have also been blessing me with financial gifts so I can and do praise God for always being so faithful.
I will be living in this current house until I go to Mexico. My friends the owners will be back a few days before then but they have gracously said that I can stay until I leave. In the next few weeks I hop to get in and learn a bit more of Spanish and get a few of my web projects off the ground. I will be vsiting a few more old friends but it is strange how many I meet who are unaware of the cancellation of my marriage that was supposed to happen this coming Saturday. I guess I should have gotten out another letter a whil back to inform people of the change in circumstances. Anywy I'll do that soon.
[ 1:20:27 PM ] +
I have just finished my Christmas day celebrations with my family. We had a good time and gave each other presents. There was enough food for all and we enjoyed the fellowship and relaxing.
[ 4:52:05 AM ] +
Thursday, December 21, 2000
The holidays have been busy so I haven't really been updating this section much. I have some carpentry work today and hopefully will have some more in the next few weeks before I go to Mexico on January 24th.
[ 3:16:01 AM ] +
Thursday, December 14, 2000
I have arrived safely on the mainland and am currently staying with my cousins in Sydney. I should be home this weekend and will be visiting my grandparents tomorrow for dinner.
[ 8:24:52 PM ] +
Tuesday, December 12, 2000
There are only a few hours before I leave Tassie now. Things have been very rushed today and as usual I didn't get to do all the things that I had planned. For the best part of the day I could be found fixing the computers of both the college's and various students. Some of the folk had asked me to help them back up their work from the past year while others had major faults that needed addressing before they and I go on holidays tomorrow. Thankfully all has been done know and I am pleased that the college machines are running well and hopefully will do so until I return next June. (In reality they will stuff way before then but Frank or Ron will have do deal with them for that period.)
After a busy day I was able to set time aside to attend a local youth meeting that happens most Monday evenings. As in past weeks when I have been able to attend, the time was very worth while. I was excited to hear of the new and refreshing vision that the leaders have taken on for the next year and trust that they might see their ministry grow because of the re-focus. This church is blessed with some fine young people and I'd love to see many of them take up the challenge of cross-cultural missions.
I have after coming home done some packing but will have to do the rest in the morning after I drop a mate out at the airport. I am keen to leave as it is one step closer to getting to Mexico again. Even as I write this short message I am thinking of the Spanish words and short phrases that I learned 3 years ago. I can't wait to get there and start speaking Spanish (the little that I know!).
We have planned our trip and I will be hanging around Melboure for a few hours as I have to collect another student from the airport and take him to his family who live on the VIC/NSW border. I will then go and stay (hopefully) with some old family friends who are pastors a bit further on. The next day I expect to go to Sydney and stay with the relos but go via Canberra and visit an old college friend who has been living there this year. The next day I will drive from Sydney to The Entrance and visit and most likely stay at my grandparents and then drive home on Friday along the coast road and get a few surfs at any good spots. I expect to be back in Brisbane by Saturday night and ready to live in Sterlo's house.
[ 12:20:20 AM ] +
Sunday, December 10, 2000
It feels good! to be finished college for another year. We had a very relaxing time last night reflecting on the year by watching videos and sharing personal impromptu hightlights of the year. As usual we had a great BBQ and great fellowship. Some have already left but the majority are leaving with me on Tuesday when we catch the boat from Devonport to Melbourne.
Today was very full yet very enjoyable. I have been trying to say farewell to a few of my best local friends since I won't be back until June 2001. I have seen a few and might see a few more in the tomorrow before leaving. Church happened at Perth Baptist this morning and this was followed by a luncheon at Christ Church Baptist and then visiting a good friend and lastly a dynamic and powerful meeting at Launceston Church of Christ.
The thing that made tonight's meeting so exciting and worth attending was that we heard of how an older lady and her husband had been reaching out to a VERY needy lady who is addicited to drugs. I was stoked to hear the story of how God had been guiding them and teaching them much more about Himself and how they might aid this lady better. I trust that it was a GREAT challenge to all those ther and that they don't easily forget the grace that God has given so undeservedly to us.
Tomorrow I must get cracking on the packing so that I don't miss the boat on Tuesday arvo. I have to store heaps of my stufff but will try and get as much of it home with me in the car. I will be visiting a few friends and relatives on the way and plan to be home in Brisbane this coming Saturday night.
[ 10:34:22 PM ] +
Friday, December 08, 2000
The final full day of the college program was spent by me mainly doing cleaning around the house. All 3 of us picthed in and got the thing done reasonably quickly which was great as none of us blokes really like cleaning. The place looks a bit nicer and more liveable which is weird since we leave in a few days.
I went and enjoyed dinner at my pastors house this evening. Apart from the good food and fellowship, we had fun trying to work out a web design program so that he can create and maintain the church web site. It is a good effort for his first one by compared to the program that I currently use, it is very limiting; therefore just right for the beginner.
The night before I went and had dinner with a few other friends. we had a heaps good time and enjoyed the relaxing and mucking around atmosphere.I won't see these friends for a few months as I leave this coming Tuesday and don't return until June next year. I have some good friends down here and am sad to have to say farewell for now.
The college graduation is tomorrow and everyone is quite excited about finishing up. I am not expecting to have to do anything except attend and help clean up at the end. I have a few friends coming to watch so I trust that they have a good time too. Tonight though, although it is already late, I'll stay up for a bit and build the WEC Tasmania web site of which I got the information for today.
[ 11:23:20 PM ] +
Wednesday, December 06, 2000
The count down is really on. Only two days to go and then graduation on Saturday. I got up a few minutes late as usually and sped down to the gardens to help get the food for the day. We only had strawberries to pick but they are all gone for now so I only could get 4. We then went to the chook sheds and moved all 100 chooks out side into and enclosed section so that their home could be refurbished. Later on in the day many students got in and cleaned out and refilled the coop with fresh sawdust. I did this task last year so I made my self busy for that time this year.
While they were slaving in the sheds I mended and added some new content to the Worldview college web site. It as usual took much longer than expected but I was sick of doing it by lunch so after lunch went and helped on the building site. It was a good change and we did some work in between mucking around.
This evening we had the bi-annual end of Semester dinner. The kitchen team did a great job as the food was extra special. After the good feed we went into the chapel and had a time of sharing. Many people told of how God had been working in theri lives and how college had been a blessing, although often quite hard. Tomorrow I am off to a place called the Gorge for a second year retreat and then dinner with my mate Bretto and Melinda.
[ 9:19:14 PM ] +
Yesterday was the start of the final week of college for the year. We all went ot a nice park and spent the day playing sport and eating burgers. When we returned we had the annual fun night which was as usual a great success. I had direct involvement with the gunny photos competition and showed a PowerPoint presentation that went for over 8 minutes. Over 100 photos were submitted this year and many were good highlights.
I joined in the spiritual emphasis day at college today. A guest speaker came in, had a couple of chats to us than everyone was prayed for. It was a good day and many were touched in a special way by God.
[ 12:07:33 AM ] +
Monday, December 04, 2000
Today has been another beautiful and quite warm day by Tasmanian standards. I went to church at Perth Baptist and enjoyed the childrens christmas service. After the meeting a few of us went for a picnic to a local old house/estate and fellowshipped over lunch. When I returned home I played soccer for a while and then went off to church at the Church of Chirst. For the rest of the evening I have been scanning in photos for the fun night that is tomorrow night. We have so many - currently 75 have been entered and there are a few more to come. Many are very humerous and display quite well the antics that happen at college through out the year. A few will be published on the web sometime soon.
[ 1:32:29 AM ] +
Saturday, December 02, 2000
Today was a great day. It was special for me and my room mate Steve as he got married this morning. It was a nice wedding and everything went well. The reception was great too and the college cooks did a fantastic job with the food. There was still time during the reception to trash the car so a few photos of it should be online soon. The whole day wore me out though so I slept after then watched some TV. I am now just going through some on the funny photo entrants and will scan them in so that they can be displayed on Monday night at the annual fun night. Today I got an email from Mexico and things are looking fine. I have to get a few references but otherwise it is all systems go.
[ 8:46:26 PM ] +
Thursday, November 30, 2000
We have just finished the Probe course this arvo after doing a few short and not really too hard exams. I should have passed but won't be becoming a linguist or Bible translator. Tonight we are off to Stay House, a local Indonesian restraunt to with many of the students. When we have finished there we are going to go next door and go ten-pin bowling with all the guys and celebrate the wedding of Steven my room mate that is happening this Saturday. Tomorrrow we have prac duties all day so I might try and get the internal web site built for the college or they might rope me into working on the construction site.
[ 3:37:59 PM ] +
Tuesday, November 28, 2000
WOW!! Things really do work out for good to those who trust in God! I knew this and it is exciting when it happens so clearly. The situation in the article that I wrote yesterday has greatly improved. One of the girls has returned home as she realised that the friend that she was trying to help didn't really want to be helped. Today she went to the Police and told them where the friend was than went home and is seemingly happy. I am so blessed to have been a part of this situation. It was a heartache while it was all happening but now that it has concluded successfully, it is awesome.
The Probe course went OK today. I had some trouble trying to understand some sections since I had missed some of the introductory lessons yesterday. I did the required homework and have better understood many more of the concepts of what they are teaching. A group of us are also learning Tamill as a way to practice what we are learning in theory. I find thought that I learn much better if I can write down the new words, but unfortunately this isn't always possible in some places with some languages so they are teaching us to do it from hearing only. I guess I'll go back and do some more tomorrow.
[ 8:10:51 PM ] +
Monday, November 27, 2000
Life sucks when you try and help someone and you get abused for doing so. Late last week I was asked to try and locate two 14 year old girls who I used to teach Sunday School to last year since they had run away from home. God led me to them and we were able to chat to them for some time. I then gave them a lift to a much better and safer house than where they were originally residing and cam home to try and sleep.
A few days later we went out to try and find them but they were not where they usually would be. I tried the next night but no good again. Later that evening one of the girls parents rang and threatened me that if I didn't tell him where his daughter was then I would be charged with abduction.
What this person was saying was ludicrious.The daughter wouldn't have been on the street had the parent not dragged the daughter across the street by her hair a few nights earlier. I have sonce given as much info as I could to the DFS and will leave it up to them to work the rest of it out. Some pople just don't seem to know how to be thankful that someone else cares for their kids too.
[ 10:13:55 PM ] +
Sunday, November 26, 2000
On Thursday night and Saturday night I went with a girl from college into town to see if we could locate two 14 year old girls who had run away from home. We prayed prior to going and found them as soon as we arrived in the city. They hadn't eaten a good meal for a for a few days so we bought them a Subway sandwich then dropped them at a house after chatting to them for about 90 minutes. We went to find them again tonight but they were no where to be seen. They are in a sad predicamant but currently don't want outside help.
This morning we went into the town and participated in the annual Launceston Christmas parade. The worldview college had a float (the back of the Hilux ute) and some of us walked behind. There were heaps of folk out and we were the only ones who had any sign mentioning Jesus. I am sure that some of the kids watching were asking why we had a sign saying "Happy Birthday Jesus".
After having a sleep in the arvo for a few hours, I worked on the new WEC Australia web site. I have been appointed the "webmaster" and so will be redesigning a much more user friendly site that each state can easily adjust. The site will look like the Queensland one that I built last holidays.
I will be off to church in the morning and then have a few friends coming over for lunch with us at the college. In the afternoon we are also having a BBQ picnic for the small care share group that I am involved in. Things study wise are winding down but the parties are just getting going.
[ 2:36:57 AM ] +
Thursday, November 23, 2000
Today was a good day. I spent some of the morning picking vegies in the college gardens then went to a lecture by Sam Chidamber on the New Age movement. After lunch a few of us went to the UNI to attend the English lesson where we help the students practice. When I cam back I worked on the new building site and we stood a few outside walls that others had made during the day. I have just prepared for CRE tomorrow morning but am now off to an engagement party for one of my flat mates, Jean-Michael and his fiancee Irene Leong. I might find some time to do a web page or two but am feeling a bit drained since I played soccer for 90 minutes at the UNI.
[ 7:13:57 PM ] +
Wednesday, November 22, 2000
WOO HOO!! I have had my last exam today for this year. I was in it counting down the minutes until my life would be a bit less stressful. I think I went OK in it but I'll have to wait to see the results which might be a while. I was able to answer all of the questions but like always in exams, my answers were not the best.
After lunch I went to town and did some shopping. I have a new battery for the laptop thanks to Compaq's great warranty agreement. I had to go and pay my car rego at the main branch so that hit the old back pocket pretty hard. The college also wants the rest of my fees byt the end of this week so I'll see how the bank balance is holding up.
I got a not from my pastor to say that I can come and work there next year but I think I'll pursue the idea of Mexico a bit more. I really think that this is where I am supposed to be. Another exciting email told me that I have been invited to revamp and help establish the WEC Australia web site. This will be a nice little holiday project.
We are having a party this evening to celebrate the end of the hardest party of the college year. See you tomorrow.
[ 6:18:21 PM ] +
Tuesday, November 21, 2000
Thanks to the big internet hassles that Australia is having at the moment, I have been unable to write in this journal over the past few days. I had an exam yesterday and it went suprisingly well. I was able to write 4 good essays in the 2 hour period. I'll have to wait to see what the examiner thought on them though before I go saying that I have deffinitely passed. There is one more exam tomorrow morning and then we are finished for the year. We are having a short language courese next week an then the last week is full of picnics and special occasions.
To celebrate the end of the year, we are going to have a party tomorrow night in the student lounge. I have arranged the use of a data projector so the video we will watch will make it like the movies and on a BIG screen. For the next few days I will try and get the rest of my work in and also chase up more details about going to Mexico next year. The local church here in Tassie that may want me to work with them is having a meeting tonight to think and make a firm decision. Anyway, must go as I have some more study on the book of Romans to do.
[ 6:35:40 PM ] +
Sunday, November 19, 2000
Today has been reasonably productive. I got some study done but will need to do some more tomorrow if I am going to be ready for the exam on Monday. I went through my class notes and read some suitable resources and Bible dictionaries and compiled the notes into a new Word document. I have learned a bit and wish that I had of been able to study more in the last semester.
[ 1:54:06 AM ] +
Friday, November 17, 2000
There is only 3 weeks left now to college for this year. I have ywo more exams and 1 last report to be done. In the second last week we are doing the PROBE language intensive course. I have spent the last day getting the allbutt.net site ready for uploading but this will have to wait until Sunday when I visit my pastors house. It will probably cost me $1700 return to fly to Mexico. The trip has been booked but the finer details are yet to be arranged. The MASSIVE slab of the education block was poured this morning and looks great. They plan to start the framing on Monday. The weather has been AWESOME today with the temperature at about 25 degrees. I think I have wound down and am ready (very ready) for my holidays.
[ 9:36:35 PM ] +
Thursday, November 16, 2000
Good news was just received today. It seems that I will be able to go to Mexico for about 4 months next year. I will be getting together more of the details now and it has given me a boost to get into the work since I have something positive to look forward to. it is a beautiful day here yet I will have to spend much of it indoors doing the necessary work. Anyway, breakfast time.
[ 9:03:46 AM ] +
Wednesday, November 15, 2000
Today was another beautiful day here in Tassie. Finally it is shorts a T'shirts weather and we are all lapping up the sunshine and heat that we have been starved of for many months. For me I was able to get a few things accomplished. College assignments and web sites etc. have made by day busy.
The laptop computer I do all my work on has a major setback at the moment. The screen that I use to see what is going on (like when I type this message) went very dark brown late yesterday. Compaq are going to replace it but it might take a few days. Thankfully I can do all my work here in my room and the computer can be attached to an external monitor. I guess I can atleast be very thankful that I don't have to take the laptop to lectures any more.
I had a good chat to Dad the last two nights. He is in Sydney for business meetings and is staying with his brother and their family. They arre my only true Allbutt relatives so they are quite special. When I return to Brisbane at the end of this year I will probably at this stage go via Sydney to visit them and my grandparents who live at The Entrance near Newcastle. The latest news is that I might be heading overseas for a few months early next year but more plans will be outlined soon.
[ 6:48:27 PM ] +
Tuesday, November 14, 2000
Today has been a bit hard. I had an exam on Pastoral Care and I am pretty sure that I didn't do very well. It was possible to study for it but my brain is fried and was unable to concentrate before or during or after the exam. Life is really hard at the moment. Much of the anguish is due to the uncertainity of what I should be doing in the future. I have no more exams this week but one next Monday and then the final one on Wednesday morning. I also have a few more reports to hand in but all the assignments are done. It was a beautiful day here today and in the arvo I played volley ball with some of the other students.
[ 9:46:30 PM ] +
Sunday, November 12, 2000
It is now bed time again! I had an enjoyable afternoon at Missiondale with the residents who I know from church. I spent a long time with them and then cam home in time to go out to church at the local Church Of Chirst. I took one of the college staff boys and we had a good time. I sat next to the local high school chaplain and his wife. In the future they said they'd like to have me join them for a meal so I gave them my contact details.
This coming week we start new prac duties. At 7am I will be working in the college garden with Caleb and Stu Bott for 90 minutes. I will then need to come back and get into the Pastoral Care assignment that will need to be done before the exam on the same subject the next day. This is the only exam this week but there are two next week.
[ 9:34:02 PM ] +
Well I was able to get one of those assignments done yesterday so I can atleast cross one thing off the list. I was so tired yesterday arvo that I slept for a few hours. I felt heaps better for it but those assignments were still waiting. At lunch they announced about a youth concert 15 minutes away. So at night I went to this. It was quite good and there were heaps for young people from the local communities. I saw a great potential of outreach so maybe I will be also able to work in this area too.
After a good sleep I got up and went to church. I was OK and a special meeting in the life of Perth Baptist. They were celebrating thier church anniversary this weekend (over 100 hundred years!). They had an open day yesterday and many from the area came and found out what happens in during the normal weeks. This arvo I stayed for a church luncheon and then I will be off to a meeting at Mission Dale. This is a rehab place run by the local City Mission.
[ 12:09:49 PM ] +
Saturday, November 11, 2000
It is raining today and has been doing do all morning. I have done some college work and some shoping for ATB Designs. It is luch now so should be another great meal by Claire Venz. I think it is some fish dish. It might have a quick sleep this arvo after luch and after I print out that assignments that is NEARLY finished.
I stayed up a (fair) bit last night as I had a site design idea come to me for a commercial project. It came up Ok and now it will be critqued by the client. The project will be done over the next two months or so and should be a good money earner (Those bills just keep coming!!)
[ 12:01:03 PM ] +
Friday, November 10, 2000
Haven't go much done today yet. My body is catching up on the sleep I deprived it from in recent days so this arvo I had a sleep and agian missed dinner. I got some when I work up 30 minutes later. I got some great news via email that I best Buddy, Jon Crowe is going to be a Dad next year. That is very exciting and strange as last time I saw him he wasn't even married. Oh how time flies. And time is flying so I had better do those assignments.
[ 6:43:12 PM ] +
I am read for another big day. I went to sleep at a much better time last night and currently feel freash and ready to pump out a few assignments. My plan is to do one for NT Exegesis (1000 words on the rigtheousness of God from the Book of Romans). If time permits (depending on how long that other one takes) I'll also get onto Pastoral Care and the topic I have chosen is Suicide - How to deal with the pressures. There is also a report for CRE but this can wait as these other two are way over due. Anyway, lets get to it.
[ 8:38:51 AM ] +
Thursday, November 09, 2000
Oh and I forgot. I got a few letters today. One was from my mum so thanks. And the other was from a guy I went to Sunday school with. I haven't seen Greg Dibley for ages but I had been sending him the Mike's Mailout's ever few months. It was a lengthy letter of 3 typed A4 pages. At least once a paragraph had bible verses inculded to help support what he was talking about. I wouldn't write like him amd he wouldn't write like me. But it was refreshingly different to read something from someone who is very much a follower of Jesus. He had some great stories and they did encourage me heaps. Thanks Greg for taking the time to write.
[ 7:05:56 PM ] +
Well last night was a long one. I stayed up until my assignment was done. It is suprising how fast dawn comes around whe you are busy at work. I guess my body clock is all messed up at the moment. The take home exam was completed successfully but now I need the pass mark. This should be a formality as I think I ful filled the requirments OK.
Today I was therefore not at my peak performance. I got a few hours sleep but not enought to make the day a productive one. I guess I'll just keep slogging away and those assignements will eventually be completed. I can only do them at the speed my brain allows; which at the moment isn't very fast.
Some very sad news was learned today. I wondedfull friend Buzz lost his mother this morning. She had been fightning cancer over the past few months but today it claimed her life. The obvious good side is that she was a strong Christian who is now with her saviour Jesus Christ in heaven. It is sad for for family of whom I am good friends with. I would hat to be in that predicament and it makes you appreciate you family even more.
I was busy doing some work this arvo when I heard my name being called over the PA. Once again I had forgotten to make afternoon tea. Usually this would be OK but at the moment there are heaps of hungry workman building a new education block. They were waiting but thankfully I was saved by those who regularly attend afternoon tea. They made it instead, so when I arrived they all cheered. Tomorrow there is no food so I'll be right. (It seems that the alarm on my watch didn't go off as usual which made me not remember). Next week for about another 4 weeks I am off to the vege garden once again. I have been there about 3 times already this year and about the same last. It is I guess better than cleaning windows.
[ 5:39:06 PM ] +
Wednesday, November 08, 2000
It is now quite late. I have to hand in a take home exam tomorrow (now actually today) at 10am. I have been so warn out in recent days that I just had to have a sleep this evening. I now feel much more refereshed and able to do the necessary work. When this exam is done I will be able to go to bed. I am not sure how long it will take, but it will be a few hours. Another late night infront of the computer is ahead! This time though it isn't building web sites but doing the work that I am here in tassie meant to be doing.
[ 11:27:08 PM ] +
Things on the college work front are going a bit slow. I need to really knuckle down and do some proper work. I am lacking motivation but as always it will all be done when it really matters.
[ 1:08:56 PM ] +
Tuesday, November 07, 2000
Once again I have stayed up too late. I have done another site though but when I get up tomorrow I will need to get cracking on my assgnments. I had a better look at my exam timetable today and we have them dragged out over the next 3 weeks. I'll put up a copy of the timetable soon for those who are interested.
I am a few other second years got called up the office today as we needed to fix up some of our subject submissions. I am others are getting annoyed at the lack of professionalism by some of the staff. What we are supposed to do at various times or situations isn't always clear but they think it is. I will be trying to get them to make a few practical adjustments so that future students don't have to go throgh this type of hassle.
[ 2:25:22 AM ] +
Sunday, November 05, 2000
Sunday is always a busy day for Christians. This morning I taught the Sunday School class about forgiveness by using one vegie tales video and a getting them to act out the story at the end of chapter 18 of Matthew about the man who was forgiven heaps but then put someone who owed him money into goal. The kids seemed to like this and the all particitpated well. After doing cre all year I think that I would like to teach them the ten week lesson plan of the Bible. This would be a good job for next year.
For the rest of the day I was at the pastors house and was uploading and sorting out the sites that I worked on yesterday. Thankfully most of them worked but some needed a few adjustments. I am pleased thought that these blogs are working fine. I had to remove all os the Java as it was giving errors when the pages loaded. They now don't have any rolls but they do load without script errors.
The lunch today deserves a special mention. It was very, very nice. Simone who comes from Germany did a great job and there was plenty to go around. I think even she was suprised how good it was.
I don't know what I am supossed to be doing this week regarding duties but it probably isn't in the kitchen. I hope that it is back to morning and arvo teas which is really cruisy. This will allow me to geta sleep in which I really need and want badly.
[ 11:01:46 PM ] +
Saturday, November 04, 2000
Letter from Tasmanian mum to Tasmanian son:
Dear Son,
I'm writing this letter slow - because I know you can't read fast. We don't live where we did when you left home. Your dad read in the newspaper that most accidents happen within 20kms from your home, so we moved. I won't be able to send you the address because the last Tasmanian family that lived here took the house numbers when they moved so that they wouldn't have to change their address. This place is really nice. It even has a washing machine. I'm not sure it works so well though: last week I put a load in and pulled the chain and haven't seen them since.
The weather isn't bad here. It only rained twice last week; the first time or three days and the second time for four days. About that coat you wanted me to send you, your Uncle Stanley said it would be too heavy to send in the mail with the buttons on, so we cut them off and put them in the pockets.
John locked his keys in the car yesterday. We were really worried because it took him two hours to get me and your father out. Your sister had a baby this morning; but I haven't found out what it is yet so I don't know if your an aunt or an uncle. The baby looks just like your brother.
Uncle Ted fell in a whiskey vat last week. Some men tried to pull him out but he fought them off and drowned. We had him cremated and he burned for three days. Three of your friends went off a bridge in a ute. Ralph was driving. He rolled down the window and swam to safety. Your other two friends were in the back. They drowned because they couldn't get the tailgate down.
There isn't much more news at this time. Nothing much has happened.
Love, Mum
P.S. I was going to send you some money but I had already sealed the envelope.
[ 11:14:28 PM ] +
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[ 11:12:18 PM ] +Another day and another few dollars. I actually didn't get paid anything today but I guess that my usual Austudy payment has been deposited as per usual over the past few weeks. The big news of today is that I went to the local uni for a party this evening. One of the students in the class, Q from Thailand was celebrating his 18th birthday today and I was invited. I meet Q at the Thursday afternoon English classes and he has become a good friend.
For the rest of the day I fixed up all my sites. They haven't been adjusted and uploaded in weeks so there were a few things that needed fixing. I wish I had a much faster computer as this one takes ages now compared to others that I could have. As always the barrier is money.
Right now it is raining outside buty it has been a beautifuk day. I am also going to be teaching Sunday School tomorrow at my Church. It is a requirement of the college course to teach one other class outside of CRE as so this needs to be done now so I can submit my final year report.
I have finished working in the kitchen now I think. Today Claire made a great lunch and tomorrow I don't have to cook since we had a long weekend last weekend. The person Simone who missed out last Sunday gets to cook tomorrow. I am pleased about this as I have already cooked a few times in the past. This is the third time I have been in the kitchen this year. I hope it is the last. Til tomorrow, good night
[ 9:39:50 PM ] +
Thursday, November 02, 2000
Another day has just finished. In a few minutes I will be going to sleep. As usual I got my 20 to 30 emails. I loose count as so many come at various times. One message that I read immediately was from a friend who attended the funeral of a 19 year old mate who died last Monday night. I wished that I could have been t the funeral but I was brought up to date by the lengthy email.
This arvo we went to ministry at the uni and it was quite good fun. As the program for the year ends so do these type of placements. Today was much more relaxed than normal and we mainly chatted to those who come to learn English. I will go back after exams which I think are on next week.
The Xstudents site is now happening. I am pleased with how it turned out and wrote a few pages so that those at college can understand the concept and make use of the facilites that it will offer. The site like always takes more time than I previously planned but it is going to be much more useful than I had thought too. Many students will be able to post messages to each other and stay in touch long into the future.
RE is on for one of the last times tomorrow. I am taking it easy and will show them a video. Usually I had done some full on program but since that finished last week and my counter part returned to Singapore, I will be taking the easy option. But so I can get up and teach I will need to sleep now. Good night.
[ 10:42:54 PM ] +
It is late and I have finished working on the page that you are reading. I made this template and have hopefully worked out hot to do Blogs with a personalised look. I also fixed and made this template for Allbutt Answers.
[ 12:13:42 AM ] +
Wednesday, November 01, 2000
I had a good day today. There weren't any lectures as everything has nearly all finished. I has a good sleep this afternoon as in recent I haveen't been getting the usual amoun that I need. The kitchen was OK again and I don't mind working in it. The food in recent days has been very nice (and not just becase I have been working there!)
[ 9:39:44 PM ] +
Sadness has come into my life in the past few hours. I was informed by my mum that a young 19 year old boy who I used to look after and loved greatly, was killed in an accident on Monday night. Rabbi Youseff was hit by a train at Ferny Grove. There are suspicious circumstances surrounding the death and therefore making it harder to deal with.
The question of how to deal with this type of thing has come up. My immediate answer is "I don't know!".
[ 9:33:33 AM ] +
Tuesday, October 31, 2000
The rest of today has gone good. one of the high lights was after lunch when the annual college photo was taken. As per the tradition the boys did silly things. When the photo comes out make sure you look to see who was missing teeth!! For the rest of the day I worked on the xstudents site.
[ 8:48:52 PM ] +
Today I got the shock of turing up for duties at 8am only to find that they had changed me from setting up the dinning room to number ONE in the kitchen. The boys I flat with told me last night but I didn;t believe them.
The reason that I have been assigned a new task is that the lady who was suspossed to be there this week, had to suddenly leave the college due to a death. I am sure why the wacked me in the kitchen as I could think of many more people who caould have done it, but all I can do is to give it me BEST short.
Last night I did a few more hours on the XSTUDENTS pages for Worldview. They are comeing along quite well and should be getting uploaded really soon.
Yesterday Maurice Charman had a chat to Ted Sherrin about the possibility of doing a third year placement out at Perth Baptist. The elders are having a meeting tonight to discuss the matter. It looks quite promising and Ted is pretty excited.
[ 9:34:54 AM ] +
Monday, October 30, 2000
WELL!!!! I have done it!!! I have finished off those assignments. Last night I worked on them until late and them got up early to have another go. It took me about 6 hours to do the 2500 words on the Profile of Paul. I can do these assignments when the push comes to shove.
Last night I built a site for some M friends in Thailand. They have jast had a baby and wanted the world to see the photos without emailing them to everyone. See the VERY rushed site at zines.homepage.com/himstedt
I still have a few more of those assignments but I am pleased that some are out of the way. I will have to get cracking on them as exams start next week.
[ 5:35:21 PM ] +
Sunday, October 29, 2000
For the time being I have finished mucking around on the web. I have spent the arvo realiging all my blogs and setting them up at the various sites. Now I have to do those 2 assignments as they are both due tomorrow.
It has been a nice day down here cut i have spent most of it inside. Some sad news is the Phil Mok's Dad died the week before last and today his mum died in Singapore too. They are currently packing and will be leaving for good any time soon.
[ 7:33:29 PM ] +
I have been able to get a few words written on one of the MASSIVE assignments that was due last week. I have it and one other that needs to be done by tomorrow morning. I will have to keep working on it now but it is a drag. I know that when they are all done that my life will FEEL better but it is still quite hard.
[ 2:30:43 PM ] +
