Tonight's game and some other bits.

Tottenham Vs. Middlesbro' . .Youth against experience, it's all in the balance.

This year the premiership end of season has so many interesting games to watch: The relegation battle ( hope west brom stay up ) then there's the euro spot, (naturally hope Spurs pip Man City, Aston Villa and M'bro. for that one) then theres the Champions league spot between Everton and L'pool, ( no preference there ) then there's the second place battle between Manu and Arsenil. (can't bring myself to wish victory on either team ;-p )

Got to go to the hospital today for an "emergency" eye examination. Then Church in the evening, where I'll be howling into a mic. and pounding on my conga's for two hours. (worship team) Then there's the game. So when do I do the marking?

Friends.

Well, truly I should thank God for friends. A Good friend with good news, or a kind word is probably the best thing in life. The companionship of someone who has your best interests at heart is quite amazing when you think about it.
I should thank those dear friends who so caringly responded to the below post. I'm ok, I'm not distressed, I'm just noticing a bit of a character shift. My 'disposition' is becoming less patient, less concerned for others, less interested. Maybe that's just getting old!? (?) . . .maybe not.

I have a few friendships that stand out in my life. The deepest ones also have an element of tension in them, and a history with a share of conflict. Its difficult to be close to anyone without bumping up against them sometimes I s'pose. I think often, friends are people who struggle together, not against but with each other, and there's something sacred about that. It's like wrestling and hugging are almost the same.

My longest standing friend is a Girl I'll call Wai.
She's 10 days younger than me and we've known each other for 23 years ish, having first swapped gifts and played 'tiggie off ground' and 'what time is it Mr. wolf' at the age of about 7 in a Sheffield junior school.
We've travelled through the years always feeling the gravitational pull of the other person (sometimes strongly, sometimes weakly). We've sometimes spun away from each other and been distant almost to the point of losing touch, sometimes crashed into each other and rowed but, like two planets in a crazy orbit, or a binary star, we have always been connected.
I'm not romantic or sentimental enough anymore to say we will always be friends. I know she and I are not special people. I don't think her qualities put her above others and I know I am not faithful enough to claim I'll always be there for her. Always is a stupid word. What I can talk about is now. Right now, I can't imagine not being her friend.

So, to all my friends, and to anyone who has friends, CHEERS. and God keep you.

Phew, a bit personal, but you're welcome to read.

even though tonight brings an exciting game, and tomorrow is a holiday, and God forgives, I have a heavy heart at the moment. I can't say why.

At the moment I am marking books and getting ready for the evening service at St. Andrew's Church, home to my spiritual family since I moved here. Its an Anglican Church and I was confirmed as a member of the Anglican communion about a year ago. Bishop Thomas See put his hands on my head and prayed.
I get alot of blessing and help there. I serve in the worship team playing the Congas, the guitar and singing harmonies for the worship leader as part of the Backing band. Quite funky music sometimes and I always look forward to that.
I also sometimes go to midweek meetings of a meditative prayer group, where we all stumble into the 100 year old gothic building after slaving at work and quietly pray for a few hours. An then there's a home group, we gather at the vicarage and study, pray, sing then eat. I've really let the midweek things slide though and am finding it hard to get to Church on Sunday too.

I know I'm becoming quite cold hearted. I can't blame Hong Kong, or work, or anything else, I just feel like something is slipping away from me a bit. I'm settling into a chilly indifference to most of the things that my friends and family value. The only thing I feel motivated to do is simplify and streamline my life as much as possible.

I'm doing many deeply stupid things, regularly, and can't seems to do what I know I should be doing. I know this is the common experience of all people, especially Christians, who have Jesus as a standard. But I'm losing sight of the standard and my tempariture is cooling to match the level of my surroundings. Gosh.

OK, back to my books.