given the number of photos i have just uploaded into three neatly packed albums to the left it would be greedy of me to now speil on for paragraphs about what they are about. basically i've been travelling recently. brother nicholas came out here for 10 days or so. we all went to jordan for a week. we began in madaba to visit the awesome old testament sites of mt nebo, the dead sea and the river jordan. it (nearly) goes without saying that we then went down to the former home of the nabatean people in petra. among other freaking awesome things we saw nicholas and myself wandered for 8 hours up and down mt hor where they say moses' brother is resting. it's feasible as nicholas and i did just the same once the summit finally presented itself. the climb was a little yikes and we found ourselves discussing that great video shown to all scouts and wellington college 4th forth health students: what a stupid way to die. it was a magnificent walk, ay nick? and so on.

 

i have just returned from attending a course in beijing. school sent and friend and i. expectations were exceeded and i had a very exciting time. as part of the course we visited a local village. you'll see the photos. we also went to the great wall and tianamen square. the wall is in fact very great and the square might actually be oblong.

 

i know there are heaps of photos (that will come out a little grainy if you go full screen) so i'll finish now and invite you to peruse.

 

 

the ancient stone city of the nabateans in petra, jordan is indescribable, thus:

i've added some more photos of ben. it brings nothing but happiness to spend time with him. he talks, runs, climbs, picks up ants, splashes, points, kisses, dances, crawls, jumps, giggles all over the place. as the weather cools we can get outside more and enjoy time at the beach, park or just out in the tennis courts next to our house. he makes friends in the twinkling of a smile who will gladly give up their game of basketball to play with him or stop their skating to say 'hello ben'. he is wonderful. full of wonder. i've been quite stressed this week but, hamdallah, my passport has been returned and we are now all ready for brother nicholas' arrival on friday. on saturday we all fly to kuwait then amman for a week crossing jordan.

 

i am really only posting so you'll look at the photos.