Australia Day.

I've spent the last 48hours at Clovelly and for class and style I must say that it leaves the northern beaches for dead. Everything oozes money, as if it's barristered through the espresso machines and blown in on the ocean breeze.
People are, on the whole, very attractive.
Their sunglasses are Gucci.
Their houses are big and alternatively cool.

As I feel asleep on wednesday night I realised how deeply I covet living the Clovelly lifestyle. Studio apartment, expensive routines and a carefree social attitude that arises from sitting on mountains of cash.
I have to keep telling myself that 'money is the root of all kinds of evil' and that man can not love 'both God and money'. I only say this because I'm the kinda person who'd be overrun by the image that money would give me.
But, I must say, it is pretty nice to spend a few days here.

Meanwhile, the Australia Day celebrations were perfect. Chronologically it looked like this;

• Breakfast with Steve in Clovelly
• Snorkelling off clovelly bay
• recording a new tune
• Hanging with friends at Shelly Beach.
• The biggest game of slips catches and later beach cricket that I have ever played. (the entire beach got involved - from Damo' the 15 year fast bowler to Adam who insisted on being the streaker)
• Dinner at Ashes Table
• Chilling back at Clovelly on the outdoor couch.

its bloody brilliant being an aussie!




Andy, Kingos taking a classic, Mark and Hughsei




The slips game - in it's early formation.

(all photos are unashamedly stolen from www.youngos.net)

"We learn wisdom from failure much more than from success; we often discover what will do by finding out what will not do; and probable he who never made a mistake never made a discovery."

- Samuel Smiles

Airports and Photos

I find airports far tougher than I used to. They used to be places of compelte and utter excitement because I knew at the end of each and every flight there was a whole new world. Just that thought alone would be enough to set me on fire and full of energy. But this morning was a touch more soul sapping than ever before.
It wasn't because Scott, Hayley and Ben were leaving, cause whilst it's sad they have to go, their departure was always going to happen - they have bigger and better things to get home to for 2006. ...... actually, it's tough to really pin down what it was that was bugging me.

But something was.

None the less, the Tubman house is back to 3. But before everyone left I held a short photo session for the visiting tubmans. Below are a couple of the pic's I took.

Ben is cute - there's no denying that one.


Little Ben with his fav. Pooh Bear blanket.



The Tubman boys



Play time



Father and son.

Yesterday

"they say that Aslan is on the move. Perhaps he has already landed.' whispered the Beaver. Edmund felt a sensation of mysterious horror. Peter felt brave and adventurous. Susan felt as if some delightful strain of music had just floated by. And Lucy got that feeling when you realise it's the beginning of summer."

Scott and I went and saw Narnia last night and not wanting to be dirtied by the little people, we hit Gold Class.
There is nothing wrong with Gold Class - in fact its really quite legend! Apart from the extra $5 tagged on everything, the experience is top notch. We sat outside the cinema and enjoyed a Corona, before moving into the comfy recliner seats and then having our nacho's and 2nd Corona's delivered to us 30min into the movie! (as we'd asked) It was very cool.
A good night of beer, movie, corn chips and chatting afterwards at The Ranch.

Yesterday plus 2.
The weekend was spent down at Orient Point with Chalky, Jared, Walshy, Lemuel, Gazza and Luke.
We hadn't seen each other for a while and it was beautiful to be together. We played Risk from 10:30pm till 3am on Friday and poker on Saturday drinking squires and eating red rock - classic.
Both mornings were spent (after eggs, bacon and weekend paper) sitting on the edge of the Crookhaven river reading, praying and just being still. Saturday we read Colossians and Sunday we dived into a couple of chapters from 'Searching for God Knows What' - don miller.
It was refreshing.



Yesterday plus 4
Ben has hit the pool and he loves it!



Yesterday plus 9
We wammed it! I've already posted this whole thing, so no need to do any more - here are a few pics.


the start.


song.


Sar and Steve


Sarah and Sarah.

Ben
I've got a bit to post - a weekend away with some of the boys, college prep etc. But I'm just cleaning out my desk (last day of full time work for....well.....3 years!?) and it needs to be all finished in 15minutes.
So in the meantime here is a pic of me and my nephew. You gotta love the little fellow. Big eyes, button nose and totally natural just wearing a towel. It's the garden my friends, the garden.




hmmm. beautiful.

in Him
c.

wam - wine, art, music

Everyone works - there is no dodging that one.

There are teachers, I.Ters and lawyers. Those in marketing, nursing and tourism. Shirts, ties, short skirts and long jackets, but at the end of the day that's not who we are!
There is a deeper vein that runs through every person, something that isn't measured with income or name badges.

It was that immeasurable something that we celebrated on Saturday night. The photos looked tops - it's amazing what some mounts, cool wooden stands and well placed spots will do for a picture. Our poetry line worked a treat with a feature being Jess' 3 pager which was a beautiful read, as well as recitals from Dougal and Ryan. Is there anything better than poetry pegged on string? Or read out loud to a crowd?
And as far as the music went, I think people took it pretty well. I mean no one was running for the doors or anything. I tried a new song - Hotel Rwanda which I had only written 24 hrs before and it was received well.

We mixed it all together with some red and a touch of white and by midnight Bairdy and I realised that we had hit on something that people need. It was a genuinely fun night and didn't involve 'doof doof' music, bars or mindless poker machines.
Because there is a deeper vein that runs through us all and when we can tap that in community then there is nothing better.


- one of the many photo displays - france, sydney and scotland all covered on one small table!

in Him
craig

New Project

So recently I've been working on a new project.

Of course the hardest thing about starting something new is fear. Fear of failing, fear of ridicule and fear of coming out the other end with egg on your face and empty pockets. And let me assure you - I've felt all the above.

But what happens when you don't embrace and risk new ventures?
I'll tell you what happens - you become a boring, monotone, 'did you see the recent desperate housewives episode? have you tried the new snapple flavored beverage' kind of person.
I've never wanted to be that person.

When did it suddenly become taboo to be artistic? To express yourself through song or poetry? We live in a capitalist society flanked with the pressure of professionalism. If it's not good enough to sell on the top 40 or win the Booker Prize then it's a waste of time, because why the heck else would you try? If Sony hasn't picked you up then your creativity suddenly seems 'sad'.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm not about praising complete crap (writing, art, etc) for something it's not - that's what blogs are for. But I think there is joy in finding the life behind the poetry and song and connecting with it. And many of my friends have much talent that no one ever sees. Art of art's sake is mere selfishness and it's healthy to share it with the world.

If you like wine, art and music - then you have a friend who is combining all three.

So recently I've been working on a new project.

I think it's beautiful.

ct

Kiama

Christmas was good - New years was low key, but nice.
Happy new year and all that jazz.

I just got back from Kiama, where I was helping out on the night of the 1st with the mission that is currently taking place. Kiama Beach Mission is one of those things that I've heard so much about. My brother was on it for 3 years in the early 90's and since then, many of my friends have helped out. In fact, the guy now running the whole show is a good friend!

But I've never been.

It was really great spending 2 days down there. The whole experience of being on a mission or a camp or whatever is what keeps us young, there's no doubt about it. And I've realised recently how easy it is to grow old before your time. From what I can gather, it happens when you stop volunteering and stop working with a team towards greater goals.
You are very rarely as close to anyone as to those with whom your volunteer your time with. Even better when that time is spent talking about life, and death and the person of Jesus. And for some reason there seems to be more laughter and more joy (as well as exhaustion and frustration) in those moments. It's really about living life in the extremes rather that sitting on the easy road to indifference.

It was brilliant.

My part in the whole thing was to preach at a combined Kiama church service. The service was in the RSL and while we couldn't pull a cold scooner from the taps, the air conditioning was heaven sent and the talk was probably the best I'd ever given (thanks to about 2 weeks of prep and some regular prayer).

Today I'm back in Sydney. I'm about to start studying some Greek, which sounds good to me.

enjoy the week.

in Him
craig

p.s highlights of the last 5 days

1. Watching the first 9 episodes of West Wing series 4 with Scott and Hayley
2. Buying a cardigan vest from Gerringong Vinnies for $3.
3. Getting some Japanese incense from Gerringong.

Me and my bro, dec. 2005