THE FINAL COUNTDOWN!!

I may have started the countdown rather early, however anyone can follow the countdown here and the really eager have saved it to their computers. Today another early countdown was announced. Julia Gillard announced an election – in September. Fans of football and rugby sometimes start counting down to the next world cup as soon as one has finished. Too bad they have to wait four years and none of their friends are interested in the countdown.

What am I getting at? If something seems too distant, it is easy for us to forget about it, lose sight, be distracted from the goal, or begin to think it will never actually happen anyway. As far as our wedding is concerned, I will not forget about it. I am counting down with an eagerness and enthusiasm that borders on extremism. For others it’s not such an occasion.

USA

LOVE AND MARRIAGE!!

Have I got your attention?

I thought so!

Today is my parent’s wedding anniversary. They have been married for 46 years which is a wonderful achievement, a wonderful testimony to the institution of marriage and a wonderful example of faithfulness.

“Mawwage. Mawwage is what bwings us togethew today. Mawwage, that bwessed awwangement, that dweam within a dweam.”

These oft quoted words to do with marriage from the Princess Bride are favourites of mine. What images does the word or concept of marriage conjure up for you?

GLOBAL CONNECTIONS

UKRAINE

I would like to end the year with various updates regarding Ukraine. I am glad I was able to spend time there this year and although I don’t know when I will next return to Ukraine, I only need a few seconds with my screensaver to be transported back there.

UTSIM

COMMUNICATION CAPERS AND OTHER AUGMENTED ARGUMENTS

“Text” – is it a noun or a verb? As our world changes and our language morphs and adapts to those changes, new words appear and old words take on new meanings. The word text is a common place verb these days. This brought about a meaningless discussion the other day with a group of friends as to the correct pronunciation of the past tense of text – i.e. texted. I say it with two syllables, others think that sounds dumb. What do you think? Actually – how important is this discussion?

Two regular areas of conflict in everybody’s everyday lives are miscommunication and arguments about minor details – often a result of a miscommunication.

As a teacher, I want to teach students to communicate well. Not so that they look good in front of others or can win a Pulitzer Prize for eloquent commentary. But because the most important issues in our world are issues of the heart, and one heart needs to communicate with another in a clear and understandable way.

Awoke really early to find a blanket of cloud everywhere.

I drifted in and out of sleep but the clouds drifted nowhere. Eventually Govinda called me for breakfast (twice). After breakfast we headed down the way we had come. Down hill is harder than up, not as far as being strenuous but in the jarring to the knees.

We hiked at a good pace and made good time heading towards Namche Bazar. We had to pass a train of yaks going the same way as us and it felt a bit scary. Those yaks were unladen heading down hill rather quickly and being rather free with their horns. We then saw lots of yak and jopki heaidn the other way and I got some video footage of them passing each other. They can go anywhere without losing their footing.

We made it to Namche Bazar by about 10:30 and Ratzkumar my porter had gone on well ahead of us. I think he was herding me back for beating him up the hill yesterday. So the idea I had of stopping and getting some internet coverage was no good cause my tablet was miles ahead of me by then.