August 18th

This morning began with Ali going out to do a little more shopping in one of the many shopping complexes along Queen Street Mall. The aim was for Ali to go early and get back in time for us all to go to the beach this morning, however what with labyrinthine shopping centres and ferries advertising the wrong destination (was easier to tell where they were going by watching out for the direction they came from rather than the signs on the boat,) Ali only just got back in time for Ian to pick me up and take me along to the UQ Foundations group.

Ian had a meeting today, so I was left to fend for myself at only my second (and final) visit to Foundations. Conversational English had very few people today - only five - and three of them were new. Because Ian wasn't there I seemed to be the default Aussie slang and complex, English word interpreter. The three new girls were all from China, and I really wished I'd worn my Redcliffe T-shirt again to help break the ice. I led one of the small groups in the Bible Study meeting afterwards. This was a little tricky because most were still learning English, but they worked quite well together, often talking Chinese to each other to explain what we were doing.

We paid another, last, visit to Koorong, the Christian bookshop and had to stop ourselves buying too many books. One that made me smile is the Australian Pilgrim's Progress - for example:

On his way out of the Homestead Chris had a quick word with the Watchman, Peter Porter, to ask if he'd seen any other swaggies passing by recently, heading in the same direction.
"Yeah," said Porter, "As a matter of fact I have. A bloke about the same age as yourself."
"Did you catch his name?" asked Chris.
"Yeah - I asked, and he told it was Faithful, though people generally call him Fair Dinkum."
"Really! That's bonzer! I know that bloke. He's from my home town, and he used to live just a couple of blocks away from my house..."

This evening Ali went to Bridges. She played table tennis with her usual lack of flair, tried playing a didgeridoo and failed miserably, played a board game and got virtually none of the questions right, and had a really great time. There was a really interesting (that word again!) discussion about church membership which really helped clarify the value of, and need for, membership within a Baptist church community.

August 14th

Played tennis with the girls this morning before Ian arrived. They are hitting the net more often than not! When Ian arrived we went over last weeks activities with Ian and discussed the programme for the week. We are going to have to spend quite a bit of time preparing for our prayer event but we will be involved in all the same things as the last few weeks as well.This afternoon we had to go food shopping again. I shall be so glad when I am not having to live week by week as it is challenging to manage meals and budgets! I had not thought that this would be quite as tricky as it has been.

This evening I went along to sit in on the deacons' meeting. I have only been to one meeting before quite a while ago and I found it a worthwhile experience.

I forgot to say yesterday that a lady at church gave us a crucifix orchid to look at. She said they are quite prolific over here and she has loads in her garden. It is a shame we can't bring any back as they are truly beautiful. She also gave us a custard apple to try - not so beautiful. Still, shouldn't judge a book by its cover. We are going to all try it and see what it tastes like!
P.S. - Custard Apples have a very intense sweet, melon-y flavour, but have a more gooey, sticky texture.