Ooh, a restful weekend.

I've had a few packed weekends over the last two months. What with the renovations of the new house, work to take home for marking and general errands to run, Andy and I have not had a weekend to do nothing with ourselves for a long time.

Last week we got to get away with two other couples and that was heaps of fun. It was good for Andy and myself to get our minds off some of our worries and thankfully, a lot of the work got cleared over the week.

So, I was finally looking forward to this 'no-plans' weekend. We slept-in, mulled coffee over the weekend papers, took our time about the household chores. Finally, Andy had a 'great' idea - at about 3pm, we left for lunch at the nearby food centre for beef noodles we had not had in a long time, then we popped over to our new apartment and wowwed ourselves with the tap in the guest toilet. It is the first thing that has been installed! I'm looking forward to our next visit, hopefully next weekend. The carpenters are coming in to put in our cabinets, tables and feature walls. The painters are coming in with our earth shades of paint.

Finally, the evening was beckoning. We went for a trail walk about Lower Pierce reservoir which was lovely. Not many people may know this, but I do love walking in nature. I don't even mind trail-running. It's nice to get outdoors for a breath of fresh air! After that, we adventured further to Upper Pierce reservoir and behold, the monkeys!

I had never seen such aggressive and bold monkeys stealing food right of picnickers table! There were quite a family of them in the area that terrorized the kids... there were also the parents who were terrors themselves, ignoring the ranger's warning that feeding the monkeys could cost their pockets a $500 fine.

We just came back from visiting a friend's house. The discipleship group we've joined at church gathered there to play 'Rock Band' on the Playstation. Up to a month ago, I had not seen let alone had any experience playing with such contraptions. The last time I laid my paws on the playstation was in 2000 when we were still playing Bubble Puzzle, Final Fantasy and Wipeout XL. After I left, I never paid much attention to these games anymore. Once in a blue moon, I'd wonder if I had the energy to pick up Sid Meiers Civilization once again. But I learnt today that games nowadays are a different breed.

It took 3 persons each on a 'play' intrument - microphone, guitar and drums - to do what is pretty much music band karaoke. I found it quite fun, it wasn't all about thumbs and special moves or a certain combination of buttons so I could play along. What I really liked about it was that it was quite a group sport! So a lot of cameraderie built up and cheering for your mates!

Anyway, that's what I call a restful weekend. A bit of the park and a bit of play.

When monday comes around, I shall have the examination scripts on my desk. All 7 classes of 40 odd students writing 2 english language compositions. For one teacher to mark.

Hurrah.

You Need Me.

First thing this morning, lying in bed, Andy looked straight into my eyes and told me, "You need me."

Now, I love him very much and I do in fact need him, but I found it quite audacious and unlike him to say something like that so outright. Thinking I misunderstood his audacity and cheek, I finally figured wanted me to knead him - as in a massage.

Still, unlike him, but ever the subservient wife, I went into action. Now he is particularly ticklish so he broke into a riot when I started and I couldn't tell what on earth was wrong!

"You asked me to knead you!"

"I mean, you need me!"

"I need you?!" I actually found this more amusing than offensive because this was so unlike him.

"Last night! You kneed me! In the stomach! Right here... "

I would have rolled out of bed it if were possible. Maybe its just me who finds this hilarious as a occupational hazard but it has tickled me all day.

Now I'll just go up to him, tell him I need him and then 'knead' him where it tickles!

Finding friends

Oooh. I better write this before the time and the thought spare me.

After too many weekends spent over work and errands, A and I finally took the time (and, I realize you really have to take it and set it aside quite forcefully!) to say yes to my old friend's invitation to join them up a drive to Maleka. It's our first road trip as a married couple and a couple of other firsts as well.

What I really liked about it was the relationships we got to deepen, to bless and to be blessed! It was good to have another newly married couple to bounce off ideas and share in our struggles and another dating couple to balance it out, share it what was to come and expect.... I think we all had a good time in general getting to know each other better.

I couldn't help but be thankful to God for a prayer answered - a good friend to share in being newly married too! As we were driving back I got to reminiscing almost 5 years ago, Joy & I being prayer-buddies meeting over coffee between classes. I don't think we ever imagined a day we'd find ourselves married friends like this! Thanks Joy!