Salut!

Today there was an armed attack on a securico van in the centre of Paris, shots were fired and 2 people were seriously hurt.  On the 1 O’clock news it made it in at number 4, pipped to the post by the first item, lasting 7 minutes about the increase in the price of lettuce, closely followed in 2nd place by a postman who sells calendars, only then did they get around to talking about the riots…and finally they came to item number 4 at about 1.15pm!! 

In the UK this would have been #1 by a long way with reporters on the scene, interactive maps with the possible get-away routes and any number of surmises about who these men worked for.  In France there was a still picture of a van, a mention that it had been shot at, and a closing comment that 2 men had been seriously injured. 

No wonder this country is so laid back!  Lettuces are more news-worthy than gun shots!

I set off on Friday morning at 10am and made it to London, St Pancras at 4.30pm…with the loss of an hour thrown in for good mesure.  In between I had the joy of guessing when a train would leave for Paris and being crammed onto a metro and whose doors were unable to close because of rogue arms.

Phew - but I arrived!

Meeting up with Sophie and Ed, universtiy friends, was fun!  We ate in a South Aftican resturant which half way through our meal had a power cut and therefore we ate by candle light!  The fan in the kitchen was stopped because of the cut and billows of smoke were piling up the stairs.  We escaped with running eyes and a lingering burnt smell!

Then it was over to Sunbury court for the ECM conference.  I was great to catch up with the ECM team and some friends who had come for the day.  In the afternoon I talked a bit about France and what I do here. 

Then it was quick rush out to get on a train to get to Paddington.  It was a bit of a comedy moment as I arrived at the local station and asked a young lad, "Excuse me, can you tell me where I am and how to get to where I’m going!"  Hmmmm!  Anyway, he didn’t know either!  So feeling quite lost I simply sat on the train until it reaced it’s final destination at Waterloo.  Off on the underground to Paddington and a train to Cardiff.

I tumbled off the train amidst a drunken rugby crowd and was shocked to see loads of fat girls wearing far too revealing clothes, cluctching beer cans and pushing onto the train while shouting and swearing.  Realised this is high up on the list of things I haven’t missed about the UK.

So I spent Sunday with 3 close friends from university with collected husbands and children!  I saw lots of sick, wee and poo and realised that kids are cute but take FAR too much work!!  It was great to spend time with the girls as we walked round the park and fed ducks with the kids.  It was strange to think that it was over 8 years ago when they had played a large role in my conversion and that we had lived together in a rambling old house in Aberystwyth.  

Monday morning arrived far too quickly and it was the mamoth 9 hour journey back home to Orleans.  I arrived back had a bath and was in bed asleep by 9.30pm…and woke up feeling better at 9.30am the next morning! 

Own up now!!  I man who received a tract last weekend came to the church this afternoon wanting more information.  Jean-Marc (the pastor) was able to go through the spirtual laws and explain to him Jesus and his ressurection!  Hurahh!! 

I’m off to England tomorrow.  Please pray that I make it to London.  With the strikes it is not going to be easy.  I have built a 5 hour cushion into the journey - ridicuolus I know! - so I hope to make it.  It will be an adventure! 

The whole country is grinding to a halt.  The trains, the students, the teachers, the electricity companies…what is this?  I hope they get their act together for Friday becuase I’m going to LONDON BABY!

I think I spend a large part of my time here stamping tracts.  My eyes are goining boggly!

We had a Young Adults meeting on Saturday night with one of the other churches in the city.  It was really nice and we had a fun time.  Myriam cooked a yummy cake which the boys (and me!) enjoyed!  We are going to try and do something together every 2 months from now on.

I’m heading off to the ECM conference in London at the weekend.  I’m super stressed about the trains and speaking in front of people…yet super excited about catching up with old friends.  All this mix of emotions FORCES me to eat chocolate.  Arghhhhh!! 

So, it’s Friday night - it’s rollerblade night!  Hurah!  Except tonight I have a new brake-pad which SCREECHES.  So everyone knows where I am, all the time (even without my own little squeals!).  Quite humiliating.  But anyway, hold your head up, laugh at yourself and carry on - always a good attitude I reckon.

So with my screeches and squeals I carry on boldly, chatting happily away to a couple of lads.  Then there’s a cry from the back, "Somebody’s lost a wheel!"  We all laugh, one of the lads starts on about ‘how can you loose a wheel and not know about it…?’  I join in, laughing, and then I realise…this could just be typical…"Can you check if my wheels are all there, please?"  He looks rather puzzled, and after a quick squiz confirms the sinking feeling in my stomach.  I was the one who lost a wheel.  YES, DID EVERYONE HEAR THAT CLEARLY ENOUGH?  IT WAS ME!

Oh, dear!

Everyone, but everyone, knows me now.  I am the screeching squealer who lost a wheel.  Ho hum!

(Thankfully it was a middle wheel and not a front or back - that would have been awful, more than just humiliating, decidedly painful!)

Just wanted to let you know what’s going on here…

On Friday night we had a ‘Soiree No Limit’ for teenagers.  It was an evening of video games, pizza and conversations.  It was really fun and important chats took place with some of the kids.  I confirmed my total inability to play computer games without screaming!

During the week I went for a walk around a lake to make the most of the glorious autumn weather we are experiencing.  I was enjoying the crisp air and the lapping of the water…when I thought, "This lapping sound is really regular…"  I looked out into the lake and there was a James Bond type figure, in black rubber with flippers and a snorkle swimming purposly up and down the lake!  I was half expecting to see submarines and explosions too!

On the 5th, while you guys were all sucking on treacle toffee and hugging hot chocolate, I was celebrating Jean-Aime’s birthday with some fantastic people.  We had a great evening and enjoyed typical French hospitality were the meal lasted over 4 hours!  God has really blessed me here with wonderful friends.

This is the site of Carey Baptist who came and helped us with the DIY last week.  Their account of events is much more informative than mine!  (And the photos are better!!)

http://www.careybaptistpreston.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=62&Itemid=1

I went on a rollerblade ‘hike’ a few weeks ago.  It was with the same people as Friday night but this time it was in daylight and in a suburb of Orleans with lovely sun and autumn colours.  The club that organised the ‘rando’ have put photos on their site…and if you’re obervant you’ll spot me!

http://qvls.orleanscity.com/qvls_roller_photos_071021.htm

I’ll give you a clue:  I’m in photos 3.12, 3.11 and 3.7. 

Also check out the leaders sports trousers…yet another cultural difference!!