Hang gliding training update

Just after finishing the previous post I realised I’d left the story of the last one somewhat hanging (pardon the pun). Just after that time I did manage to get back to Newcastle for a couple more days of training, but not enough to complete the course. On returning to Sydney I noticed a troublesome pain in my left knee which still hasn’t rectified itself enough to walk a long distance without aggravation, let alone run, let alone run at full tilt down a sand dune. That has of course led to a frustrating loss of whatever fitness I had before. I’ve managed to get a week off work at the end of November and am hoping that during this time I’ll be able to get to the solo high glide stage and even the restricted licence stage. Meanwhile I’m attempting to follow a physio’s instructions to get the knee good again.

A big weekend

Last weekend was the end of a busy week, with Mum and Dad visiting from Brisbane and helping with their lifetime of expertise about things like sliding windows, curtains, getting rid of years-old grime and generally making the place look more like it is supposed to after years of neglect by various rental tenants. Once that was done all was set for a party. Probably at least 20-25 people came to my housewarming party making it something the people who couldn’t come will regret they missed out on 🙂

 

Next day, after safely getting Mum and Dad to the airport for their return flight, St Barnabas’ had their annual Vision and Celebration service, which was somewhat subdued for the title – but these are the times we are living in. Apparently my church is facing the most challenges of all the ones our current senior minister has been involved in. There was a challenge issued to us therefore, to press on regardless, garnished with allusions to warships as compared with cruise ships, video clips from Lord of the Rings and wartime Winston Churchill quotes. In recent weeks we have been shown some preliminary plans for one of the biggest current challenges, the building project, together with the opportunity to raise questions of which naturally many arised. There are still several months to go before the plans are detailed enough to be presented for approval by various authorities.

 

After the service I made a return to familiar territory with some of our international friends – to enjoy a Chinese meal a couple of blocks from where I used to live. It was nice to be back there and then a bit strange to take the longer drive home than in the past. On arriving back home suddenly my new place, although pleasently transformed by the week’s activities and much tidier than normal for a place I live in, seemed sterile and lonely. Only one way to fix that – have more parties!