and they're off!

Third day of the third term, and I’m already trying not to feel overwhelmed by all that I’d like to do in the next ten weeks ! The essentials are four modules – Advanced Hebrew, Prophetic Literature, African Studies and a research paper. The research paper is on the translation of Hebrew idioms, and it’s been fascinating to read up about that. We also have our church placement, and I’ll be preaching there for the first time on Sunday, and once again during the term. I'll probably also have a couple of children's talks to give, and readings to do or prayers to lead in other services.

There is a practical course about Tropical Health and Hygiene running two afternoons this term which one of us will attend (maybe Simon?!), and during Specialist Study Week I’m going to go to a morning seminar about Spiritual Deliverance. On May 31st we’ll be taking part in the College Fun Run (though Simon and I will be walking it!).

And those are just the “official” things, there are also lots of interesting conversations to be enjoyed, walks to be gone on, hot chocolate to be slurped … all in all, it promises to be a full and exciting/exhausting term!

back to school...

... but term hasn't started yet, and we're enjoying being here! Since during termtime there is so little time to do anything except study and look after Simon, I'm doing things like getting Simon's feet measured, colouring my hair, painting my toenails (seriously!), visiting friends ... and of course getting a headstart on work for this term! I'm writing a research paper on translating idioms from the Hebrew Bible, which is fascinating, and Marc has been reading up about African theology.

And campus is so beautiful that it's great to be back in our own little flat here!

crazy!

The British government is refusing visas to people who quite obviously should be getting them.

For example, "'Shabby' visa refusal for evangelist" - who is the General Secretary of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students.

saving the planet

Just found this quote about being an eco-friendly parent (here):

"Breast is best
"Every bottle of formula milk affects the environment - from switching on the kettle to boil the water to the tinplate, paper and plastic used to package the milk powder. Not only that, but cattle farming needs large areas of pasture and significantly contributes to the problem of acid rain. It is estimated that if all the women in the UK breastfed their babies, the absence of their periods would result in a saving of 3,000 tonnes of paper-based sanitary products every year!"

Wow ... (though of course, if women all used mooncups that would be less of an issue ...)

Lily Deneufchâtel (born 16.02.08)

Simon's first cousin was his first cousin, Andrew. His second cousin is his second cousin Lily, who he met yesterday. (For any confused non-Anglophones, your "first cousin" is the child of your aunt or uncle, your "second cousin" is the child of your parent's cousin.)

Simon seemed quite intrigued by her, didn't mind when I held her, and when the grown-ups got tired he even tried to rock her car seat to help her sleep ... possibly rather more vigorously than she is used to!

future footie star?

Throughout the holidays, weather allowing, we have tried to get out for at least one walk a day. Since getting to France Simon has been able to try out the tricycle he got for his birthday. His feet can't quite reach the pedals yet, but it has a handle so that it can be pushed by an adult.

He also loves to walk, but doesn't like to have the direction of walks imposed by his parents. A couple of days ago we were strolling near the local primary school, and he heard children shouting in the playground. He looked down a nearby path, and saw the game they were playing. "Ball!" he cried, and set off in a determined manner towards them. He wasn't bothered that they were a good two minutes' walk from him, and he certainly didn't look back to check that his parents were following him (which we eventually realised we were going to have to do!). His progress was punctuated by new shouts of, "Ball! Ball!" When he finally arrived at the fence of the playground, he spent a long time watching the football flying to and fro.

Interesting enough, "ball" is the first word I've heard him attempt to say in both English and French. Yesterday his uncle Sam asked him, "Où est le ballon?" and Simon said something like, "Babon!" and ran to find it.

His first word in French which he doesn't say yet in English (apart from people's names) is probably "pain" (for bread). I'm glad he's getting some time in France to encourage his French!