The day after I got back from my fieldtrip...kiff friends!

Arise and shine and give God the glory glory!

The Sceptred Isles

The other side of the Cathedral

I've started some cross-cultural steps here at Rhodes: getting toffed up as a jock - striped shirt, surf-name baggies (not mine), slops (given to me):: but I dont have the shades yet - partly for fun, partly for an attitude (!!). And as I was in a zone today while in town, it was fun to look in the cheaper clothing stores to see what striped "jock" tops there are around. But it's past the Cathedral that the really interesting shops are and where cultural mixing happens, and where the least number of jocks (obviously lost and insecure outside New Street) are likely to be found. There's a large Chinese shop selling cool "silk" shawl things (I've just been reading a book about a wartime excape through the mountains near Yunnan, so was kind of cool to be in a Chinese shop), interesting eating hovels, second-hand shops, LOTS of furniture stores, and other foreign-ownership shops. There is a mix of local colour, age and activity this side of the Cathedral, which is sort of alien and sort of homely - familiar but almost inaccessible.

I didn't find a suitable striped top, but it was great to visit the non-jock zone where things are pretty normal "South African" and not based on appearance and attitude! Haha! And I got a present for a friend's birthday.

Dreamy Isles

It's hot. I'm over this week and my PhD. I'm missing my closest bud in Grahamstown.There's no SIGN of any life-time woman on the horizon. And - this is where I'd like to be - RIGHT now...

and here.....



And I'd rather be doing this -



or this -





and seeing these ---------






That's how things are right now.

Mapungubwe National Park July 2007

A big Thank You

A really big thank you to everyone who was involved in making last night one of the most amazing birthdays in the universe. Thank you so very much - really appreciate it.

I wont be able to thank individuals until after my fieldtrip but the gratitude will not diminish!!

Thank you very much
Love Ralph

Beach Paradise

Thank you Lord Jesus for freedom - freedom to be ourselves, to have fun, to have friends, and to enjoy Your beautiful creation. Thank You most of all for freedom from sin! "Whom the Son sets free is free indeed!"

Haha!!