News & Updates

Happy New Year to everyone! I have had a few moments to reflect over the last two weeks, being off sick helps with this, and I have been amazed that we have managed to fit so much into just one year!

We began 2005 with a huge bang - our DTS students who went to Albania will understand what that means! I have never seen so many fireworks in my life! Then we spent time in Albania and Romania with quick visits to Bulgaria and Greece squeezed in there. That was an amazing time as most of you would already have heard. 2006 did not come in with such a big bang, but courtesy of our fellow residents of Woodley I was still treated to a few backyard fireworks displays which I could see from our bedroom window. It was no Sydney Harbour, but New Year’s eve is not the same without at least a few fireworks!

When we returned from our overseas outreach 2005 continued with a whirlwind 4 weeks to get ready for our wedding. Shows what can be done when you put your mind to it. We were blessed with a lovely day for our wedding (well, it only rained before and after we had our outside photos taken!) and the second reception and time spent in Australia with our families and friends was wonderful as well. Then we finally returned to the UK in June for a few days, only to turn around and get back on a plane for our official honeymoon in Spain! Half the year gone already!

The next few months were punctuated with highs and lows - mine and Rob’s visas were granted in record time - a huge blessing, as well as months of searching for and finding promising jobs which never went anywhere for various reasons. The up side was we got to travel to Scotland and Sheffield and we never lost the opportunities to do some sightseeing and be total tourists. Turning down the job in Sheffield was one of the most difficult things of the year. I still don’t really fully understand why, but I do know that God had his hand in it, and that he has never stopped guiding us through it all.

Just after this we received news that my house in Australia had sold - this was a huge answer to prayer, as we are finally able to get ourselves out of the debt which has built up over so many months of unemployment. Soon after we returned to Reading from Sheffield Rob and I both got jobs - not exactly what we would call our ideal jobs, but a blessing nonetheless. Then after about a month working in the department store I was admitted to hospital and diagnosed with a rather large gall stone which is what has been causing me so much trouble for the past several months! Doesn’t sound like a blessing, but having a diagnosis and a plan to make it right is so much better than just being in pain all the time and not knowing why. So I consider myself to be very fortunate. It also forced me to not festively overindulge, and I actually lost 3 kg over the Christmas period! It was also wonderful that I was able to leave hospital on Christmas eve, and spend my first Christmas with my new husband.

So what is all this schmaltzy reminiscing for? Well, 2005 has been a difficult year in many ways, but I just wanted to share how truly thankful I am for all the awesome things that God has done for me despite this. Rob and I have learned so much about each other through this year and I am even more thankful than ever that God was thoughtful enough to bring him into my life! I also wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have kept us in your thoughts and prayers during this important first year of marriage. It means so much to me.

I also wanted to wish you all a fantastic, prosperous and blessed 2006.

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Well, as you have already found from Rob it was not exactly ideal weather in Australia. However, since there is a terrible drought we shan’t complain, shall we Rob?

We had a great if rushed time in Australia, wish we had more time to see people but it was a bit of a whirlwind. It was good to finally visit the Sydney Opera house for the first time in my life! We even got to see the Sydney Symphony and the Sydney Ballet rehearsing. Awesome!

Spain was quite idyllic, weather started out a bit overcast but fined up and we had a great time. We visited a couple of villages up in the mountains as well as had a trip to Gibraltar which is a very bizarre place! The flamenco evening at the resort was also lots of fun. I think I put on heaps of weight from all the amazing food.

Now we are trying to get back to reality here in Britain. I have been looking to see whether there are many dental technician jobs here in England and the answer seems to be, not really. It’s early days, though, and I am not seriously looking since I don’t have a visa to work yet. The jobs that are advertised would take us further north and we are reluctant to make such a big move. We’ll just have to wait on the Lord and see where He leads!

Well, that’s about it for now. We will keep you posted on our next change of plans!

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We are now back in Reading, after returning from Australia and then a few days after flying to Spain for the honeymoon.

There was better weather on offer in Spain than we had in Australia - sunny and warm most of the time after a slow start to the week. We fitted in a visit to Gibraltar and had one of the apes that live on the Rock of Gibraltar climb over both of our heads! Being in Spain also gave us time away from both the UK and Australia to think and decide for sure where we hope to live for the next period of time (however long that might be).

We decided that we will make a home in the UK to begin with (pending Dawn’s spouse visa application). Currently Dawn is waiting for her new passport (updated to show her new last name) before the visa application is made. Part of the decision of living in the UK also includes a move away from Reading at some point during the next 6 months - we hope to use the remaining time in Reading to save up before renting a place in England. We will, for now at least, keep the house in Brisbane and continue to rent it out.

I’m now looking for work, and during this time before Dawn can do the same she is practising her painting.

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My parents have been to and gone from Australia now! They left earlier today, flying to Singapore on their way back to the UK. Dawn & I head back to the UK next week, and a few days later fly to Spain for the official honeymoon.

After the 2nd reception we spent a few days on the “Sunshine” Coast - it rained most of the time but it was a good time. Then we drove from north of Brisbane down to Sydney (or rather, I did all the driving). We stopped at a couple of places - Ballina and Port Macquarie on this 1000+ km drive. The first couple of nights were spent in Glebe - an area I spent quite a bit of time in about 5-6 years ago while on a working holiday, and now we’re staying with Dawn’s sister further out of the city.

We’re enjoying our time in Sydney, and for me it’s good to be back here after 5 years! We are currently considering me applying for an Australian spouse visa and coming to live here next year, quite a bit earlier than we originally intended. It’s a long process requiring a lot of things. We’ve also not decided where to live in Australia if I get granted a visa (and we decide to go for this), though it will be likely to be either New South Wales or Victoria.

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