In Colhester for the weekend

On Sunday, went to All Souls church in Oxford Circus. This would be one of the church to be part of in London theologically. A metropolitan church with a mixture of cultures reflecting the christian promise that all are called to be children of God. It is structured and they have a wonderful team of classical musicians that uplifts. The sermon is theologically strong & loads of middle class and above worshippers.

(2 All Souls Pl, London, W1B 3DA, United Kingdom‎ - 020 75803522)

New songs to try : Come praise the name of Jesus ( Christopher Idle)

Jesus draw me ever nearer ( Margaret Becker & Keith Getty)

Jesus Christ you came into this world to rescue me ( Noel Richards @ Thankyou Music)

Met Sarah who hails from Vancouver, finished her postgraduate in Toronto and working in the social service line. I do observe a lot of postgraduates around.

A day in Colhester

Oh, it was a lovely day in the outskirst of London to meet with my former lecturer from UPM and her husband. Ms Ho has been a dear Christian leader in our student ministry who has given so much care and attention to her students. I remember speaking to her about relationships and crying together in our struggles. Her husband was my support group mentor who mentors the cell group leaders of the day. Both of them introduced me to work with the orang asli and to go beyond my own preference to help others. We had a wonderful day to watch Bluebelle and other flowers in the park with their kids and friends ( Andy and Wai Mun, with Michael and Adam). Fred, Wai Fong and myself then walked to the town where we tried to get cheap wind breakers for myself but i was a tad too choosy.

I also have a good time to catch up on the reality of the social fabric in United Kingdom. While it is invisible in London, the mood in the smaller towns are more visible. The story of single mothers who are immensely young ( from 16 years old above) to be able to obtain welfare houses is a shocker. They create subsequent challenges where the children does not get supportive parenting, resulting in children that seemingly with issues and anger. I saw a young mother pushing a pram and smoking. I saw groups of children lepaking in the evening with typical 'gangster' based behaviour of intimidation. Thirdly, the single parents tries to find different partners. The culture of staying together without official marriage legitimacy creates another set of issues & more breakdown of the family institution. Families where the parents choses to stay together when able and where the siblings maybe from different relationships. It is all too confusing for an adult like me, and I emphatize with the childrens who tries to make sense of their life.

Colhester Town

The main tourist attraction, a medieval castle.

UMNO using force to usurp the rights of people

Malaysia Waves: The Men In Black That Dragged Siva Away Is In Violation Of the Magistrate Court Injunction Too.

I can't imagine how people can come in to a parliament and drag the speaker out.. and jail him.

I also can't imagine how newspaper like the Star can ignore all this and spin their news in favour of UMNO. ( i gave a note to Chun wai in his blog that it is a sell out)

Pariah all the way to UMNO.

African church in Vauxhall

A very warm, energetic and prayerful church close to where I am staying. Both Lester and I was actually looking for a Baptist church when I got awefully lost. This is the first time for us being able to worship together with brethens from a different cultural approach. I totally enjoyed the song singspiration and also looking at some old ladies praying in their native Nigerian etc. languages at the end of the session.

We tried a Colombian restaurant at the working class subord of Brixton. I had a nice grape softdrink called ava. For 8 pounts, a huge bowl of soup of beans + potatoes. The rice is excitingly fragrant and salty. The pork is very nicely done. There is a pancake of sorts, another pancake made out of banana, some salty salad and avacado. I enjoyed the food and there was enough to take away for dinner. Of course, the beautiful Colombian waitresses are a plus.

Tower bridge log on bank weekend

Day 3 synopsis.

(image)

Yeah, I felt like when I ran over the historical Tower Bridge of London this morning with chariot of fire on the background. Up at 6.30 a.m and it was just freezing. But the good stuff is that there I did not sweat!

2. Borough Market - a 4 pound spanish cheese toast, yogurt + strawberries + peach.

3. Tate - contemporary art area.

4. A nice shop that sells crepes .. it was too early when i stroll past.

5. Visited the queen at buckingham by mistake , and enjoy the birds chirping at her huge park.

6. The guards are still there .. looking bored.

7. Ohhhhhh .. found out where the police horses are kept. It is down the road from the Tourism Malaysia office. Btw, the Tourism Malaysia office is in such a strategic ( and expensive) area that their lousy decoration is a joke.

Verdict on the jog: It is cool to be able to jog without getting humidly tired. There goes the scapegoat. So, I got to buck up.

All this before the afternoon. Think I will catch a nap before my friend comes.

On the politics front, my vote for the bad tempered siao len ( small men) goes to Zamry, the ciplak MB of Perak. He is having another lock in with police and everything else to keep hold of his illegal power grab. This is not a towering figure and a joke to democracy.