Reflections on Austria

We’ve now been in Wales for seven months and I’m very aware of my looking back at our fourteen years there. I don’t want to go back, not even for a visit at present, but that’s not because I’m angry or sad about there. Some of it’s because I’m travelled out, have no desire to go anywhere except to explore Wales and maybe one day look at my roots in Ireland. It’s more that I’m so much happier here, and the contrast between then and now is becoming apparent.

We were both restless from 2004 onwards. Heading to the empty nest syndrome, work becoming less of a dream. Children growing up, Mum and dog passing. And some of it, my inherent restlessness. I think I get it from my Dad, the thought of staying in one place all my life made me feel like I was suffocating. Not to mention my impatience too. We wanted to go as Missionaries, but Dave didn’t want to study, but when looking we felt God was directing us. Oh, you can read it all in the rest of this blog!

Austria was never home, and maybe that was because I looked back, missing kids, and as we found our selves in a dead church, being in a living one. Our little fellowship here in Wales is so alive and I know God wants us here. Yes, we loved a lot of it, but we had always said we night go back and I knew there was another house for us to live in. This one. I will end my days here.

My overwhelming feeling of being here, is complete and utter relief! More in the next post…

Caerphilly castle

Caerphilly castle

Starting to explore the Welsh castles. There’s more here to the square mile than anywhere else!

Not sure I’m happy about keeping dragons in captivity though!

I know I keep on about it…

This first spring back in the UK is a wonder. I’ve been so used to the Alpine seasons, and the late snow that can wipe everything out. Now I’m jumping about as if I’ve never been in England before!

The birch and beech trees as they newly unfurl give off this most glorious scent. It reminds me of when I would ride Monty through the enclosures on the forest.

Here on the golf course, there are so many species of trees. It’s as if they are all new. And as they are masked in their green splendour, for a while, I almost missed they skeletal beauty from the winter.

There are loads of bluebells here, but they somehow, just aren’t so exciting. I am more bowled over by the profusion of wild strawberries on the tip and hills.

What season are you in? What’s your favourite?

Each day as I walk Swingle, I praise and thank God for bring me home.

Easter; Good Friday Walk of witness

This Easter is amazing! Those of you who follow this blog, know about my frustration and dryness with the church in Austria and my happiness on returning to a living fellowship here in the UK. Today, many of the churches in Mountain Ash got together for the first time in two years for a walk of witness. We walked about 1.5 miles, and ended up with a service at Providence Baptist church, our new home. We had a service afterwards and then Hot Cross Buns.

What a complete and utter joy! Dave and I chatted with folks, made new friends and contacts, and came home utterly convinced we are in the place God wants us for one of his cunning plans and the result will be an revival and outpouring in this town. I’m so excited, I bounced all the way home!

April Weather

I’m really busy doing an update on my books, and making new covers. But this was the fab weather today!

Spring springs

For the first time ever, I can’t think of anything to blog about, there’s a first… except that spring is here. Up on the golf course there is a huge tree of pussy willows, and they are flowering, filled with the buzz of bees. And around are many bumble bees, in fact I’ve never seen so many of them in one place.

What season is it with you?