Double dunking in old Sydney town

My second last trip to Sydney was this weekend. I don't think I'll be back there until the last 48 hrs before my "launch" overseas. As much as it sounds like I am referring to myself "launching" as either a Playschool rocket, or a marketing event for a new fragrance, it seems like that... something that will require a large amount of organisation, a big countdown and a lot of self combustion to get myself to where I'm going. Yes. Self combustion. The imagery of both is funny and painful. Which isn't far off the mark. The clock is ticking. 9 weeks to liftoff. I'm not ready. But I will have to be.

I found myself the beneficiary of two things on the drive to Sydney. Thankyou to the Prime Minister for his foresight and self-centredness in making the road between the two cities the best in the country so he could live in Sydney instead of The Lodge and I could zoom along to a string of showtunes whilst dodging large trucks. Secondly, due to freakish cold weather across most of the Eastern seaboard this week which blew up from Antartica (including the first lot of snow in Queensland since WWII), there was a lot of stone fruit being sold at market stalls on the highway which did not quite pass the supermarket standards but was A-ok for human consumption. I familarised myself with the Northern Territory Mango Man who was trying to avoid sunstroke and was wishing he'd signed up for the strawberry stand after 7 hours of standing in a mango scented cloud.

"Magic" Moment of the weekend- the baptism of husband and wife friends of mine who having been Christians for years, took the life changing step of handing over their lives, not only completely but publicly to Jesus. No magic- no glowing and no halos. Just a profound acceptance that in their lives "God is the driver, not just along for the lift". Lana and Mike, I was moved and privileged to have been a witness. I hope I can be as much of an encouragement to you as you have been to me.

The sight of Canberra driving into the valley was to see the sunset over the Brindabella mountain ranges, consisting of a blue, pink and purple haze from one side of the horizon to the other. The city lights winked on in welcome just at that moment to light my way home.

Jules, Michael and Alicia, thanks for the laughs. You are my next door neighbours 300 km away. Your kindness made the weekend possible.