The Most Spectacular Woman in the World

I was reluctant to throw the title in here, as i felt the opinion may be somewhat bias it was at this point i came to blatant obvious that blogs are bias and in fact only really operate on bias opinions of the author. So as the author of this blog I can safely say that she is the most amazing woman in my life (with the exception of my Mum, I think that’s assumed)
Sophie is currently the woman I love and recent relationship matters have shown me just how much crap she quietly puts up with. In a manner similar to a love sick school boy I want to tell the whole world (well ten blog followers, one of which is Sophie) how wonderful I think she is. People of many faiths claim to be able to converse with the spiritual realms and interact with angels, I have no desire to do so I already have Soph.
She is a woman who stood by me when I announced I was planning to quit my job, volunteer and travel. Many of my travels have included her as she packs and heads off with me, I don’t think this is such a huge sacrifice for her as she seems to enjoy the places we have seen and worked in together. She has unconditional support for all the church programs I adopt or create and is always the first person to participate in any of them.
Without divulging to deeply into the personal sides of the relationship , I have fortuitously fallen in love with someone who has the patience to cope with me and has the ability to keep up with the demands a relationship with me has and seems to have the time of her life doing so. Who could ask for more?
It has now become apparent when writing this that I do not actually tell her any of this, that’s something I shall remedy.

A Visit to Black Sunday

A cold and damp Tuesday night in Sydney is as good a reason as any to pop down to one of Sydneys spectacular sights, Bondi Beach. Our planned route proved useless as Sydney council works seemed to have blocked off multiple lanes on the Harbor Bridge to sit, drink warm coffee and smoke rather then actually repair anything so we diverted through the city center. Arriving in Bondi with hoodies pulled tight to reduce the windchill factor, we wandered up across the walking bridge and took a glance up the main drag. Approaching ten in the evening on a weeknight, the area was still very alive with people sneaking a late night feed, sheltering from the rain on the way from the bus stop or just enjoying the coffee and ice cream available from the beach front shops. We ducked into a pizzeria for my lady friend to use the facilities and whilst I waited I ordered what would turn out to be an average cup of coffee (at that time of night you don't complain).

The pelting horizontal rain had temporary subsided so we scurried across the footpath attempting to dodge puddles and small streams that had formed across the pavement. We paused on the kerbside to wait for the passing traffic when I was taken back by the effect the lights from the shops behind us were causing in the water pooled across the road. As uncomfortable and annoying as winter and torrential rain for weeks at a time can be there is some amazing sights caused by it at the same time if you take a moment to take them in.
For the next half hour or so the rain held off, so some quick photos of the landscape and the downpour recommenced so we scurried back to the car to head into the CBD for some more photo opportunities.

Upon returning home I did a little bit of research on the area. My research consists of Wikipedia however I did find out that on Bondi Beach on Sunday February 6th 1938, 5 people drowned and over 250 people were rescued after a series of large waves struck the beach and pulled people back into the sea, a day that became known as Black Sunday. Just a little bit of History there for you.

Sophies Tree

It seems to be a common theme with my peer group that in order to believe and follow something you require some hardcore physical evidence of it. I guess that's hardly surprising given this day and age where one can gain an abundance of information on any of the worlds lies by simply sitting at a computer. We live in a time where foxtell plays documentaries on groups that claim to be able to prove that Scientology is fact,that all faiths led to the same god and we even see every day on face book people making life decisions based on zodiac signs. Is it any wonder that when presented with the One true God people are hesitant. How many times in the past have they burnt themselves reaching out to something that does not exist, they are reluctant to reach out again.
So the truth is placed before them and the awesome thing about God is HE IS REAL and interacts with you. Vain attempts to contact any other gods or faith in other areas that are designed to fill the spiritual thirst we all have are answered with silence and this makes people hesitant to try again and explore the one true God.
But my God is awesome and wants to have a relationship with my loved ones and time but time again my hesitant friends are too scared to take the step. Why combat that? just leave it to God to deal with their doubts. Twice this year i have told people to ask God to show them he is real and twice now God has shaken their world. Soph asked for God to show her and he did. Lying out the back in long grass and looking into the sky at dusk the huge gum trees in the back yard spread its branches in such a way that she saw a huge wooden cross formed by two perfectly straight branches from separate trees, with the red sky behind it.(The photo above is of the actual tree and you cant see one let alone two perfectly straight branches). She knew what it was and that it was meant for her. Others may have just seen two crossing branches (i did) but i know first hand when God speaks to you you don't second guess it. Now you asked God for proof and he answered, he spoke to you and you know its real. What are you going to do about it?

Not Much to Say

I have very little to say in relation to the image. I took this photo of Soph at Avoca Beach and i cant explain why i like it but i just do. So I posted it for no other season than to share it with you.

Just down the road from Sophs Nans place is the beautiful Avoca Beach. I'm not a huge fan of the beach for a number of reasons but i am a fan of fishing and of the rock ledges and pools that develop around most headlands. We spent a good part of Sunday afternoon walking around the headland, watching the fishermen pull in some enormous fish, eating fish and chips and stirring up the seagulls with our lunch. (sometimes its the simple things in life that give you so much joy) I managed to snap a few good shots of the waves breaking on the rocks, whilst Soph went climbing big rock faces in a skirt.

Trip two Terrigal (Central Coast NSW)

Trip two was more designed as a weekend away with my girl rather than a trip of offering aid or assistance to anyone. It became an opportunity to spend some time with Sophie and her extended family. you can't beat a few days of quality time with the woman you love on some of the countries beautiful beaches and fishing locations. there are a few more posts of this trip to come but they will have to wait until i have the photos up.

Valentines day.

With a little bit of History, some of life more annoying aspects have more meaning to some. I find Valentines day important only due to her dignified skill in placing discreet reminders that the expensive day is rapidly approaching. That is to say "in the unforeseeable event that i do nothing on Feb 14 i may find myself looking for somewhere to live" I Honestly feel if she did not care for the day that males globally would save a few dollars and not bother and rightfully so. The celebration these days pushed and promoted by those known not to carry the beloved Y chromosome making florists and card makers wealthy for a small period of the year, to me is possibly a large waste of time and money. However with a little bit of history my appreciation for the day has mildly increased. So the history behind Valentines day. (How accurate is it? who knows as many different accounts and theory's are around)

The Story behind St. Valentines Day is a fascinating one. Although February 14th is celebrated as a lovers' holiday today, with the giving of candy, flowers, Valentine's Day card and other gifts between couples in love, it originated as a tribute to St. Valentine, a Catholic bishop.

As early as the fourth century B.C., the Romans engaged in an annual young man's rite of passage to the God Lupercus. It's earliest orgin was the Roman festival Lupercalia, observed on Feb. 15. Lupercalia celebrated the coming of Spring on the Roman calendar. Lupercalia became a celebration intended to ensure the fertility of flocks, fields and people.

The names of the teenage women were placed in a box and drawn at random by adolescent men; thus, a man was assigned a woman companion (a sexual partner) for the duration of the year, after which another lottery was staged. After eight hundred years of this cruel practice, the early church fathers sought to end this practice.

In an effort to do away with the pagan festival, Pope Gelasius ordered a slight change in the lottery. Instead of the names of young women, the box would contain the names of saints. Both men and women were allowed to draw from the box, and the game was to emulate the ways of the saint they drew during the rest of the year. Needless to say, many of the young Roman men were not too pleased with the rule changes.

Instead of the pagan god Lupercus, the Church looked for a suitable patron saint of love to take his place. They found an appropriate choice in Valentine, who, in 270 AD had been beheaded by Emperor Claudius.

According to church tradition, St. Valentine was a priest near Rome. At that time the Roman Emperor, Claudius II, had issued an edict forbidding marriage. Claudius had determined that married men made poor soldiers because they were emotionally attached to their families. So he banned marriage from his empire.

Valentine, a bishop , seeing the trauma of young lovers, met with them in a secret place, and joined them in the sacrament of matrimony. When Claudius found out about this "friend of lovers," Valentine was thrown in jail and condemned to death.

While Valentine was in prison awaiting his fate, he befriended his jailer, Asterius, who had a blind daughter. Asterius' daughter befriended the kind priest by bringing food and messages to him. Valentine fell in love with the jailer's daughter. Asterius requested that he heal his daughter. Through his faith he miraculously restored the sight of Asterius' daughter and converted the two of them to Christianity.

After some time in prison the priest was ordered to appear before the Emperor. The emperor, impressed with the young priest's dignity and conviction, first tried to convert him to paganism to save him from certain execution. But Valentine reversed the strategy, trying instead to convert Claudius. He failed. Just before his execution, he asked for pen and paper from his jailor, and signed a farewell message to the jailer's daughter and signed it, "From Your Valentine." He was stoned and beheaded on February 24, 270 AD.

Valentine become a Patron Saint, and spiritual overseer of the annual festival. Although the lottery for women had been banned by the church, the mid-February holiday in commemoration of St. Valentine, involved young Romans offering women they admired and wished to court, handwritten greetings of affection on February 14th.

The greetings eventually acquired the St. Valentine's name. One of the earliest cards was sent in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London at the time. The card is now preserved in the British Museum.