the parkins

Ubuntu 8.10 - coming soon

Tue, 7 Oct 2008 12:22:12 -0700

Not long until the next version of the world's best operating system is released. Bored of Microsoft code and anti-virus software making your machine run like a snail? Tired of paying for your software (and operating system)? Then try out Ubuntu 8.10:

First potty poo

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 06:16:51 -0700

ha ha

Getting bigger

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:53:36 -0700

Click here for a few recent photos of Scarlett and I.

A rare sunny afternoon

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 10:40:02 -0700

More photos.

Hello Chickens

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 03:18:31 -0700

Scarlett talks to the chickens

How to start an argument...

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 05:46:34 -0700

The other night my wife demanded that I take her somewhere expensive, so I took her to a petrol station. ho ho.

A few days later my wife and I were sitting at a table at my high school reunion, and I kept staring at a drunken lady swigging her drink as she sat alone at a nearby table. My wife asked, 'Do you know her?'

'Yes,' I sighed, 'She's my old girlfriend. I understand she took to drinking right after we split up those many years ago, and I hear she hasn't been sober since.'

'Wow!' said my wife, 'Who would think a person could go on celebrating that long?'

(Thanks to Penny for these!)

Todd Bentley Comment

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:57:29 -0700

Its a real shame to see what we've seen in the life of Todd Bentley over the past week - it has finally emerged that TB was having an illicit affair whilst running these recent meetings and that that is the reason behind the separation. You have to feel for his wife & family.

I imagine there will be further revelations about what he's been up to behind the scenes. I do feel both angry and sad. I visited Toronto twice but I've never been to Lakeland or anywhere to see Todd speak - I've always felt strangely ambivalent toward his ministry and so have not invested an awful lot and hence don't have a feeling of being duped. I do feel disappointed that this is going to be used to undermine some of the work God did despite Todd in the first place (Calvanists would say God planned this to happen for higher purposes, Arminians have to admit that God foreknew what Todd would do and still chose to use him - praise the Lord there are more sensible ideas than these about God's perspective of time). It is an amazing testament to God's grace & favour that He would meet with people despite what was going on.

Reading on the internet there are quite a lot of vicious things being said, but also a lot of needless defending. Lots of accusation of judging (we can judge someone's actions but not judge (in the sense of 'condemn') the person), on both sides. None of it looks good to the outside world.

So is this just a clear cut case of someone diving into ministry before their character was ready?

Or, as a friend of mine suggests of many fallen leaders, did Todd just pull the ejector seat cord because the pressure of leading this ministry was too great for him?

New Photos

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 10:28:09 -0700

I've posted more photos, this time of Scarlett getting her hair cut and modelling a new rain coat. I make an appearance too, and so does Aunty Corinna and cousin Lucas. Click here.

Nothing is Straight-Forward

Fri, 8 Aug 2008 08:20:47 -0700

Today was going so well. Matt took Scarlett to the park while I bought a magazine and went to our local Deli for a quiet read with a freshly squeezed OJ and a pain au chocolat. It was bliss to have some p&q and time to myself for the first time in weeks. We then reconvened and went out for an early lunch to a local farm shop called The Balloon Tree. Lunch was good - they gave Scarlett a pot of crayons and some paper which kept her happy - but when it came to pay, neither of us had our wallets with us! Matt had to go home while I stayed with Scarlett and took her to play outside in the kiddies play area. While we were waiting for Daddy to come back, I took some photos of Scarlett to pass the time.

Free Stuff

Fri, 8 Aug 2008 02:50:26 -0700

York is turning out to be a very resourceful place for second hand stuff for our house. I've discovered 'Freecycle' and 'Preloved' and am enjoying calling random people across York to get their cast-offs! Matt has a lovely old desk and Scarlett has a pushchair, one from freecycle and one from preloved. Now I'm after some shelves that we can get into the back of our car - we almost picked some up yesterday that were just too tall. The hunt goes on.