fie-guratively speaking

Dusk on the Murray 

Here fishy fishy… 

The girls 

Trippy…woo… 

All aboard houseboat 18396! 

Top Ten Things Learnt Over the Weekend:

10) It is possible to live with ten other people on board a houseboat for four days three nights. Anymore than that would be detrimental
to health. *Note: Refer to #9

9) One toilet for the number of people aforementioned is NOT
sufficient. Ambi Pur air freshener becomes a well used item.

8) MTV singing sessions on board can be ridiculously fun.

7) Prawn oil sprays are meant for fish bait. NOT to be sprayed
like Ambi Pur.

6) I can drive a boat BUT

5) have trouble steering a canoe. (”Sharp right! Sharp right! Not left!”)
That said, I did get the hang of it pretty quick.

4) Sitting on top a boat deck overlooking the Murray River with a
box of Crunchy Nut brings cereal eating to a whole new level.

3) Hooking worms as live bait is sadistically fun.

2) Hearing Fang sing and seeing her dance along to her Hong Kong
idol is an event in itself.

1) Cost of boat trip: $180, blurry morning eyes, stinky toilets,
scary drunks. A weekend away on land and on water with friends: Priceless.

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An ultimate weekend away floating along the Murray River.

It was a BEAUTIFUL 26 degree spring day today.

I finally got a hair cut.

After a whole year.

I hope the lady wasn’t too put off by the bland, nervous-stricken face in the mirror.

BUT, all said and done, it didn’t turn out too bad.

Plus thirty bucks for a cut, wash and dry was a good deal.

Oh and I bought a new heater from Bunnings.

It’s bloomingly hot, but I’m STILL using the heater.

I think I just like the whirring sound.

The past week has been one of dissapointment, regret, frustration,
anger, anxious thoughts, failings, hopelessness and helplessness.

But I am not unhappy it happened.

I would never have discovered God’s amazing strength and
faithfulness if not for this trial-saturated week.

I realise how independant I have been, choosing to rely on my own
abilities and ’strengths’, not allowing God to take over.

How inadequate I am wihout His power and grace.

But how wonderful the way He gently nudges and reminds me of His
infinite help and sustenance, if only I will surrender everything
to Him.

The heart of worship is surrender.

Surrendering is best demonstrated in obedience.

I want to have an obedient heart of worship.

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For all my ways are before You,
I let Your hand become my help,
My soul longs and adores You,
Let my cry come before You.

I don’t want to have to do laundry, I don’t want to have to go marketing and carry insanely heavy bags, I don’t want to have to wake up and think of multiple assignments, I don’t want to be weighed down by thoughts that are hardly feather light, I don’t want to be responsible and take stock of every single thing I do, I don’t want to worry about the fact that I may have to sleep in a cardboard box along Lygon next year, I don’t want to be used and taken for granted, I don’t want to give and not get anything in return, i don’t want to think rationally and logically for once, I don’t want to think of what I SHOULD do, I don’t want to list down my expenses, I don’t want to pay telephone and electricity bills,I don’t want to be unloved, I don’t want to step into Ballieu Library for another two years, I don’t want to think about getting a job, I don’t want to clean house, I don’t want to vacuum, I don’t want to be away from all that is familiar and worth living for.

Bah!

An aesthetically messed up life too absurd to be mad.

I think I’m getting a little insane.

I want to go home.

I miss mamak nights and stupid, yet strangely appealing conversations.

I miss chai latte with the Kapten and lolling about in a colourful, air conditioned room with CHE.

I miss Missa and Adrian already.

I want to see Lauren play the bass and catch up on gossip.

I want to trade cleaning tips with Lala’s mother-in-law.

I still want my magic red heels.

To do the limbo rock.

But not be in limbo.

I dreamt of home just now.

I dreamt of me raiding the fridge and eating guava.

Lauren gave me a hug and Mum told me I could not take any guava back to Melbourne because that would mean declaring it.

I could see the house in fantastic detail, even SMELT the homey house smell.

I want to go home.

Will someone please give me some red heels?