Since I've been gone

I've been a prodigal son and deserted my blog for the riches of the real world. In family lingo that translates as "fund raising and traveling across Europe in a caravan overloaded with surfing equipment". I don't have time to go into the details of how we survived mentally and hygienically for 3 days in a car with a constant intake of red bull, coffee and a continuous output of undignified language aimed at the French road system. Let the pictures tell the story of my last 6 weeks of frivolous living ( ahem I wish)

first of all a spot of modeling (i.e. having your hair being made to look like a bunch of pubes by a hairdresser who thinks its all "gorgeous darling".)























had a touching family reunion

















took on the man's role for nina's sake























made sarah's cake and blew out her candle















took loving, post-shepherding photos with emily ( only certain people will get this)

















stayed with the frenchies and partook of their cheese

















and feasted on vast amounts of junk food( hence the overjoyed preschooler face)

Groovy Baby!

Remember the bell bottoms, the gold medallions, the hairy chest, the inappropriately long sideburns ? Or like some people do you hope to forget? Whether you loved them or hated them you have to admit the 70's were a wild time and the perfect theme for our next home activity.




















" It's Raining Men"

Nina looking authentically 70's and Rachel looking like some sort of cross between a drag queen and a 70's slut




















Groovy Baby! the original Austin Powers

some 70's square dancing

Sara showing the blonde how its done

St. Paddy's day

Symbolised as a day to get drunk and sings songs about killing the English, this year limerick (Ireland's third largest city) was crashed by seven family members waving pumps, latex, paints and promising to make everyone look festive, or stupid. After a parade of Irish army guys and a Massachusetts police squadron trying to be cultural and get back to their roots, we hit the pubs to witnesses to the drunks and harlots ( and sell them latex of course). At 8:00 when people couldn't stand anymore and our shamrocks started looking like green balloons, we called it a day and retired to the blessed comfort of beer and vinegar soaked chips.

Sarah's face was blotted out so I wouldn't be continually accused of posting bad pictures and our friendship would remain alive and vibrant

some very sweet, very blonde girls who insisted on having pink shamrocks

what happens when you mix Guinness and baileys

that desperate look you get whist waiting for your junk food

Satisfaction!

celebrate good times. February 18th

Yet again I have put off blogging till 3 weeks later and I hear complaints rumbling about how I never update ect ect. Due to technical difficulties (i.e. a longstanding selfishness on the part of the people who downloaded the photos first), I was unable to post for a considerable sum of time , but finally here we are! So after 3 days of spiritual feasting we did the hygienically suicidal and had over 50 people at our little home. How the inspiration went don't ask me as my contribution was 4hrs in the kitchen to produce enough potato salad ( don't ask me how we manage to commit that sin ) to feed the hungry masses. After saying goodbye to our 50 guest and cleaning up a mess that looked like the result of world war 3, its was time to have our own little 50's party and talent night.

Please don't ask .

If you take my burger I'll make mince meat outta you!

junk food makes you happy

That was not some strange fertility dance, but a game.

and our boy band debut to "baby when you move to me ",

complete with socks as so our manhoods bulged just that little bit extra.

Valentines message

Yes that dreaded date of February the 14th has come upon us again. It's that time of year where some people are either blissfully in love, or an emotional suicide case. But for you lonely sods out there, instead of drowing your sorrows in overdoses of Lindt and Jack Daniels take this picture for comfort and know that.....................
"I Love You."















(p.s. for all those of you who might accuse me of an adobe photoshop overuse: this photo was only cropped for child friendly reasons ;D )

Road Trip 2

Road trips seem to be my forte recently; either that or its just the home's "good excuse" to get rid of me for a week. So armed with (as we found out after ) not enough tools, a inhumaenly-cute baby and about 300 rubber......:D BALLOONS we were off to Longford.

"The Aubergine" where we ate lunch everyday (p.s. for all you gourmet food lovers out there this restaurant won the award for the best restaurant in the county for 7 years running

sam.p had a nack for attracting weridos

caught in the act and during devotions too!

disclaimer: Nina doesn't usually smile like an american, Sam.P doesn't usually wear women's glasses, and I don't usually stare at blonde women like I've never seen a viking before

campground

From the 5th to the 8th of January I was back in my home country for a camp the J/T board organized. Although the camp population was small it was good to see old friends again and just talk. The first day was spent witnessing in Trafalgar Square with the four horsemen skit. The second day followed with a happy football match which soon degraded into a mud-bath rugby game after the heavens open and rained. And what family camp would be complete without a dance and talent night ?

inspiration

charades

giving classes, not the most inspiring job

mmm they do enjoy a good rumble tumble

lunchtime

our new outreach method

my moment of martyrdom for Christ's sake

being saved by a Frenchman (maybe they do have some use after all)

I always knew I was short but after seeing this photo the midget gene was confirmed

getting 30 family kids onto the same metro cabin all at the same time was never going to be a easy task

and the stress shows

being a secretary is a lonely job

two of the nicest sisters I've know since I was 10

pretty dirty

"The Loaf of Bread" revised

the New Zealand all blacks' Hakka (btw i was reprimanded for leading young, influential minds in such strangeness)

nach punjabi