A nice break. Part One

We've been home for a few days now, but I'm still feeling the effects of a really relaxing time away with only the Mem-Sahib for company on our sojourn South to Englandshire. At the risk of incurring a rabid invitation to indulge in voluntary repatriation...it was good to be 'darn Sarf' for a while.
Been visiting my mother-in-law who is attending a bible college in Walsall. She's certainly game for her age, having marginally exceeded her three score years and ten! Jo has thrown herself into student life with gusto and looks real well on it. What an encouragement to those of you out there thinking of tackling education as a matured mature student!!! Jo is at the Charis Bible College and they are looking after her real fine. Many thanks to Tom and Lesley Decker.
We also took almost a whole morning in Walsall Art Gallery. Fab sculptures and an Ace Building. Sadly I was too interested in the place to take any pix. If you're reading this and you live within an hour's drive and you like art and architecture - GO! Even the views from the gallery windows fit in with the displays ...... 'stonishin'!
{I really must learn to embed the links using the icon-diddly in the toollybar}

So - on we went from there to cadge some overnight accommodation from Rob & Jo in Coventry prior to heading off to Bruntingthorpe for my 50th Birthday Present - A Driving Experience!!!
Way back in March, when in Sevilla, celebrating Fran's 21st and my 50th, my ladies had clubbed together with the fellahs and bought me a track day! Finally the day had arrived and dawned - mistily...... But the fog didn't stop the fun!

Behold the Misty Ferrari 360...sorry, maybe that should read mighty. It certainly handled well and sounded great, but it was the first car I drove and I reckon I was a bit intimidated by it and the flappy paddle change and the fact that the instructor told me not to thrash it ....

Next up was the SuperBrutal Impreza... a prodrive spec too so Man Alive it was a right scorcher. It's not often you get a neck ache changing up from 3rd to 4th but this machine just flew round.
The accelaration is so fierce I spent most of my time getting out of the back seat. Many, many thanx to Banzai Barry the instructor for showing me so much in just ten minutes.
I can't wait to get the 'bends' again!!!


But then.....
Oh then!!!!
Then !!!!!
I got to realise the dream of decades.

The Porsche 911.

This really was me! I still have to keep pinching myself that I got my hands on possibly the most wonderful piece of automation I have ever driven.

I even got to wind it up to a significant three digit velocity which felt wonderful. Truly a car of poise and sophistication with such a wonderful sound, and feel and ............and..........and........

So that brought me to my last experience of the day... Mad Malcolm and the Lotus Elise!

This little beauty turned out to be the fun - highlight of the day. For sure the other cars were wonderful experiences, but sweet little Elise - what a chav! Thunderous racket, point and squirt handling, mental companion - what a time was had. A completely different box of cogs and so affordable! I've already been on the AutoTrader site..... first of all I need to encourage the Mem to trade in the Ibiza......

But wait a mo..... what's this ??????????????????????????????

BLIMEY !!!!

It's the Mem Sahib in an Aston Martin DB9 !!! And check out that grin! She's yummying up the track in that super smooth sporticle!!!

Here she is immediately after getting out. My Oh My she's swooning! She's overcome with all that luxury and velocity!!
On being questioned she disliked the autobox [ driver dolly you see!! ] but liked the electrificated leather seat, the loud Grrrr'ing engine noise and the El-Rapido accelaration which made her feel very special.




So as you can see - we had a very nice time celebrating my OldManMidLifeCrisisDay.




Ladies... if you're reading this,
YOUR MAN DESERVES THIS AS A GIFT!
It's the law!!


Check out the website beneath the Lamborghini
at the right
....over here >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


After this, we drove very carefully over to Liverpool
to catch up with our new friends - The Hutchisons, parents of our newest son. But more of that another evening!

Honor your father and your mother, as God has commanded you... Deuteronomy 5:16

My elderly dad, aged 76, had a wee spill from his pushbike on Saturday.
That sentence doesn't really do the situation justice. Dad is not only elderly, he's also fiercely independent, given over to 'setting the world to rights' [ and that's being delicate about it!! ] and his pushbike is actually a custom built racing bicycle. Dad only gave up competitive racing two years ago!!
It seems he had a black out whilst riding a quiet country road, doing a couple of somersaults as he came to rest at the side of the road. Concussed but shaken, he was taken to the local hospital and kept in overnight for observation, released home on Sunday lunchtime to the care of my mum.
So I've been engaged in active care for a change. Parental independence has meant I was often the last to know that there had been any problem. Now I reckon Dad is prepared to let me help out rather more. I hope so because relationship can only work when we give access to those with whom we wish to relate.
It's not been easy for Dad and I over the years, two competitive people trying to hold very differing opinions. It seems now we can move to a deeper level rather than the detached joshing round which characterises most masculine conversations, never mind the ones I had with my dad.
All this has really brought home to me the fuller implications of honouring my father and mother in accordance with the Lord's plan for my life. Honouring isn't just about respect, it's also about tenderness and ministry, care and maintenance, need and response.
Loving parents isn't always easy. As a parent I know how much of a frustration I can be to my own girls, my parents are no different. But real, selfless love transcends difficulty and discomfort because we reckon that the recipients are worth it.
However - honouring it seems is a whole new ball game.
Or is it another aspect of real love?

I'm not too sure why I'm posting this. I do know that when I got the phone call about Dad in Accident & Emergency and I considered the worst case scenario, I realised that it might have been rather too late for honour.

Better late than never. I write this after spending some quality time today with my parents, helping them bring their routine back to order. I feel good not just because it's a rush to help out and be appreciated, but because the Lord says that when we do things His way, we'll be more fulfilled.

Deu 5:16 Honor your father and your mother, as Jehovah your God has commanded you, so that your days may be made longer, and that it may go well with you in the land which Jehovah your God gives you.