Cinematic Orchestra

When i was in LDN a few weeks ago, a friend of mine treated me to a ticket to see the mighty Cinematic Orchestra and it was such a great gig. I wasn't dissapointed. I think there's about 7 or so members, and they are so musically talented like you've never heard or seen. They had an orchestra there too, which, as you might not have guessed, are not part of the main group - it's just their name.

Here's a link on Youtube to see one of there songs 'All that you give'. It's an awesome song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F1RVXfiWEE

They finished with thier amazing song 'All things to all men'. UK rapper Roots Manuva sings on it and he was the special guest that night! Flipping awesome!

My friend Helen leaves!

So it's with real sadness that i said goodbye to my friend Helen, who left on Sunday to make her journey back home to Germany. She's been serving God and 24-7 Ibiza for nearly 3 years, and she's just made such an impact upon this place. She's back safe and sound - how the car got her home, i'm not sure. Some prayer and some good mechanics maybe?

She packed her car up on Sunday, and i helped her, but as we all know, Helen is great at organising and packing, and squeezed all her stuff into the glovebox of her Peugeot. I was amazed that she managed to fit all her bags and shoes and nail painting thingys in her car...

I'm now on my own in Spanish and can't turn to Helen for assistance. All the Moroccan guys at Spanish are gutted that she's not around either ;) "Donde es Helen?" "Donde?"

Helen is a pilgrim, someone wanting to follow God and His call, and i wish her all the best as she seeks to live a life for God in Germany. I hope she comes back to visit and come clubbing, maybe to We Love...

Old to New

My new trainers, a gift from Freddy and Agneta...so lovely of them! My old pair were...well...dead! They are white, think they'll get dirty quickly, but i don't care really! New shoes!!!!! Thank you guys!

Keeper of the Bee

Today Helen and I were invited to attend a 'gathering' of Bee Keepers by our friend and Spanish teacher, Solveig. I got my first ever 'taste' of Bee Keeping, and i was a tad excited about it. We were lent all the right protective clothing and head gear, but in the back of my mind i had to believe that the Bees wouldn't sting me. This belief was tested big time, as at one point i must have had at least 200 Bees on my head. At first i was none the wiser, as they were all around the back of my head gear, and it was only until a few experienced professionals gave me some assistance. The only gutting part of the day is not tasting any honey. But after seeing the TLC that is put into the process, i think it'd be wrong not to buy some.

Throughout the day i was listening and picking up some Spanish words and phrases and being given the odd lesson by some helpful Spanish speakers. I really think my understanding of the language is growing. Maybe this time next year I'll be on the way to fluency? And keeping some Bees?

Day Sixteen on the Finca!

So we've been at the Farm for over two weeks now...and it's going really well. It is such a blessing to now be connected to the outside world with the installation of the Internet! To be honest I've liked the time away from it all...

We've just said good-bye to two of the most fantastic, generous, gorgeous and funny people that you'd ever have the honour of meeting. They're called Robb and Sally and they came on Tuesday for a few nights to hang out and see our place. They're good friends with Brian and Tracy, but now i get to call them friends. They also came for some rest and relaxation too too, which i think they got, being as far away from any desk and office as you can on our hill. They are a constant source of blessing to us all, and i hope they visit again for more fun and laughs.

Today was full of searching out for fallen trees, cutting, chain-sawing, dragging and axing. It was great fun, and we have tons of wood to keep us going for at least a week or two. The day finished with a meal together and then we made our way home.

This place really does feel like home for me. I feel like I'm still settling though, and i know it'll take time to adjust. But it's so much fun!

Legs of Lamb

Reading a book at the moment about my mate Gary Lamb's adventure of prayer walking the whole way around the coast of Britain. How great does that sound?! It's called 'Legs of Lamb', and it's his story of his whole trek around Britain. I am blown away! It's such a good read, detailing his highs and lows, the amazing people who helped him along the way and the conversations and meetings that he had with the most surreal people. Yet out of this seemingly crazy idea came such goodness, and I'm at present reading of divine moments he had with complete strangers, who let him into their home, feed him, talked with him, listened to him and opened up to him.

I'm totally sure that many people do amazing things like this simply to say they've done it, and move on to the next adventure. Yet Gary's reasons are not what you'd expect. He sensed that it was God leading him to do this, and i love that even though there was great doubt (like anyone would...'come again, God!'), he got on and did it. And God, time and time again, revealed himself to people through this. Awesome!

Michael French - Nightclub Chaplain

This is Michael French (on the left - for those who don't know) and me partying on 'Shipwrecked', the weekly boat-trip for Ibiza's finest wreck-heads!

Michael joined 24-7 Ibiza in July and was here for over 3 months. He was such an amazing person to have around and to be on a team with. His heart and passion for God, people and music really impacted me, and i miss him thoroughly. I had only met him on a few occasions back in the UK, and i was pleased to know that he would be working with us during the summer. And i wasn't dissapointed. I have never seen anyone dance with such passion and enjoyment, and quite often people would stop and stare and ask him what drugs he had just taken. It was great seeing their faces when he told them he hadn't touched a thing. He was the ultimate dance partner, so infectious, and i am secretly hoping that he comes out again next summer, even for a holiday. It was great to DJ with him a few times too. Whenever i hear Fake Blood's choon 'Mars', i always think of Michael. He went crazy to that song, and so did i!

But he goes onto exciting things back in the UK. He has just been appointed the new nightclub chaplian in Bournemouth, a post i know that he will really serve with all his might! Having lived in the Bournemouth area i know some of the places and people, and i hope to visit him there and see what he's up to. I wish him all the best!

Check him out at http://curlylocks25.blogspot.com