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We’re in the midst of planning a weekend away for the youth (11-15 year olds) at our Church… we’re hoping to get away to a nearby Canyon (for UK citizens, read Valley!), maybe hiring a cabin or a couple of self-catering cottages or something, then getting out for hikes and games with the yoof.

There’ll also be a serious side to the weekend, though I’m not really the best person to ask about that bit (Rachel and Naomi, Help!!). The weekend is going to be themed around the issue of “Friends” and is titled “I’ll be there for You” together with cheesy opening jingles courtesy of “The Rembrandts” (remember them? Oh dear… bet you wish i hadn’t asked that question…. you’ll be singing those hymns of popular 90’s culture all day now!). We’re hoping to consider issues like: “What does God say about popular culture?”, “Friends? Who needs friends?!”, “Sharing your faith with non-believing friends” and “Empathy, apathy and sympathy: supporting friends as a Christian”.

The hardest part about planning this weekend is fixing a date. For being 11-15 year olds they have very full diaries! Prayers and any ideas would be appreciated!

Sorry, I realised earlier today that I changed permissions to comment on our site a few weeks ago. I did this after we got some unwanted, antagonistic or just rude hacks and spam emails to the site.

So i’m sorry if you wanted to comment but couldn’t. But now you can. So I hope you’ll do so again soon.

Rachel becomes a grown-up 27 year-old tomorrow!

Of course, I’ll say “you don’t look a day older dear…!” Or maybe that should be “you don’t look a night older darling”?- unfortunately, Rachel starts on night-shift again on Thursday (18th) for 10 days.

We had a party last Friday night to celebrate. Thanks to all those who came and for the lovely wine, deserts and flowers/chocolates that you brought! After eating and drinking them all, Rachel will surely look (and probably feel her age!).

This morning we woke to a wonderful vista of the moutains around Santiago dusted with snow. It rained overnight and, as a result, the smog has literally been turned to dirty puddles on the road! It is nice to breath freely again, although, looking south, we can already see the line of brown smog developing on the horizon again!

So heres to breathing! Yeah! Enjoying my air… Mmmmmm, just enjoying my air….

(prize to whoever guesses which film that (slightly amended) quote comes from)

On Friday, a state of Pre-emergencia was called in Santiago as a result of exceedingly high levels of ozone, little wind and no rain. It has not rained since Easter Day (more or less)…. and at this time of the year there is little prevailing wind from the south west, so the air just sits in or slowly circulates in “the bowl” that is Santiago. While we enjoy sunning ourselves and the air warms to a very pleasant 22-26C every day (and they call this autumn?!!), the emissions from industry and vehicles are gradually being converted to poisonous air that we all breathe.

So Santiaguinos are desperately hoping it will rain this week. Hoping for rain? Doesn’t sound like Autumn to me!

The Government here has some seriously neat tactics to deal with the problem. The state of pre-emergency restricts vehicles with registration plates ending with specific numbers from driving in the city during the day. This includes trucks. In addition, you must have a “green tag” indicating your car has a catalytic convertor (2001 onwards). You can get fined almost £200 for driving your car on the wrong day! Today 3-5 and 7-8 can’t drive. I don’t think there are any registrations ending with zeros.

Now that really is zero-tolerance!