All Good Things Come to an End

Well I guess this blog is seeing it's final days.  

I started it back in 2008, to write about our life in Great Britain, but as those of you who have been following it know, it has included scenes from a few other countries too.  It has been an enjoyable experience and I look back with fondness on the time I spent on it.

What our street looked like this time of the year.

I am sure I will take a peek at it from time to time - just for fun - or when my memory fades and I am trying to remember an event.

Who were the Volunteers that year?

But our life in beautiful England has come to an end, and so has this blog.

Thanks to all of you who have gone on this journey with me.  I appreciate your feedback, many positive comments and the encouragement to keep it up.     

I plan to start a new blog for our life back in Asia though and would like to  keep the name 'Niclasen's Notebook' for it.  Thus I will change the name for this blog to something I considered when I was first thinking of this one - Elizabethian Essays.  

I will let you know when the new one is up and running and give you the address for it.  

(Before I end it though I can't resist sharing a few pictures of our time with our precious grandchildren here in Canada.... so there just has to be a couple more P.S. posts)

Legoland Discovery World

 We soaked in every second of our last couple of days in England - surrounded by rays of sunshine, trying not to think of that final good bye. 

 So instead of moaning the fact that we would soon be parting ways for quite some time, and thinking of how much they will change while we are apart, we decided to concentrate on all the wonderful times we have shared together these past 6 years.  A fantastic blessing we never took for granted.

We had lots of fun together at the Legoland Discovery Center.  It was great watching the girls building various projects, riding police cars and going on rides.  

Abbi was chosen as the strongest man there and the one to help get the machine started.

What a trio!!

Wow!!  Good job Lydia!!

Ellie's creative juices flowing.

Watch out - police are on their way!!

We so enjoyed making those memories to take with us.  We are so thankful for and proud of Craig, Claire, Ellie, Bekah and Lydia.

Round and round we go.

All of the family building lighthouses.

We treasure each time spent with them, during our time in Great Britain and look forward to the hellos and hugs the next time we have that anticipated blessing.

Just minutes before we went our separate ways.

Good Bye 50's

I am sure people were getting tired of me saying, "I am still in my 50's" the last few weeks.  But I knew I wouldn't be able to say it much longer, so took advantage of each opportunity.

Now those times are in the past.  I have left the 50's in the dust, and am looking forward to my journey through the 60's.  I don't really care about my age that much, but had to have fun while those days of being in my 50's lasted.   

The day I joined the 60's came the day after we left North Cotes, which gave us time to try and think through and process what we had just done.

The 1st step of moving back to the Kankanaey tribe was complete.  Our fun, busy life, tucked away by the shores of North Cotes would soon be changing to long days of language reviewing and translation in the mountains of the Philippines, via a few cold weeks in Canada.  

Was this real, or just a big long dream?

For the last several months, I have had the goal that on my 60th birthday, I would do a 5 km. run.  Since I hadn't run for years (I love to go for long walks) I started off slowly, adding to my time as the weeks and months went on.  

Ryan (our marathon runner) kept encouraging me that I could do it, and the determination in me chose to believe him.  And I am glad I did.  

Since we were no longer in North Cotes, I couldn't do the route I had practiced on, but we found a running tract around a soccer field close by.

Around noon on the 23rd, I began running around that track, with Ragnar cheering me on, and here I am at the end of 5 km.  

A lovely relaxing evening with Ragnar - enjoying a delicious meal in a quiet corner.

A few special add-ons - 

Knowing I would still be in my 50's when I left North Cotes, my friends, Jill and Carol, treated me to an early Birthday celebration.  

The 3 of us enjoyed a relaxing afternoon chatting away in a charming coffee shop in Cleethropes.  Their thoughtfulness in taking the time for that, as well as their cute gifts were really appreciated.  

Even though by then we were miles apart, my dear caring friend, Jenny, made sure my birthday was special!  

You can't get much more thoughtful - a parcel with beautiful flowers, a box of chocolates and the cutest little birthday cake I ever saw, arrived at Craig and Claire's, right on time!!

Thank you Jenny - it couldn't have been better!!

 Celebrations were even extended to another continent.  After crossing the pond a few days later, my precious grandchildren presented me with special designed towels, which they had made.  They are almost to precious to use!

 Noah recaptured a scene from last summer.  When I would go on my practice runs, he often accompanied me on his bike.  

Thanks Noah.  I know I'd never forget those special times with you, but this way I'll be reminded each time I dry my hands!! 

Thanks Selah - I love you too very, very much.  I'll smile every time I use the towel you designed for me, you precious little gem.  

Few Days in Guest Home

Since the truck for our belongings arrived early, we moved over to the Guest Home for our last few nights in North Cotes.  Friends and coworkers were very generous in inviting us over for meals and helping to make sure everything was taken care of.

Breakfast was the only meal we ate in the Guest House, with our friends, Thom and Carolyn Cunningham, who just happened to be there at the same time.  Yeah!!

Friday Noon - Stephen and Yolanda treated us to a delicious lunch at the Harvest Moon.  We so enjoyed reminiscing over the past 5 years together.  When we first came, our offices were next door to each other so they were one of the first couples we got to know.  

As well as Ragnar and Stephen enjoying discussing the results of football matches (soccer games) they both had a passion for beginning a yearly Youth Conference.  'Reach' is now held each March, and is a great tool for recruiting students.

Friday Supper - Tim and Lynsey Johnston had us in for a yummy Shepherd's Pie.  They are an enthusiastic young couple, from Northern Ireland, in their 2nd year and are looking forward to a ministry in South America.  

Saturday Noon - This time last year we were concerned for Lou's life.  He was in the middle of a hostage situation in the oil fields in Algeria.  It's a long story of how answered prayer,  bringing Lou safely home and this year we were celebrating life in their lovely home in Lincolnshire.  Praise the Lord!!

Me with Lou's sweet wife, Lori.

Saturday Supper - John and Irene have been so welcoming and kind to us during our time at Eastgate.  We have been in their home many times and for our final time together they treated us to a delightful meal at one of their favorite Restaurants, followed by coffee in their home.  A wonderful couple to be on the pastoral team.

Sunday Noon - You would think it was Thanksgiving by the meal my fellow Canadian and family prepared for Sunday noon.  Chicken, gravy and lots of veggies and a fun conversation with all 6 of them.  

Sunday Supper - Our times with Eli, Noomi and Hadasa this year have been so enjoyable.  A young, fun loving, Fareose couple in Biblical Studies. 

 We loved it when their sweet, little, friendly daughter, called us Ragnar Abbi and Liz Omma.  (About a week after we left, she had a new little sister.)  We have known Noomi since she was a little girl - Ragnar and her dad were neighbours as young lads and spent lots of time together kicking the soccer ball around.

Monday Noon - Ragnar's cousin and family have lived just around the corner from us since last summer, (on furlough from PNG) but we haven't been able to see that much of each other.  Seemed like one of us was always traveling.  So we especially enjoyed a couple hour chat over a ham and cheese sandwich.

Monday Supper - Indian food with my North Cotes heroes.  I have learned tons from Steve and Moria Poulson.  They put in many hours in their office and classroom each day, seem to be the first ones to volunteer when help is needed, always having people in their home and are very involved in their church.  Good examples for all of us!

Tuesday Noon - Lunch with our friendly Dutch friends, Martyn and Miriam Bargeman.  Ragnar missed that treat since he was signing last minute papers with the lawyer and Real Estate agent, but Miriam graciously sent me home with a doggy bag.   

Tuesday Supper - Since I double booked for Monday night (using my head instead of pen and paper), I was thankful Marko and Annelea were flexible and graciously offered to just put the food in the fridge and reheat it on Tuesday.  Bless them - it gave us time with both families.  Since the Shuberts attend our church in Louth, we have had more opportunities to get to know them better.  

That same evening we popped into see little Linda, who just came home from the hospital.

And a final good bye to our next door neighbours, to share a few little bits and bobs with each other about sharing a semi detached (duplex). 

Last of all  seeing our car drive off with a new owner.