Europe in early summer; part 1 - everything is old

We've recently returned from a three weeks in Europe. It's been a long time since we had summer in June, and it's most pleasant! We went for some TSCF supporter time, updating supporters in that part of the world what God is doing on campuses in the South Pacific; and we also had a few days holiday with family.

It's amazing what you forget; here's some things that struck us about the UK:

• It's so so green. I know it's summer, but really - it seems like everything is a shade of green. Beautiful (if you like the colour green!).
• People dress smarter than I do. I never used to be that smart in the UK, even in the office, but now I'm really shabby. Cool.
  
• People are on time - we wander along to church, where I'm preaching, at 10.25 for 10.30. Well early thought I. But no - turns out we were practically the last there! That'd never happen here in Lincoln.
  
• New cars - the cars are all so new. Our fine Subaru Legacy is 14 years old and pretty average in NZ, so that's what I've got used to. But in the UK, no 14 year old cars. What happens to them? Where are the older cars?
• Apart from cars, everything seems old. Very old buildings. Liz's parents live in a house built in the 19th century, and my aunt lives in one built (she thinks), in the 15th century. That blows my mind way more than it used to.

So here's a snapshot of old things in Europe......

Meeting old friends Mark & Laura at the Butcher's Arms, Sheepscombe. Still one of my favourite pubs. Still some of our favourite friends.

Us with Sarah (and Robin behind the lens!) by a series of locks on the Grand Union canal near Solihull, Birmingham. Liz loved this; coming from flat flat Norfolk the canals don't need locks, so she watched with awe the boats passing through these feats of engineering - 5 in total.

Auntie Dee showing me something on a neighbour's house in their courtyard. Her house with low ceilings is proper old, having being built in the 15th century! The whole village of West Wycombe has been owned by the National Trust since 1929, so it's not had the charm & character taken out of it like it might have. Must be a full time job for someone in the National Trust maintaining all those old buildings.....

Ah, beautiful, beautiful - the beer garden of the Green Dragon in Marlborough.

The town of Annecy, in eastern France near the Swiss border is near where our friends Mike & Amanda have recently moved. A beautiful part of God's world, too. The town is on a huge lake in the foothills of the Alps, and built on a series of canals - a French Venice if you will. Old buildings everywhere. And also a tabac, which is so cool and reminds me of school French lessons. I even bought some cartes postales and timbres which is all good.

This is bit of the old Norwich wall. I can just about grasp the 1175-1200 bit. But restored in 1896? Amazing.

Norwich Cathedral. Hundreds of years of people praising Jesus. Seriously cool.

Even the signposts look old!

It's been great to get reacquinted and excited about old stuff. Although it's old from a NZ perspective, it's not old in God's eyes. 2 Peter 3:8 tells us that 'With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.' God must have a great view of history, and a real perspective on time; whereas we just get a glimpse.