Europe in early summer; part 2 - friends and family

In June we returned from three weeks in Europe. All the buildings seemed old, (maybe we just weren't so aware of all the new ones!)

It was great to meet friends and family - to tell stories of what we're up to here in NZ with TSCF and how God is working through the campuses of Aotearoa, and also to hear friends and families stories too. It was so encouraging meeting those with whom there is much shared history; to laugh over old times and laugh about new things whilst with them!


Hodge clan on Painswick Beacon - my brother Andy's (in the purple coat) favourite spot.

Robin & Sarah live in Solihull and took us to the canal which was beautiful. Thanks for becoming new TSCF supporters! Sarah's hiding, but can be seen on the previous Europe blog.

This is Alan and Joe (and bump too!) outside their place in a village near Aylesbury. Fantastic to stay with them; hear about high school and primary teaching and impending parenthood and to trek across paddocks to a wonderful rural pub.

Lizzy's favourite singer, Tim Van Eyken, holidayed in NZ recently, but wasn't working any gigs. So Liz was excited (far too excited really!) that he was playing Marlborough town hall. She dragged Sis and I along too and it was all good. We turned up before the band was setting up, and stayed for Liz to have a good yarn with Tim at the end. Hope he doesn't think she's a stalker groupie....
Breaking news....Tim Van Eyken is headlining Wellington Folk Festival over Labour Weekend in October...... Liz will be very excited indeed!


Me and Auntie Dee sharing a joke.

I'm glad Barclays Bank call ATMs Hole in the Walls - 'cos I do too.

Some different members of the Hodge clan enjoying the sun, as well as mum, dad and sis, this is Auntie Aileen and Uncle Derek on the right.

Abbey Church in Gloucester doing what we do well - looking at the Bible together and eating food together afterwards. Doubly well fed!

Janice serving the wonderful salmon.

Here we are with Mike & Amanda in France. I struggled with my school-boy French, but it was great food though, even if I wasn't sure what I'd ordered.

Grandpa & I in my home town of Bournemouth - where the sun always shines! Lizzy & I had to stop Grandpa and demand a rest when we were walking up the cliff with him. It's embarrassing when a 85 year old is fitter than you.....

Dave & I spent a year volunteering with TSCF way back last century. He's now on his OE working for the London Ambulance NHS Trust in, unsurprisingly, London. He's had a real bad run with his body giving up in various places, yet a pack of Cookie Time from Christchurch NZ brought many smiles. He enjoyed them so much he even requested this photo on the blog - this one's for you Dave mate!

We wanted to meet more people and felt a real constraint on time. We forgot to take pictures of everyone, so if you're missing out seeing your face then I hope to rectify that next time!

We travelled on too many motorways in the UK/France/Switzerland, so it was nice to get to east Norfolk and stay in one place for a 5 day holiday with Liz's family -

Fullers in the garden

It looks warm, but the North Sea in early June really isn't warm enough for Fuller women. This Hodge man though was very happy paddling in it.

Lots of Liz's family live in Gorleston. This is Auntie Angie and Uncle John on the right.


Although there was much chuntering and cursing, the Fullers did actually enjoy me & Liz making them hire bikes for a nice bike ride and picnic in the Norfolk broads.

All in all, good times. Good to be with friends and family and also good to be back home in Lincoln. We came back just in time for our main TSCF conference which has just finished and we'll be blogging about in due course.