tripping - a short break

 

 

 

three hours in an amsterdam hospital. triaged, pain-relief, first doctor examination, x-ray, second doctor examination, resin cast, full written medical report, email copied x-rays

modern art is rubbish

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

light and dark and death

 

 

the house of rembrandt and and his head-phone story scrolling in the paints and the shadows and the daubs and the strange exotic collections and the student studies and his meteoric rise and fall from grace 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

stone free - the amsterdam adventure begins

 

  

 

built in the shape of a boat, hotel jakarta is rooted at the western tip of a man-made island.

we're quartered in a prow end suite looking out toward the sea and a constant passing flotilla of ships and barges.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

chorus

 

 

I have fond memories of a walk through red-light Amsterdam streets with two young boys and their parents. And now I stand next to one of those boys again.

 

Don't worry, this is not a story of child abuse!  Michael's parents were two fantastic Christian missionaries from the church where my wife and I  asked Jesus into our lives.  We visited them and their family in Amsterdam over three decades ago when they were serving in a place called 'The Ark'.

 

And now Michael and I are here together again. It's the sound-check for a 'Concert for Ukraine' and he's one of the musicians who will be playing later in the evening. 

 

We start to chat and before long discover our historical links.  A chance encounter or a reminder of how God brings paths to cross? 

 

Michael's changed a lot since I lost saw him - bigger and facially hirsute - but some things, like his passion for music, remain the same.   I love times like these.