ANNUAL REVIEW 2015

So we approach the end of another year, and it's time yet again to take stock on what has transpired. I was hoping to reflect and write up this post during my recent trip to Edinburgh, but of course it slipped my mind as I was doing and seeing a lot of things there in a short space of time, and missed out on a few things. More on that later.
  Anyway, I have a busy day today, so I will try to keep things brief. My main highlights for 2015 have been as follows: 

• Breaking the ice between Vanessa's parents and mine on Australia Day. We had both been praying about the meeting, and I was only a little bit nervous about how things would go, but as it turned out I think everyone had a good time.
• My decision to come and spend one year working in London had its roots in February when I received an email from Smart Teachers advertising a shortage of teachers, and one month later an "aunt" from church also suggested I should go to London. After talking it over with my parents and doing some research and thinking, I decided to go for it. Although the separation has been hard on Vanessa, I do not regret my decision to do this now before things between us get serious and I need to start thinking about settling down when I return in early September.  
• I also enjoyed my time teaching at Deakin University English Language Institute, where I was able to meet and help some interesting students and get to know my colleagues. I will probably return there when I get back to Melbourne, at least in the early stages while I set up my own freelance language teaching service.
• My trip to NZ with Vanessa in June / July where I re-learned how to ski in Queenstown and then experienced an accident on the drive from there to Dunedin. I am thankful that nobody was hurt, and that I had taken out full cover when I paid for the rental car!
• The 2015 World Cups for cricket - a crazy tournament with bat and ball which was won by Australia! - and rugby. Even though that was won by the All Blacks, who probably deserved it, there were some amazing matches, top of course being Japan's epic upset over South Africa. Then there was the tragic postscript as rugby legend Jonah Lomu lost his life shortly after arriving back in New Zealand.
• And last but not least, joining the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir from MUCS and later the London Philharmonic Choir after arriving in the UK, and doing some fabulous concerts with both choirs.

I returned last night from a two-and-a-half day trip to Edinburgh, where I had a wonderful time in spite of the wind and rain. My friend from LPC was unfortunately not able to meet up with me, but she left me a scavenger hunt of things to see and do, most of which I was able to cover. I definitely have to make one more trip to Edinburgh, when the weather is warmer and more things are open; quite a number of things were closed either because it was winter or because of the holiday season.
  This afternoon I'm catching up with Jiakai, a classmate from my Master of Teaching days who is now teaching in Australia and on holiday here in London. We're going to check out the Natural History Museum before going to the Viennese New Years Eve Gala concert at the Barbican Centre. 
  So, as London's New Year is still ten hours away during which time most of the world will have reached it before us, I wish everyone a blessed and prosperous 2016!
  Cheers and God bless,

One week till Christmas

  It is now three-and-a-half months into my London adventure, and although the days are now dark by 4 pm - Winter Solstice is on Monday - the weather thankfully is still quite mild. It almost reminds of winter back in Melbourne. 
  Talking of Melbourne, the weather there looks like it's going to be scorching summer, which I'll be glad to again escape. I skyped with my parents last night (as has become weekly routine) and was told, among other things, that the next few days were going to be really warm. 
  As I said in my previous post, I was going to talk briefly about my time so far with the London Philharmonic Choir (LPC). After successfully auditioning at the end of my discovery rehearsal, I have been involved in a busy concert schedule. My first LPC concert was on September 26 when we performed Serge Taneyev's St John of Damascus with the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall, which is the London Philharmonic's home base. Then our next concert was on October 30 at the Royal Albert Hall with Sir Karl Jenkins conducting a concert of his Stabat Mater and a selection of his most popular works, including Adiemus and Palladio. That was my first time ever at the Royal Albert Hall and although it was an exhausting concert, it was worth the standing ovation at the end.
  We've been back to the Royal Albert Hall several times since. We performed the Classical Spectacular there last month, and on Wednesday we had the first of our two Christmas concerts at the venue. We shared the stage with the world-renowned Kings' College Choir from Cambridge, who had just returned from an overseas tour and were probably feeling the effects of it, but nonetheless still sang well. Our second Christmas concert there is on Monday with the Trinity Boys Choir, which I'm quite looking forward to. 
  Last week we also held a charity Christmas gig at Waterloo station with the LPO brass. Of course, since Waterloo is very busy, we drew a large crowd, and maestro Vladimir Jurovski even made a cameo appearance! It would have been great to have a few more singers to be heard against the brass ensemble, but it was still fun and we were given a free drink at the Wellington Pub afterwards for our efforts. 
  Much like back in Melbourne, choir singing has become an activity I look forward to during the week, especially when it's been a hectic one. In addition, I've made some wonderful friends and connections.
  As some of you know, I spent Christmas in Germany several years ago as an exchange student, and was properly introduced to the wonderful world of the Weihnachtsmarkt (German Christmas market) and the baked Christmas goods that are a key part of festive celebrations in that part of the world. Last week, a friend from Berlin sent a package containing my favourite Christmas goodies: Niederegger Marzipankartoffeln, Dresdner Christstollen, Nürnberger Oblaten Lebkuchen, Ritter Sport Chocolates (Christmas Edition flavours!), and Gefüllte Zartbitter Herzen. This early Christmas present goes a long way to making this festive holiday away from family a bit more bearable, and also is a massive money-saver; I could have bought all this from the German Deli here, but it would have been very expensive!
  My plans for Christmas Day are fairly simple. A friend from choir who lives very nearby has offered me a ride to St Paul's for the 11 a.m. service, which I'm very grateful for, but I'll need to make sure I get there just after 10 a.m. latest, as I'm anticipating the service will have full attendance. Then after the service, I will need to use the public bike hire system to ride to my friend's place in east London for Christmas lunch, since public transport is not operating on the day. Then on the 28th I'm heading up to Edinburgh (with Mimi, of course!) for a few days, where a good friend from LPC who comes from there will be my local tour guide. Then I'll be back in London in time for New Year celebrations, but I don't think I'll be taking part in the ones in the city; there'll be too many people and I'm no party animal.  
  Anyway, I'll need the time to write up my annual review, which I missed out on doing last year, so I'm determined to do a big wrap-up in time for New Year's Eve.
  Wishing you a merry and safe festive season with family and friends,
  Cheers and God bless!