Kickin' it

Thursday, March 20, 2025

We have a guest coming so we walk the dogs on new paths in the neighborhood instead of hiking. We're back home before the time we normally leave for the hike. Nice - we gain a morning.

The Porch is warm - maybe 75oF/24C, with a nice breeze coming up from the valley below. The birds are chirping - they have made short work of the watermelon rinds put in their cages yesterday. We set out an extra cage to see if the now-wild lovebird will return.

Errands. They're not as frequent as meetings. But off we go this morning. We use our breadmaker each week, but it is on the frizz and needs repair. The week-whacker (used to "mow" the lawn) is also in the repair shop. Stuff wears out, just like people do.

It's a day of surprises. We take the breadmaker into Az-Ko (formerly Ace Hardware) and browse their Ramadan sale. We find a canopy, some round tables, and other items that we can lend to IES Bandung when we're not using them. 

The parking garage overlooks the city.

It might have one of the better views in Bandung, which is surrounded by mountains.

We stop at Mike Pizza for lunch. It's hard to decide which pizza is best but this is one of our favorites.

We're home and the car is unpacked before Lew arrives. We sit around the table for a supper of potatoes, sausages, eggs, and spinach. Then we talk theology and the next steps of his dissertation.

Friday

W and I admire the colors in the neighborhood as we walk. The hot pink impatiens are hot pink are a weed here, freely reseeding everywhere there's soil.

Look at these feet: a pack of boys is playing football (soccer) in their flip-flops and sandals. These boys wave hi as they wait their turn to play.

We drop the dogs off at home and pick up Lew for breakfast at #NaraPark. Paulina, owner and university professor, drops by to say hello before her meeting.

After a morning's work, Lew catches a quick lunch and heads home to Jakarta on the shuttle.

I heat up leftovers for us and read a good book, just for fun. I have several books open (non-fiction and fiction), a different one on each device. I should close those out, I guess.

I decide to bake a carrot cake. The last one had no sugar - I forgot - but was still tasty. This one uses half the recipe amount, with enough sweetness to be delicious.

After writing a referral for a scholarship, it's time to relax.

Saturday

We're off to an IES Bandung soccer/football morning. Alice brings cookies from the hall and we drive down to Carlos and Rosie's place. 

The grounds are landscaped to perfection.

What a beautiful set of apartments! From the patio, we look down on one of two courtyards.

And the pool. Oh the pool. It's so long. And clean.

Kids and adults enjoy time together.

Some children are obviously in sport programs. 

W needs something at the "nearby" mall but we have a lunch appointment so won't have time to get it later. It's not worth a separate trip next week. We decide it's quicker to walk the +3 mile (5 km) loop than driving in weekend traffic.

The route starts through the market. A college friend of Martin's comes along: it's too hot for him to play football.

We watch a mom fasten her infant's hands securely to the driver's jacket before climbing onto the seat behind him. I'd be surprised if he's one year old. Off they go!

If you get a flat tire, there's a little cart sitting in the middle of the street to pump it up.

It's sunny so it's quite hot out. W buys us 50c soft ice cream cones at Mixue to cool us down. Then off we go on our return trip.

We get back to the pitch in time to say hello again and take some photos. 

Driving home, we pick up the repaired weed-whacker. PakG drops us at Maxis for lunch with this dear family.

I choose a tasty beef satay. Then we walk home, just a few blocks away. My watch says +9500 steps, so far.

We read through tomorrow's talk, make some edits, and then catch up on mail. There's more to come tonight. We're looking forward to a special supper with friends.

Read more:

*On the day I called, you answered me; you increased my strength of soul. Psalm 138:3

*Jesus said, “For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” Luke 11:10

Moravian Prayer: Gracious God, you are always with us. When we call out to you in our moments of distress, you hear us and lovingly lead us beside still waters. Come into our hearts and embrace us with your gentle presence. Grant us strength and courage as we share this message of your eternal and abiding love. Amen.