"Cadet, step away from the folder!"

This just could not escape blogging!...

You may (or may not) be aware that the army 'big wigs' are currently at College undergoing discussion about our territory and, of course, the appointments as we're only a wee way out from the Big Shuffle (or the bit of paper that will cause the Big Shuffle anyway!).

Well, aside from the obvious temptation to stick a glass to the wall of the CLD boardroom (all attempts to wait on the cabinet/DCs for coffee, hot water, food etc. were denied!! - we only wanted to serve...!), I'm sad to say we have all pretty much been kept away from the action - no surprises there! All that is, except one of my sessionmates who found himself moving tables in the boardroom with the TP. This in itself is not exactly cause for celebration, it was the item that almost came into his possession that was!

As they moved furniture, my sessionmate found himself just arms length away from a folder entitled:

Territorial Appointments ...Blah Blah Blah

...(of course the 'Territorial Appointments' bit is all he remembers of the title!)

You can imagine how he froze (just for a split second!) as thoughts of opening the folder whizzed through his mind (along with thoughts of security cameras, candid camera episodes and of course, the inevitable trip to the mercy seat for weighing up all possiblities in the first place!!). Ah! The temptation - could it be Mangatinoka? Corps plant Eketahuna or... Gisborne perhaps?! But alas, this cadet resisted and to this day, will never know the contents of the folder!

Hooray! - I can hear you all cheer. We too, were pleased that after 18months of boot camp, our sessionmate had honesty all sorted. It was only in closing that he relayed the contributing factor of a certain Personnel Secretary appearing at his elbow shortly after eyeing the precious bounty which leaves me to conclude...

Be sure Lt Col Arnold will read your mind and keep you from all temptation when around any documentation pertaining to your future!

...all things considered, I still can't help imagining the tug-of-war between the Colonel and a burly 2nd yr cadet over a folder! - oh to be a fly on the CLD boardroom wall!!

Snapshots

I'm back in photo-blogging action! Some 'kodak moments' are up on the photoblog...enjoy!

Seeing the mountian in such splendour almost made the freezing cold moments down here worth it ... almost!

Where Oh Where

Where did the holidays go?! Sometime last week, it almost felt like I'd never left! Mind you, I like being at home amongst all my bits & pieces and you just can’t beat your own bed and your own pillow - although Nig & Christine’s spare bed came a pretty close second I must admit!

I had a great time away. The drive up was just magnificent. The mountain turned on quite a show along the Desert Rd – to the point where people were stopping and having snow fights, taking photos and just standing in awe of it… it was amazing! Not a cloud in the sky and snow EVERYWHERE. I just had to stop, at least three times I think (!!), to take photos. If only I had wiped the sea spray off the lens since my last adventure – my blue sky came out rather speckled but hey, a few made it through but you'll have to check out the photo blog sometime soon as blogger just won't attach any of my photos at present!

I couldn’t leave Auckland without capturing some more of it and, of course, it just wouldn’t be me if the photos weren’t almost all near water yet again!! Shannon and I headed out to Mission Bay on another scorcher of a day (can I say being in Auckland was like being in the tropics after winter in the Hutt!!) and we stopped a couple of times for some photos. Rangitoto Island was awesome and then the sun poking through the clouds made for an occasional kodak moment if you were quick enough!

It was so good to be able to drive around without a map book for two whole weeks, to go to so many of my old haunts, to soak in the familiarity of it all and to just relax with people that know me almost better than I know myself!! The Factory crowd – you are the best and you have awesome, wise, spirit-filled leaders… how lucky you are! I can’t wait to see you all again at New Zeal.

I’m still on the Brengle wagon at the moment in case you’re wondering! I’m currently hip deep in Helps to Holiness and Sanctified Sanity… mouth wateringly good – the best food you’ll have had in a long time I assure you! – and both highly recommended! So many things are falling into place for me I hardly know where to start so I’ll save it for another day – its in the ‘Monica’s Untidy Closet’ compartment of my brain at present awaiting a good deal of sifting and ordering!

Well, I’m avoiding my theology reading for tomorrow ...again (theology, schmeology!!) – any of you Bridge Builders (or wanna-be cadets – we know you’re out there!) want a[nother] shot at ‘Thinking Biblically C’??... no? Alas, I shall brave it myself… tomorrow morning… maybe!