"So, how are you enjoying Sydney?" - more from 'the wife'

When people find out we've moved from Tassie to Sydney, a very common question is "how are you enjoying Sydney?". I really dislike this question, as my most simple answer is "I'm not" and I'm not sure what the correct english answer is in the positive ("I'm enjoying it nicely, thankyou very much"?). Perhaps I should ask a question back to the person "how IS one to enjoy Sydney?".
I really am struggling to find things to enjoy about this crazy place, but do look forward to being able to look back on these years with some kind of fondness. There are glimmers of nice things, though. Having so many great Christian teachers at 'our fingertips' is fabulous. And Sydney does have lots of interesting shops and cafes... it's just a pity public transport stands between us and them! And when it rains, it really rains - we love looking outside at the 'river' running down our street.
After spending the first few months fighting the fact that this is our home (for the next 2.5 years), I'm now rather at peace with the idea. I can see that things are going to get better. At first I was encouraged by the idea that going through suffering (having temporarily lost many of the good things in my life) produces perseverance, character and hope (Rom 5 style). But I've also just realised that God has put us here out of his love, and he is with us as a loving Father. This is much better than being 'chucked in the deep end' by God, and is a huge comfort to me.

I'm pretty sure the trip back to Tassie for three weeks (Noah and I arrive on the 21st, Bernard on the 24th) will succeed in bringing to the forefront all my dislikes about Sydney, and that resettling back here will be hard work, but it will be great to be refreshed by all our Hobartian loved ones. And we'll be back again for Christmas!

Beer, Preaching, and a Good Book

Ok, so it's a strange collection of topics... they just happened to come together in the space of a few days.

Thanks to Luke I've enjoyed a few beers from a Sydney boutique brewery called Red Oak, recently. I think this was the pick-of-the-bunch: an organic hefeweizen. Brilliant. 4.5 stars.

Thanks to Benny (for recommending the book) I read David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas recently. (Or rather, I finished it recently, having started it on the day of Sam Gough's wedding last year!) Very Good. 4 Stars.

Thanks to Tim Keller (a preacher from New York) I've been thinking about the reasons people dismiss Christianity out-of-hand. He reckons there are 6 in his culture (e.g. suffering in the world, the track record of Christians in history, etc.); and he recommends preachers regularly (like, every week) touch on them as they relate to the gospel and the part of the Bible you're dealing with.

The lecture gets 4.5 stars. (Get the lecture from here: 'Preaching to Believers and Unbelievers')