I just saw a rodent

We were playing cards on Sunday night and across the other side of the room a rodent scurried next to the wall and behind the clothes storage shelving.

“I just saw a rodent” I said to Emily.

Then jumped up to see where it had run to. I looked down from on top of the shelving and saw the rodent very still on the floor next to the wall. I own a cycling proficiency certificate, first aid certificate, but haven’t yet achieved my rat catcher’s certificate so I wasn’t keen on actually catching the thing.

As I looked down an idea came to mind. I remembered hearing one of Emily’s cousins recant the story of looking after a friend’s hamster then loosing it. She found it when she closed a draw and heard a crunch. The plan was to crush the critter.

The shelving was quite heavy but with a determined push and a little adrenaline I shoved it hard against the wall. I didn’t want the rodent escaping so there was a little more pushing before Emily went to find a stick to poke it with. I poked it, it didn’t move, the deed was done. I pulled the shelving away from the wall and scooped the rodent onto some newspaper and into a bag to be carried off to its grave, the bin.

Upon examination the rodent was actually a shrew, although not that it really mattered, it was dead that was the main thing; except that now there was some blood to clear up. The crushing death blow had squashed the shrew enough to cause it to bleed form the mouth and to force its intestines out of its rear. A rub down with some bleach and a few shrieks form the girls and the job was done; just in time for devotions, very neat and tidy.

Paul

2 Snakes in 1 hour

The day starts with a flurry of excitement in the trees at the Boys Dorm. A bamboo snake (bright green with a blue tongue and poisonous bite) has been spotted in the tree and needs removing. Unfortunately I arrived a little late to see all the action form that catch, although I was there to take photos. Here Pak Budi (the gardener of our dorm) stands behind Pak Didi, (the gardener of the Boy's dorm) Pak Budi isn't quite so friendly with snakes as Pak Didi is.

About 30 minutes later though the action started over, another snake had been spotted in the same area. Pak Didi (the gardener of the boy’s dorm) must have snake sensors or eyes that can define every shade of green because I found the snake almost impossible to locate up in the tree. Finally with fingers pointing into the branches the snake kindly revealed itself and I saw it was another bamboo snake about the same size as the previous one.

Question: How exactly do you catch a snake that’s hiding in the top of a tall tree?

The first thing the Pak Didi did was ask for assistance, of which there were three other willing helpers. I was going to help but had already assigned myself to the role of photographer.
There were some tools needed for the task: a large ladder, a very long piece of bamboo, a shorter (1.5m) stick of bamboo (1 per snake catcher) and a knife.

The ladder was placed against the tree and Pak Didi climbed into the tree and up from the ladder to a suitably stable branch. The long bamboo pole was then passed up and Pak Didi stretched out with the pole and proceeded to knock the snake off the branch it was wrapped around.

Once the snake became aware that it was under attack it made a run for it so there were two or three thrusts with the pole then the snake fell to the ground. Once on the ground the snake made a run for it. The snake had fallen just the other side of a wire fence, quickly the snake catchers were racing round to grab hold of it, then it disappeared into some undergrowth, “it over there” I was shouting, “no the other way”.

The shorter bamboo sticks were used to trap the snake by squashing it into the ground, enabling Pak Didi to reach in and grab its head. Once the snake was firmly grasped it was time for me to take a few photos before it was taken away to be beheaded and later cooked.

All in all it was a very exciting morning. Paul.

we're back after the summer :)

It’s been a while, we’re still here doing our stuff, in fact so busy we’re only just getting round to updating this blog.

The school year started August 12th, the dorm filled up with girls a couple of days before; we have seven girls this year. Having a years experience under our belt meant that we were a lot more confident starting the year and more capable, less splashing in the deep end. It also helps relationally that there are no new girls this year; we can just pick up the relationships where we left off last year.

Ok, so that sounds like things are easier and we should be able to update this blog; well as always when you get the hang of something you start taking on more things. In June the dorm program here received ACSI accredited (Association of Christian Schools International). It’s a big deal within international schools and shows that we are performing to a high standard. We are at the base level of the ACSI standard and have improvements to make over the next three years which is one of the adding to our work load. It’s a good thing though; the improvements are for the whole dorm program, helping to make life better for the dorm girls and the dorm parents. There are practical and safety improvements as well as administrative improvements; it’s a steady process. We are also more involved with the dorm budget this year and are thinking of creative ways to cut spending, the increase in fuel prices is global and is affecting us here. At the moment I am working with the dorm dad of the boy’s dorm at the possibility of installing solar water heating for the dorms.

Enough about work though...

We had a sunny relaxing summer, the boys enjoyed not being at school and we very much enjoyed having more time with them. Luke started back at school in second grade with a new teacher and Isaac started at the Kindergarten. They both seem to have got back into school life and are more settled than this time last year. They still have their moments, but then every child does. I think the summer was a really settling time for us and a family which is an answer to prayer. Emily and I were sent some parenting DVDs’ from our friend June (thanks June) which are really great; the lessons learnt and applied from them are taking a lot of stress out of parenting, leaving it to be more fun and loving, it’s fab.

We’ve done birthdays recently (many thanks for the presents) so I’m now 29 which means Luke is 7 and Isaac is 5, Emily is still 21 of cause. It’s a little crazy that Luke and Isaac are growing up. With all the busyness and transitioning over the last two years we’ve perhaps not realised how old they’re getting.

Sorry to those of you who have been trying to skype us recently we’ve been having internet difficulties. Last weekend the wireless antenna was struck by lightning (frying some equipment) and it’s not been working well since. We have internet at the school, which is how I’m able to post this blog, but it’s not so easy to just pop over and check emails and skype when we have dorm responsibilities. Hopefully things will be back to normal soon. Until then keep emailing and skyping, it’s always good to hear from people.

Paul.

The Summer Holidays Are Here

We are in the middle of our summer holidays and enjoying it very much. It’s a time for some quality family time with Family Noble.

We’ve had some visitors already, Sarah and Matt from Manchester and as I write this Emily’s younger sister Merry is with us. We feel blessed to have them with us and to show them the life we have here, the suitcase full of English goodies is pleasurable to.

We went to the beach last week and had a lot of fun just chilling out. We travelled south to Pacitan (look it up on Google Earth) and arrived at the Sunny Bay Beach Bungalows. They looked bigger from the picture we’d seen. We were told that it was basic accommodation so we were prepared but even then it took a little getting used to. The bungalow had one room and a bathroom with cold water only, a toilet that didn’t flush and a light bulb that flickered and went out just as you started brushing your teeth. I thing we got the raw deal because Sarah and Matt’s bungalow had a working toilet and a light bulb that stayed on.

After the first night we were adjusted.

The beach was in spitting distance from our bungalow and we headed out each day to lie around reading books, build sandcastles, jump over waves, body (boogie) board and chase crabs around. It was a relaxing break for us and the boys really enjoyed the beach fun, it reminded them of being at their grandparents (who live in a seaside town).

We returned home and enjoyed our last few days with Sarah and Matt before they flew back to England. The next day Merry arrived and so our holiday continues. We haven’t any plans to go to the beach with her (been there – done that) but we are very much enjoying her company and will be sad when she leaves in a weeks’ time.

As we get nearer to August we will start preparing for the next school year but until then we’re going to make the most of the holidays.

Here are a few photos from the past couple of weeks:

singing out the year

It’s not long until the girls all leave the dorm and head back to their real parents for the summer break. Some of them are returning in August, others are moving on or away.

We went out for supper last Monday (12th) and had a good farewell feast. I got up and sang a song, which I should explain a little. If you know the band Radiohead then you will know that they wrote a song called creep. The guitar chords are really simple and as such it’s easy to make up words to fit the tune; which is what I do. These made up songs have been fondly named the rubbish lyrics songs and have been played at different times in the dorm. Well on Monday with lyrics already written (usually I just sing whatever comes into my head) I went on tour and gave an exclusive solo performance. The girls really liked it and I did too, so here’s the song; if you know the tune you could even sing it to yourself (if you’re reading this in an internet cafe then don’t start singing):

Here we are together at Biztro Restaurant
11 special daughters and 2 special sons

Let us take a moment to look back over this year
Emily and I have got a few words we’d like you to hear

Back in the beginning we were trying too hard
You couldn’t figure out these crazy English Imports

Over time you understood the way we were talking
We read about your culture, got to know you and kept praying

So we’ve been building, trying to show you in little ways
That we want to be you parents while your real ones are away

We flew off to Lombok; found you missed us being away
You couldn’t wait for us to get back, welcomed us in an amazing way

Now the year is over, almost time to say goodbye
But we don’t want to do that, we want to try...and stay in contact

Then next year we’ll be able to catch up
On where we left off, whether you’re here or not, we’ll still want to catch up

‘Cause you made us realise we’re one big family
We haven’t told you much but we really love you...and we’re going to miss you.

until next time, Paul.

Paul's visit to England

So last week (Wednesday 23rd April) I returned to England for a family wedding. I traveled alone, Emily and the boys stayed here in Indonesia, which meant they missed out on quite a lot, but it made my traveling a little simpler. It takes a long time to fly from Indonesia to England (about 15 hours flight time) and waiting around in departure lounges for several hours made me appreciate the size of our planet. It is often said that the world is becoming smaller, but until it shrinks one day in the wash it remains a jolly big lump of rock to fly around.

“Oddly familiar” I answered.

I had been met at the airport by my in laws and taken to their house to find my feet (literally, I needed to loose the flip flops and put on my snow boots ready for a week in England) and have a cup of tea. I chose coffee instead and sat in front of the open fire with the wood gently hissing and crackling.

“How does it feel to be back then” was the question. And it felt like I could have been sitting there having a cup of coffee last week, as if Indonesia didn’t exist, that I’d not just flown half way round the world; it was oddly familiar, I wasn’t sure how it should feel.

My week was busy; the wedding was on the Saturday, Thursday and Friday were spent preparing, Sunday there was a blessing then I talked at two churches, Monday shopping, Tuesday I had breakfast in York then back through Manchester to pop into the office and finally on Wednesday I went to the airport and nestled into economy class for the long trip home.

Home?

I thought a lot about home during this visit. Was I returning home when I flew to England or when I flew to Indonesia? I found as the week went on that it felt like home, but that I missed home, which mean that Indonesia is home, no wait if I felt at home in England then England would be home. The answer came to me as I was flying away from England on course for Indonesia. I now have two homes, two locations that are comfortable, familiar and where I have family.

Then the phrase ‘home is here the heart is’ popped into my head and I began to understand why I’d been an emotional wreck all week. I’d expected to miss my family and the girls, left behind in Indonesia and I also knew it would be hard to say goodbye to family and friends in England, but my emotions were a lot nearer the surface than I realized. There were several occasions when tears would come to my eyes or I’d find it hard to talk because of emotion. These times were not due to thinking about people I was missing, although there were times when that was the case, no, it was just a struggle to contain my emotions at the most unlikely times.

So now I had ‘home is where the heart is’ in my head and a lot of emotions sneaking up and shouting boo at ill timed moments, that’s when it hit me. My heart was in both places, England and Indonesia and while in the air my heart had been torn open slightly and my emotions were spilling out. It was incredibly hard saying goodbye, maybe harder than when we left England last August. I realized how much I missed the girls in the dorm and how they are my family in Indonesia, obviously Emily, Luke and Isaac are my family also, but I hadn’t realized how much I might miss the girls and how they are a part of my family. It was hard to talking with people about the two seniors who will be moving out of the dorm in four weeks time. It seems we’ve only just got to know them and we already have to let them go, it’s too soon, I want to get to know them more.

Now I’m home, in Indonesia, waving farewell to my other home, England. It’s really good to be back and the excited welcome from the girls bowled me over and being greeted and hugged by Emily, Luke and Isaac in the rain was perfect. I’ll catch up with all the jetlag another time; it’s time for me to get back to work now

Paul

Emily's Overdue Secret

Some people invest money wisely; they enquire about ISA’s, open a high interest savings account or buy stocks or shares in a company. Other people like my wife, Emily invest in libraries. Now don’t assume that because Emily loves books she kindly donates money by direct debit each month enabling the library to by lots of encyclopaedias; that would be known as a false assumption.

Emily is fantastic at returning books late, this leads to large library fines. I hoped that by moving to the other side of the world she might leave this annoying habit behind, my hope was crushed yesterday.

In the (internal) post came the notice, OVERDUE book. The school didn’t know Emily’s past before they allowed her to borrow books, if they had they would have kindly and politely sent her packing. They didn’t know better and it would seem Emily didn’t either; here she had a clean slate, a chance to break this pattern of behaviour, to learn a better way.

The school has the most dangerous policy when it comes to overdue library books; it dangerous because they don’t charge any fines to members of staff. Emily (aka the chicken) sent me to return the book. When I returned giving the news about there being no fine Emily punched the air letting out a relieved and satisfied YES!

This is the worst possible outcome for Emily (as I see it). What incentive is there for her to ever return library books on time; the library will have to raid the dorm in search of overdue books if they ever want to get them back.

If this habit is not turned around I fear that the £18 fines I’ve paid in the past in UK libraries will double or even triple when we return home. I think she may need some help in the future.

the cecak and the toaster, a true story

Just before I get started let me teach you how to pronounce the word cecak. The Indonesians use a ch sound whenever there is a c; so cecak when sounded out is like this: cheechak; now on with the story:

The toaster enjoys a peaceful life on the kitchen work top. Every now and then its insides are warmed as bread is placed into the toasters mouth and its belly button is pressed. The toasters body temperature rises and the bread is gently toasted; when the toaster is ready it spits the toast up to be taken away and adorned with butter and jam. It’s a simple life for the toaster.

The toaster wasn’t happy! Emily had noticed that for a day or so the toaster looked a little speckled, like it had contracted a skin condition. On examination she was discovered it not to be a skin infection, but an infestation of tiny red ants; they had come to consume the food in the toaster.

A friendly cecak had come along for a meal as well. He’d come to eat the crumbs of bread the toaster kindly leaves under its belly for those needing its charity; except the cecak was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Emily was the first to discover the horrific truth. The cecak had got to close to the electrical parts of the toaster and as the toaster had started to do what it does best, warmed its insides, the cecak was electrocuted and fused in place.

The cecak’s back legs were on the worktop, the rest of its body inside the toaster, the ants all over it. Emily took the toaster outside and called the bug exterminator. I (Paul, the bug man; cockroach squishing a speciality) turned up to deal with the problem. First things first the cecak can’t stay there. I find the long nose pliers and gently ease it out; I don’t want to pull too hard for fear of pulling it in half. It’s out, few. I toss it over the back fence to be eaten by the bugs outside, brush the tiny red ants off my arms and return to the toaster. I decide for the all round happiness of our family and the toaster to give the toaster a good clean. The red ants are still eating the tiny bits of skin left form the front paws of the cecak, they’ll have to move, it’s deep clean time.

Once cleaned the toaster is placed back in its familiar place atop the worktop. It looks grateful I think. It was obviously not too disturbed by the ordeal as it made good toast the following day. Emily and I have an unspoken rule now; not to talk about the cecak in the toaster while one of us is making toast. The toaster has also taken an oath of silence; we all agree it’s for the best.