Month: April 2015

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Taipei Streets and Alleys…

Catherine Lee

This week I’m in Taipei, staying at the Diocese of Taiwan office building, right in the central area of the city.  Within walking distance of most of the national government buildings.  Unlike most capital cities in the world, the centre of Taipei is also home to lots of ordinary Taiwan people.  There’s primary schools, street markets, local shops, health and community centres all there for local people.  I like it! During the Japanese colonial era, 1895-1945, this area of Taipei was home to many Japanese living in one-storey Japanese-style homes, mostly wood, with heavy tiled roofs. Only a few such … Continue reading Taipei Streets and Alleys…

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China Rushes Aid to Nepal After Deadly Earthquake; Taiwan Is Turned Away | TIME

Catherine Lee

The tragedy of the devastating earthquake in Nepal this week reminds us all of our own weakness and vulnerability. I was in Nepal for a CMS conference some years ago, and although all my CMS friends and contacts there are reporting in safe, all around them is not.  Here in Taiwan we recall the terrible earthquake of 1999 and its aftermath. Having been through such a traumatic experience ourselves here in Taiwan we can share somewhat in the suffering of the Nepali people, so it is all the more tragic that politics is rearing its ugly head in this situation….. Read … Continue reading China Rushes Aid to Nepal After Deadly Earthquake; Taiwan Is Turned Away | TIME

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台灣,我回來了 Yes, Taiwan, I’m back ~ yippee!

Catherine Lee

And back via Terminal 2 at Heathrow Airport where the London Taxi sculpture kept me entertained while waiting – it’s quite something! So, EVA Airlines from London Heathrow to Taipei via Bangkok…. about 14 hours in total… and arrived at 9:20pm last night.  Thanks be to God for safe and smooth travels. So here I am in Taipei in lovely warm temperatures of 25°C ~ and guess what? It’s 6,076 miles (9,779km) from London to Taipei, which means that while I was in the UK for the last 7 months, I kind of drove the equivalent distance of Taipei to … Continue reading 台灣,我回來了 Yes, Taiwan, I’m back ~ yippee!

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13,000 miles (20,000 km) ‘n rattling back to London!

Catherine Lee

Yep, that’s the mileage these last 7 months in the UK, 13,111 miles (21,100 km) to be exact ~ and into London we rattled last night, and safely delivered the car to the garage this morning. Quite a relief to get there in one piece! Of course there’s cars, and then there’s, well, real cars.  And the little red Fiat Punto that I’ve been driving around in the UK this Home Leave is definitely in the real car category. Meaning, it has character, personality, quirkiness and fun! Ichthus Motor Mission in Forest Hill, London lends cars cheaply to people like … Continue reading 13,000 miles (20,000 km) ‘n rattling back to London!

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CMS Link Visit to Hurworth, Co. Durham

Catherine Lee

Right on the north bank of the River Tees, on the border between Co. Durham and N. Yorkshire, sits the rather lovely village of Hurworth-on-Tees ~ stretching out along a long winding road that seems to go on forever!  Charming cottages lie on one side of the road, great big imposing houses line the other side, with the village green covered in daffodils, and the churchyard full of yellow primroses.  It’s beautiful! At one end of the village green is Hurworth Methodist Church @ Clervaux Café, THE place to have coffee and cake during the week, including Saturdays…. lovely atmosphere and a great … Continue reading CMS Link Visit to Hurworth, Co. Durham

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Selby Abbey ~ wedding venue for Jay Chou 周杰倫!

Catherine Lee

On January 17, 2015, Selby Abbey suddenly became England’s most famous church.  Not to the English in England maybe.  But in Taiwan and perhaps Mainland China, definitely yes.  Suddenly more famous than Canterbury Cathedral, York Minster, St. Paul’s or Westminster Abbey.  And the place has been humming with Taiwanese and Chinese visitors ever since. All coming to see the church and town where famous Taiwanese singer Jay Chou 周杰倫 and his wife were married on that day.  The internet is buzzing with reports of the great event, the Daily Mail one is here. The couple certainly kept it secret at the time, but … Continue reading Selby Abbey ~ wedding venue for Jay Chou 周杰倫!

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5 hours talk talk talk!

Catherine Lee

Here we are, or rather there we were, the 3 of us, in York today, meeting up for coffee.  Me, Shelagh and Diana.  And in great excitement and anticipation of such a special event, dear Shelagh had paid for parking for 5 hours…..  yep, five whole hours!  So, coffee stretched into lunch, and lunch stretched into, well the mid-afternoon.   And we talked non-stop. Lots to talk about.  All of us have been with CMS somewhere sometime somehow.  And lots to laugh about too, hence the photo.  Actually we took it for our good friend Rev. George Kovoor, our former … Continue reading 5 hours talk talk talk!

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Liverpool and the Wirral

Catherine Lee

Staying with my lovely CMS friends, Linda and Nigel, who’ve just retired back home to the Wirral ~ my first ever visit.  You might even see them in a photo below, spot them smiling away! They’re very involved in Christians Against Poverty (CAP) and in connection with that, off we went yesterday to Christ the King Church, Birkenhead, part of the Priory Parish, where there’s a soup lunch on Tuesdays for local people, no charge, plus food distribution at low cost.  Great ministry to families and those in need…. Then to the Mersey Ferry, which is newly painted as Everybody Razzle … Continue reading Liverpool and the Wirral