Tag: friends

Swansong

James HoganLeave a comment

Well seeing as it’s been far too long since I’ve written anything in here, thought I’d dash a quick update! It’s been an awesome Saturday thus far, and now a relaxing evening awaits! A bunch of us had breakfast at the Smarts – where I ate far too many bacon and sausage rolls! – and as always, good conversation and sweet fellowship was had. After, had a few hours at Books and Beans…I made my mint mocha last the whole time, oh yes I did.

And now these past few hours, been doing some cleaning, laundry and cooking…how domestic am I?? John’s just out for a run, but as soon as he gets back, we’ll enjoy dinner – chicken parm and salad. A good Saturday dinner, mmm…so yeah, dinner and watching Avengers and then a bit of a good book, methinks.

Now, dinnertime. Peace, y’all!!

A Heart Full of Love

James HoganLeave a comment

And yes, my friends, I most certainly should not be writing this entry so late on a Sunday evening! But I cannot help but pen a few words. Whether they be worthwhile, I’ll leave you decide. But ever so briefly before I dive into a book and let myself slip into sleepiness…

Today was a beautiful Sunday, made all the more appreciated for the fact that I was working part of the day yesterday. Truly, a day of rest is needed and I cannot help but be thankful that today was indeed restful! Enjoyed a glorious morning at church before coming back to the flat with John and having lunch together. I cleaned my room a bit, but in the main I spent my afternoon on the sofa with my coffee and book! Lovely.

And then this evening, I skipped church for a very good reason…got to have an international skype call of awesomeness with Steven and Anna! The three of us hadn’t talked in…a long time. And yet we enjoyed a most amazing time of talking and laughing and reminiscing and praying and more laughing and..well, I can’t really say much more than that I have been greatly blessed with friends such as these. Hopefully we’ll get to actually reunite someday soon! Germany + Hungary + America forever!!

And once I tore myself away from skype, church was over, but I couldn’t let my Sunday evening go out with a whimper, so I made my way over to Andrew and Sarah’s to watch the BAFTAs(I could leave you ignorant, but for your education – British Academy of Film and Television Arts, basically the British version of the Oscars) with them – also joined by Ruth and Zara and Steph! I discovered several things – first of all, I have definitely not seen many movies this past year. Secondly, my aforementioned BAFTA-watching companions made for a most enjoyable and amusing viewing experience, especially as they were far more cinema-knowledgeable than I. Thirdly, movie stars appear to have very…interesting tastes in clothing. That is all.

I really want to see Lincoln now. I also want to see Les Mis again, but I should probably not see it a third time. Its music is now stuck in my head. Yet again.

Ah but a most lovely evening has been had. And now the clock ticks ever closer to midnight and I must bid you all adieu. I again just can’t say enough to express what gratitude overflows from my heart. Our God is good, my friends.

Grace and peace.

Pumpkin Spice

James HoganLeave a comment

So when I got home a few minutes ago, I thought I’d write a long intellectual entry today…but now, I’m looking across the lounge and see the comfy chair with the sunlight just perfectly shining down on it…and I think a reading session is called for instead. Yes? Yes.

I had a lovely morning at Books and Beans, drinking my peppermint mocha and letter-writing before being happily interrupted by Chris and Jo! After chatting for a bit, they went off to Pret and I finished my letter…upon which I thought lunch sounded quite a good plan, so I bounced over to Pret to join them for lunch. Had a delicious salad and even more delicious chat with Chris and Jo(mostly centered around writing joys, the merits of Russell Crowe and raw singing in Les Mis, and the impact our moods have on our literary pursuits…oh good times indeed).

Afterwards, stopped by John Lewis and picked up a cafetiere – honestly, how have I been living here over 2 years without one? I do not know. But now I have some beautiful coffee(mad props to Laura K for sending it thousands of miles to me!!) brewing in said cafetiere and I think it must be ready just about now. Or over-ready.

So I think I shall make myself a nice mug of coffee and read a bit this perfectly wonderful Saturday afternoon. Have a sweet day, my friends!!!

Market Street

James HoganLeave a comment

About time for a sandwich this gorgeous Saturday morning(sunny, blue skies, crisp and not-freezing air!) but thought I’d write a few words first. Am still a little bit sleepy despite the copious amounts of sugar I’ve been consuming via my raspberry mocha, but the fun times last night with John and Ruth and Zara were very much worth the sleepiness today.

So now…well, I thought I’d try and write a short poem or story or something at least mildly literary, but my muse has fled and I’m hungry and I can think of some words far better than any I could craft…

And we know that the
Son of God has come,
and has given us understanding
so that we may know Him who is true;
and we are in Him who is true,
in His Son
Jesus Christ.
This is the true God and eternal life.

Little children, guard yourselves from idols.
-1 John 5:20-21

How true and lovely these words are!! As we have been made pure and holy in the sight of God Himself, how much more should our love overflow and our hearts long to stay free of the snares of this world and our songs rise e’er higher to our Father and our God! May our praise mingle sweetly with the music of the glorious stars above and the roaring seas below as all things created worship the Creator! May all things – both visible and invisible, both weak and strong, the mighty and the humble, both old and young and the wise and the simple and both fey and common and the low and the glorious- may all things praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!

A Snowy Sky

James HoganLeave a comment

And I thought it was time for a very brief, very random Friday lunchtime post! I’m methodically demolishing my chicken sub sandwich and enjoying a brief respite from work and feel quite happy indeed that it’s a Friday afternoon and the weekend is almost upon us! It’s been an interesting work week and all I’ll say further about work is how thankful I am to have a job, despite my sometime desire to complain! I will say that the highlight of my week was definitely Wednesday night at church, being able to listen to Dominic’s teaching and be with my dear brothers and sisters!

But God is good and the day is beautiful and my joy is e’er more abundant! Tonight me and John are going over to Ruth and Zara’s for dinner, and I have absolutely no doubt it will be an evening of loveliness. Tomorrow there are no firm plans as of yet, which means a downtown jaunt and a coffee morning. And whatever else happens tomorrow, I can be confident it will be good and God will be with me. Always.

And now, I think I should resume my sandwich eating and meditate a few minutes on the love of God. The love of God that is for us. Truly, I think this is definitely something I could stand to do more often. Peace, y’all. Peace and love.

Naptime

James HoganLeave a comment

And yes, I really feel as if I could do with a nap just about now!! But it’s less than an hour until I leave for church, so maybe I should just try and stay awake…I thought writing a few words might help! Anyways, these past couple days have been packed full of awesome(although sleep may have been lacking!). Yesterday afternoon after Books and Beans, went over and met up with Chris and Jo for Hobbit goodness…and yes, it was glorious seeing it again, and especially with them! Afterwards we munched on burgers at Handmade Burger in the mall before Jo went off to meet people at Gilc for hot chocolate outreach. Me and Chris ended up going back to their place and chilling out for a while and talking and reading old stories he’d written and playing with Maple…and while I may not have gotten back to my place until late o’clock, I don’t regret a thing! Although – this morning, my body was a bit grumpy as I got up early to go over to Graham and Tineke’s for pre-church coffee(turned in to full breakfast! Bacon and eggs, mmm..) – it was so awesome seeing them again, since we haven’t talked since before Christmas. So again – oh so worth it. After that(still not church time yet!), me and Jackie had coffee at Pret, since she’s back in Aberdeen for the week – hurrah!! So we enjoyed talking and catching up…and then soon enough – church time! Worshiping our Lord Jesus Christ and basking in the love of our God and hearing the mighty Word of our Lord(2 Thess 1 today – I love that chapter!! And Dominic didn’t preach it half-bad either…)..I can’t describe properly how blessed I truly am. I really can’t.

And now I had planned on using this afternoon to clean the flat a bit and do some clothes-washing, etc…but of course, people had other plans! Went over to Zara and Ruth’s for a yummy lunch…and again, talking and laughing with them and Alec and Philippa and Morag and Charlotte and Amy…again – why do I have such good friends? I am deeply humbled and e’er blessed. Truly, y’all.

And yes – I finally took my leave and walked down to Sainsbury’s for a bit of shopping(running into Tineke doing hers as well!) and now I’m back in the flat and I’m sleepy and fading and slightly delirious from these sweet times I’ve been given… I really think I could lie down on the couch here and sleep deeply, but I think I may instead just continue to sip my Earl Grey and read a little bit of A Memory of Light…and continue to praise my Father for all these things he’s given me. Oh joy, oh love, oh bliss!!!

Girl Named Tennessee

James HoganLeave a comment

And this sleepy Tuesday night, I am greatly looking forward to my dinner and my bed! But firstly, I must earn these rewards by at least a bit of writing this night! My dinner is quite an epic salad(lettuce, spinach, red peppers, yellow peppers, green peppers, black olives, green olives, cheese, green onions, spices, balsamic vinegar, etc, etc…delicious much? Oh and side note – as much as I enjoy being able to put a whole can of black olives on the salad and eating as many of them as I want, I sort of miss being able to fight with the sisters for the olives. Just saying). Anyway! Enough about my salad! Soon enough I will eat it, but now just a few words about my weekend of loveliness in the great land of Hungary…

And it’s something I said to Anna yesterday, but just to say again, there are some things that just can’t be expressed in words. My heart is full of joy and love and wonder and yet my lips cannot say words enough to echo the depths of my soul. And still I try. So here we go…

On Friday evening, flew late from Aberdeen through Frankfurt(where I had to run, but I did catch my flight, hurrah!) before arriving in Budapest! And breezed through the terminal to the welcoming hall to see Anna standing there! After more than a year, it felt like it’d been no time at all as we spent the drive back to her hometown of Miskolc talking almost nonstop(as tired as I was!!). And now to attempt to paint a picture of the wonderfulness of the weekend…woke up Saturday morning to an amazing breakfast(toast with cheese, scrambled eggs, gorgeous coffee sweetened with honey and milk…) shared with Anna, Boroka and their dad before Anna and I explored Miskolc together! Seeing her church and her old school, wandering through ancient castles and eating way too much delicious ice cream and cakes, walking through a lovely park in the gently fading sunlight of an autumn evening…enjoying a massive dinner of goulash and pancakes and laughter with the family…watching a TV show with classic traditional Hungarian dancing and music with Anna and Boroka and their grandparents and loving every second! And yes, still on the first day! I really can’t properly get my thoughts across, but oh well! A few more fond memories…dipping popcorn in melted chocolate while sleepily watching Bourne Identity(I think Anna only fell asleep twice! Me and Boroka resisted)…worshiping our great God in their church Avasi Reformatus Sunday morning, and while not knowing most of the words(but Anna was a great translator!), still soaking in the love and joy that was oh so present..oh what a joy it is to sing praises to the Lord, no matter what tongue we speak! And I really desire dinner now…but a few more words, I swear!

Sunday lunch was a grand affair(even though I did no work…Anna and I were able to walk Daisy their dog and talk and talk and talk as Boroka and her mother did most of the cooking!) And finally we all(Anna, Boroka, the grandparents and the parents and me!) sat down and enjoyed a dinner of roast chicken and potatoes and sweet pudding…but far better than the food was sitting and enjoying each other. And afterwards, Anna and I eventually got on the train(I think we missed the first few train times, but that was no matter…more time with the family!) to Budapest! And Budapest, oh I wish I had more words to describe it! But Anna and I walked its broad streets that next day and as I marveled at the grand palaces and churches and bridges and structures that man had so proudly constructed, I couldn’t help but pray for the great city of Budapest. Oh so lovely. Oh so needing of our Savior! And as Anna and I walked and talked and ate and laughed and prayed and rejoiced in the knowledge of knowing our Lord…I cannot help but thank God for giving me such a gorgeous weekend. Maybe one short on sleep! But one full of the peace that comes from the Spirit of God…I just think back to my thoughts as I sat in Miskolc Sunday afternoon, piano playing sweetly, as I pondered how much my God and Father has blessed me in this life… Oh what joy is mine!!!

And now it is truly time for dinner…I hope you didn’t mind this slightly rambling post, but I just had to at least try and translate some of my heart to page. A futile effort, alas. But to be blessed so greatly by our God…oh what bliss is ours in abundance, my friends!

Grace and peace and love be with you all. Always.

Orange and Red and Yellow…

James HoganLeave a comment

And on this perfectly lovely fall afternoon, I’m relaxing in my room, looking out the window as the light slowly fades. It’s a little cold right now, but I have some delicious smelling French onion soup on the stove and I must confess I’m rather looking forward to a bowl of that! Hopefully this latest cooking experiment is a success! Even though I probably shouldn’t eat too much of it, since in a couple hours me and John will be heading over to Zara and Ruth’s for dinner and I’m sure whatever we eat there(Zara’s cooking, methinks) will be absolutely delectable.

And now maybe I should stop talking about food! Anyways, earlier when I was walking to the store, kicking up the leaves and enjoying the delightfully brisk autumn breeze, I couldn’t help but rejoice in my heart and pray to my Father, thanking Him for all that He has blessed me with! Oh let us never forget our Father who has loved us so!! With warm clothes and cozy places to live and delicious food and hot showers and enthralling books and lazy Saturdays and amazing friends…well, how can we complain? Really.

Now, time to stir my soup. Love y’all.

Given Rest

James HoganLeave a comment

And though it is Starbucks Saturday here, I don’t want to spend too much time writing as it’s about noon and it’s time to make my way outside to a beautiful afternoon…

This morning I enjoyed a leisurely lie in(to almost 8:30!)…ah how nice it is to rest after a long, long week. What a wonderful gift sleep is! This whole past week has been quite manic at work, and though I can’t say everything’s gone well(or even moderately ok), I can say I am at peace. God will bless(and has blessed!), as always.

And last night, as tired as I was, enjoyed such a sweet night with friends! Was going to see Spiderman at Union Square, but they cancelled our showing! I think they were trying to make more room for the new Batman movie(which I would like to see eventually). Anyways, we were foiled, so James Cordiner, Jackie, Zara and I made our way back to my flat, where we enjoyed a night of tea and talking and laughter…though eventually our weariness overcame us!

So this morning I’ve enjoyed slowly waking up and delicious peppermint mocha and reading a letter from my sister…and though I almost wish my writing muse was smiling upon me, my face wishes to feel the sun upon it, so outside I go!

Farewell, my dear friends – have a most awesome Saturday!!

Örökké és mindig

James HoganLeave a comment

Late getting home from work and dinner calls my name(leftover Pizza Hut, yes!)…but briefly, have to express my sadness that Steven and Anna are both now gone from Aberdeen. Steven left last Friday(but I’ll see him in August in Germany!!) and Anna this evening…and I don’t know when I’ll see her again. Next year Hungary holiday? Um, yes!

But regardless of my silly feelings of loss and sadness…I must just rejoice in our great God in giving me such friends as these. Oh how blessed am I! Hung out with Anna and her sisters last night at my place, and though I(yet again!) got no sleep, it was oh so worth it! From playing random Magyar songs to playing card games(where the power of sisters forced me to admit defeat in every game I played. Hmph) to taking far too many pictures to laughing even more than talking…to driving one last time downtown with Anna…to simply glorying in one last time of awesomeness.

And now that I let my veil of denial down and admit that Steven and Anna are actually gone, I can embrace my sadness with tears of love. My love is with you, Anna, Steven. Always.

And…random poetry snippet just because I feel like it.

To see the stars,
I reach a little higher,
I drown in song.

Tears from love,
tears from joy,
all for unrequited glory
all for long forgotten story
all for the love of a Potter
all for the love of a King.

To see the stars,
I kneel a little lower,
I drown in love.