Election reflections: Ecuador and Bolivia

A politician who keeps his word? Who would’ve thought! But after a whole decade as Ecuador’s head of state, Rafael Correa is stepping down. Like, actually. Unlike his buddy Evo Morales, who felt a fourth term to be far too tempting to give up that he tried to change the constitution to make it legal for him to continue as president. Correa’s chosen heir, Lenin* … Continue reading Election reflections: Ecuador and Bolivia

Making those booze bucks count

Pre(r)amble Yeah, yeah, I know you were after something profound, poignant perhaps. Something about resolutions. Something fitting for the opening post of 2017. However the first thing that comes to mind for me to share with you relates to alcohol. I seem to have developed something of a reputation as an alcoholic; it began with my family but has spilled over into my friendship circles. … Continue reading Making those booze bucks count

My biography, as told by my booze

A personal atlas of alcohol.

Before you get the wrong impression, this post is not about booze-filled nights from my backpacking days. It’s an anthology of anecdotes and memories, linked by a common theme: alcoholic beverages.

My discovery of different drinks parallels some important memories. These are what I’d like to share with you.

So let me take you from my childhood, all around the world and back home again. In this brief autobiography, I’ll let the alcohol do the talking. Continue reading My biography, as told by my booze

Lent

Today is domingo de resurrección (Resurrection Sunday). I assumed that’s when the cuaresma (Lent) ends, but apparently the Second Vatican Council changed dates so that Good Friday and the Saturday form part of an Easter triplet, so Lent actually ends on the Friday when we eat fanesca (a thick soup of mixed grains, with fish – a whole lot better than any description can ever … Continue reading Lent

Testimony (Part 2) – Current challenges

[Click here for Part 1] Another three issues relating to Christian testimony have come up in the last couple of weeks. Firstly, that old issue about drinking alcohol again. I asked R and G (two guys from church) their thoughts and they both agreed with the comments I’d heard about people testing you to see if you’re really any different. G is my generation and … Continue reading Testimony (Part 2) – Current challenges

Testimony – good, better, best?

On Thursday, I spent all afternoon with D helping him with a speech he has to do for class. It’s a free choice -type activity, so he wanted to talk about the Bible. He is so enthusiastic about the Word, everyone at school knows that he is an “evangelical”, and he’s not ashamed at all. I think it’s fantastic he is using every opportunity to … Continue reading Testimony – good, better, best?