Jono Miller

A REAL WINTER

My flat mate (house mate) Igor commented that he was very happy to have a real winter. That means lots of snow and lots of cold temperatures. When I asked him why, he said it felt right to have a cold winter, not a mild one. Weak answer!

Highlights of this ‘real winter’ include:

• Frozen pipes – mine and many of my friends
• Buying more thermal underwear – I now own a pair of ‘stockings for men without socks’
• My van hasn’t gone anywhere in well over a month
• Taking about 15 minutes to get ready to go
  
  Read more

J-SERIES DOESN'T EXIST

In reaction to Apple's I technology (iPod, iPad, iPhone etc.), I developed what I call J-series idealogical technology. It is every users dream. It always works and every piece of technology is compatible with another piece. Unlike all the iCovet gear, it can be purchased for its functional value not its perceived status.

The only problem is that it is idealogical - i.e. it doesn't actually exist.

So right now I am enduring a computerless stage. The motherboard on my laptop died and it is currently getting repaired. I apologise for lack of communication. I have everything I need on that computer.

It's a good thing our relationship with God is not idealogical - but real.

More real than anything we can even see or touch, smell or hear. Even our senses can fool us. But God is real. Praise Him for that

ELECTIONS

Tomorrow is Election Day here in Ukraine. This is the first round of presidential elections. Ukraine shot to world fame five years ago with the Orange Revolution after an attempted poisoning and then vote rigging. There probably won’t be much fuss this time round but then many people are rather despondent. There doesn’t seem to be anyone to choose who wants to do anything to combat the rampant corruption in this country. Most candidates are considered as much a thief and a bandit as the next one.

THE THINGS THAT UNITE

Travelling around the world has allowed me to meet a large number of people from various countries and backgrounds. It is amazing the things which you can find in common with other people. I was on a train last night and quickly struck up conversations with two people who spoke English. Two days ago I met a guy who knew a lot about NZ and about the All Blacks and he has hardly left his small town in Ukraine. I get off the train early in the morning and am glad to see the familiar golden arches of Maccas (where I am writing this update). I meet another teacher and suddenly we are talking about educational matters and our students and funny moments in the classroom. I meet another Ukrainian businessman and we are quickly complaining about the laws governing (or should I say crippling) small businesses in Ukraine.

Monday 28th December saw a huge amount of snow drop in Rzhyshchiv. Maybe 30 – 40 cm in the evening. Then about midnight the winds picked up and about 2 am we lost our electricity. More than 1000 towns across Ukraine lost electricity. All of our town was out for the night and my street had to wait 36 hours before we got power back, and because my furnace runs off electricity it means the house was cold too.

Everything got dark quickly and outside it was cold and windy. Igor and I were talking about how nearly everything we do in life requires electricity.

A couple of years ago I wrote a poem entitled Electricity.

What can you live your life with or without?