There goes the neighbourhood!

Feb06bldg_1Some of you may remember the gorgeous view we have from our balcony. On clear days in both the mornings and evenings we get quite a selection of wonderful vistas. All that is about to change thanks to the monstrosity pictured here. Some friends of ours researched this new building’s plans at the Building Department: zoned for three floors. But in typical Hong Kong fashion, the owners are building to 21 floors (according to the security guard at the site entrance) and will beg forgiveness later.

Feb06bldg2Meanwhile, illness and injury continue to plague our home. Tess was ill earlier this week. Things are settling down for her this weekend but she is still very tired. Jasper has a nasty case of chicken pox – almost a full blown adult version – and I have a very bad pulled muscle in my back. This actually happened over a week ago and I have been in excruciating pain ever since. The muscle is the one that runs from behind the left shoulder blade around to the front of the chest. According to the doctor, the muscle is kinked in the back and spasming in the front. His exact words were:  "A massage won’t help you unless the masseuse focuses on your chest. As the muscles heal they are loosening in the back but are still tight in the front. Good luck, have a good weekend and see you on Monday!"

"And the pain killers?" I asked quietly.

"Ah, come on Charles… you’re getting better. The worst is over. You don’t need drugs!" the doctor replied.

During all this I have been praying like mad and God has been sending very strong signals down to my spiritual antenna. I read a fantastic article the other day of which I extract the following quote: "If you were Satan and your job description was to keep people away from Christianity, you’d look at Western culture and say you’d done a pretty good job."

I’m telling you, the Holy Spirit is moving within me. Wow, I am in awe and humbled. What’s in store for little ol’ me?

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13 Replies to “There goes the neighbourhood!”

  1. Adding an extra 21 floors!!!
    Are they hoping no one will notice?
    Michele sent me here.

    Reply

  2. I hope everyone feels better soon!
    I’m so glad I live where I live… No 21 floor monstrosities likely to be built in this village 🙂
    Thansk for commenting on my blog just now. I went to Niagara-on-the-Lake a few years ago and fell in love with the place. I certainly aim to go back there some day 🙂

    Reply

  3. I really hate when someone puts up a skyscraper outside your window! Happens here in NYC all the time! The nerve! Hope you feel better soon. Michele sent me today.

    Reply

  4. Just a few extra floors….
    That sucks that you guys are sick on top of having sick kiddos. That’s the worst. I hope everyone is feeling better soon.

    Reply

  5. Mo aka Maureen aka M aka grandmother :-) March 12, 2006 at 6:21 am

    Having seen the ever-growing monster outside your front window I can relate to how badly you feel that it is quickly destroying your view. But, more importantly I am very excited about what the Holy Spirit is telling you. Can’t wait for the next installment!
    Love, Mo xox

    Reply

  6. Sorry about that building going up and your back hurting. For that reason, I don’t like cities. Maybe you should get a persicope. Liked your quote about Satan’s work and western civilization… In a sad way, it rings true and we think we’re so grand. What was the magazine?

    Reply

  7. I knew a developer here in our town who was known to say:
    “It is easier to ask forgiveness than to ask permission”.
    I think that must be the motto of the people building that one where you are!
    Michele sent me.

    Reply

  8. i hate leaving on very top floors what happens if theres an earthquake ? Anyways, Michele sent me here and happy Sunday!

    Reply

  9. Thanks for stopping by and leaving such a nice comment!
    I’ve been catching up here. Triplets!! Oh my!! Hope Jasper is home from the hospital (I saw that he has Chicken Pox, but couldn’t tell if he was home or not).
    As an asthmatic, I feel for him. It is a very scary thing not to be able to breathe.
    All good thoughts to you, your back, and your ailing but adorable family!
    ~PG

    Reply

  10. Somewhat stunned that its possible to just ignore the 3 story regs and build (oops) 21 stories. No possibility of special fees being exchanged somewhere related to this, I am sure.
    And ‘wellness’ to your gang.
    Michele sent me today.

    Reply

  11. sorry your back is hurting. i hope it heals quickly.
    re: satan and the western world. from this part of the west i can say that christianity is alive and well. it’s rather annoying actually. christians are managing to affect our laws and government in ways that are distinctly religious in spite of our supposed separation of church and state. as someone who was raised not christian this becomes very annoying. sometimes our religious right forget that there are jews, moslems, buddists, athiest, agnostics, etc. living here and that we don’t all share the same history and laws. i mean, i was raised with the sabbath on saturday. why the hell can’t i buy beer on sunday before noon? sorry for my rant, but i’m kind of tired of all those over here would impose their religion on me. and here, they are everywhere. i would welcome a little satan here in the south, just for balance.

    Reply

  12. Man what a bummer about that building. It is never a good thing when a beautiful view that you live with daily gets changed up like that.
    Sorry to hear about all the pulled muscles and sickness… 🙁
    Isn’t God great though 🙂 I love when the Holy spirit is moving and teaching us new things and growing us spiritually. I am in the midst of the same right now and loving every minute of it. I love that he is teaching me to have great Joy even in the valley!!! Thanks for stopping by my place 🙂

    Reply

  13. I envy your sense of purpose.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

ABOUT AUTHOR
Charles

Originally from Canada and lived in Hong Kong for fifteen years. Married to the terribly talented & gorgeous Tess.

RECENT POSTS
No Joy

I doubt my father will be thrilled with my inaugural entry into the blogging world. But read on anyway… In my younger, pre-parenthood and much

Sebastian’s Knee

Many read Tess’ post on Sebastian’s knee. I will now tell you what ended up happening at the Tuesday morning follow-up appointment. This is Hong

Sebastian the Naughty Pedestrian

I am writing from Bangkok. I am on a business trip and staying in the same hotel from my first trip to Asia in 1990.

New pictures posted!

new pictures posted on tess’ blog of the triplets and Sebastian… click here!

Macau Recruiting Issues

Tantalizing Tess left today for her grandfather’s funeral. Sombre moods. I am sitting at our computer sipping a glass of white wine. It’s about 11

There goes the neighbourhood!

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Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest

Reader interactions

13 Replies to “There goes the neighbourhood!”

  1. Adding an extra 21 floors!!!
    Are they hoping no one will notice?
    Michele sent me here.

    Reply

  2. I hope everyone feels better soon!
    I’m so glad I live where I live… No 21 floor monstrosities likely to be built in this village 🙂
    Thansk for commenting on my blog just now. I went to Niagara-on-the-Lake a few years ago and fell in love with the place. I certainly aim to go back there some day 🙂

    Reply

  3. I really hate when someone puts up a skyscraper outside your window! Happens here in NYC all the time! The nerve! Hope you feel better soon. Michele sent me today.

    Reply

  4. Just a few extra floors….
    That sucks that you guys are sick on top of having sick kiddos. That’s the worst. I hope everyone is feeling better soon.

    Reply

  5. Mo aka Maureen aka M aka grandmother :-) March 12, 2006 at 6:21 am

    Having seen the ever-growing monster outside your front window I can relate to how badly you feel that it is quickly destroying your view. But, more importantly I am very excited about what the Holy Spirit is telling you. Can’t wait for the next installment!
    Love, Mo xox

    Reply

  6. Sorry about that building going up and your back hurting. For that reason, I don’t like cities. Maybe you should get a persicope. Liked your quote about Satan’s work and western civilization… In a sad way, it rings true and we think we’re so grand. What was the magazine?

    Reply

  7. I knew a developer here in our town who was known to say:
    “It is easier to ask forgiveness than to ask permission”.
    I think that must be the motto of the people building that one where you are!
    Michele sent me.

    Reply

  8. i hate leaving on very top floors what happens if theres an earthquake ? Anyways, Michele sent me here and happy Sunday!

    Reply

  9. Thanks for stopping by and leaving such a nice comment!
    I’ve been catching up here. Triplets!! Oh my!! Hope Jasper is home from the hospital (I saw that he has Chicken Pox, but couldn’t tell if he was home or not).
    As an asthmatic, I feel for him. It is a very scary thing not to be able to breathe.
    All good thoughts to you, your back, and your ailing but adorable family!
    ~PG

    Reply

  10. Somewhat stunned that its possible to just ignore the 3 story regs and build (oops) 21 stories. No possibility of special fees being exchanged somewhere related to this, I am sure.
    And ‘wellness’ to your gang.
    Michele sent me today.

    Reply

  11. sorry your back is hurting. i hope it heals quickly.
    re: satan and the western world. from this part of the west i can say that christianity is alive and well. it’s rather annoying actually. christians are managing to affect our laws and government in ways that are distinctly religious in spite of our supposed separation of church and state. as someone who was raised not christian this becomes very annoying. sometimes our religious right forget that there are jews, moslems, buddists, athiest, agnostics, etc. living here and that we don’t all share the same history and laws. i mean, i was raised with the sabbath on saturday. why the hell can’t i buy beer on sunday before noon? sorry for my rant, but i’m kind of tired of all those over here would impose their religion on me. and here, they are everywhere. i would welcome a little satan here in the south, just for balance.

    Reply

  12. Man what a bummer about that building. It is never a good thing when a beautiful view that you live with daily gets changed up like that.
    Sorry to hear about all the pulled muscles and sickness… 🙁
    Isn’t God great though 🙂 I love when the Holy spirit is moving and teaching us new things and growing us spiritually. I am in the midst of the same right now and loving every minute of it. I love that he is teaching me to have great Joy even in the valley!!! Thanks for stopping by my place 🙂

    Reply

  13. I envy your sense of purpose.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

ABOUT AUTHOR
Charles

Originally from Canada and lived in Hong Kong for fifteen years. Married to the terribly talented & gorgeous Tess.

RECENT POSTS
No Joy

I doubt my father will be thrilled with my inaugural entry into the blogging world. But read on anyway… In my younger, pre-parenthood and much

Sebastian’s Knee

Many read Tess’ post on Sebastian’s knee. I will now tell you what ended up happening at the Tuesday morning follow-up appointment. This is Hong

Sebastian the Naughty Pedestrian

I am writing from Bangkok. I am on a business trip and staying in the same hotel from my first trip to Asia in 1990.

New pictures posted!

new pictures posted on tess’ blog of the triplets and Sebastian… click here!

Macau Recruiting Issues

Tantalizing Tess left today for her grandfather’s funeral. Sombre moods. I am sitting at our computer sipping a glass of white wine. It’s about 11