Bidding Farewell to 2008…..

St. Stephen

It’s my last post of the year. Since I’d been back, I haven’t had the time to sort out my stuff and put my thoughts together. I made some amazing friends in Vienna, a few of whom inspired me to write like I’ve never written before. On my last day in the World Heritage Site, Wolfgang, a retired dive instructor, took me to the neighbourhood café to have a superb deluxe breakfast that I would never forget. With each bite into the organic sandwich of ham, salami, cheese and jam, I listened with great eagerness as he shared his reasons for writing and diving. He helps out at the SSI headquarters in Vienna on days when he didn’t have much to do and on some days, he would be diving and taking pictures with his Olympus E520! His life as a dive operator years ago, is nothing short of exciting and challenging to me, yet in such a short time of meeting, the wisdom in his words have left me awestruck and my inspiration to continue what I do best was reignited in that breakfast. I asked him to start a blog and even though it’s in German, I can use a translation software to read what he has to say. I haven’t met anyone quite like him before.

Martin was my host for the remaining days and the European Underwater Federation members continued with their meetings while I roamed and ventured around town. He taught me how to eat the finest foods with cheese and I had my first honey with truffles (the most prized mushrooms that are found only by pigs) on comté cheese!!! Even the wine goblets must tingle when its cheered and the ringing must resound in your ear”¦.

Another Wolfgang, gave me the insight to the diving industry of the world, so as to prepare me for the eventuality that I would meet the French at the next meeting and should a throwing match occur at the table, at least I’m ready. He filled me with the issues that move and shake the industry, the powers that be to stop it and the momentum of the world that keeps it going. I was also thrilled that he would agree to go to the Zoo with me. So did Oliver and his wife and an Irish whose name I forgot, Wolfgang and I ventured to beyond Schönbrünn to the world’s oldest and most modern zoo! I’ll save that story for later but to sum it up, this year had been a really challenging year in the way I travelled and I don’t expect anything less exciting for the next as we are drawing so near to welcoming 2009. God had been with me and I count myself really blessed to have moved in His protection (and will continue to) as Psalms 91 proclaims:-

1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall rest under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD, my refuge and my fortress; my God; in Him I will trust.

3 Surely He will deliver you from the fowler’s trap and from the destroying plague.

4 He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall trust. His truth shall be your shield, and buckler.

5 You shall not fear the terror by night; nor because of the arrow that flies by day;

6 nor for the plague that walks in darkness, of the destruction laying waste at noonday.

7 A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; it shall not come near you

8 Only with your eyes you shall look and see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because You, O LORD, are My refuge; if you have made the Most High Your dwelling-place,

10 no evil shall befall You, nor shall any plague come near Your dwelling.

11 For He shall give His angels charge over You, to keep You in all Your ways.

12 They shall bear You up in their hands, lest You dash your foot against a stone.

13 You shall tread on the lion and adder; the young lion and the jackal You shall trample underfoot.

14 Because He has set His love on Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set Him on high, because He has known My name.

15 He shall call on Me, and I will answer Him; I will be with Him in trouble; I will deliver Him, and honor Him.

16 With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.

I pray that I may have double dosage of courage and wisdom to deal with whatever that is thrown my way. Have a great new year!