Weddings

There have been a number of weddings this summer ...

On August 11th 2008 Alison & Derek Peakman, Jan Zwart, myself and Scott & Audrey McPhail had the privilege of being invited to the wedding of Csaba Salamon and Sandra Eineg at Comlongon Castle, here in Scotland.

Back in July 08 Hafsa Mahmood became Mrs Hafsa Shafiq in Pakistan

Day Trip: Loch Lomond Highland Games

I was really sorry to miss out on our annual trip to

the Loch Lomond Highland Games.

Many thanks to Kathleen who helped organise

the event in my absence.

Thanks to Kathleen and Sugu for driving.

Last, but not least, a BIG thanks to

David & Aileen for the Bar-B-Que

Gradutation Ceremony

Congratulations to all of you who have recently graduated from the University of the West of Scotland in Paisley!!!

For me it's always a privilege to be invited along to the graduation ceremony - thankyou!

Ke Yang and Fu Yu outside Thomas Coats Memorial Church.

With Tobi, Chang
& Chang's Mum











With Fu Yu
and Sugu











With Chen

With Ke Yang

Country Walk @ Aberfoyle

Melanie, Karen, Ania, Joyce, Chunying and Sugu all joined our country walk from the David Marshall Lodge at Aberfoyle. The weather was good, the scenery was beautiful, the company was great, and the lunch afterwards truly marvellous!!

Melanie, Nan, Janet, Ania, Joyce, Chunying & Billy


Billy, David, Sugu, Pam & Jack

Chunying tucks in to a tasty ice-cream

Student Comments

"Frankly, TABLEtalk and the International Sunday Lunches are my most impressive experience during these days in Scotland. We all appreciate it very much. This programme truly provides us with a valuable opportunity to meet new friends from many countries, to communicate with them in English, and to learn about different cultures of the world. Also, to eat in a local home gives us a chance to know the local people and the lifestyle here. We benefit a lot from this and love to participate as much as possible."

Mr Zhang from China

TABLEtalk: International Night

What a fabulous evening!

A huge thank you to everyone who brought along a dish from their nation - we had food from China, Russia, Czech Republic, Korea and UK (if I've missed your nation please let me know).

Our international feast was followed by some great entertainment and again thanks oodles to all who were brave enough to take the stage!!
Here are just a few photos ...

Eric reads a poem
(in his best Yorkshire accent)
Misha & Lena sang us several Russian songs
Gordon also sang
Tereza recites a famous Czech poem

Other took part also - Chen sang and told a great joke; several others told jokes and Lynne sang a song.

Easter Sunrise Service

Misha, Lena and Bora were brave enough to rise early and join us for the sunrise service on Easter Sunday. Our reward was a great cooked breakfast !!

Easter Passion Play in Edinburgh

Chen, Chunying and Joyce joined Lisa and I for a day in Edinburgh to watch the Easter Passion play in Princes Street Gardens. The play was excellent (as always) but the weather was so very, very cold !! We even braved a brief hailstorm whilst waiting for the play to begin.

Jesus Teaches the crowd

The Last Supper

The Crucifixion

Following the play we had a very welcome meal at Carubbers Church - homemade soup and pizza, cakes and coffee - thank you Carubbers!!

International Bible Study group

Jean and her Mum (Esther), Martin, Tereza, Karen Sos, Joyce, Arthur and Lisa

Many thanks to Jean & Esther for inviting us to their home for a wonderful meal and movie!!

TABLEtalk: Surprise! Surprise! It's party time ...

I want to say a huge

THANK YOU

to all the students and helpers

that came along to my Birthday party

on Feb 19th, 2008.

For me is was a MARVELLOUS time

with friends and I thank you for making

it such a memorable evening!!!

We played some crazy games like -

Musical Chairs ...

and Pass the Parcel ...

Misha hopes that he doesn't get a forfeit!

Lynne has to sing a song!

When you're as old as I am you need

a LOT of cake to support all those candles

- a BIG THANK YOU to Alison & Peace

for making the cakes.

Ray, Sugu, Keyur, Jessica, Pavas & Savan

Munish, Misha, Tereza, Joy, Karen & Serena

Peace, Arthur, Jack, Eric, Oliwia & FuYu

Chunying, Chen, Nancy & Florent

Ania, Sos, Gloria, Lena, Billy & Bora

International Sunday Lunch

When one of our hosts had to cancel at the last minute

a very impromptu Sunday Lunch was held

back at Lynne's flat ...

Lynne, Ania & Lisa

Ania, Lynne & Karen Sos

TABLEtalk - Valentine's Night

During our Valentine's evening we wrote some

'Love is ...' poems together and also had

lots of laughs playing 'The Dating Game'.

Many thanks for being so willing to take part.

- o 0 o -

Here are a few extracts from some of our poems:

LOVE is sweet and bitter at the same time.

LOVE is something without which no-one can live.

LOVE is eternal.

LOVE is to serve others.

LOVE is like being in a very safe place.

LOVE is a flower - you need to take care of it carefully.

LOVE is to spend your time making others happy.

LOVE is an easy word with a billion definitions.

LOVE is an enormous force changing life for the better

- the only true way.

LOVE is when you still think he's charming, even after

he's played football and stinks like a pig!

LOVE is believing that your husband's

fat tummy is attractive.

TABLEtalk: Pancake Party

Our Spring 2008 semester got off to a great start

with 17 students from eight different

nationalities coming along to our

PANCAKE PARTY ...

Thank you soooooo much to Fu Yu, Ania and Lena

for all their help in the kitchen

Peace and her pancake!

(thanks Peace for taking these great pics)

Florent offers some expert advice ...

whilst the rest of us enjoy the opportunity of

sampling the pancakes, playing games and

generally catching up with each other.

Student Comments

Every participants benefits from TABLEtalk as it provides a precious opportunity for international students to improve their English and know the local culture. All the staff and volunteers are very friendly and helpful, which makes TABLEtalk feel like a big family."

Jenny (China)

"TABLEtalk is a weekly event that draws together students from different parts of the world to get to know each other and to socialise. It is an event filled with fun, laughter and instills some serious thoughts on current issues. It also provides an opportunity for the newly arrived students to the UK to meet and talk to their seniors as well as volunteers. This not only smoothes the settling-in process for many, but also forms a closely knit social group in the long run.

International Sunday Lunches and summer events have given me the chance to visit local homes. Some of these families have now become close friends who take a great interest in my welfare. I have also had the chance to taste plenty of scrumptious home cooked meals."

Sugu (Malaysia)

Happy New Year

A New Year's greeting from Hafsa (Pakistan):

"May the Light of God surround you.

The love of God enfold you.

The power of God protect you and

the presence of God watch over you all year through

- and all your dreams come true.

Have a safe and blessed 2008!"

Hogmanay Extravaganza 2007

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Welcoming in the New Year in taditional Scottish style.

Our Hogmanay Extravaganza consisted of dancing,

games, food and a hour of cabaret!!

(top row left to right)

Sophia, Will, Bora, Jessica, Raymond,

Jack, Misha & Lena

(bottom row left to right)

Gospel, Jenny He, Ellen, Tina, Jenny Wang,

Oliwia, Fu Yu, Lynne, David & Eric

Playing musical statues and the fish race ...

A scrumptious buffet ...

STUDENT COMMENTS:

"I just write to thank you. I really enjoyed the Hogmanay party. It was so wonderful. Last year was such a special year for me. Sometimes, I still can not believe that I am abroad now. I am so lucky that you are my friend.You are so special to me.You organised TABLEtalk and through it I have made so many friends. TABLEtalk is so helpful for me, although my English is still not so good. Thank you again for all you have done for me.Wishing you a good year." Bora (China)