Acceptance then role reversal

Floor and general cleaning day. I do NOT enjoy the task, but today was made enjoyable for me by watching the progression in the dog vs cat saga.

Clawd is obviously gradually losing his fear of the dogs, and they are reluctantly accepting his presence in what they consider to be their territory. After lunch this afternoon, Clawd jumped onto my chest for his usual cuddle. Jealous Abi saw it, and jumped onto my lap for a cuddle as well. This joint cuddle was repeated later on in the day. Cho gets her cuddles from Graeme and any visitor with an empty lap.

During the course of the day, I spotted Clawd creeping up to a sleeping Cho, and sniffing her.

Then, the role reversal : I took the dogs and cat outside to do their business. Abi was walking around and enjoying the fresh air while Clawd ran and pranced around in the wet grass. While Abi's back was turned, Clawd stalked her and took a tentative swipe at her curly tail... Who knows who will be chasing who by the end of the week.

Dogs and cat

Abi got a spanking for chasing Clawd. Now Clawd seems to challenge her by sitting just within sight and staring Abi down... Abi tries to chase him quietly i.e. without snorting, (hardly possible for a pug) in the hope that we won't hear. (And they say that animals are innocent?!)
At one stage, Clawd went and lay down next to the dogs' food bowls, and looked at me, with the dogs standing next to me, with such a smug look on his face. The dogs whimpered and looked at him, then to me, and back again. I could almost hear them begging "Can we chase him - can we - can we?"
The next funny incident was ice cream time. When Graeme and I indulge in this treat, we always leave our pets the last lick of ice cream. Cho and Abi obviously remembered their special treat, because they started snorting happily when I started dishing up ice cream into our bowls. But then.... horror....!!
Abi saw me put a little ice cream on a teaspoon and hold it aloft for Clawd to lick while he was sitting on my shoulder. She started howling in distress. How could I give what she considered to be her special treat, to a cat?

Besides trying to get our pets to accept each other, it was a very busy Sunday. Graeme preached and played his trumpet in 4 services, and played his trumpet and listened in another. He is preaching through the epistle to the Galatians in our churches, and I am thoroughly enjoying his messages.

There were 6 children at Sunday School. And, as before, they came over to the manse afterwards. The difference was that they didn't bother to ask if it was ok, but simply followed me from the church to the manse, as if it was the most natural thing to do. (I found out that some Saints say that I look like Mother Hubbard, with my little group of children following me down the road)

Saturday

We had one new child at Good News Club today - 6 year old Renee invited 14 year old Sebastian (known as Bessie). The big attraction seems to be our pets, that are played with after the lesson - first it was the kitten, and now it is the dogs (pronounced "douwgs")

Pugs are heavy breathers, and I was told that "the douwgs sound is pigs like".

While Good News was in progress, Graeme had closed the dogs in our bedroom in order to give Clawd some time to play freely in the lounge. No problem to the 5 children who had arrived to play with them - they simply all trapsed upstairs and sat in our bedroom playing with the dogs, while I was downstairs with 2 more children, playing with the cat. (Luckily, I grew up in a home where there were often a number of our friends filling the rooms at one time. My mother always welcomed them and made them feel at home. One 8 year old German little boy, Thomas, used to visit her because she gave him the centre of the cabbage to munch on when she was preparing supper)

Vontray is becoming very comfortable in our home, and often just pops in for a short visit. Today he offered to help me weed my garden. Then he went home for about 30 mins, only to come back and present me with a tomato plant that he had pulled up out of his granny's garden.... He stayed for lunch, then watched a DVD with Graeme, with Cho sitting comfortably on his lap. At 5.00pm I had to insist that he went home.


The dogs were more accepting of Clawd today, and there were no mad chases. They seem to want constant attention, though, and jump on our laps as soon as we sit down anywhere.

The Girls are home!

At last, the day of release from emprisonment has arrived! The Girls are free!!

See them having their first taste of freedom, sniffing the grass on the outside of their enclosure for the past 6 months.

On the way home, they snorted and "smiled" and stuck their faces out of the car window to feel the fresh air blowing their ears back. Of course, I was holding tightly on to their harnesses.

When we got home, they gave the cat a quick glance, but were more interested in getting to know the place, and enjoy our company. We gave them their first bath in 6 months. They seemed to enjoy all the attention, and stood still while we lathered and rinsed them off, and snorted happily while I rubbed them dry with a towel.

All was still fine between the dogs and the cat - the dogs were uninterested, but the cat was nervous. Then the Clawd's nerves gave in and he hissed at Abigail and dashed away down the passage. This was Abigail's signal - she gave chase with much enthusiasm. From then onwards, the cat has kept a good distance from the dogs - often sitting on my shoulders for protection - and Abi gives chase as often as she can. Cho (the black pug) is more calm and accepting towards Clawd.

In the evening, Madison dropped by to meet the dogs. We decided to give the cat some space, and her and I took Cho and Abi for a walk (all harnessed and attached to leashes) to the wharf. They were so excited that they ran, pulling us along, most of the the way down i.e. in between stops for various Saints who wanted to pet them and ask about them. On the way back, however, they needed almost as many stops to regain their correct breathing rhythms as I did.

It was a busy day, getting everyone used to each other, but it was a happy day. Everyone is smiling (except Clawd).

The dogs slept in our bedroom - initially on their beds that we brought from SA - but later on, after we were asleep, they snuck up onto our bed and finished off their first night back at home wedged between Graeme and I. Clawd disappeared, but came out from his hiding place in the morning to take a swipe at my bare legs as I went to the bathroom.

All's well that ends well.

Birthday girls

Sandy Bay BWA. I started trying to teach the ladies to do cross stitch embroidery on a sample piece of fabric. 2 ladies did very well, but the other 3 struggled. The idea of the crafts is to expose the ladies to different things, and in so doing, find out which disciplines suit which lady. I am not a natural teacher of crafty things - I prefer to work on my own, and improvise and change patterns as I go. My task for the coming week is to mark out 6 patterns on 6 pieces of cross stitch fabric for next week's meeting.

5.00 pm. Instead of the usual Bible study, we had a combined birthday party at Cape Villa. 4 of the ladies have a birthday in one week. Felicity turned 50, Anya turned 23, Stephanie turned 60 and Miss Yon turned 92. See photo of Anya, Stephanie and Miss Yon. Felicity had the day off and was not with us.

On the way home, Kate and I chatted about what keeps her so fit (I don't know her age, but she lives at the old age home) As there were no cars or even public transport in "days gone", all of the children used to walk very long distances on a daily basis e.g. Felcity used to take the "short cut" up Jacob's ladder on her way to school each morning, and then home again in the afternoon, and Miss Yon walked what amounted to a cross country mini marathon each day to and from school. But Kate also believes strongly in "greasing" her legs every night after her bath. She rubs methylated spirits into them, if she has any spirits available. If not, "anything that is available - even margarine" can be used.... A novel beauty routine, but it obviously works for Kate.

Wit Weekend

Saturday. Good News Club was attended by the regular group of about 12 children. It was a "strange" meeting. All 12 of them paid attention throughout the lesson AND the serial story that I read to them afterwards.

Sunday. 4 children showed up for Sunday school. A few minutes later they disappeared.... They had gone to fetch 2 friends so that they could qualify for the little gift for those that bring a friend. The whole system of stars, stickers and gifts as rewards seems to be important to them. Once again, after the lesson, I was asked whether they could come over to the manse to "play with the kitten". Clawd does not play well with strangers - he claws them, and attacks them. (He especially loves diving into, and hanging from Megan's waist length hair.) They simply wanted to spend time together at the manse.

Monday. Our last visit to our "girls" in quarantine! They come home on Friday.

We are sure they understand us when we talk about it. Abi has started peeing in her food bowl - an act of defiance.

We discovered a rabbit's hole in the enclosure today. There is also a mouse that we have seen sneaking in from the grass outside and into the area where their food is kept. A myna bird also visits them regularly, judging by the pile of droppings on their dog box. They do not lack visitors.

Graeme used an old pair of shoes for his quarantine visits. They have to be dipped in Jeyes fluid when we enter the enclosure, and again when we leave. Obviously not the best way to preserve shoes. They have JUST held out for the 6 months.

Cho listening while we told her that we will fetch her on Friday.

Our girls.

The Saints take the Anglican Christian calendar very seriously. Thurs was ascension day, and the shops and schools closed mid day. Today is WitMonday (Sunday was WitSunday, or Pentecost) and it is a public holiday.

St Helena Day

St Helena Island was discovered 508 years ago by the Portuguese. Today's celebrations started off at 10.00 am with the sound of the RMS's hooter as it dropped anchor. Immediately after this there was a procession with all the scouts and guides marching to the Mule Yard, where there was an opening church service. Graeme read the Scriptures and played in the band. Bishop John Salt brought the message. (Photo taken after the service)
At 4.00pm floats started a procession down Market Street, through Jamestown and on to the wharf.
So as not to look too drab, I tied a bright scarf around my head, and joined the happy march. Music, dancing, singing, wearing outrageous outfits, photo taking, and fair amount of drinking are what the procession is all about. It felt as if the whole island's Saints as well as a good number of tourists where all out on the street.
Graeme and I spent the evening listening to a DVD, then doing prep for the week end's messages, Good News Club and Sunday Schoool.

Routine Week

The past week has been pretty much routine. Good News Club, Sunday School, Church services, household chores, preparation for Bible studies and BWA, visits, etc.
We discovered that Clawd loves bananas. We will have our dogs back on Friday 28th. We anticipate an interesting meeting between the 3 creatures. It might end up being like it was when our 3 children were little - the parents love all 3, but the children fight like cat and dog.....

RMS and potatoes

The RMS arrived from Cape Town this afternoon - and, according to the news, it would be carrying potatoes. In anticipation of the cargo being on the shelves on Monday, I broke into my stash of baby potatoes at the bottom of the fridge, and had 3 of them all to myself for lunch. I microwaved them, and then slowly savoured the little darlings with salt, black pepper, Mediterranean spice and cottage cheese. Bliss.

Floral Friday

We spent another Friday afternoon with Nick and Lolly. This time we went to Sandy Bay beach. On the way, we stopped at Leslie Williams' home for Nick (who enjoys history) to see the plaque on Leslie's home dating the building as being built in 1749. Graeme spotted a big spider in the garden. See one photo taken of its back, and another of its underbelly

As we continued the journey, Nick stopped outside a home that had a beautiful flower garden in it. He had been instructed by Lolly to buy her some roses for her birthday in 2 days' time. We walked onto the property; Nick called out and the owner came out and greeted us. Flowers were picked, and money exchanged. I was also given a bunch. Although they were not flower shop quality, they gave off a lovely fragrance.

On to Sandy Bay beach proper. The hills immediately surrounding the only few meters of beach on the island, are totally arid.

The tiny beach has black sand. I tried to wade into the sea, but right where the waves crash, the sand turns to small pebbles. The waves pick them up, and drop them on your feet.

There is also a strong undercurrent. Swimming is not an option.

We stopped to have tea from a flask that Lolly had packed, and just enjoy the sound of the waves, and smell the sea air. Then the rain came.

On the way home, Nick stopped to cut down a few wild ginger flowers to add to Lolly's collection of flowers. These are rather large plants and they had to go in the back of the car. They have a strong gingerish fragrance. Once again, I was also given a few.

When we got back to Nick's place, we were invited in for tea. Graeme and I thought that meant a cup of tea. Wrong. Lolly started showing me how to make "dance and bread" i.e. a kind of spicy tomato paste that is spread on bread, and is a "must" at any Saint function. They call it "dance and bread" because in days gone by, when they had dances, everyone brought their own eats. This is a cheap and tasty savoury snack that they often brought along.

After a most enjoyable afternoon, Graeme and I went home to spend the rest of the evening with our respective books and computers. We ended a very enjoyable day by watching the last episode of "Lord of the Rings".

Thursday Coffee

The Afrikaans lady, Lena Malan, that attended church on Sunday, phoned to ask whether she could join Elza Bloem and myself for our weekly cup of coffee. Her husband, Danie, also came, and we had a delightful hour chatting away.
It was Ascension day today, and the schools closed early. I made the same mistake that Elza did when she first came to the Island, thinking that it was Ascension Island's national day .... silly non-Anglican that I am.

Deadwood

Only 2 ladies were able to make the Deadwood study. Sandra and Winnie. There has been a bit of heavy unpleasantness in the community. Since (as Sandra said) everyone on the island is related in some way or another, what hurts one, hurts them all. The ladies just needed to chat and confide.

One often takes people at face value, without having a clue what their daily burdens are. After a while, the 3 of us just sat there weeping and praying.

Here is a photo (taken on my birthday) of Sandra, Winnie, and her sister Rosie.

Tuesday cackle

Monday was the usual cleaning of the manse followed by a visit to our dogs, then preparation for the week's Bible studies. The dogs were exceptionally affectionate - almost as if they know that they will be coming home soon.

Sandy Bay BWA this morning, and Cape Villa Bible study at 5.00pm. I arrived a little early, and went over to Edie to chat before the study started. Somehow we got onto the subject of the unfashionable home made clothes that she had to wear as a girl. I told her that I also had to wear dresses made by my granny - she even made my knickers. Well, that really got Edie going! She sat there laughing out loud, and describing how she had to keep her knickers up with buttons, and later on, with string... Dreadful, rough items of clothing. Nothing like the soft, silky, pretty underwear that we get nowadays.

When it was time for the study to start, we walked arm in arm to the hall, with Edie stopping twice to have a good ol' cackle.

2nd Sunday School

Right on time, 6 year old Renee skipped into the schoolroom! (We are becoming friends) Soon after that, Regan, Vontray and Sunna arrived. I was told that they had called in on Megan, but that she was still in her pygamas, and would not be coming BUT about 5 minutes later, she made her appearance. They all paid good attention.

I have started an attendance chart with each child's name on it, and stars and stickers for attendance, bringing their Bibles, knowing their memory verse and bringing a friend. The one with the most stickers will receive a prize at the end of the term. This seems to be quite important to them.

Here they are writing out their memory verses after the lesson.

This was followed by plasticine play, and then the inevitable request to go to the manse and "play with the kitten". I made a bowl of popcorn, and once again, they just enjoyed chatting and playing games.

Graeme said that an Afrikaans couple attended the Knollcombes service - the Malans. They are visiting their son, who is here on a contract, and will be contacting me during the week. I am speaking more Afrikaans since coming to St Helena, than what I did while I lived in good ol' Durban.

I worked on my lace book marker for about an hour and a half, but got frustrated with all the tangling bobbins - it is just not "flowing".

The 7.30 pm Jamestown service ended our Sunday "work day." Graeme is working through the Epistle to the Galatians in his Sunday sermons. Rich, relevant teaching.

Play at the manse

Good News Club numbers were down this week, but nearly all of those that did come, remembered to bring their Bibles. They were rather pleased with themselves. Here is a photo of them taken before another 3 showed up, as well as a photo of Enid, Nick and Anya, who share in the ministry.
After the lesson, a number of the children wanted to come over to the manse, and play with the kitten. Unfortunately, he has quite a bit of "wild" in him, and they are beginning to realise that he is not the cuddly pet that he looks like. After giving up on the cat, they spent about half an hour chatting, playing clapping games, etc in the manse lounge, before they wandered off to their Saturday activities.
I spent the rest of the day doing washing, ironing, cooking, and preparation for tomorrow's Sunday School. I tried to make an old favourite meal for supper - pork, apple and onion meat loaf - with substituted St Helenian ingredients. It did not taste the same :( but we ate it. Clawd enjoyed it.

Sorting stationery

When going for my walk to town, I bumped into 2 ladies that come from Harare, Zimbabwe. They are nursing here. I was quite chuffed when I found that I could remember how to exchange greetings with them in Shona. (That is as much as I can speak of the language)
Spent the rest of the day sorting and categorising the children's ministry stuff that I have received/inherited/brought with me. I now have a lovely supply of stationery - pencils, crayons, scissors, stencils etc - and an assortment of books.
The challenge is getting somewhere to store them. I am trying to get a carpenter to come and give me a quote for making a cupboard with shelves. These things have to be made or imported, as there are none for sale in the shops.
Tried to do a bit of lace work in the evening, but Clawd saw me pick up my cushion, with all the dangling bobbins and thread....

Pugs,letter, chat and lace

The antibiotics are working. I felt a lot better today.
Went to visit the pugs. Only 3 weeks before they come home! I wonder who will end up being the boss - Clawd, Cho or Abigail....
While Graeme and I were eating brunch, there was a knock on the door, and an official looking envelope was pushed under the door. It was a letter from the "Safeguarding Children's Board" suggesting that we follow the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and initiate criminal vetting checks (police clearance certificates) for all employees or volunteers that will work with children. It seems that I have happily gone ahead with arranging Sunday School, and a sleep over, without getting the proper clearance to do so. Oops!
Met with Elza at 11.00 am for coffee/hot chocolate. Had a good old chat in Afrikaans. (Who would have thought that I would be speaking Zulu on Wednesday and Afrikaans on Thursday - on St Helena!)
Did a bit of house cleaning, then emailing, then attended lace class. I sadly discovered that I had made a mistake quite far up on the piece that I had so proudly accomplished, and spent most of the lesson undoing a big patch of work. Sigh!

Bronchitis

Woke up knowing that I needed to see a doctor. Saw a Dr Zama - a Zulu from Richards Bay! We exchanged the usual greetings in Zulu, and he made me feel "at home".
I wheezed my way through the Jamestown BWA at 4.30pm, and was rather relieved when I received a phone call asking to cancel the 7.30 pm Bible study, as Sandra, who hosts the meetings was feeling ill.

Resumed studies, books and cat

Sandy Bay BWA 10.00 am. It was good to meet with these ladies after the 2 week break. We had a shorter Bible study time, and then started making book bags from a strong piece of fabric that was sent to us in one of the parcels from SA.
We received a call from customs to collect a parcel that had arrived from Ascension Island. It was a box of 2nd hand and Christian books and a set of study guides from the sister of one of Graeme’s friends in the USA! We will use these to start a lending library.
The Cape Villa study was poorly attended. Charles was feeling poorly and Edie is getting rather frail. Despite the reduced numbers, we still had a good time together.
Jamestown Bible Study at 7.30 pm. Good to be together again for this study. Steve and Maureen and Scilla were missed.

Life in the manse is full of "cattitude". One minute Clawd is sweet and cute, sitting on my shoulder, (he gets there by claw-climbing his way up the back of my legs and back);

or playing with his pom pom;
the next he is under the bed waiting for a foot to attack; or playing "fierce" games with Graeme's hand. He dislikes being left alone and usually amuses himself in whatever room that either Graeme or I are occupying. He sleeps at the foot of our bed, and is usually no trouble during the night. Mornings are another story - he decides when it is time for me to wake up. I usually emerge from sleep to the sound of purring coming from behind my head; when I don't respond to the gentle wake up call, Clawd starts playing in my hair; if I still remain lying on the pillow, he nips my ear. That usually gets me going!

Slow Monday

Still feel "vrot" (rotten) every now and then. Asthma playing up a bit. Only did essential tyding around the manse today.
In the evening, Graeme had a deacon's meeting at 5.00pm at Sandy Bay, and we were scheduled to visit the Herne's at 7.00pm. The deacon's meeting dragged on a bit (what's new?) and we were an hour late, but were still able to have a very good visit with this family. Although they had spent 2 x 3 year stints in Belfast, Ireland, while Wendy completed her studies, they had not retained any Irish accents at all.

First Sunday School

I woke at about 8.00am and got up to prepare a breakfast of banana crumpets for the “ladies”, while Graeme rushed out to take the 2 country Sunday services. Breakfast was a hurried affair. I dressed and left for my first Sunday School lesson at 9.45am, while the girls finished their breakfast and tidied up.
By 10.00am not one child had pitched up for Sunday School. I started going over in my mind what I could have done to advertise it better. Then I heard a call at the door, and Vontray and Renee came in – all prepared with collection money! I was encouraged. A few minutes later, Wendy Herne arrived together with her very shy daughter, Tiffany. I started going over what we planned to do in the weeks ahead, and then 2 of the “sleep over” girls walked in.
5 children, and a mother, and 60p collection, at my first Jamestown Sunday School meeting. God is good!
As I walked over to the manse, the girls were walking out with their bedding and things. They had washed all the dishes, and done a general tidy up for me!
I felt a bit “deprived” at not going to the 2 country services this morning, but also very encouraged by the children attending Sunday School. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could have our cake and eat it?
The Jamestown evening meeting went well, despite the depleted music team. Steve, who usually plays the organ, will only be back in the middle of August :(

Up late

Not many children attended Good News Club today. I did, however, receive a few calls from mothers/guardians of the girls that are to sleep over tonight, to check that everything was “kosher”. This pleased me.
For supper, I attempted a sea food lasagna - I replaced the usual mince mixture with a mussel and sea creature mixture, and used a little less cheese. Not bad. I gulped down my last mouthful as the first girl arrived for the sleep over.
The girls arrived one by one. We set up the beds on the lounge floor,
and Graeme set up the DVD’s and I made a huge bowl of pop corn. Clawd played up quite badly – running between the girls, clawing and biting their ankles, jumping up to hang in their long hair, etc. and had to be put away in the bedroom upstairs. I had Scoubidous, (plastic tubing for twisting into little "thingamijigs"), as well as card and glitter glue and scissors, etc in the dining room. While the DVD’s played, the girls ate pop corn and sweets, chatted, sang along with the songs, made Scoubidous, and messed with the glitter glue.
I started fading at 1 am in the morning, and declared lights out. They were a little taken aback that I was going to sleep among them, but were obviously made of stronger stuff than I am. They continued to chat and giggle in the dark, and I must have fallen into a deep sleep. While I was asleep, they “toothpasted” the other 2 sleeping girls’ hair. Graeme came down at 3.00am because they were still chatting and giggling….