16 days to go

16 days to go before there is a 2nd Mrs Beckett on the island. The "Notice of Marriage" is up on the Post Office notice board, and Arthur is counting the days.

The baby is GROWING. Here is Danny in a cheeky pose in her swimming attire.

Last week Arthur and Danny assembled the cot and changing station that they bought online, and rearranged the spare room to accommodate Danny and the baby. I will post a pic of the new room once we have the new linen and curtains that will make it a "girls' room". Arthur will keep his present room with its manly appearance, as a study.


A few days ago I got stung by one of the bees that are hanging around the flowering basil plants. The Saint bees are bigger and darker than the ones in SA, and I am sure that their sting is nastier. I managed to get a photo of one drinking the nectar out of a little weed flower.
The Sunday school children are now making cross stitch articles as Christmas gifts. Thanks to the ladies from other countires that have send us craft items over the past 2 years. Danny is cross stitching a border strip to decorate the anglaise cot duvet cover that we will make. (She was given a beautiful duck down duvet for the cot)


The Baptist ladies plan to hold a "cake and cookie" sale on Fri 28th at the Market in Main Street. There are new health and hygiene regulations on the island now. Everyone that sells food (even a packet of crisps) has to have a license and medical clearance. I found out today that they will give us Baptists a special "stall license" because it will be a once off thing. BUT I have to make sure that none of ladies bake their wares earlier than the night before the sale, and I have to accept responsibility if anyone gets sick from any of the food that will be sold..... The days have gone when a child could set up a "lemonade stand" outside his front gate, or sell fudge at school to get pocket money.


The island does not have any flower shops or gardens, and one struggles to get flowers for a special occassion. There were times when I felt "flower starved". So I started looking out for flowers anywhere, and taking photos as reminders that, although they are few and far between, they are around. Here is a photo of the flowers that were put in the Head O'Wain chapel on Sunday, and a nastersium growing on our rubbish heap.

Catch up on Sept News

Apologies for the long silence. I often feel like I am on a round about, and cannot get off. Besides working at The Consulate, there are Bible studies to lead 3 nights a week; ironing and cleaning the kitchen floor on Thurs evening; household chores and Bible study prep on Saturdays; Sunday School, Sunday lunch and evening service on Sundays. Some weeks are ok, but others find me tired, and struggling with bad health. That is my sad news. Now for the happier stuff.

Our lounge suite is starting to get thread bare, so I ordered throws from the UK to cover them and give the lounge a face lift. I replaced the manse curtains with Arthur's old bedroom curtains, a few scatter cushions, and hey presto, a new lounge.Danny has started helping me clean a manse room or two on Tuesdays and Thursdays. (We had to get her roped in to her new role....) I truly appreciate her help. The baby is growing at a rapid rate, and all seems to be well with both Danny and the baby.

I have been trying to find a well made cupboard ever since we arrived on St Helena, and more especially since we knew that we would have an extra person living with us from next month. At last, I found the nephew of one of our church's adherents, Alan Richards. He is an excellent carpenter, and had an 'almost finished' cupboard in the style (and price) that I was looking for. The finished cupboard will hopefully be delivered to the manse next Saturday.

Arthur's garden has been growing well. We had a few servings of lovely peas before worms got into them. They have also been feeding heavily on the tomato plants. We are learning to cope with the hassles and problems of gardening as we go. In spite of the worms, we have also had 2 very nice pickings of spinach, 3 lettuces and a constant supply of fresh herbs.

Last Sunday, the Sunday school children came over to the manse, as usual. They wandered into the kitchen and wanted to know what I was cooking for lunch, because all they could see was 'a bunch of green stuff'. (Saint children eat very little vegetables)

5 weeks to go before Danny and Arthur are married. It is going to be a VERY simple affair, but will also mean that life at the manse will change as first one, then another life swells our numbers.

Vincent and Vilma March left for a 3 month visit with their 2 sons on the Falklands, and Steve and Maureen Terry returned from their 3 month visit with their family and friends in the UK.