Determined Audrey

Every month that has 5 Sundays, we have a "combined service", instead of the usual 3 church services at the 3 different chapels.  Dear Audrey Joshua (85 yrs) is very deaf, and lives with her son, and can only get to church on these combined services.  She really looks forward to them.  On this Sunday, however, her son went to work, and completely forgot that he had to be back in time to take her to the service at 2.30pm.

At 9pm we had a knock on the door of the manse.  Guess what?  Audrey made her other son bring her to visit with us, and explain why she was not in church!!  We visited for about an hour.  The dogs and cats also made her welcome.

What a treasure to have people like her in our church.

Boxing day

Arthur and Danny had to work, and instead of sending Hannah to her Nanny Brenda, who usually looks after her, I offered to spend the day with Hannah.  My, but she is exhausting.  Never still for a moment.  Wanting me to "read book" with her, or "play blocks", or sing with the tambourine, or "play outside", or "drink milk", or eat, or go to the toilet....

From 3 pm onwards on boxing day, the Saints usually meet in the middle of Jamestown.  The street is blocked off, and races and dancing and eating and drinking takes place.

  I took Hannah there (while clever Graeme stayed at home visiting with his friend, John Reid).  After eating some ice cream, Hannah just sat staring at all the people around her.

  But as soon as the music started, she was up and dancing and enjoying being part of the activities.

At 5pm, I staggered up the hill with Hannah walking next to me, and dropped her off at her Nanny and Pappa's home (one street away from the manse).

5th Christmas on St Helena

While Graeme rushed off on Christmas morning, to hold services in Sandy Bay, and at Head O'Wain, I started preparing the turkey (yes, I actually found one this year) for the oven.  Graeme read from Isa 9, and brought home how the area around Galilee was considered a land of God's judgement and darkness.  It was in that area that Christ came to live and bring light.  The story of Jesus is ever one of bringing light and joy into places of darkness and sorrow.

At the Jamestown service, there was a man from the Christian motor bikers in SA.  Graeme asked him where he was spending the day.  He had nowhere to go, so he joined us - Arthur, Danny, Hannah, Brenda, Clarence, Graeme, Hazel, and Mike the motorbike guy.

Danny's parents brought the Saint traditional Christmas food - curry.  Usually it is goat meat curry, but they made a pork curry.  As usual, there was more than enough good, tasty food.

We all received lovely gifts, but Hannah received so many gifts from friends and family, it was almost embarrassing.  Here she is, wearing her beads, and with her "dinosaurs" and other gifts nearby, playing with her "computer", while Arthur tries out her magnetic drawing slate.

Garden growing

Graeme is putting a lot of effort into the back garden, and bits of green are starting to appear.  In the back, radishes are sprouting; a chilly bush in the front; and a tiny watermelon plant has sprouted behind a stick marking it's place right in the corner, near the chilly bush.

Summer has finally hit Jamestown, and it has become very hot and dry.  Dash, the cat, loves lying on the cool soil after Graeme has watered the beds.

I have a few days off work, starting tomorrow, and hope to get some extra cleaning and tidying done around the manse.

Hannah's birthday party

Although Hannah's real birthday is only in 4 days' time, her play group met today, and celebrated her birthday with her.  They had a bouncy castle,

games, lots of goodies to eat (including birthday cake),

Father Christmas visiting with gifts, and ice cream cones.
















 Hannah thoroughly enjoys interacting with other children.