Remembrance Sunday

Graeme and John Reid went in uniform this year.  John laid a wreath for the RAF.

 Madam Hannah

 Hannah with a "sad face"

 Watching the "goings on" 

 The Cenotaph

 We are safe, because he is on duty....  Our Arthur

 The police that were on duty at the service

 John, Graeme, Danny, Hannah, Brenda (Nanny)

Graeme's Garden

Gardening/farming provides us with a lot of spiritual lessons, and Graeme's garden has been no exception.  He has put a lot of effort into it, and we have enjoyed the fruit of his labours.  We have eaten broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, turnips, chillis, parsley, lettuce, tomatoes, beet root, carrots, spring onions, pumpkin, spinach, basil, egg plant.  The cats enjoy the garden, and enjoy being with him when he works in it.  HOWEVER, the nasties (white fly, caterpillars, aphids, powdery mildew, snails, etc) also enjoy the fruit of Graeme's labour, and for the moment, he has given in to them.  The garden is in "recess" while he digs everything up, before starting over again.

A broccoli plant in flower, with a few ripe chillies in the background

Huge tomato plants held up with ties

Dash, the cat, enjoying the grass and the sun

2014 Carnival

Here are some pics of this year's carnival parade, that, very conveniently, passes our front door each year.

                                                Hazel, trying to get into the mood.                                        

     

Danny

                                                       

Hannah, watching all the strange people walk down the street

                             

Sunday School

I have had one young teenager who has been a faithful attendee (and often the only one) for the past year.  Tiffany Herne.  Our activities after the lesson are random, but we enjoy them.  We have made pencil cases, iced biscuits, made paper mache bowls, and now we have completed a minature trinket box out of match boxes covered in fancy fabric and glued together to make drawers.

Hannah's First Day at School

Hannah was allowed to start school early.  She only turns 3 yrs on 18 Dec, but she seemed to be ready for the Big Step.  She goes to the Harford Primary School at Longwood.  One of the lovely things about St Helena, is the safety.  Can you imagine putting your 2 yr old on a bus, and waving good bye as she goes to school, with no anxiety in your heart?  Well, that is normal on St Helena.

Hannah

I just love interacting with little people when they first start talking and letting you know what is going on in their little brains.  Here are some of my favourite incidents with Hannah - bear in mind that she was between 2 years and 3 to 6 months at the time : -

Hannah rushed out of the manse into the road without looking out for oncoming traffic.  Arthur was a little ahead of her, and reprimanded her saying, "You know you must always hold a hand when you walk in the street!"  She stood there, thought a little, then clasped her left hand with her right hand, and carried on walking....

She is learning all about big things, vs small ones, and constantly tells you that something is bigger or smaller than another.  The other day I was on the toilet, when she walked in.  She stood looking at me for a moment or two, then announced,  "You've got a big bum; I've got a little bum".

One day, she was acting up, and being difficult.  I picked her up and told her, "You're just a little rubbish".  To my surprise, she replied, "Not rubbish -- The Best".  I later on found out that Arthur tells her "Hannah is the Best".

Hannah loves feeling Graeme's beard.  The other Sunday, she was sitting at the back of the church with me, when Graeme left the pulpit, came forward, and announced, "Let us pray."  Like a shot, she ran down the aisle to Gampa, and held up her arms for him to pick her up, which he did.  She quickly ran her little fingers up and down his beard, jumped out of his arms, and ran back to me.....  (One wonders what went through her mind at that particular moment.)  Graeme just carried on praying as if nothing unusual had happened.

1 month old

Our Dutch/Ukranian grandchild, Amy, is one month old today.  How I wish that I could see her, and hold her.  At least I have photos.