92 years old

I forgot my camera, and do not have a photo.  It was Rose Stevens' 92nd birthday today.  She attends our Cape Villa Bible studies, and we had a little celebration for her.  The Saints age amazingly well.  Here is a lady who has only recently stopped dying her hair because she had no wrinkles to match the grey hair!!  She genuinely has far fewer wrinkles than what this Whitey does, who is 30 years younger than her.  Will post a photo of her next week.

Chapel re-opening date set

We were hoping to reopen the Jamestown chapel for Easter, but the renovations are not proceeding as quickly as we had hoped.  e.g. one has to wait for the plaster on the walls to dry before painting them.  So we have provisionally set the re-opening date as 28th April.

Danny's Birthday

Today was a special day for Danny.  She is now 18 years old, and no longer considered a minor.  It is also mothers day on St Helena.  We decided to take a ride out to Ruperts Bay and have a picnic lunch with her folks.  There is no beach to speak of, but we did see a few waves, and a man washing his dog in the water.

When we came home we tried to paint Hannah's palms and feet so that we could take palm and foot prints for Danny.  We put her in the bath, without any water it it, and had a great time making a mess and not really achieving what we wanted.  THEN we discovered that the paints we had used were not as water soluble as we thought....

                          

Abigail

Today I had 4 children arrive for Sunday School  (i.e. instead of just my faithful 2).  The attraction?  We were going to walk the dogs after the lesson.  Abigail posing with a matching hat.

St Helena buying

There are very few clothing or shoe shops available on the island, so when the Salvation Army holds their bi-monthly sale of 2nd hand goods, we make sure that we are there.  This week there was also a car boot sale at Pillings School.  So we (me, Arthur, Danny and her mom) spent a happy hour or 2 between the 2 places and came home with an arm full of treasures.  Toys and books, an abacus, and clothes and even a pair of 2nd hand, a bit big, but good shoes for Hannah.  At he moment, she walks bare feet a lot, (with Arthur and my encouragement) due to a lack of toddler shoes on the island.

I bought 3 pairs of trousers - for 3 pounds.  They were all marked the same size, but when I tried them on at home, one fitted, one was too small, and one was too big.  So I will take the 2 back that don't fit, and the Salvation Army can re-sell them.  (That is how we do clothing shopping here)

Doreen Bagley spotted the most beautifully made knitted doll, and bought it for Hannah - 50p.  I imagine that it was made by a German or Swiss lady - it would easily win first prize in a craft competition - the stitching is almost perfect.

Here is Hannah "shoosh-ing" her Susie.

And pressing the button to make "turtle" sing.

Hannah LOVES apples.  She will munch away on one for ages.  Here she is "munching"

Guess who is my favourite little person....

The Chapel is getting fixed!!

After many delays, and slow moves, we have finally got the artisans humming in the chapel.  While Graeme works in his study, he can hear them banging away next door during the day.

The damaged floor boards have been replaced/ fixed.  The railing on the balcony has been replaced and fixed.  The lights have been fitted.

The ant eaten window frame has been removed

and replaced.

The carpet and new vacuum cleaner has been bought.

Just a few more weeks to finish off the last of the wood work repairs, fill in the holes in the walls, paint the walls, clean and polish the floors, roll out the carpet, and ring the bell to call the folks to worship!!

It has been a long haul since Aug 2008, but, as usual, our Lord has been the Ever Faithful One, and has moved His people to bring in the money needed.  We have just had to learn patience.

A BIG thank you to all who arranged fund raisers, gave of their sweat and time and money, AND PRAYED over the past 3 and 1/2 years.

Visit with Hannah

My darling little granddaughter is walking now - or should I rather say,waddling.  She is such a little character.  Arthur and Danny brought her to visit with me for a while today.


"Shall I play you a tune?"

"How was that?"

She still loves to "dance", and her whole little body starts gyrating as soon as she hears music - be it in church, or on the TV, or a Granny's voice croaking out a song.