Hannah

Every 2nd or 3rd weekend, Arthur and Danny sleep over at the manse, and we get to spend some time with Hannah.  Each week she does and says new things.  She LOVES the telephone.  Here is a sequence of photos, with my added captions.
                                                         " Hullo, Hannah speaking..."

                                                             "Ooh, tasty bit of gossip...."

                                                                     "How terrible!"

                                                               "Must tell Mary"

One of our church folk (Wendy Henry) told me that she saw Hannah outside her Nana's flat the other day.  She was passing wet clothes to her Nana (Danny's mom) to hang on the clothes line.  She said "Hullo" to Wendy, and then informed her "I working."

91 years old

Today is Mildred John's 91st birthday.  She is an amazing lady.  Still reads WITHOUT glasses, and walks without a stick, and has the most beautiful skin.  She has become a special part of our group in Jamestown.

The rains have come as usual during August, and with them, the beautifull arum lillies are once again lining the roads

Week end with Arthur and family

I had an enjoyable week end.  Arthur and Danny and Hannah slept over and I was able to spend a little more time with Hannah.  The stairs are her favourite spot in the manse.  We sit and "read book" on the bottom stairs;

 or count to 10 as we climb the stairs, making sure we "hold on" to the railing;

or we can have a tickle and a cuddle.

Arthur managed to save a little turtle dove from the claws of the cat.  Needless to say, we, as well as our neighbours, no longer have a problem with mice.

20 months old

Our little Hannah is 20 months old today.  She is such a little character, and is speaking more clearly by the week.  At the moment, I am impressed that she can count to ten.  She likes to count the steps when she climbs the stairs at the manse.
She can also say all the words of the song "Jesus loves me".  BUT, we have to play the tambourine and shake the shakers when we sing.  She loves organising people. Last night she made me and her papa play the 2 tambourines, while her nana and mama each had to shake a shaker, while she "conducted" and bounced up and down singing "Jesus loves me."

From not being able to sit, to...

Cheeky faced toddler

Raymond Isaac

They are having a photographic competition to find photos that reflect the essence of St Helena.  Just for a lark I submitted these 3.

The Castle gate, 2010

Carnival kids, 2012

Raymaond Isaac, 2013

Constable Beckett

We attended a ceremony where Arthur and 3 ladies received certificates after completing their training as St Helenian police officers. Speeches were given by the chief of police and the governor and the training sergeant. Arthur gave the speech on behalf of his colleagues.

The official officer

Group photo

Family photo

Granny and Hannah

On the way to the car, Hannah spotted a public phone booth, and insisted on "phoning" 

I have always been fascinated by insects and strange creatures.  Just before leaving for Arthur's ceremony, I spotted an unusual bug on the wall outside the manse.  Its body was a little bigger than my thumb nail.
No one on St Helena that I showed the photo to, has ever seen it before.  I wonder what it is.

                                  

Farewell to Regan

Regan Backhouse left on the RMS this morning, bound for Ascension Island.  She will spend a few weeks there with family and friends before going to the UK to start life in a boarding school.  She will be missed - especially by Pat and Prudie (her grandparents) with whom she has lived for the past 6 or so years.

                                                         Regan and Prudie at the wharf

Regan and her school firends