Giving Christmas Away

I don't know about you, but I always prefer giving at Christmas to receiving. I love to see the delight on others' faces as they open their gifts and always hope that the thought that I put into buying something appropriate is appreciated.

This year in church Babs talked about Giving Christmas Away to those less fortunate than ourselves. She had already seen the profound affect that being with Fermina at the hospice had had on me, so she asked people to "Give Away" to the hospice.

The patients there have little or nothing. Most arrive without even a toothbrush, so we decided to make up parcels of toiletries. We are a small congregation but people gave generously.

Last week Mags, Gwen and I took the parcels up to the hospice where they were very well received by some of the young staff there.

A great Christmas

Christmas 2011 will be etched in my memory forever. This was the first Christmas that I have been able to spend here with friends since I came out here more than fourteen years ago. Normally we are in different hemispheres as our furlough falls in a different cycle.

I was awakened at 6.30am this morning by the excited voices of Sam and Ben next door as they opened their presents. Eventually they came across Santa's main gift among the half chewed carrots left for the reindeer outside their front door. They each received a bicycle. Santa was "Ace!"

We then swapped presents. The boys had several presents for me of the culinary variety, including a new spud peeler. I had bought them a snooker set. (I think that they approved).

Before breakfast I set about preparing a stack of vegetables ready to roast after church.

Later the Hickmott family invited Hannah and me to a special pancake breakfast. (Actually I think that Sam was more concerned that I should bring my maple syrup, than myself. He would eat it by the bucket load, given half a chance).

After breakfast we went to the English church. It was a great service led by Mags and Gwen in festive garb.

The theme was about Heaven.
At the start of the service the children were given a chance to draw their own idea of Heaven.

Some of them then explained their drawings. They were interesting.

Every child had an opportunity to show their pictures.

There was also a wordsearch competition for families to work together on.

Mags and Gwen led us through Revelations and pictures of Heaven.

After church we all gathered for mince pies and coffee

and then it was a case of rushing home to put together the lunch. Twenty of us congregated at Mags and Gwen's house. We all contributed towards a traditional English Christmas lunch. My offering was roasted vegs, a chicken and two Christmas puddings. There was also turkey, pork and beef. (We cannot get a ham here.)

 It was a great effort on everybody's part and we feasted very well, seated round three tables which were crammed into Mags and Gwen's breakfast room.

Some of us tackled the washing up as we went along so that it was not a major effort at the end. There are no dishwashers here! (other than us).

Most people stayed until around 5.00pm. It was a lovely day.

Happy Holidays!

After a long and busy year I was desperate to get away from Asuncion and work. When my lovely Irish neighbours suggested a trip to Misiones, I jumped at the opportunity.

It was the most wonderful break. I loved being with the family. The two
boys, Sam and Ben, were incredibly well-behaved compared to their usual antics.

We went to Santa Maria De Fe, a little village in the countryside, in Misiones. There we were treated like royalty. The villagers were so friendly. The hotel is very small, with only three rooms, so we filled it. It is delightful, with a little wooden chapel at the end of the garden.

We were taken to Margaret Hebblethwaite's house, to her ressurrection garden, which is beautiful. (Margaret writes books about Paraguay. She is currently in UK).

Margaret set up a sewing cooperative in the village, where ladies sew applique scenes of Paraguay. These are then made into various goods such as t-shirts, wall-hangings, little purses etc. The goods are sold in gift shops in Asuncion and are also exported, bringing an income to the community.

We were also taken to a local farm, where there was a new-born calf and a Capybara (the largest rodent in the World).

We fed bananas to Howler monkeys that live in the trees in the main square.

We visited the local museum with exhibits from the Jesuit ruins.

In the early evening we went out on an ox-cart. It was a bit bumpy sitting on a plank of wood.

We were fed local food which was delicious.

It was a very relaxing place to be.

To top it all there was a fiesta on the last evening. It was due to start at 8.00p.m. but in true Paraguayan style, it started very late. The mayor made long speeches and all the little children were waiting to dance. The dancing began at around 11.00 pm.

There was also a group of young adult dancers who were excellent.

Mini gauchos (cowboys) strut their stuff

In the afternoon we had been taken to the house of the local harp

teacher. He and his pupil played later that evening.

There was only one down point, (not the villagers' fault) when we had
a power cut for several hours, in the hottest part of the day. It
was 42C!!!!

On day three we drove to the ruins at San Cosme and St Damian. I had been thirteen years ago not knowing anything about it and I was unable to find anybody to tell me anything. Now it is much better. We had a guide and also visited an observatory there. It was all very interesting and the
boys had loads of questions to ask. They are so bright.

From there we drove across country to Bella Vista where we stayed in the plush Papillon hotel for a couple of nights so that we could visit the largest Jesuit ruins at Trinidad.

We went to the ruins in the early morning and then spent the rest of the day in the swimming pool at the hotel.

This is the life for me.

After dinner, in the evening, we went back to the ruins for the Music and light Festival. We were almost the only people there and we had a personal tour. It was kind of eerie, walking in the darkness. The stars above us were so clear and beautiful.

I wish that I could give you sound too. Unfortunately the wind howled over it when I took a video, so I could not add that. Some of it was a bit reminiscent of the music from the film The Mission. It was a really fantastic spectacular and for once we felt cool.

All in all it was a great break. Now we have Christmas fun ahead.