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.