tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49245264480320798112024-03-16T09:41:40.939+00:00 Mama's Random thoughtsMama Mpirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286444396409505857noreply@blogger.comBlogger686125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4924526448032079811.post-26076388821276753762024-02-14T09:50:00.008+00:002024-03-16T09:17:31.049+00:00Delightful December<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">December started to dry up... for a time. The first two weeks were spent finishing off at school and preparing to go to Tanzania in the middle of the month. This entailed much ordering from – and checking on the arrival of – items from Amazon, both Christmas presents from us and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">a lengthy list</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> of necessities and presents on Adele’s behalf. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Fortunately, everything arrived </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">in</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">good time</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW209214034 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-ccp-props="{}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></span></p><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW209214034 BCX8" paraeid="{c678c97e-d078-4de3-8d3c-10a8f1347d0c}{187}" paraid="250783530" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">The packing </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">wasn’t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> too </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">bad, actually</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I’d</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> just </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">acquired</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> a new, larger suitcase in which everything fitted.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> The return journey, on the other hand, entailed one of our cabin suitcases packed carefully inside, as we had so little to bring back! Sadly, the new suitcase had a wheel removed by baggage handlers between Kilimanjaro and Heathrow – but that would be a story for January.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW209214034 BCX8" paraeid="{c678c97e-d078-4de3-8d3c-10a8f1347d0c}{211}" paraid="305216893" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Meanwhile, we fitted in a few lovely social things with friends. First off was a ‘</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">drinky</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">poos’</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> at Nicky and Richard’s, to welcome their friend Andrew who would be staying to look after the house and Maddie the dog while they were in Australia for </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">6 weeks</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. A simple ‘few drinks’ was an elaborate affair with all kinds of delicious nibbles. It was only a couple of days before they were due to leave, but Nicky spent much of the evening hovering over a hot stove and then triumphantly bearing round platters of smoked salmon, sausages, crispy Chinese spring rolls... a never-ending stream of food. As for their friends: what a </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">marvellous</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> group of people. Great fun and incredibly nice while being endlessly charming. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW209214034 BCX8" paraeid="{c678c97e-d078-4de3-8d3c-10a8f1347d0c}{236}" paraid="503539117" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">We rolled home as late as if we had been at a dinner party... ready to host a brunch the next morning for friends Bryan and Tricia, living in St Peters and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">almost our</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> nearest friends. The following weekend was tea with Kareena and then out to supper with Lis and James </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">– such</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> a kind couple who are always a joy to be with. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW209214034 BCX8" paraeid="{c678c97e-d078-4de3-8d3c-10a8f1347d0c}{253}" paraid="852822307" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">And then... we were off to Tanzania for a couple of weeks. Just getting off the island by plane is always a bit of an adventure, wondering if weather or technical problems will delay us. But all was well. We met, briefly, friends Susie and Paul who were on the same flight, quickly catching up as we waited for our baggage, before catching the coach to Heathrow.</span><span class="EOP SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW209214034 BCX8" paraeid="{2803dd74-e3ae-49a1-a411-7f9d558dded6}{4}" paraid="1654439387" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">It’s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> not simple, coming from Guernsey</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Especially travelling during the London rush hour. A walk through arrivals to find the coach stop; finding the right coach; getting off at the Central Bus Station at Heathrow; finding the lifts – and the right floor for the train to take us to Terminal 4 – and yet more walking; negotiating the strange train system, where we still needed a ticket for the train journey (unlike the shuttle between North and South Terminals at Gatwick) and had to ensure that we didn’t end up on a train which took us into London instead; finding the right lift AND the right floor at Terminal 4, which was tricky: we squeezed in to an overcrowded lift, pushed our way out again at the next stop, slightly panicking, only to find that we were at the entrance to a car park. The next lift was completely empty. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW209214034 BCX8" paraeid="{2803dd74-e3ae-49a1-a411-7f9d558dded6}{12}" paraid="1794156228" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">By the time we got to Terminal 4, Someone had almost lost his sense of </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">humour</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, so I left him collapsed on a bench while I tried to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">locate</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> the hotel. A few seconds later, and there was a sign saying ‘hotels’... a longish walk down an eerie, draughty walkway took us to yet another lift which </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">didn’t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> seem to want to take us anywhere – until we </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">realised</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> that we were pressing the button for the same floor as we were already on... it had been a Long Day.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW209214034 BCX8" paraeid="{2803dd74-e3ae-49a1-a411-7f9d558dded6}{37}" paraid="1264319002" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Yet, walking into Reception was the best part of the journey. Welcoming and airy, it opened out onto a bar and restaurant area with even a little coffee shop/snack bar as well. Everything the weary </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">traveller</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> could need. The room was quiet, the bed super comfortable, and there was even an actual bath; a real treat. We were quite sorry that we were leaving so early (4am for a 6.30 flight) and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">couldn’t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> take advantage of the breakfast offer.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW209214034 BCX8" paraeid="{2803dd74-e3ae-49a1-a411-7f9d558dded6}{51}" paraid="158075623" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">All quite straightforward, in the end, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">despite</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> not really knowing where we were going. One of us usually looks it all up in advance, but this time it really was a journey of discovery which involved </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">actually reading</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> and following signs. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW209214034 BCX8" paraeid="{2803dd74-e3ae-49a1-a411-7f9d558dded6}{65}" paraid="569268469" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">It could have been worse: we </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">didn’t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">actually have</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> to ask anyone what to do, partly because as we approached the train station, a train employee was standing at the entrance handing out the free tickets necessary for going through the turnstiles. (This seemed </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">strange</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> at the time: it was only on the return journey that I noticed the ticket machines. The press of people had completely obscured them from view on our way out – handing out the tickets </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">evidently saved</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> a lot of confusion, crowding and hassle.)</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW209214034 BCX8" paraeid="{2803dd74-e3ae-49a1-a411-7f9d558dded6}{93}" paraid="1872695725" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">We were to travel to Amsterdam for our connecting flight to Kilimanjaro. All went well; Amsterdam was easy; the flights were mostly on time; and</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, generally, it</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> was all a better experience than in 2022 where KLM was obviously suffering the effects of Covid on its staffing. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW209214034 BCX8" paraeid="{2803dd74-e3ae-49a1-a411-7f9d558dded6}{106}" paraid="1890254915" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Going through immigration was the usual lengthy process, but at least we had obtained visas online before we came, but it was not too long before we arrived in the baggage hall to collect our luggage.</span><span class="EOP SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW209214034 BCX8" paraeid="{2803dd74-e3ae-49a1-a411-7f9d558dded6}{112}" paraid="1518808854" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Except we </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">couldn’t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. Yet again, for the second time running, our bags did not travel with us. After filling out the forms (this time, I had the sense to take a photograph of the claim form) we </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">emerged</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> into a warm African night and a taxi waiting for us.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW209214034 BCX8" paraeid="{2803dd74-e3ae-49a1-a411-7f9d558dded6}{129}" paraid="1559545779" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">It only took about an hour and a quarter, late in the evening, to reach the Aga Khan estate on the other side of Arusha, courtesy of the new bypass which was </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">in the process of being</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> built on our last visit. Another five minutes of slow, careful driving into the estate, over a potholed dirt road, and we arrived at Jonny and Adele’s bungalow. Finn, of course, had been asleep for hours but Adele was still pottering, finishing off his birthday cake for the next day.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW209214034 BCX8" paraeid="{2803dd74-e3ae-49a1-a411-7f9d558dded6}{135}" paraid="1440083407" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">What a joy to be with them – such a homecoming in many ways. Not just to be with family – although that was by far the best part of our trip – but also to be back in Africa. </span><span class="EOP SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW209214034 BCX8" paraeid="{2803dd74-e3ae-49a1-a411-7f9d558dded6}{141}" paraid="1593732498" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">The days passed with waking to a wonderful dawn chorus – there is just nothing like the sound of the birds in East Africa. Playing with Finn, leisurely breakfasts, sitting in the garden, admiring Jonny’s carefully cultivated </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,PD94bWwgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4wIiBlbmNvZGluZz0iVVRGLTgiPz4KPHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iNXB4IiBoZWlnaHQ9IjRweCIgdmlld0JveD0iMCAwIDUgNCIgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4xIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHhtbG5zOnhsaW5rPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8xOTk5L3hsaW5rIj4KICAgIDwhLS0gR2VuZXJhdG9yOiBTa2V0Y2ggNTYuMiAoODE2NzIpIC0gaHR0cHM6Ly9za2V0Y2guY29tIC0tPgogICAgPHRpdGxlPnNwZWxsaW5nX3NxdWlnZ2xlPC90aXRsZT4KICAgIDxkZXNjPkNyZWF0ZWQgd2l0aCBTa2V0Y2guPC9kZXNjPgogICAgPGcgaWQ9IkZsYWdzIiBzdHJva2U9Im5vbmUiIHN0cm9rZS13aWR0aD0iMSIgZmlsbD0ibm9uZSIgZmlsbC1ydWxlPSJldmVub2RkIj4KICAgICAgICA8ZyB0cmFuc2Zvcm09InRyYW5zbGF0ZSgtMTAxMC4wMDAwMDAsIC0yOTYuMDAwMDAwKSIgaWQ9InNwZWxsaW5nX3NxdWlnZ2xlIj4KICAgICAgICAgICAgPGcgdHJhbnNmb3JtPSJ0cmFuc2xhdGUoMTAxMC4wMDAwMDAsIDI5Ni4wMDAwMDApIj4KICAgICAgICAgICAgICAgIDxwYXRoIGQ9Ik0wLDMgQzEuMjUsMyAxLjI1LDEgMi41LDEgQzMuNzUsMSAzLjc1LDMgNSwzIiBpZD0iUGF0aCIgc3Ryb2tlPSIjRUIwMDAwIiBzdHJva2Utd2lkdGg9IjEiPjwvcGF0aD4KICAgICAgICAgICAgICAgIDxyZWN0IGlkPSJSZWN0YW5nbGUiIHg9IjAiIHk9IjAiIHdpZHRoPSI1IiBoZWlnaHQ9IjQiPjwvcmVjdD4KICAgICAgICAgICAgPC9nPgogICAgICAgIDwvZz4KICAgIDwvZz4KPC9zdmc+')); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">vege</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> patch, going swimming in the school pool. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Best of all was to see how happy they all are.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW209214034 BCX8" paraeid="{2803dd74-e3ae-49a1-a411-7f9d558dded6}{151}" paraid="667596315" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Finn is, of course, the perfect grandbaby. Bilingual in both English and Swahili, although some occasions would call for only one language to be used. For example, something that </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">fell down</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> was ALWAYS ‘</span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ameanguka</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">’.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> He has a repertoire of nursery rhymes, knowing the words, singing in </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">tune</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> and then </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">creating </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">his own variations.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW209214034 BCX8" paraeid="{2803dd74-e3ae-49a1-a411-7f9d558dded6}{175}" paraid="1159237571" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">We did a couple of camping trips. The first was to the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Enduimet</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> game reserve on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. Jonny’s aim is always to find somewhere remote, secluded and away from people which we </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">largely achieved</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, although we were visited by an elderly </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Masaai</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> while having our morning coffee break. The reserve had quite a few villages and we could hear cowbells both in the evening and early morning – they were not too far away. </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Birds</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> were lovely, Kili came out in the evening and just being out in the bush was wonderful. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW209214034 BCX8" paraeid="{2803dd74-e3ae-49a1-a411-7f9d558dded6}{197}" paraid="1696660842" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">From </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Enduimet</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, we went to Simba Farm for a night, camping again but eating an evening meal in the lodge. It was quite international – a large Dutch family were journeying from South Africa northwards, travelling overland for a year on their way from a stint in Dubai, as were a German couple. </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Interesting</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> to see so many </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">different places</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, but I have always preferred to spend time with people rather than ‘taking’ as a passing tourist. Would I do something like </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">that, if</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> I had my time again? I </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">don’t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> know, but I </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">don’t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> think so. The precious years of working in Sweden and then western Kenya are enriching in uncountable ways. </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">The interactions</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, relationships and friendships are just so </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">meaningful..</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW209214034 BCX8" paraeid="{2803dd74-e3ae-49a1-a411-7f9d558dded6}{231}" paraid="509298193" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Another trip was to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Randilen</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, a reserve on the edge of Tarangire Park. Again, we saw no one except for the ranger at the entrance and had the ‘campsite’ to ourselves: on the edge of a dried </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">up river</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> bed with an enormous fig tree in the middle, home to a huge troop of baboons and a couple of vervet monkeys. We were rewarded with a visit from elephants in the early evening as we sat quietly listening to birds and enjoying the peace and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">tranquillity</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW209214034 BCX8" paraeid="{2803dd74-e3ae-49a1-a411-7f9d558dded6}{249}" paraid="1424819101" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">En route home, we visited the small piece of land which Jonny </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,PD94bWwgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4wIiBlbmNvZGluZz0iVVRGLTgiPz4KPHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iNXB4IiBoZWlnaHQ9IjNweCIgdmlld0JveD0iMCAwIDUgMyIgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4xIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHhtbG5zOnhsaW5rPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8xOTk5L3hsaW5rIj4KICAgIDwhLS0gR2VuZXJhdG9yOiBTa2V0Y2ggNTUuMiAoNzgxODEpIC0gaHR0cHM6Ly9za2V0Y2hhcHAuY29tIC0tPgogICAgPHRpdGxlPmdyYW1tYXJfZG91YmxlX2xpbmU8L3RpdGxlPgogICAgPGRlc2M+Q3JlYXRlZCB3aXRoIFNrZXRjaC48L2Rlc2M+CiAgICA8ZyBpZD0iZ3JhbW1hcl9kb3VibGVfbGluZSIgc3Ryb2tlPSJub25lIiBzdHJva2Utd2lkdGg9IjEiIGZpbGw9Im5vbmUiIGZpbGwtcnVsZT0iZXZlbm9kZCIgc3Ryb2tlLWxpbmVjYXA9InJvdW5kIj4KICAgICAgICA8ZyBpZD0iR3JhbW1hci1UaWxlLUNvcHkiIHN0cm9rZT0iIzMzNTVGRiI+CiAgICAgICAgICAgIDxwYXRoIGQ9Ik0wLDAuNSBMNSwwLjUiIGlkPSJMaW5lLTItQ29weS0xMCI+PC9wYXRoPgogICAgICAgICAgICA8cGF0aCBkPSJNMCwyLjUgTDUsMi41IiBpZD0iTGluZS0yLUNvcHktMTEiPjwvcGF0aD4KICAgICAgICA8L2c+CiAgICA8L2c+Cjwvc3ZnPg==')); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">has</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> bought with friends: a quiet place to come and camp, or just spend the day, with the possibility of quickly going into Tarangire for a game drive. Remote - and yet with </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">neighbours</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> right next door. Distances are huge in Africa, but relationships are close.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW209214034 BCX8" paraeid="{87dc6f38-71dd-4c2f-a8c4-5c959608440d}{8}" paraid="1004272328" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">As for animals... I lost count. Only elephants of ‘the big five</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">’,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> but it seemed inconsequential. After so many years in Kenya, it was lovely to see animals but not the purpose of our visit. However, it was a delight to see dozens of giraffes; several silver-backed jackals, a </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">relatively rare</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> sight for us; a multitude of zebra, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">impala</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> and many </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">many</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Thomson’s gazelles; warthogs; and even a hinged tortoise, scuttling to safety as we waited in the midday heat for paperwork to be completed. A little aside: the long-drop toilet near the entrance had a convenient bucket full of water at the side, complete with scoop for flushing. As I looked, I saw the surface of the water moving, then something </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">evidently swimming</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. A small rat desperately tried to take a gasping breath as it paddled frantically, trying to get out. Richard took pity on it, scooping it out and leaving it to recover in a sodden heap.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW209214034 BCX8" paraeid="{87dc6f38-71dd-4c2f-a8c4-5c959608440d}{34}" paraid="1105907536" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Adele had already scooped up water without noticing the rodent in residence. Fortunately, she had, by habit, washed her hands thoroughly in the plastic basin outside.</span><span class="EOP SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW209214034 BCX8" paraeid="{87dc6f38-71dd-4c2f-a8c4-5c959608440d}{40}" paraid="1523342888" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Don’t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> think </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">I’ve</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> ever </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">encountered</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> a drowning rat before.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW209214034 BCX8" paraeid="{87dc6f38-71dd-4c2f-a8c4-5c959608440d}{56}" paraid="1395779455" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">We were, of course, there for Christmas as well as Finn’s birthday: a </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; 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background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">lovely relaxed</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> day, around 12 of us altogether, eating together and sitting on the huge verandah.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW209214034 BCX8" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{86c02ee6-d2a3-4674-a6f4-ca8d418a3e9c}{98}" paraid="1142070177" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Other highlights: walks with Finn through the estate, finding unusual birds, gazing out at the endless bush and hills in front of us. A sudden flash flood, filling the ‘</span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">korongo</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">’ - the deep gully- that bordered the garden – </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">roared loudly</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> one afternoon. Driving: the little ‘</span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">tuk</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">tuks’</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> zipping around, Arusha’s little taxis; huge lorries coming up from Dar-Es-Salaam; ‘piccy piccies’ riding both ways along the same hard shoulder; flocks of goats and herds of cows wandering casually </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">throught</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> the petrol station; going shopping at the local ‘European’ </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">centre</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> – we never encountered a full-on African market while we were there: no need, as everything we needed could be bought locally. And, of course, the frequent swims in the school pool. And a deep sense of joy that the family are exactly where they need to be, in a comfortable living environment and with satisfying work in a great school with wonderful colleagues. (The head seems to be second to none: professional, caring, friendly...and inspiring to work for.)</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW209214034 BCX8" paraeid="{87dc6f38-71dd-4c2f-a8c4-5c959608440d}{66}" paraid="2143444067" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Just one sorrow/regret: we would miss dear Byron and Lisa, still in California, </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">by</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> a few days. None of us could </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">warrant</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> the expense of changing the tickets... for us, it would have added over £1000 to the cost of our flights. Next time</span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">....#</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">livinginhope</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW209214034 BCX8" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{92446239-939a-4a63-af11-9362fc47839b}{204}" paraid="2058651227" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">The journey home was uneventful. This time, Richard flew premium economy for the comfort of his bad back while I flew a few rows behind... not ideal, but it did save a few hundred pounds that we could then use for something else. All well – apart from finding the ‘new’ case had had a wheel broken off on arrival at Heathrow. (But, as I am writing this in FEBRUARY, I am happy to report that, after a few long and carefully considered emails, KLM eventually agreed to refund me for the broken wheel AND for the binoculars which had been stolen out of one of our delayed bags. Which was unexpected, as they had been so unhelpful about cancelled flights the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">previous</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> visit, blaming it all on </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">bad weather</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. Which is another story... as </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Richard could</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> read the pilots’ weather reports and disputed KLM’s claim... water under the bridge, or snowstorm passed </span><span class="NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlAdvancedProofingIssueV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">by, actually</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">.)</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW209214034 BCX8" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{8e02a656-3111-4e18-8b5c-95a322796c4e}{11}" paraid="492548896" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Anyway. Good to be home eventually, with Anne-Marie meeting us at the airport, a rapturous welcome from Pickle and a </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">marvellously</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> clean </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">hous</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">e.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW209214034 BCX8" color="windowtext" data-ccp-props="{}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW209214034 BCX8" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{c34aa35a-965a-4964-934c-40aa76dedb4b}{30}" paraid="644526306" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">We unpacked quickly; hopped in the shower; and went off to Belinda’s New Year’s Eve party for an hour or so. Good to reconnect with friends.</span><span class="EOP SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW209214034 BCX8" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{189b2984-e7cc-4890-8f9d-01341bdbf7ea}{113}" paraid="456405400" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">2023 done and dusted.</span><span class="EOP SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW209214034 BCX8" paraeid="{87dc6f38-71dd-4c2f-a8c4-5c959608440d}{76}" paraid="1734445394" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW209214034 BCX8" paraeid="{87dc6f38-71dd-4c2f-a8c4-5c959608440d}{80}" paraid="760245757" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW209214034 BCX8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW209214034 BCX8" paraeid="{87dc6f38-71dd-4c2f-a8c4-5c959608440d}{84}" paraid="1326606849" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="EOP SCXW209214034 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span></p></div>Mama Mpirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286444396409505857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4924526448032079811.post-30188007501761594872023-12-09T10:58:00.002+00:002024-03-06T16:50:38.580+00:00 Nervous in November<p> November saw Richard getting nervous about my blood pressure…
so I was nervous, with the result that our blood pressure monitor began to show
some very high and alarming readings. It was a very old monitor – at least 15
years – and not an approved type. In the end, I borrowed one from dear Sarah
(who insisted on measuring my BP anyway, in efficient nurse fashion) and found
that, in fact, I had nothing to be concerned about and all was fine. Bought a
more modern and up to date device, and that was that. Phew.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But the real concern of the month was Storm Ciaran, due to
make landfall the night of November 1<sup>st</sup>. For a week,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>both the news and the weather reports showed
experts carefully tracking the storm, trying to predict where it might make
landfall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The radar pictures were quite
astounding. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We prepared, along with the rest of the Channel Islands.
Unusually, Guernsey and Jersey were named frequently in the weather reports and
we knew that we would bear the brunt of the weather. Several rounds of the
garden, stowing away all loose objects, moving tables and pot plants into
shelter – or even inside the house – and even moving the motorhome to a more
sheltered position, tucked in the L of the house to protect it from the wind.
We had really no idea of how bad it would be.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And bad it was. I slept through most of the wind overnight,
using ear plugs, but was awakened around 4.30 am by the wind buffeting the
house, roaring around it in a way we had rarely experienced before. Rain lashed
the trees, the storm stripping them of their leaves and tearing at branches.
Opposite, our neighbour had a dying conifer down, inconveniently straddling the
hedge across half of the road, with the result that all traffic had to slow
down and stop in order to avoid it. The neighbour’s hedge was/is in dire need
of cutting in any case…<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At 8 am our neighbour next door, Catherine, spoke on the
radio of how she and her husband had been awake for much of the night, listening
to tiles falling off the roof. (Her children were unconcerned: two cool teenage
boys and their younger sister, who slept through most of it!) We found shards
of slate in our garden and pieces of tile on the roof, even though the tiles
had come off the roof on the opposite side: it was almost as if a mini tornado
had hit, as the direction that the tiles had been carried made no sense. A week
later, I even found a whole, large slate lying in the middle of a bush at the
back of the garden, well away from the neighbours’ property.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The storm raged all day as we all sheltered indoors. Schools
had been closed and the public urged not to travel, as the emergency services
and the tree surgeons worked to clear the 70 or so trees which had fallen all
over the island. We watched with sadness as television reports showed how a
whole estate on Jersey had been destroyed and families made homeless. We felt
we had got off very lightly in comparison…<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It took a little time the next morning to sweep up the
patio, littered with leaves and berries, and tidy up the front drive. We helped
our neighbour remove much of the tree – although there is still a hefty chunk
peeping out of the hedge.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We began, also, to prepare for our trip to Tanzania at Christmas.
I spent some time, as an avid recycler, in sourcing a second-hand (but barely
used) suitcase to replace an old one which had ripped the last time we
travelled. As a bonus, I found a pair of very comfortable winter boots in my favourite
make for comfort, and two kitchen bar stools to replace ours. Cheap 7 years
ago, they had begun to wobble somewhat dangerously and we knew that it wouldn’t
be long before they broke. Plus a few visits to the toy department of our charity
shop for items for Finn….<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And Richard spent his days up in the loft, installing modern
insulation – at the expense of his back, which became very sore… (and is why we
had to travel Premium Economy to New Zealand…)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The month moved on, the weeks full - as was the bonfire pit. The rear of the garden is prone to flooding and we soon found that the pump would be put to good use as Guernsey endured three times the average amount of daily rainfall within a few hours...</p><p class="MsoNormal">It carried on!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbT5S_Jz0VIvj_RWkfa37vQiB8iJBlA-xMjxjGNeIZ785MRLupHFjEoeiBtb0vhZdWStMvItWJdud9jKUX-AcEFnWQNb_PMqC7vz2e77pgOrMlzGdkpwkVZ-3f10A2BKSoHIzl04yIeUBOVo-Kju5eIHxBaGfWGL7qvZsUNnxbJtceVGqPIeKn0Apb20/s2177/Screenshot_20231102_065740_Chrome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2177" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbT5S_Jz0VIvj_RWkfa37vQiB8iJBlA-xMjxjGNeIZ785MRLupHFjEoeiBtb0vhZdWStMvItWJdud9jKUX-AcEFnWQNb_PMqC7vz2e77pgOrMlzGdkpwkVZ-3f10A2BKSoHIzl04yIeUBOVo-Kju5eIHxBaGfWGL7qvZsUNnxbJtceVGqPIeKn0Apb20/s320/Screenshot_20231102_065740_Chrome.jpg" width="159" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkySNJJoM0bmcsa9SOcaNuAiBOk0FYxwKDUIj-7Q2Ad4QbC5T39-DzlSiZG8h16948QrYasdzUjtpUOUsS37j5LVq5OZnmXlpR2-FCaw5bXr-BFvPATvgo998gF-02yejXGcoMQkj9iBzsOzR0L3wRxl19t56IhN1OnuIV9oBd9pESE1oeMTBc30gyDZQ/s4624/20231101_184334.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkySNJJoM0bmcsa9SOcaNuAiBOk0FYxwKDUIj-7Q2Ad4QbC5T39-DzlSiZG8h16948QrYasdzUjtpUOUsS37j5LVq5OZnmXlpR2-FCaw5bXr-BFvPATvgo998gF-02yejXGcoMQkj9iBzsOzR0L3wRxl19t56IhN1OnuIV9oBd9pESE1oeMTBc30gyDZQ/s320/20231101_184334.heic" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBqxvPgUEqZFNtuNBuxOwx9DqU5PxSWAUtGsP3HzMqjza5nEw7mwr8XJ8r87Qxw3ccw54Fh6qEgdKBvHjOHDPAbjjDXmdqi2biOsrLZEdhtRllG8kRlWMxVCqUJwxbNSZJG8Z3qiYPtOfIvZRbrnO8t0YVC-3ar9KfdsPjaVwua4fxMZTHUuQZ99zkRA/s4624/20231101_183058.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBqxvPgUEqZFNtuNBuxOwx9DqU5PxSWAUtGsP3HzMqjza5nEw7mwr8XJ8r87Qxw3ccw54Fh6qEgdKBvHjOHDPAbjjDXmdqi2biOsrLZEdhtRllG8kRlWMxVCqUJwxbNSZJG8Z3qiYPtOfIvZRbrnO8t0YVC-3ar9KfdsPjaVwua4fxMZTHUuQZ99zkRA/s320/20231101_183058.heic" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Mama Mpirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286444396409505857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4924526448032079811.post-47691286345199899102023-11-22T20:38:00.001+00:002023-11-22T20:38:27.220+00:00Awesome October<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvefhxytjnWhYCaN7hdySZKXu20EefUng2li07lRnKlqs9sMLRHlOEUQ9SBH15DW8rPqZUXznxgbST1yowomO6SjvDOPtbC17SB4hxUgpDiHREwgevRQ_diDc-Bo97oIB-rIORAHWuOFOFq0auI8rcqT7Axqh7BOhK_bS6ot6PDZF3eEfyIz615KOH3y4/s4624/20231005_224857%5B1%5D.heic" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvefhxytjnWhYCaN7hdySZKXu20EefUng2li07lRnKlqs9sMLRHlOEUQ9SBH15DW8rPqZUXznxgbST1yowomO6SjvDOPtbC17SB4hxUgpDiHREwgevRQ_diDc-Bo97oIB-rIORAHWuOFOFq0auI8rcqT7Axqh7BOhK_bS6ot6PDZF3eEfyIz615KOH3y4/w480-h640/20231005_224857%5B1%5D.heic" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The moon through the trees.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaTUV3vB7oonRwl78tZEd7vMEq6YQcwYADx0QGjvIpuyrE-sWKJwwdFe0JXUxYWpwz2iw3VeCLpBwd1OpRrQKRuQ7oOaG6kOBWxSt5n2ndDUj7HpLz9qQilgKmq4dcjA94apUGE7GsrOmoUndKYGOzX9Iq-KXYXYUhfoDKELtjxdIknv_n1h_jq2lqfks/s4000/20231009_054344%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaTUV3vB7oonRwl78tZEd7vMEq6YQcwYADx0QGjvIpuyrE-sWKJwwdFe0JXUxYWpwz2iw3VeCLpBwd1OpRrQKRuQ7oOaG6kOBWxSt5n2ndDUj7HpLz9qQilgKmq4dcjA94apUGE7GsrOmoUndKYGOzX9Iq-KXYXYUhfoDKELtjxdIknv_n1h_jq2lqfks/w640-h480/20231009_054344%5B1%5D.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The night sky from our front doot.</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">Weather report first, of course. The month began with a
continuation of the Indian summer we experienced in September. It was
comfortable to go swimming – the sea still at around 18 degrees – and I managed
swims of at least 500 metres 5 times a week.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The month was busy with catching up with friends: Wendy and
Nicholas from Glasgow, Margaret and Heather visiting from Rugby, a long video
call with Kim and Dave up in the Borders and of course the local catch ups with
friends I hadn’t seen over the summer. A chamber choir concert – a colleague
and other acquaintances – was a different experience in Castel church. A few
days of supply teaching at the local state school, after my unexpected full-time
stint at Beechwood came to an end and of course continuing to get the garden
under control before the winter.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I have also started hosting ladies’ breakfasts again for
friends and acquaintances from church. I have
been astonished at how popular they are…It’s always fun, giving me the opportunity
too to bake and is a joy and encouragement to gather together.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But, apart from swimming, the Rugby World Cup dominated the
month. I put significant matches in the calendar but managed to see most of the
matches, especially after the pool stage was completed. I had one delightful
encounter when on supply. A nine year old boy came up to me, peering at my earrings
proudly sporting the All Black logo of the silver fern (I wore them constantly
throughout the tournament).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Are those NEW ZEALAND rugby team earrings?” he asked.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Yes,” I replied, unprepared for what was to come next.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“That’s BAD. I support South Africa.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I’m very sorry,” I whispered back. “And congratulations for
yesterday.” The South African rugby team had just won a quarter-final the day before.
He grinned. I’ve known him for a couple of years now, and he’s still one of my
favourite children in the school.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The final result – New Zealand versus South Africa – was disappointing,
especially when a wonderful All Blacks try was disallowed on a very minor technical
issue. Several weeks later, match officials admitted privately that they had
been wrong… but anyway. The All Blacks, despite being one man down – a red card
which, again, might not have been upgraded from a yellow card had the referee
on field been allowed to make his own decisions – lost by only one point. They had
played bravely with only 14 men for most of the match.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There was no doubt in my mind which was the better team but,
to be fair, the South Africans needed to win, so desperate were they for their
country’s national pride. The All Blacks, as always, were the epitome of good
and gracious losers. What an inspirational team ethic they have, standing head
and shoulders above the others. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It was somewhat of an anti-climax when it all finished… but
the Christmas movies were about to start…<o:p></o:p></p> <p></p>Mama Mpirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286444396409505857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4924526448032079811.post-25456045782653554242023-10-01T21:52:00.003+01:002023-10-16T17:05:54.148+01:00Super September<p>September 2023</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The month began really well – still in France! Didn’t return
to Guernsey until the 3<sup>rd</sup>, to glorious hot weather. My birthday was
the hottest I can remember and, in a bonus, I was not at school! <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So of course I went blackberry picking and then for a half km
swim in the sea at Rocquaine.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The blackberry picking started quite well. However, the
Pleinmont brambles are among the most unfriendly and inhospitable I have yet to
meet. They tried to hide any juicy, ripe blackberries under prickles and behind
nettles; thorns came at my fingers unseen, swiping hard and leaving thorns
buried deep under the skin; and each spray of berries only yielded one or two
ripe ones, the rest remaining stubbornly hard, red and unripe.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I persevered, but my heart wasn’t in it. I usually love the
mindfulness of blackberry-picking, along with the silence, but that day I encountered
a coachload of cruise ship passengers coming from the gun, a group of serious
elderly men, striding along with walking poles, and a couple of German tourists
I recognised from the ferry over from France. Still, it was lovely to be able
to do it and rarely go to Pleinmont headland, so nice to have a different
adventure.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On the way to the beach, I decided to go down a narrow
footpath to a friend’s field. When we had open air church in July, I had
noticed quite a few brambles in the hedgerows and so thought it would be a good
place to investigate. I gathered a few along the lanes as I went there and by
the time I had finished, had a 2 litre boxful – enough for a start on the Great
Jam Making of the season. So all was going, well, until I took a Wrong Turning
and ended up in a part of the woods I had never ever been before.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It was around midday when I started on My Great Birthday
Adventure. I was lucky to get out before darkness fell….<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I knew the general direction to go – downhill – so off I
went. The path became progressively steeper and rockier, winding around in
circles until suddenly some steep steps appeared. No other way to go – except
back and up. No ordinary steps either, but ones made for giants, hewn out of
granite and put in at irregular angles. The rain had evidently tried to find
its own way down, carving out gullies at the side, but that was of no help to
me as I carefully hauled my heavy bike, hand firmly on the brake, down beside
me.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-golqMMZQjbWGzDEFAw1rW19sKnEGaqIFISPP-JfVcQa-i6G9069Z5jEdmph5LdRYlh3Rc3ljoL6AlP7xHWFBfRYVvAzFdv8_z-975UMrVrDR7vQMhJDrKLz_0olWxLFx-rLy1uVhvAd6cjzuXr8G8rWYW1l17aV8O7JQCRbFfWCwGZ0IJnjNOQxp6us/s4624/20230905_123247%5B1%5D.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-golqMMZQjbWGzDEFAw1rW19sKnEGaqIFISPP-JfVcQa-i6G9069Z5jEdmph5LdRYlh3Rc3ljoL6AlP7xHWFBfRYVvAzFdv8_z-975UMrVrDR7vQMhJDrKLz_0olWxLFx-rLy1uVhvAd6cjzuXr8G8rWYW1l17aV8O7JQCRbFfWCwGZ0IJnjNOQxp6us/w640-h480/20230905_123247%5B1%5D.heic" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi527svlO0Y1CyoNK67ohBVWvuTZH4l1jG9b-o8kzHyy8gZcgX321nkjXbazcT5DLSGrCYiv64_chgiUNJ8KsSlj9-jxJ_nxicx3_1a_EWnFONPKQ681U5nZxl-Gbi_xudnXvY9Zj6OA8e2SNct86Hgo5tnLPSKMwq1dLvcgX7JTMkD6ElsfLKHiCqeVW4/s4624/20230905_122803%5B1%5D.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi527svlO0Y1CyoNK67ohBVWvuTZH4l1jG9b-o8kzHyy8gZcgX321nkjXbazcT5DLSGrCYiv64_chgiUNJ8KsSlj9-jxJ_nxicx3_1a_EWnFONPKQ681U5nZxl-Gbi_xudnXvY9Zj6OA8e2SNct86Hgo5tnLPSKMwq1dLvcgX7JTMkD6ElsfLKHiCqeVW4/w640-h480/20230905_122803%5B1%5D.heic" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">It just got worse. Eventually I could see tarmac, but at
that point there was only the narrowest of footpaths – me or the bike, and of
course the bike won – and to even step down onto tarmac was pretty difficult.
Then, on the last metre, as I had managed to step down and was about to lift
the bike down after me – said bike refused. A hefty branch had come out of
nowhere and stuck its fingers between the bike’s spokes, halting it very
effectively.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That took quite a bit of time to disentangle. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Even Richard, who often walks the dog in the general area,
had no idea where I had been. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Otherwise, we spent the first week busily unpacking the
house and catching up on huge machine-loads of washing. The ironing, of course,
is another matter… I may be finished by Christmas.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Not joking. Having got back to school for a day, I found
myself taking on supply in Year 6 for a colleague away ill. Diving in at the
beginning of term wasn’t ideal for me or for the children, disappointed not to
be getting ‘their’ new teacher, but they are a lovely class and we all got on
well together. It was a bit of a juggling act with my usual day and a half, but
the weather was kind and I enjoyed being back in the classroom with agreeable
children, teaching a variety of subjects – including P.E., organised by my
lovely colleague Pete who gave me lesson plans and great ideas. I had taught
all the children before in their way up the school, so it all seemed quite
easy. What was especially lovely was that the management were very grateful to
me for stepping in, going as far as to give me a card and a huge bunch of
flowers. Quite unnecessary, but much appreciated.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All useful pocket money… so we decided to go to Tanzania in
December to see Finn and his parents. Deep breath – the flights were three
times the price we paid for them just after Covid – but it seemed a good
opportunity.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In other news: I hosted a ladies breakfast, after an
eighteen month gap. There were a dozen of us – almost too many to fit in the
dining room, but the weather was so hot that we sat outside, although we needed
to retreat into the shade as the morning progressed. It felt really good to
reconnect with friends old and new, gathering together around the table…<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We had an ‘old’ friend, Peter, come to visit. His primary
purpose was to experience the Guernsey Air Show, which he was able to do in
stunningly clear and warm weather. He was absolutely thrilled by it all and hugely
appreciative of everything he did, especially the Air Show, the German Occupation Museum and the Little Chapel. We even managed an evening beach barbeque with a marvellous sunset!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRNmjuOgzisERl9ENrV7OJd3if7ghYdP13jvGU-B6DHkHSOJTEVBrqmblj3Jhfgoz25K-ZS2t0-imFFSKpVoQTW9JAcSz960hxpl3pA8QnwMxFW7cu9cQ7J-V68fZSO6WJpMbKNPfk5I9GzPIoeBsEhXJHhga4A2Wzh9q2ja_D4zH6r3Oz6yjcLl4o1Ac/s4624/20230917_151834%5B1%5D.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRNmjuOgzisERl9ENrV7OJd3if7ghYdP13jvGU-B6DHkHSOJTEVBrqmblj3Jhfgoz25K-ZS2t0-imFFSKpVoQTW9JAcSz960hxpl3pA8QnwMxFW7cu9cQ7J-V68fZSO6WJpMbKNPfk5I9GzPIoeBsEhXJHhga4A2Wzh9q2ja_D4zH6r3Oz6yjcLl4o1Ac/w640-h480/20230917_151834%5B1%5D.heic" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhirD5OemAmBJJsvOqsGKWrhl0s7gblpY0_rmwEdmDOoN9-jZI6uOucWg8W7NDSnub028dsjCfh1ErkEStWEAZXsnwwJUma7dWmHEF0H6i94dxeO4A9tzI49o7yk9K5yPVbr_-kezIa7km76L9p1biroGRzXjrx0nmi9ogLaLidGOrBN8A5CItVd5Kvnc4/s4624/20230915_200551%5B1%5D.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhirD5OemAmBJJsvOqsGKWrhl0s7gblpY0_rmwEdmDOoN9-jZI6uOucWg8W7NDSnub028dsjCfh1ErkEStWEAZXsnwwJUma7dWmHEF0H6i94dxeO4A9tzI49o7yk9K5yPVbr_-kezIa7km76L9p1biroGRzXjrx0nmi9ogLaLidGOrBN8A5CItVd5Kvnc4/w640-h480/20230915_200551%5B1%5D.heic" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCvR2aU2L9LBwRuU0WeFUMHWJ1Pwb6NWswvKis4UB_HZZS2voGczqq17cxx1eTWFIGD3PWbF346S_gDThjkyqqUs2of_NWH7nCB-uVAZ52cvqL9bPJFfHN8MBkUsdJ5NWVM2aqQhovf_9zOVf9R5QfoRhinZYUTvflH5uAQOmuOcKGwNbd42eBGAW1kkY/s4624/20230915_192824%5B1%5D.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCvR2aU2L9LBwRuU0WeFUMHWJ1Pwb6NWswvKis4UB_HZZS2voGczqq17cxx1eTWFIGD3PWbF346S_gDThjkyqqUs2of_NWH7nCB-uVAZ52cvqL9bPJFfHN8MBkUsdJ5NWVM2aqQhovf_9zOVf9R5QfoRhinZYUTvflH5uAQOmuOcKGwNbd42eBGAW1kkY/w640-h480/20230915_192824%5B1%5D.heic" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUv8eY7zsVe6SxDoEnKIAXzmVzz-hGBKjVKXHhTXSKBJBKRWfpbCuW372w8mMazCVI-UwNS-IyCGJQyO1C2UZEXhSchkSjwQqtzPBM1HWUKXajILKj6TWF3_4wlUl7_2ZwWShdG_k6xkesZkV9Pdg2o8QvxHjlVSC6qzIzgCjHvKJQJkwB7I9YRVzysKI/s4624/20230915_191222%5B1%5D.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUv8eY7zsVe6SxDoEnKIAXzmVzz-hGBKjVKXHhTXSKBJBKRWfpbCuW372w8mMazCVI-UwNS-IyCGJQyO1C2UZEXhSchkSjwQqtzPBM1HWUKXajILKj6TWF3_4wlUl7_2ZwWShdG_k6xkesZkV9Pdg2o8QvxHjlVSC6qzIzgCjHvKJQJkwB7I9YRVzysKI/w640-h480/20230915_191222%5B1%5D.heic" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl850P89gKkkLSrMbR31OygxE0-qlGvL1R63iVRMXVgtLhOFl4aByyaSbp2MavoiCeZ_VEqMNBgVZcv5quoXEVNP_HvSeDQvL2qyXHHax20-eEJeq1YeOx_PKNsWFHKeRo7wSKjZfwEJcW43Zb5dUUCl1qDE_NQluEvxo1Vtjw6Pr55oVURWPoG6CxnaE/s4624/20230915_190922%5B1%5D.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl850P89gKkkLSrMbR31OygxE0-qlGvL1R63iVRMXVgtLhOFl4aByyaSbp2MavoiCeZ_VEqMNBgVZcv5quoXEVNP_HvSeDQvL2qyXHHax20-eEJeq1YeOx_PKNsWFHKeRo7wSKjZfwEJcW43Zb5dUUCl1qDE_NQluEvxo1Vtjw6Pr55oVURWPoG6CxnaE/w640-h480/20230915_190922%5B1%5D.heic" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2y-9bFgRh_CHXOUTqwibfwdk0rDGmo5RAleG3Dh4SgxYxHp_oNoYIoKzhIysH2NVSt-Zi7hxwWIxkP8sjgCWy0kww1ZQJBHmABPZb09S3NbfPBpaml8YpQHQcagPwR-7agcnEG6AQg5Tv0EVjTXVzkGy5ApBI5R4Wa4xTWsjc3GvvJ-nfux3v71H1cDc/s4624/20230915_190904%5B1%5D.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2y-9bFgRh_CHXOUTqwibfwdk0rDGmo5RAleG3Dh4SgxYxHp_oNoYIoKzhIysH2NVSt-Zi7hxwWIxkP8sjgCWy0kww1ZQJBHmABPZb09S3NbfPBpaml8YpQHQcagPwR-7agcnEG6AQg5Tv0EVjTXVzkGy5ApBI5R4Wa4xTWsjc3GvvJ-nfux3v71H1cDc/w640-h480/20230915_190904%5B1%5D.heic" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">And the swimming! Still ‘warm’ – 18 degrees – and so I
managed quite a few swims down at Rocquaine, even in the evening after work
when it was beginning to get much cooler.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Such wonderful exercise.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The month passed quickly… by the end of it, had almost
straightened the house out after the summer away, although still lots of little
niggly projects to get done, and a mountain of ironing…as well as dealing with
piles of windfalls collected on hedge veg. I expanded my repertoire of apple
recipes very rapidly!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Rugby World
Cup had started, so proved to be wonderful entertainment while I got some of
these chores underway…and more to come next month.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Autumn hadn’t, yet, arrived. The weather stayed remarkably
warm, with some days so hot and sunny that we could sit outside – Wendy and Nicholas
were down in Guernsey from Glasgow and we were able to sit on the patio over an
alfresco lunch all afternoon, catching up and sharing our lives… a precious
friendship. I finished my spell of supply – it had been great fun, with a wonderful
class and the added bonus of being able to feel more part of the school and
connect with my colleagues on a more regular basis than I am able to normally,
only coming in for a day and a half each week. The gardening jobs were slowly
completed and I began to catch up with friends once more.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A very different pace from the previous two months, but
hugely enjoyable. Being busy is energising. Yet we still had time to enjoy
moonlit evenings and see the super-bright morningstar, our house’s namesake, shining
in the eastern dawn.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCFyrUcZNCAoB8qKYzA09m21Zl1OsoW1iI9T2HCG-mb_YBftubWGuDEPUTcjEJ1K6YCiQMorSUuP_7kA4Bh8WDEoLqHPd4hpqPKOkcdH_E3Wjqmpow6PX0b1Cbx8xMJbgtM0S6T2SVM8qY58ZbQhtvw8tBV7qcBGpD4Oaj5L-NP7aE0e-_8_ariNckGg/s4624/20231003_115548%5B1%5D.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCFyrUcZNCAoB8qKYzA09m21Zl1OsoW1iI9T2HCG-mb_YBftubWGuDEPUTcjEJ1K6YCiQMorSUuP_7kA4Bh8WDEoLqHPd4hpqPKOkcdH_E3Wjqmpow6PX0b1Cbx8xMJbgtM0S6T2SVM8qY58ZbQhtvw8tBV7qcBGpD4Oaj5L-NP7aE0e-_8_ariNckGg/w640-h480/20231003_115548%5B1%5D.heic" width="640" /></a></div>Traffic - me on the bike, and one car - stopped when this friendly moggy occupied the centre of the road. He moved off to greet my bike with ecstatic purrs and much rubbing against the wheels.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-r-YVDlrZGOcnDQQr51ldVrHrSBKI95a1WtzWn1PLE7m7LCKbSaBZTXVzXpaYBbtAGAVh-NPNxl1nD6i6BUTY3R-VTAcWwQzJUZxq_5kUq6dYJzdgrO8yfjiChW5mCOjuQeI1K25hSvGrv3kPsGmn2bR34yQlLKIibMfKsGnzALvST5lf5b8KY0aTfY/s4624/20230924_183500%5B1%5D.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH-r-YVDlrZGOcnDQQr51ldVrHrSBKI95a1WtzWn1PLE7m7LCKbSaBZTXVzXpaYBbtAGAVh-NPNxl1nD6i6BUTY3R-VTAcWwQzJUZxq_5kUq6dYJzdgrO8yfjiChW5mCOjuQeI1K25hSvGrv3kPsGmn2bR34yQlLKIibMfKsGnzALvST5lf5b8KY0aTfY/w640-h480/20230924_183500%5B1%5D.heic" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF-FuGj99xT8siLWb-lWrfHg2vOH7Qmv3HydJvcNSnBWU1dCKyhg5o-fDSvIUsx3fOzMhyphenhyphenOi8bAE_eZXvk39di9OyufG1Bp8ypr_OtaMvNJVviOCAA_qbgtNShb1uCKGvXb0o4iM6giiZtx51_c4QUx1FkBoiS0x6N4YdVJ6Whbx-NybWLf6FfB06MF4Y/s4624/20230930_130941%5B1%5D.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF-FuGj99xT8siLWb-lWrfHg2vOH7Qmv3HydJvcNSnBWU1dCKyhg5o-fDSvIUsx3fOzMhyphenhyphenOi8bAE_eZXvk39di9OyufG1Bp8ypr_OtaMvNJVviOCAA_qbgtNShb1uCKGvXb0o4iM6giiZtx51_c4QUx1FkBoiS0x6N4YdVJ6Whbx-NybWLf6FfB06MF4Y/w640-h480/20230930_130941%5B1%5D.heic" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZBAL46Sud-k3hs7vr7dKJbn-MbAjtyJpmDqG-TRukpill7J-Qef-PrC4DRNnn7wdbx_NaArLdwGMrkquxJHcXQdLz-fPorLIiWFtgdjET6K4wL8NfLr2m0LzplP1VYvD1WE9RUFgKvXUPZMPOTDk7T6bMBMzY0eTsm1xIsOsXpBlkkT5wDpuWd25hEk/s1772/20230907_170143%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1640" data-original-width="1772" height="592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZBAL46Sud-k3hs7vr7dKJbn-MbAjtyJpmDqG-TRukpill7J-Qef-PrC4DRNnn7wdbx_NaArLdwGMrkquxJHcXQdLz-fPorLIiWFtgdjET6K4wL8NfLr2m0LzplP1VYvD1WE9RUFgKvXUPZMPOTDk7T6bMBMzY0eTsm1xIsOsXpBlkkT5wDpuWd25hEk/w640-h592/20230907_170143%5B1%5D.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Duck jam on my way down the lane.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogrX6gPqZIlmYcEIdrxzpw-O0shB_NjOLmnGMYjbc77c2tAkOdzlZVFjUGtFvb3mvMF6hLH1EOhgcSbGyzF0FPsw6W4yfrI2vKhxqE_8bxKaThRjaBuYxI6abTQuM1FlJmJijy1vaxBZqrF_X1_z4GaP0PM5nzrQUGJnHKAJTeNuDOPkPyEfdbujf6WQ/s4624/20230915_073652%5B1%5D.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogrX6gPqZIlmYcEIdrxzpw-O0shB_NjOLmnGMYjbc77c2tAkOdzlZVFjUGtFvb3mvMF6hLH1EOhgcSbGyzF0FPsw6W4yfrI2vKhxqE_8bxKaThRjaBuYxI6abTQuM1FlJmJijy1vaxBZqrF_X1_z4GaP0PM5nzrQUGJnHKAJTeNuDOPkPyEfdbujf6WQ/w640-h480/20230915_073652%5B1%5D.heic" title="Pickle outside the guest room, mournfully hoping that Peter will appear." width="640" /></a></div>Pickle sitting outside the guestroom, mournfully hoping that Peter will appear.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQ7FzadBfqz_mLTw8ZBEUx5g7BEKA8pqfTOBqmSvAYLRD0Bv6o0-9-uQeq2qw4l4FYXEBUtabfGFxmaDkhgbYJMgu5UVpbPOBw0WEoC-j0ObxknvTrfIwqv6B0XnYWh2g52UJwvXWYwXcJ9dyMLGDGsOhnKzuZl-grtZAOemRID1fNBboIhhqkuH8LOM/s4624/20230910_100925%5B1%5D.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQ7FzadBfqz_mLTw8ZBEUx5g7BEKA8pqfTOBqmSvAYLRD0Bv6o0-9-uQeq2qw4l4FYXEBUtabfGFxmaDkhgbYJMgu5UVpbPOBw0WEoC-j0ObxknvTrfIwqv6B0XnYWh2g52UJwvXWYwXcJ9dyMLGDGsOhnKzuZl-grtZAOemRID1fNBboIhhqkuH8LOM/w640-h480/20230910_100925%5B1%5D.heic" width="640" /></a></div>It's still summer outside church!Mama Mpirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286444396409505857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4924526448032079811.post-14098800895420839262023-07-10T09:58:00.004+01:002023-10-26T21:06:38.101+01:00Jumpy, Helter-skeltery July<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">What could go wrong….? Jumpy July<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After a busy, but relatively calm June, we started July with
a visit from Finn. His lovely parents, Jonny and Adele came along too.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Who knew that an eighteen-month old could be so much fun!
Intensely serious, he spent a lot of time looking around him, his brown eyes
huge as he observed everything that was going on. And EVERYTHING was intensely
interesting. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He soon discovered that Richard’s old mobile phone was The
Best Toy out. He made phone calls, took pictures, used it as a calculator… all
in play, of course. He found that the buttons made a most satisfactory noise
when pressed. What’s not to like?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3dmKuikL3So4QsnN8r8pAjTEDuDImtLxgKLeOWAIkEduEltCUxoUubwnLWI81OWuVXhScmxwzsV-P1NsOVRA6C-TpuNiI2IOQXXwyoM7w6lbOB7G6Hso-i-JpbnP9JDmBdI9eaLvL3O3QfiNS8K2zG2xkWEOJZTRhqT1iZ1NmCyIHX0D89Efxae4Vug/s4624/20230704_073951%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3dmKuikL3So4QsnN8r8pAjTEDuDImtLxgKLeOWAIkEduEltCUxoUubwnLWI81OWuVXhScmxwzsV-P1NsOVRA6C-TpuNiI2IOQXXwyoM7w6lbOB7G6Hso-i-JpbnP9JDmBdI9eaLvL3O3QfiNS8K2zG2xkWEOJZTRhqT1iZ1NmCyIHX0D89Efxae4Vug/s320/20230704_073951%5B1%5D.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">We had had a couple of days at home with them before
decamping, literally, to the campsite. Our huge 6 man tent was perfect for Finn
to run around in, providing plenty of play space. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was nothing compared to the beach,
however. It proved to be love at first sight and the biggest playground ever.
He ran around, shouting ‘Whoa! Wow! Wowa!’, stopping to look at every
interesting thing. His body language was amazing as he pointed out objects of
interest with a variety of body contortions, only sometimes resorting to
actually pointing. Sand pools were paddled and lain in, sand sifted through his
fingers (it was as if he was trying to clear the whole beach!) and buoys and
fishing boat bobbers examined with deep interest.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyK4RifVHf2v9cIJoopg_exN2V5M13aill3O_thioZavqRehW_hu0sqxderYBrga_J_bzu7WyzYNGZZOk-txUgWlQBUdMJxWLJFIQ0SHAG9uBm0bbJaXKYK-ysFGOgvswGYfNx23pNOeFUJE76fZr1M0bxyE34WaSOwVUJ0Qhz6iPd33eP9Lo_exv4G6c/s4624/20230704_100356%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyK4RifVHf2v9cIJoopg_exN2V5M13aill3O_thioZavqRehW_hu0sqxderYBrga_J_bzu7WyzYNGZZOk-txUgWlQBUdMJxWLJFIQ0SHAG9uBm0bbJaXKYK-ysFGOgvswGYfNx23pNOeFUJE76fZr1M0bxyE34WaSOwVUJ0Qhz6iPd33eP9Lo_exv4G6c/s320/20230704_100356%5B1%5D.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOVN9d6pVwW76iIZfaXmnMCZnyABtOXb_KT5J-h4JFUSqB_qOWFLZ7Cd97SUhkEqMqEffMLhz3nCpZOj9O0iyuXgD-KxgBX9p82X8FBf-ykRunO44t-Herbow-E12zjdrKM9qFQZB2Urcz5qN-HyyE-8KPXG8lzNgq-Ez1eftLfb8fdKlwPzkzYxTfvQ/s4624/20230630_150103%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOVN9d6pVwW76iIZfaXmnMCZnyABtOXb_KT5J-h4JFUSqB_qOWFLZ7Cd97SUhkEqMqEffMLhz3nCpZOj9O0iyuXgD-KxgBX9p82X8FBf-ykRunO44t-Herbow-E12zjdrKM9qFQZB2Urcz5qN-HyyE-8KPXG8lzNgq-Ez1eftLfb8fdKlwPzkzYxTfvQ/s320/20230630_150103%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1Obl_TA3LYA97GhSGuF0CV3FWgIHltYpZFtC6-WZHtlTAOVeEZStNeTdvhrwxD0sGywxPw-YKb5I2oZxZzjaJghCudPk7uJVtRKGHQltYp-yxhkDCYK_JXeO0u1iVKrZnWSRmwbr9MHiTl20mURqknSDFh0z0l1YiDv8upQexLdcciyXYiddggh2494/s3067/20230704_095407~2%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2142" data-original-width="3067" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1Obl_TA3LYA97GhSGuF0CV3FWgIHltYpZFtC6-WZHtlTAOVeEZStNeTdvhrwxD0sGywxPw-YKb5I2oZxZzjaJghCudPk7uJVtRKGHQltYp-yxhkDCYK_JXeO0u1iVKrZnWSRmwbr9MHiTl20mURqknSDFh0z0l1YiDv8upQexLdcciyXYiddggh2494/s320/20230704_095407~2%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9OMIpPG3KxacAbjsjGm2grbUt_5Qqcnu5ipV6VrZ-6jeFCnpt2RzBJnwHtJSH3zBrUXMEpkeKXDenq7BbZWIUNVcZ-yi3Nd-pHsM8FmauoSoIuTtMfWnWxT-skexWZLZAXY08dr01vbnazCF3i8fcndJbSmVGV44M4Q9eqVrgcUsBIXFcRe5Z4N18AA/s4624/20230703_132529%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9OMIpPG3KxacAbjsjGm2grbUt_5Qqcnu5ipV6VrZ-6jeFCnpt2RzBJnwHtJSH3zBrUXMEpkeKXDenq7BbZWIUNVcZ-yi3Nd-pHsM8FmauoSoIuTtMfWnWxT-skexWZLZAXY08dr01vbnazCF3i8fcndJbSmVGV44M4Q9eqVrgcUsBIXFcRe5Z4N18AA/s320/20230703_132529%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQgQXyC5TnJIOhWy-Fj1v6uj3WXYIIOBg9DnOD3Y1VemF61ZZzGCadxW5_620hdUSNATQPbaz-YRk5DkBdXo_HEPKjkAERND_2pcGA5LFgXEDvANPcXVqfUgvvOkIRclYBUP_DSAiSI-eH6zKRifKtJZtA4oOJs8LeCPhvtYSJv-Q8rPuAAieDEJP5ck/s4289/20230703_132301%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3442" data-original-width="4289" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQgQXyC5TnJIOhWy-Fj1v6uj3WXYIIOBg9DnOD3Y1VemF61ZZzGCadxW5_620hdUSNATQPbaz-YRk5DkBdXo_HEPKjkAERND_2pcGA5LFgXEDvANPcXVqfUgvvOkIRclYBUP_DSAiSI-eH6zKRifKtJZtA4oOJs8LeCPhvtYSJv-Q8rPuAAieDEJP5ck/s320/20230703_132301%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He enjoyed the campsite swimming pool, as well, as did I: I
managed a daily swim of at least half a kilometre every time, which did wonders
for my arthritic knee. #loveswimming</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwSgo5GEWANCnszjLThfbzrTqLL6KliyWBd_nw8lWoi4rl5wNhQ2EjNPim7HlquqfpTqUVCiL_e6GIzgnz7O0SDnmHPR5Kt9b9O8jjndnVP6M9bz7rE4I-kue4ZwS0f5zC6_djkhkC1dnYz4jdKwMYE_UrcmDnGEpECHp9qY3OU7kU6Rdp1D9py3VaosI/s4624/20230702_140415%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwSgo5GEWANCnszjLThfbzrTqLL6KliyWBd_nw8lWoi4rl5wNhQ2EjNPim7HlquqfpTqUVCiL_e6GIzgnz7O0SDnmHPR5Kt9b9O8jjndnVP6M9bz7rE4I-kue4ZwS0f5zC6_djkhkC1dnYz4jdKwMYE_UrcmDnGEpECHp9qY3OU7kU6Rdp1D9py3VaosI/s320/20230702_140415%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In addition, there was a playground: Finn climbed up the
slide easily, working out which was the best way up, but the bark ground cover
was possibly the most interesting feature. The site also has Rosie, the
Vietnamese pot-bellied pig, two Large Whites, who spent most of the day lying
together in their wallow, occasionally struggling up and lumbering to the fence
for a back scratch when Richard snorted to them; two friendly inquisitive goats
and a variety of curious chickens, roosters and turkeys.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWNKj5jsieMiH4MlaXDhHeJiRofzcf3xrwgJ-usXXYNTJJEA2O6A-M7S-VoxG7uRkaYv9aDrZ-978EsOXu2CJN8pRCP3Ul4YLbpGx9ySIXbAoKRtG8hcZRhHfbFzhRYds5MZlXVHv2pYM0KmR3J-zMq6f-Vrwp7sVUnCBabLZu-6ORLgTlf33IYRc9Kc/s4624/20230701_181552%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWNKj5jsieMiH4MlaXDhHeJiRofzcf3xrwgJ-usXXYNTJJEA2O6A-M7S-VoxG7uRkaYv9aDrZ-978EsOXu2CJN8pRCP3Ul4YLbpGx9ySIXbAoKRtG8hcZRhHfbFzhRYds5MZlXVHv2pYM0KmR3J-zMq6f-Vrwp7sVUnCBabLZu-6ORLgTlf33IYRc9Kc/s320/20230701_181552%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMS2_6DHI1yhFN646PO3oxtP0i-SXlTxirubntJ4-rsZ2M22cLX7y_tqHBn7BMKhstDgGiEWg0sfqquZNGp-e3_Tyb6pOLm4ZGwkuqzusrRuqTvjZILrz9QfilpuUDolJJvlAinGgsWMhwuQtoszYXPZRs6xPaZOUfqeUCSUpLp6hWnZ5GAey4nvQIv3c/s4624/20230701_181920%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMS2_6DHI1yhFN646PO3oxtP0i-SXlTxirubntJ4-rsZ2M22cLX7y_tqHBn7BMKhstDgGiEWg0sfqquZNGp-e3_Tyb6pOLm4ZGwkuqzusrRuqTvjZILrz9QfilpuUDolJJvlAinGgsWMhwuQtoszYXPZRs6xPaZOUfqeUCSUpLp6hWnZ5GAey4nvQIv3c/s320/20230701_181920%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />It was a wonderful time: we were intensely sad when they
left, going on to England to see Adele’s wonderful family. Our sadness was a
little relieved by some pleasant interactions with Vanessa and Jean, friends we
have come to know through the campsite, and Manuel and Maricarmen. The latter
had driven up from Gibraltar with their tiny caravan, taking four days to bring
luggage for their daughter and son-in-law who were cyclists competing in the
Island Games. As they each had two bicycles to bring, it made sense for Manuel
and Marie-Carmen to help with the luggage.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Manuel and Marie-Carmen were the friendliest of campsite
neighbours. Very chatty, we got on like the proverbial house on fire – it felt
as if we had known each other for years. Manuel had done a huge amount of
research on Guernsey, finding his way around most impressively, but we were
still able to help them a little with local advice, how to get a local SIM
card, and give them a lift back from town after the opening of the Island Games.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Games had not been held in Guernsey for 20 years and there was a huge amount of excitement and publicity about it, with over 400 volunteers helping in different ways. We drove, at Nicky’s suggestion, to meet her and Richard at their home on Mount Durand, leaving the car there and walking down with them into town.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZyxZuSDOuybOXLkJg1F9ius01cideD71DUC1D7gqqUxWb2i_xt72VC-GK2i9WqWIFX5XiT1S_0AvUZBx8riV22MOukTtcQcQZjzQnzwt08Gga57UDo1J5yB6FZtzN5mDSEzLviAvnR2EMkGWuk5hpPFOFux8d2AenTpe33q-i3KA7U_MMr-iiN_fQWt0/s4624/20230708_184656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZyxZuSDOuybOXLkJg1F9ius01cideD71DUC1D7gqqUxWb2i_xt72VC-GK2i9WqWIFX5XiT1S_0AvUZBx8riV22MOukTtcQcQZjzQnzwt08Gga57UDo1J5yB6FZtzN5mDSEzLviAvnR2EMkGWuk5hpPFOFux8d2AenTpe33q-i3KA7U_MMr-iiN_fQWt0/s320/20230708_184656.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdIGJNOwMWUml33jTskFzAtnPYJwmihaV6dJ4My4Gvf8ndWX8w3E1evBcasC7HVZwtvGg6YMI8f5BgXmzFyUfQnJ8RbqD8Fy8O-4QscAqAiExqIdCNZFamP2HWM6KJ6GAmeatt4L4hLIB3-hIrOYGd0F2nTOeGbg0fktiEtdPcn1sowkpRt7PsAcrXwkg/s4624/20230708_180939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdIGJNOwMWUml33jTskFzAtnPYJwmihaV6dJ4My4Gvf8ndWX8w3E1evBcasC7HVZwtvGg6YMI8f5BgXmzFyUfQnJ8RbqD8Fy8O-4QscAqAiExqIdCNZFamP2HWM6KJ6GAmeatt4L4hLIB3-hIrOYGd0F2nTOeGbg0fktiEtdPcn1sowkpRt7PsAcrXwkg/s320/20230708_180939.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMlMsadB9pshhvjsLEgXOtCQ9vsIvaT3I-3aYMlkKds_lSobIqmCoCKAUh63ywNQRKc_heTTMxNLu443GteU_XwqAeC8h4xp9QGx5FUzKzqv2_E-8PcMkjysvyPM5mjpq0868yiM6Gnjtt7MiM_2ld_DuPB6E8WD9rvxldZFeXsiHwFC6jm1IExIxIWU/s4005/20230708_175256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3184" data-original-width="4005" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMlMsadB9pshhvjsLEgXOtCQ9vsIvaT3I-3aYMlkKds_lSobIqmCoCKAUh63ywNQRKc_heTTMxNLu443GteU_XwqAeC8h4xp9QGx5FUzKzqv2_E-8PcMkjysvyPM5mjpq0868yiM6Gnjtt7MiM_2ld_DuPB6E8WD9rvxldZFeXsiHwFC6jm1IExIxIWU/s320/20230708_175256.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIaHhw2RDVWyzNzDGP6omjFs33cu6x1dHT9m71z700A7MXhzkw6_obx2mnDcXMSYeoNE3Ex0wrNKg_uOO1Bc-ouAmXS0ctyPEUgePwuBrrimUQN6i1lZERB336LcWy8cS2LMS7nKcV9aXk5r5pWMVulx-akTCfgJGVeh-8fEBL5cloNNlkhYzX7LPonNY/s4624/20230623_122432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIaHhw2RDVWyzNzDGP6omjFs33cu6x1dHT9m71z700A7MXhzkw6_obx2mnDcXMSYeoNE3Ex0wrNKg_uOO1Bc-ouAmXS0ctyPEUgePwuBrrimUQN6i1lZERB336LcWy8cS2LMS7nKcV9aXk5r5pWMVulx-akTCfgJGVeh-8fEBL5cloNNlkhYzX7LPonNY/s320/20230623_122432.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQkBi64cKesRLZE0lUBngWD3P4UjF8ttAYfw5bNI444lKC3BfEmjiNt-gUtfI7uvdT_0vl7HX1nyNFNU2XrNjC0nmf5rsTsUvyG0vyYPU1PZ4nQT-lqFCBYdxF_mSv1QH9NX1y6k5dP9-LQM5JOfvcQPHqhyHTBTfWXMrZBHDsUyn4aTEk4zqTVVB_hfA/s3298/20230623_122418~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2102" data-original-width="3298" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQkBi64cKesRLZE0lUBngWD3P4UjF8ttAYfw5bNI444lKC3BfEmjiNt-gUtfI7uvdT_0vl7HX1nyNFNU2XrNjC0nmf5rsTsUvyG0vyYPU1PZ4nQT-lqFCBYdxF_mSv1QH9NX1y6k5dP9-LQM5JOfvcQPHqhyHTBTfWXMrZBHDsUyn4aTEk4zqTVVB_hfA/s320/20230623_122418~2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQaHK0wQYfgFOEVCYMnrHhELkfE-xFiJ8_i7vC4Zcocm8EcWn-g-CTvGz0hL_MmUaLH5FL1fttvrK0vNNjo6ZzxL2JFPzAHUNfWgEh9GHObgiCucP4znQ2WWRlTfy4UydPBa2Q1W9qxVEn4_gkTiY0ilo5j5BzOgfJnkjKKwkVlIIyy1bTUgwZImq9NOI/s4624/20230623_122009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQaHK0wQYfgFOEVCYMnrHhELkfE-xFiJ8_i7vC4Zcocm8EcWn-g-CTvGz0hL_MmUaLH5FL1fttvrK0vNNjo6ZzxL2JFPzAHUNfWgEh9GHObgiCucP4znQ2WWRlTfy4UydPBa2Q1W9qxVEn4_gkTiY0ilo5j5BzOgfJnkjKKwkVlIIyy1bTUgwZImq9NOI/s320/20230623_122009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDy3tvuP00HzWDthhQnruHSLEYuAISOOcYU51r1dvJRvF2Krwgj-VbC_WfIHcRaCX7gNOqlzxNWD2oF465FnfYR3dM1Th2DirbJq5TTRwvxvyLlL8gH9AKimIOjfQl-Ju1IsJzTc5CaBZELuwhJ6_zpfs25H30rVp0dezWZ-hfwlgRbUSaIa4wLUtA_k/s4624/20230623_122002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDy3tvuP00HzWDthhQnruHSLEYuAISOOcYU51r1dvJRvF2Krwgj-VbC_WfIHcRaCX7gNOqlzxNWD2oF465FnfYR3dM1Th2DirbJq5TTRwvxvyLlL8gH9AKimIOjfQl-Ju1IsJzTc5CaBZELuwhJ6_zpfs25H30rVp0dezWZ-hfwlgRbUSaIa4wLUtA_k/s320/20230623_122002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">We were somewhat early – not as early as many, as town was
already very full of spectators by the time we arrived – and had to wait for over
an hour before the ceremony even began. Speeches, mingling of the waters each
island team had<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>brought with them and
the raising of the games flag all preceded the athletes parade through town.
Still, it was well worth the wait. The atmosphere was wonderful and it was fun
seeing many friends and acquaintances, from our hairdresser who was opposite
us, to children from school, acquaintances leading the teams along, proudly
bearing the team’s island’s name, to Scott, my colleague, a football coach
marching with the Guernsey team. Very special.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-AINDEcfbgTDFS5EIBfTAE5S-4aSpCcQeN-jBEajqaUNZ9MdtYEskZ0p1bHkAl3hqkzWVrfWTMsu2icuDqkQE_2F7vQSoMUjWLZfZeoiGNWzN2uy-K54u4ZRCA-wNe5McVMwRAzW3dZPvynXje4PfS5L8ztz5lRdH2OG8HZHynfFpDm4ziHuf_xPsNHc/s3962/20230708_200012~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3040" data-original-width="3962" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-AINDEcfbgTDFS5EIBfTAE5S-4aSpCcQeN-jBEajqaUNZ9MdtYEskZ0p1bHkAl3hqkzWVrfWTMsu2icuDqkQE_2F7vQSoMUjWLZfZeoiGNWzN2uy-K54u4ZRCA-wNe5McVMwRAzW3dZPvynXje4PfS5L8ztz5lRdH2OG8HZHynfFpDm4ziHuf_xPsNHc/s320/20230708_200012~2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_OZfPTdcLk3IvVL-HWeFWpRc0q45E4H8ARP50-LYdVZaPov9dTaxZ-aRcJbaYORsUR8ZTpv7Pu_gsco_8vbZJUESnSSa_zjDbBuVCqcaq18fv6X9wK2F7C1_XSNhwpXZaM1W8Hx2GS27VDf3QQbiVYImNgiQsGN2sMdlCRJF0FoldSQj2cgwFqjinU-0/s3931/20230708_194650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="3653" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggB0ddXqD571k5xchf-V3vCHLKhWlBGGi71m5s3TVUvxYZ-l-lTmr_whwj5Kr1PJNVnJCkeQwq43RgWeshTRlzBZcGni474NNa2lX6UvZxcxNjlwzrPYubYRg6s7tYLByXE5nc3le579BTAGbqw5NZTEHrPMk3YPEvrYpO5HwGHTBUtn8RDf1WHyjyZfE/s320/20230708_192226.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2DKCFn9mGJIt62KmKM1UC-BhSeyyKRWKZusiqnD24Vlc3RfWlqroxm04BDbVASVoLsVZXRNbA1CfUOPEH-cqUBeuacv3Xkd003ftUXNPVYt3t261Pt-3UfCzeB8QPWqzVTESw67gLEoWnTnxKcVnpxDvPRGZ8c2bO8kEodGvtgBmPbgPN9p-G-MahUM0/s4262/20230708_192206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2941" data-original-width="4262" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2DKCFn9mGJIt62KmKM1UC-BhSeyyKRWKZusiqnD24Vlc3RfWlqroxm04BDbVASVoLsVZXRNbA1CfUOPEH-cqUBeuacv3Xkd003ftUXNPVYt3t261Pt-3UfCzeB8QPWqzVTESw67gLEoWnTnxKcVnpxDvPRGZ8c2bO8kEodGvtgBmPbgPN9p-G-MahUM0/s320/20230708_192206.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We met up with Manuel and Maricarmen, wearily trudging up
the hill and collapsing into bed almost as soon as we returned to the campsite.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">However, July brought an undue amount of stress on top of
the usual busyness, through a series of Unfortunate Incidents.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The last day of her stay in our house, Adele sat on the
toilet seat, cracking it. Fortunately, we had a spare. Last year a guest had
broken the toilet seat so our friend Bryan very kindly went and bought a
replacement. On our return, Richard fitted a soft-close one instead, figuring
that it would be harder for someone to actually break this, keeping the
replacement ‘just in case’. Very Useful, as it turned out.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then, two days before we were due to leave for France, Richard
developed kidney stones, enduring such intense pain that he was propelled to
make a doctor’s appointment. (As every appointment costs over £60, we are
always reluctant to go, but needs must… But the CT scan the doctor organised
for him was free. We do have quite a wonderful health service.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By the next day, he was feeling much better, just taking the
strong painkillers once when it looked as if the symptoms were returning. We
left, trusting that ‘no news is good news’ and that the surgery would contact
Richard if the scan had thrown up any issues.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The same day, I had a long awaited specialist appointment to
see about my ‘trigger finger’, which had become progressively worse. At times,
indeed, the finger was ‘stuck’ bent and on one occasion almost refused to be
straightened. The surgeon explained that he could either try injecting it with
cortisone – which might nor might not work, and, if it did, might only last for
six months – or perform a short 10 minute surgery. Which did I want?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Which would you do?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Well, I always try the injection first,” was the reply.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“OK then, that’s fine.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I can do it now if you like?” was the quick response.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“OK then!” I happily replied, thinking of a quick solution
and no further visit needed, especially as I was going to France in 2 days
time.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Just a little prick.” was actually intensely painful,
leaving a small bruise and so much stiffness that I could barely move my hand
afterwards for the first 24 hours. It made cycling a little tricky…<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Coming back to the house the day after, to do a quick
changeover between guests, we had a hectic few hours. Anni and Beth popped
round to collect keys and discuss the changeovers, looking at the bedlinen and
cleaning materials left out for them.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We discovered a bird’s nest had been hidden under the tiles
for years before collapsing onto the floor of the loft. Quite a lot of mess to
clear up, with a tiny amount of daylight visible where a tile had shifted
slightly, but apparently nothing to worry about. It had happened a long time
ago – possibly even before we moved in 7 years ago, and the birds’ nest had
been hidden under the old sarking (the old webbing underneath the tiles) which
was slowly disintegrating with age. We – Richard – will fix it when we get
back. We only found it as we heaved the tent back up, along with various other
camping items, from Jonny, Adele and Finn’s visit.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A good thorough clean of the house, with our Island Games
competitor guests from the Falkland Islands arriving early by 1pm. Cathy
Pollard (no relation) was competing in shooting, accompanied by her husband
Mark, a Falkland Islander politician, and their two delightful little girls.
Lovely to meet them. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Added to all the usual stress of trying to remember
everything we had to do in preparation for being away for a couple of months,
was the need to get the car back home from the campsite. Not ordinarily a problem,
but our road was to be closed that day for the first of the Island Games
cycling events, a triathlon. Sunday morning, when we returned the Skoda, was a
huge rush to get back to and then away from the house before the road was
closed.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Finally…. In the middle of all this, was an emergency dental
appointment to get an aching tooth filled; the usual end of term busyness,
where I had extra supply for a couple of days at Beechwood (not arduous, but
time-consuming); and an undue amount of grief, as my friend Carry retired from
the school and we had news that Mel Walton, a former head’s wife, had suddenly
died of an aneurism. They had left us 6 years previously, but had stayed in
touch ever since, so it was a huge blow to the school community.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It was with a huge measure of relief that we found ourselves
at the port, ready to board Condor to St Malo. And yet the stresses were not
over. The Animal Health Certificate, Pickle’s ‘passport’, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>had been wrongly completed. We only discovered
this on arrival at the port but, fortunately, the details had been correctly
entered into the (now extinct) Pet Passport. Rather annoying, when we had to
pay £190 for the privilege of taking Pickle with us to France. Still, cheaper
than kennels and we wouldn’t do that in any case. A hurried email to the vet,
hoping that he could email amended details well before our return in 2 months’
time…<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And breathe. And wait. In hope!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><br /><p></p>Mama Mpirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286444396409505857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4924526448032079811.post-58497987254345656612023-06-25T18:18:00.002+01:002023-10-26T21:17:41.754+01:00Majestic May, Journeying through June<p>Back to more regular blogging… and the month kicked off in
majestic fashion with the coronation on May 6<sup>th</sup>. There was a fever
pitch of excitement from the media, huge interest in the royals and much gossip
about them, and an impressive display of military splendour. I watched most of
it, as it was such a historic occasion. Quite impressed by the service in
Westminster Abbey – more churchy than I was expecting, somehow, though why I
should be surprised I don’t know, as the coronation has always been a religious
ceremony. Much of the symbolism passed me by, but it was, I suppose, all quite
spectacular.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Until I found out that the British taxpayers had footed the
£100 million bill. Don’t tell me that the royal family bring in billions if not
trillions of foreign visitor money… I’m sure the Eiffel tower and the Colosseum
do something similar for France and Italy, though perhaps the maintenance costs
might be comparable… hmmm. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Apart from that, life continued. Richard’s birthday saw us
enjoying sundowners down at L’Eree, the sun so warm against the wall that I
even contemplated a swim… but settled for a paddle instead. The sea
temperature, after all, is still 12 degrees. #toocold</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8NS3tezhKecRVqS5qYvnGTDummiUTeQ_T_sANK_ixh59T-WhEAqQpYJeLm9gtgAcrxccH6sY8HuBvMtc6W3RQdarmYJl9_ThHvFyAbA3uYFFFLszQtibq9r0Etbt2iRT-y3N5to_tU4kbFKQhg53A-MKvcfo_dpmGAmEImVE_SRL8SnWZp7evy5Dl3I/s4624/20230623_211618%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8NS3tezhKecRVqS5qYvnGTDummiUTeQ_T_sANK_ixh59T-WhEAqQpYJeLm9gtgAcrxccH6sY8HuBvMtc6W3RQdarmYJl9_ThHvFyAbA3uYFFFLszQtibq9r0Etbt2iRT-y3N5to_tU4kbFKQhg53A-MKvcfo_dpmGAmEImVE_SRL8SnWZp7evy5Dl3I/s320/20230623_211618%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM3Fa6abKWzBMrs9dEnr32rXGnYygPNyiME-7kRx9JpgS3G8Pmd69pNh7u2e74nF8rF1VaADOZEWeJ-x639eacI5b3ITPCLMmxwnVx38trPXLPDlXXsnynblz7Pd7kIjHZScT1iuE1_MLag9ZYTfq6AqUOafG-JCRJZEOSQysBYrcZG6ctyEr6wpnO5fc/s4624/20230623_210541%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM3Fa6abKWzBMrs9dEnr32rXGnYygPNyiME-7kRx9JpgS3G8Pmd69pNh7u2e74nF8rF1VaADOZEWeJ-x639eacI5b3ITPCLMmxwnVx38trPXLPDlXXsnynblz7Pd7kIjHZScT1iuE1_MLag9ZYTfq6AqUOafG-JCRJZEOSQysBYrcZG6ctyEr6wpnO5fc/s320/20230623_210541%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">We started the process of preparing the house for our summer
guests, catching up on spring-cleaning, gardening, and completing fiddly little
jobs and bits of clearing/sorting out.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The motorhome got a new seal on top – the old one having
become brittle and in danger of cracking. It did take two of us pushing and
pulling, but it was surprisingly easy to do – no dramas at all.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The pot plants were topped up with compost and fed. The
geraniums had survived the winter pretty well, but several were still looking
ridiculously leggy and needed another trim – hopefully they will bounce back by
June. I planted out more osteospernum cuttings on the bank, in they hope that
they will take and then spread, providing colour instead of the grass already
there. (The grass needs a good trim.. but I put the shears ‘somewhere’ in February
and they have not yet emerged from their hiding place. I have NO IDEA where
they are.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The vege patch (I won’t dignify it with the term ‘garden’)
on the other hand, is producing only a magnificent crop of rhubarb and a few
straggly spinach plants which have immediately gone to seed. But I have pruned
and tidied plants on the patio, helped by the disappearance of the ivy from
next door which was always trying to invade, so hopefully the wonderful
clematis (large, early-flowering – a Nellie Moser?) and the jasmine we planted
a couple of years ago will take off. The ‘Super Fairy’ is also becoming quite
prolific, just needing some careful feeding to fulfil its pink potential –
looking forward to those hundreds of blooms in a couple of weeks.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Other satisfactory events included acquiring a new set of
patio furniture through the wonderful second-hand pages on Facebook. Our
previous chairs had lost their plastic coating and were completely rusty, so it
was a wonderful find, along with a useful pair of sandals and some summer
clothes.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I began to pick up more supply teaching, including in a new
school; home group started again, always so good to be together; and, of
course, the weather began to improve, though much of the month was
characterized by a very cold wind, tempered by the sun.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Not so satisfactory was selling the Micra. On the plus side,
we did get a little money for it rather than having to pay to have it disposed
of. And it went to a delightful young man who fell in love with it. He had
spotted it as he drove by, so drove in, rang the bell, and asked us to sell it
to him. He was a huge fan of Micras and I did feel it went to a good home. He
even asked its name! We couldn’t help noticing his skip of delight as he
bounced back into his car when he collected it. But still… it had been my
trusted companion for nearly 19 years. I had even, when our friend Stuart
prayed for us when he dropped us at the car auction, had an inkling that we
would end up with a red Micra. (I don’t like he colour red and a Micra was not
necessarily what we were looking for, but as soon as I sat in it, I KNEW.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The other not so satisfactory occurrence was being laid low
for 4 or 5 days with a virulent stomach bug… Bizarrely, my sister-in-law in
Cambridge seemed to have had exactly the same at the same time.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And then a Godincidence: my close friend Tricia from
Guernsey, at a conference in the UK, met my ‘sister’ Catherine – my close
friend from VMM days, with over 40 years of friendship under our belts. Not
only that, but both Tricia and Catherine lived in Tanzania for a while…
#lovethis<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">June saw a lot more sunny weather – but oh, the WIND. Strong
– force 5 – 6 for a couple of weeks – and a cold north-easterly. We are able to
find several sheltered spots around the house but it was generally very wearing
and it seemed that summer was definitely tardy, although the western parts of
the UK experienced wonderfully warm weather. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We were busy, though. Our first guests were due to arrive on
10<sup>th</sup> June, whereupon we would decamp to the campsite in the
motorhome. Working steadily through the jobs needed to prepare the house and
garden, we were able to get everything finished in time, which is surprisingly
satisfying.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFF8xfikXeMll3yXPx-64i_ixvMGxQe4n7slXlLdDIBLAWE9JySxjAr9U_1d_HYr_ujDdXsFmhSYzcfWQ6dbNw-vWhYXhg8mmxy35M4DTmphcv5vRiLDGXgy2ShYYZFs1V6XELJFjTPPIkWeJTV4OOToHZtE49NEyF-SEqR6th4sGNSRfUu39u4TcHDbY/s4624/20230610_144254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFF8xfikXeMll3yXPx-64i_ixvMGxQe4n7slXlLdDIBLAWE9JySxjAr9U_1d_HYr_ujDdXsFmhSYzcfWQ6dbNw-vWhYXhg8mmxy35M4DTmphcv5vRiLDGXgy2ShYYZFs1V6XELJFjTPPIkWeJTV4OOToHZtE49NEyF-SEqR6th4sGNSRfUu39u4TcHDbY/s320/20230610_144254.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0BVeZwRj3Vq12IvIX1ZoqW8ZKauqJpBYHoA4o2kaN28s4SgdNvyBdAgqW_817I46JAsLX-QT3eJaTRwk3QYPGL85hi4-VIt4ZSU2t1-mXrVjfJYKuXtFrq8eZwqVsUutA4c5biJbkn_urs87U2kiXgEpbhi-VkxAJjvnw9mG_vajc85cZnUp6kGo0is/s4624/20230610_144245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0BVeZwRj3Vq12IvIX1ZoqW8ZKauqJpBYHoA4o2kaN28s4SgdNvyBdAgqW_817I46JAsLX-QT3eJaTRwk3QYPGL85hi4-VIt4ZSU2t1-mXrVjfJYKuXtFrq8eZwqVsUutA4c5biJbkn_urs87U2kiXgEpbhi-VkxAJjvnw9mG_vajc85cZnUp6kGo0is/s320/20230610_144245.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMKTt5TAMzjdqQUY7aAyiYb2uV42_QBDru4IS8UJJaBFTCq0bn3yHnxsllW-denK5jfhLTOLTpz0buw6R7DnnYQ8e0DCSQS_5HErsr9vsRLnrizwlXPMEhWfR6Uydlh68DfqQLh-CxlV4AdCiECNdrTLtamfS5qHgPpsUlXOzIfJIfL2NyhqCNAkmLjaM/s4624/20230610_144203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMKTt5TAMzjdqQUY7aAyiYb2uV42_QBDru4IS8UJJaBFTCq0bn3yHnxsllW-denK5jfhLTOLTpz0buw6R7DnnYQ8e0DCSQS_5HErsr9vsRLnrizwlXPMEhWfR6Uydlh68DfqQLh-CxlV4AdCiECNdrTLtamfS5qHgPpsUlXOzIfJIfL2NyhqCNAkmLjaM/s320/20230610_144203.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">The guests were delightful, very friendly and helpful – they
even offered to water the plants. They had decided to travel by bus, but I was
able to give them a lift towards the supermarket when they arrived and someone
else, seeing them waiting for the bus one day, gave them a lift into town.
Indeed, when they left, the same lady (I eventually worked out that I knew her!
#typicalGuernsey) took them to the airport as she was collecting her sister on
the same flight. #suchaGuernseything</span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Our week at the campsite was delightful. The winds had
dropped and it was WARM. And it is always a pleasure to reconnect with people we
know there, particularly Jean, Vanessa and Paul who we first met in 2020 when
they were camping next to us. (Not visitors: local residents who help out at
the site in the summer.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uN8KgqQIpGQycfaUN1XJTC9ufSFTmVV808rbSI8swgRlElblTEswvN7MPiDRW6AvCLW9XLTVEUJ3Q7ImSx0InETrNKX532vek9eQCF4zT3fOkcBN0IfafK3oybS48AouOhYeBX9rNlz5D_W_jW4-9g7xskxgx4x7qkXiJhvqb5k2O371fuK_oTnj_zA/s4624/20230613_074600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uN8KgqQIpGQycfaUN1XJTC9ufSFTmVV808rbSI8swgRlElblTEswvN7MPiDRW6AvCLW9XLTVEUJ3Q7ImSx0InETrNKX532vek9eQCF4zT3fOkcBN0IfafK3oybS48AouOhYeBX9rNlz5D_W_jW4-9g7xskxgx4x7qkXiJhvqb5k2O371fuK_oTnj_zA/s320/20230613_074600.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_yZ5FFzMcMEJj6rDUvBAc4ccgb_b6cJWUcb9oeKNhMTZN4_0epNagxaWEqn7sWVCsC-hMTgCUuuanrdxXVF_lafU25XMpzFOvUcqfy7cFMVDB6bM8gjcbzI0wMDxNszG8qWAFG2vbqjtYswELAMT1KVbLKGKkrVpsX-lm4KKtVrRKh27Q_ghjX1aoyc/s4624/20230611_143741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_yZ5FFzMcMEJj6rDUvBAc4ccgb_b6cJWUcb9oeKNhMTZN4_0epNagxaWEqn7sWVCsC-hMTgCUuuanrdxXVF_lafU25XMpzFOvUcqfy7cFMVDB6bM8gjcbzI0wMDxNszG8qWAFG2vbqjtYswELAMT1KVbLKGKkrVpsX-lm4KKtVrRKh27Q_ghjX1aoyc/s320/20230611_143741.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIemfuiRIZGyc472BfnbbLiY0INLD-q0wcI6ZndYx-YmWuX8MyTkLPpP9jbGAofnv6YdTZi2UB8D5UUwhh833NPhBoUmgLNXyoE_G-f9jDhwcSVCaQvuqWTR1QscXGBcUWNJVnx4B1bqLgczjxeWfcgEjlqKq28iLevHxO8Q9woiaJwCK6qIROcJCwh8/s4624/20230611_131013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIemfuiRIZGyc472BfnbbLiY0INLD-q0wcI6ZndYx-YmWuX8MyTkLPpP9jbGAofnv6YdTZi2UB8D5UUwhh833NPhBoUmgLNXyoE_G-f9jDhwcSVCaQvuqWTR1QscXGBcUWNJVnx4B1bqLgczjxeWfcgEjlqKq28iLevHxO8Q9woiaJwCK6qIROcJCwh8/s320/20230611_131013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHt6bXBE3lpqV7VGdm8BWQsv3NeLFMxfDIR40zVA0-CEU0KpsdKYrhtvhadT1Di6K1qnUEaqW7yCnCLlxIro-483JsoUoDFXidXgrFUeXFUxjrMxfrraj7J7mrs6d-IsQ5xb7iM54h3YltzKm9KqWz4qVnb6nIMWSghWOGK5qzwl4JMOmU6fuBu8DuXoY/s4624/20230611_130952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHt6bXBE3lpqV7VGdm8BWQsv3NeLFMxfDIR40zVA0-CEU0KpsdKYrhtvhadT1Di6K1qnUEaqW7yCnCLlxIro-483JsoUoDFXidXgrFUeXFUxjrMxfrraj7J7mrs6d-IsQ5xb7iM54h3YltzKm9KqWz4qVnb6nIMWSghWOGK5qzwl4JMOmU6fuBu8DuXoY/s320/20230611_130952.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3OH8nOFNacBD4YJogDFaLWjVi8ZY4t4kdq1TM6DaahsrkkE88-ge6pVw1cEvhOXr__pY2Bmi5dXqdRz0fdxILKQuKpjdaF2ci6trT5rl2z46cvpcYi2cZVRWJLZVr3uVR9bCa2Xvvb_lbKEWwCXDrNzZ1CVbCpFeGrkdfDAm_psw5ilMv6oC8wH2_MrA/s4624/20230610_183342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3OH8nOFNacBD4YJogDFaLWjVi8ZY4t4kdq1TM6DaahsrkkE88-ge6pVw1cEvhOXr__pY2Bmi5dXqdRz0fdxILKQuKpjdaF2ci6trT5rl2z46cvpcYi2cZVRWJLZVr3uVR9bCa2Xvvb_lbKEWwCXDrNzZ1CVbCpFeGrkdfDAm_psw5ilMv6oC8wH2_MrA/s320/20230610_183342.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And there was more supply teaching, which worked out well.
Coffees with friends. Sea swimming – one week I managed to swim every evening
when the weather was particularly warm – up to 25 degrees, one day!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The water was cold, but not too painful. I quickly ditched my
shortie wetsuit and eventually managed to go in without gloves as well, though
the neoprene boots are always useful – protecting my feet from the inevitable
stones in the sand.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Back home more gardening, more sorting and cleaning,
finishing off various motorhome jobs, catching up with friends for dinner on
various occasions and enjoying the weather before Jonny, Adele and Finn visited
at the end of the month.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wonderful. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDeyDm2S6FtyWQmm3_nuGgKO-25hjKrW0pyVJXWrgUaLs5iW4G2sk3iAnvuEwRJNwF5KW7Q-3zwSLwhH-EvYH5haYZOqPkvxUGT2QWXUCCFZYF4NT6iB2rl3sghFNL0o0mMfhpSracORoA_8bpQh1utMKZFY4TX-7bTGciseHZ93-HUkfzKrQcqLb8dtE/s4624/20230519_151957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDeyDm2S6FtyWQmm3_nuGgKO-25hjKrW0pyVJXWrgUaLs5iW4G2sk3iAnvuEwRJNwF5KW7Q-3zwSLwhH-EvYH5haYZOqPkvxUGT2QWXUCCFZYF4NT6iB2rl3sghFNL0o0mMfhpSracORoA_8bpQh1utMKZFY4TX-7bTGciseHZ93-HUkfzKrQcqLb8dtE/s320/20230519_151957.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_TENZsqVDMM2B-TiEjishyphenhyphenARjjpBKmNHGT6a5rQr3jBG64LHhfMv5u7fLihFiVJfZPD85r3hI-mvDaWfcjVPbKRg3zwevZpducsx_APvQ81aGmKsTqNzw987bNUZSmAtMUAyNzOXbfUwH_oF8o77YC8XcAS1f-A_HXfJQyeevGzJbxM9ejU7b5cQoi3A/s4624/20230519_152009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_TENZsqVDMM2B-TiEjishyphenhyphenARjjpBKmNHGT6a5rQr3jBG64LHhfMv5u7fLihFiVJfZPD85r3hI-mvDaWfcjVPbKRg3zwevZpducsx_APvQ81aGmKsTqNzw987bNUZSmAtMUAyNzOXbfUwH_oF8o77YC8XcAS1f-A_HXfJQyeevGzJbxM9ejU7b5cQoi3A/s320/20230519_152009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNcl1lkTfu_Xp_VZ1MjdkbiLVTSBbXUEIDj57Lk9dXxokLv5BHTMuueVGTC1DrTNZqEl2znmOWyRhZk1a5wt6G3-RNYWUWFRshULlTIV1_SiGZ0RXEOoDYSBjC07m5vvD33RxKjVU2WFYz8aHu_bm3_Wuq2bkwE7q7HGZ2KK5y_u3gSaqrxJnWi_uqIeY/s4624/20230519_152031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNcl1lkTfu_Xp_VZ1MjdkbiLVTSBbXUEIDj57Lk9dXxokLv5BHTMuueVGTC1DrTNZqEl2znmOWyRhZk1a5wt6G3-RNYWUWFRshULlTIV1_SiGZ0RXEOoDYSBjC07m5vvD33RxKjVU2WFYz8aHu_bm3_Wuq2bkwE7q7HGZ2KK5y_u3gSaqrxJnWi_uqIeY/s320/20230519_152031.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEictDCkViw929ZHDNSJzlW0jxcIxI1OuZSkU7xrdkCxtsVTMvDNcwoJIkNcVoYq7shUGkgjH2oBuA7yRBaJQyhuNm5Tj8-OECux_38PFSIeAP73220fKycnnb44obRYvdQeLNkNpUNdHuwrTtaM-AztvwAKdbRtDE5IMVUqvKRP2-ryvGJgmnx49L0j3Ns/s4624/20230606_162010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEictDCkViw929ZHDNSJzlW0jxcIxI1OuZSkU7xrdkCxtsVTMvDNcwoJIkNcVoYq7shUGkgjH2oBuA7yRBaJQyhuNm5Tj8-OECux_38PFSIeAP73220fKycnnb44obRYvdQeLNkNpUNdHuwrTtaM-AztvwAKdbRtDE5IMVUqvKRP2-ryvGJgmnx49L0j3Ns/s320/20230606_162010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFrwZft8ygd9TrCpYftRaQaJPsjqkkArbbzSHvbNU5UjapIKOWxrVEVeEABCGfynikk7nxxzd0dUc80c_bEWYzJQ_8MDIVvsnOhneEiS1jkIC8NJ7JXgdGnmcvGhnVhMZm1PO-aWZIi4nAm3wcJrb4lVju9yarYQ2R__eI8Tsq5h_HXHOghmdkXIAg0E/s4624/20230608_140844.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFrwZft8ygd9TrCpYftRaQaJPsjqkkArbbzSHvbNU5UjapIKOWxrVEVeEABCGfynikk7nxxzd0dUc80c_bEWYzJQ_8MDIVvsnOhneEiS1jkIC8NJ7JXgdGnmcvGhnVhMZm1PO-aWZIi4nAm3wcJrb4lVju9yarYQ2R__eI8Tsq5h_HXHOghmdkXIAg0E/s320/20230608_140844.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Mama Mpirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286444396409505857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4924526448032079811.post-91749584043245882162023-06-25T18:01:00.002+01:002023-06-25T18:01:18.448+01:002022 - 2023: December, Christmas, busy January, New Zealand February - April<p> It’s been a while since recording monthly/periodical life
updates. Due mainly to computer glitches, but also inertia and busyness….</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So 2022, after a summer <a href="http://www.travelswithpickle.blogspot.com/">Travelling With Pickle</a>,
ended in preparations for a whole family Christmas visit. In between my regular
day and a half of R.E. teaching, this academic year only from Year 2 to Year 5
– quite a welcome change – and some supply teaching in a local school just ten
minutes’ cycle away, I sourced clothing and equipment for the small people who
would be coming to visit.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A neighbour put a child’s plastic table and chair outside
their house, for the taking; I picked up a car seat and children’s cycle
helmets for free on the OLIO recycling app<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>and bought a tricycle from a Facebook group; borrowed travel cots, more
car seats, boxes of toys and Duplo and even children’s crockery and table ware
from kind friends; and visited a charity shop (GO – giving opportunities for
young people into work – selling all kinds of things from toys to toilets,
books to bathtubs, fashion to furnitures…) for a bicycle and other useful
items.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It involved quite a lot of trawling through buy and sell
groups on Facebook and visiting local charity shops, but eventually I felt we
were well-enough prepared.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The six weeks that the New Zealand contingent visited, from
the end of November until early January, were full on, with all kinds of
activities organised for very active children. Sadly, the weather meant that
there were not many days where an extended play time on the beach was possible,
but the library was wonderful, the swimming pool always a popular option and a
couple of visits from Cat’s best and closest school friends provided
entertainment as well. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the middle, a week or so before Christmas, the Tanzanian
family arrived, Finn meeting his girl cousins for the first time. We celebrated
three birthdays within four weeks: first, Cara’s 4 years, with a pink palace
cake, liberally decorated with sprinkles; then Finn’s 1st, with a blue theme,
balloons and a sheep cake in honour of his favourite toy; and Rosie celebrated
turning 2 with a teddy bear, made from a mould sourced in our favourite charity
shop, or ‘op shop’, as it is known in New Zealand.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then add Christmas into the mix… stockings with a selection
of all kinds of interesting gifts. Rosie in particular loved opening presents,
regardless of who they belonged to. The joys of a 2 year old. During the weeks
they were all here we delighted in the progress they made: Finn beginning to
walk (although it was at least a month after they returned home that he really
began to branch out, although a wooden toy tricycle was invaluable as a
balancing aid); Rosie’s language developed exponentially as she began to string
words together into intelligible phrases, no mean feat for her age; and Cara’s
creativity in everything she approached, whether solving a puzzle or
negotiating a particular need or desire with her parents.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All too soon, their visit was over and the house was empty.
We consoled ourselves with a concerted attack on housework and putting the
house to rights again, giving away toys and children’s furniture and returning
the borrowed items… the potty and child step stool<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>from Sarah had been particular godsends: not
sure how we would have managed without them… January and February also saw us
intentionally catch up with friends, inviting many round for meals.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I also found myself teaching at another nearby school, all
with delightful – and alarmingly young (!) – teachers. It’s not a long-term
profession any more… the tales from the UK in particular are of extreme stress
and pressure caused by Ofsted resulting in mental breakdown or even, in one
horrific case, in suicide of a headteacher because of a poor (and seemingly
unjustified) Ofsted result. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The supply experience, though, has been great, and I
particularly like the children in my ‘new’ school. I have even found myself
enjoying Reception… helped no doubt by my experience with Cara, a year younger.
It’s very convenient, too: there is usually time to pop home at lunchtime to
see Richard, even when on my bicycle.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All too soon, half term arrived and with it our departure
for New Zealand. We had decided, back in November even before Cat and family
arrived, that we would try to go to visit them to help with the new baby,
expected February 22<sup>nd</sup>. Miraculously, as soon as I asked my head, he
gave his consent for me to take unpaid leave for the second half of the term.
(His last words to me, when we had a conversation about my renewing my contract
back in June 2022, had been that he ‘didn’t want someone who would disappear
off to New Zealand for 6 weeks’…!)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It had been quite hectic leaving all the lessons planned for
and prepared in advance. It is always more time-consuming to leave detailed
plans for others to deliver than to actually do the work oneself, especially as
I had no idea who would be teaching my lessons.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It had all been an interesting process. Covid – and
lockdown, staying in place for a couple of years – had left a legacy of finding
it hard to contemplate travel. We had, of course, gone off in the motorhome but
in many ways it felt like staying ‘at home’. Air travel, on the other hand,
seemed like quite a big step. Even the logistics of getting from Gatwick to
Heathrow and then to our hotel overnight seemed tricky. Still, we managed to
get the coach booked in advance at good times to allow for delays (although
there were none) and managed to negotiate our way through the vagaries of the
buses of the London Transport System to get to the Radisson hotel at Terminal
3. It was all well worth it – the hotel was very comfortable and had a swimming
pool, which we took advantage of both in the evening and early morning before
we left for our flight.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Once at the airport, all seemed familiar again. Virgin
Atlantic to San Francisco kept us very well-fed (I lost count of how many meals
they served us and even the gluten-free options were good) and entertained; the
transfer was incredibly easy and hassle-free, with no queues at passport
control and a delightfully friendly official; and then easy baggage check-in
and comfortable armchairs to wait in with a view over the airport apron to the
surrounding hills. After that, Air New Zealand was as wonderful as we
remembered and we felt surprisingly ‘untired’ when we finally arrived in
Auckland to be met by Andy’s brother John: Daughter No. 3 had arrived, just as
Daughters Nos 1 and 2 had, a day early. Elsie Joy, 3.6kg.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We were delighted to be there and be of help. The weeks
passed in a blur of entertaining pre-schoolers, holding the baby and keeping up
with a constant stream of washing up, cooking, laundry and cleaning. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Entertainment included roughie time on the trampoline with
Yaya and, occasionally, Moomoo (no idea where Cara came up with that name as
she was learning to talk, but it has stuck). I learnt to recognise the early
warning signs which were precursor to Rosie launching herself, with some violence,
at me – and adorning Moomoo with pegs. The girls were crafty: they stripped off
all their clothes so they couldn’t be ‘pegged’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>back. Most games went well, with only a few tears… #result. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We – I and the girls – spent a lot of time on the trampoline
which Rosie, in particular, absolutely adores. She was incredibly entertaining
with it, ordering me around with great enjoyment: “I go out now. You stay,”
with a backwards glance as she marched off into the house to ensure that I had
followed instructions with a further “Don’t get out.” It has been an absolute
delight to see her language developing in leaps and bounds over the last couple
of months. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Particularly memorable words have been the ‘Hello’ series,
developed on a car journey home one day. “Hello cars!” extended to the
favourite “Hello cucumber” which became her ‘go to’ phrase. Jumping on the
trampoline together one day, my hair flying up as I bounced, inspired her to
yell “Hello Yaya’s hair!”. Constantly inventive, she used words with glee as
soon as she learned them – Andy’s phrase of ‘Hoolibah’ was instantly adopted.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cat leads the local Playcentre, a venue with an enormous
range of creative activities which all the parents involved take turns in
leading, and this is evident in the house. The list of ‘what to do when I feel
bored’ is impressively long, including ‘cups of tea and a chat’ and ‘drawing
with chalk’ – the house has a wonderful paved strip just behind it which houses
the Dow girls’ mud kitchen, a sandpit, numerous bikes and scooters and a
playhouse. Add to this the ‘garden room’ – a covered deck enclosed with PFV
rollblinds, furnished with comfortable couches and a coffee table and liberally
adorned with hanging pot plants and ferns growing up the ‘walls’.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rosie enjoyed helping with dinner, as did Cara, and was
particularly adept at peeling garlic. Peeling stickers or drawing was another
favourite pastime – we loved hearing Rosie talking to herself about what she
was drawing (which was, of course, unrecognisable!), friends often featuring in
the chat. She is a delightfully inclusive little girl but is also very
independent, enjoying playing on her own. Cara, by contrast, gains all her
energy from interacting with others and is at her happiest when engaged in
anything social. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And, of course, it was a delight to see Elsie gain weight
and fill out at an astonishing rate – in the first four weeks (and the first
week, when babies usually lose a little weight and then regain back to their
birth weight) she gained nearly 40% of her body weight – approximately 13% a
week! By six weeks her weight gain was DOUBLE the norm. She is a relatively
calm baby: demanding, of course, as all babies are and easily bored – she rarely
likes to lie awake in one place for very long.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A couple of weeks around the six week mark saw her develop
fretful spells in the afternoon. We found, quite haphazardly, that George
Ezra’s song ‘Shotgun’ had an instant and magical effect in calming her. As soon
as he started singing (the first few bars of the intro didn’t always cut it)
she quietened down, body relaxing. The effect gave some blessed respite and
lasted quite a few days, before she tired of him.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It wasn’t all cooking, cleaning and washing, though. Most
days we were able to venture out on a cycle ride or to go swimming – the local
pool is free, and a ten minute cycle ride away. We walked up and across Mangere
Mountain, just by the house (the address ‘Mountain Road’ is a significant
clue…). <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cat arranged various visits for us: a kind friend insisted
on lending us her car for a week while she was away, which enabled us to visit
Duder Regional Park (one of Auckland’s many), enjoying a good walk and amazing
views.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cat got us tickets for Ayrslie Gardens, a private garden
somewhat like the Lost Gardens of Heligon with a variety of unusual plants
created by one family over decades; and a visit to <a href="https://www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz/">Tiritirimatangi</a> Island. We also
managed a visit to stay with Sue and Allan, Andy’s parents, at their home in
Houhoura in the Far North, driving up with them and flying back down to
Auckland.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And, of course, outings with the family. A trip to their
favourite beach in east of Auckland, at Maraetai, where Cat and Andy’s sister
Bex have done triathlons. We swam in a calm sea, warmer than back home in
Guernsey although still a little chilly at first.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Visits to the café and library in Mangere Bridge centre,
both such popular and frequent venues that the staff at the café know Cat’s
usual coffee order. And of course a dive into the ‘op chop’ (local Vincent de
Paul charity shop, with very friendly volunteers who seemed quite happy that
Rosie was rearranging the doll and toy corner to her satisfaction, trying out
the newborn baby clothes on selected recipients. A visit to an op shop was not,
of course, an isolated occasion: I returned there and also cycled across the
harbour to nearby Onehunga, sampling the shops there – one of which had
beautifully artistic displays. I even found a lovely soft wrap in the Red Cross
shop. It is a poncho made of merino silk: a mixture of merino lambswool, possum
fur and silk. It folds up into a remarkably small package. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A trip to historic Devonport across the harbour, involving a
train ride, a bus journey and a (very short, just minutes) ferry trip. Coffee
and ice cream were, naturally, features of the trip along with a visit to the
library and an impressive playground with a tall ‘lighthouse’ in the middle.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cat also bought us ferry tickets to <a href="http://www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz/">Tiritiri Matangi</a>, an island
sanctuary an hour from Auckland city centre. The island had, like Duder
Regional Park, been cleared for sheep farming in the 1800s but in the 1970s,
after the lease was withdrawn, it was designated a reserve and left, initially,
to regenerate. An active program of pest eradication (the kiore/pacific rat)
and dedicated seed-sowing and replanting of 280,000 trees and shrubs over a ten
year period saw the island returned to its original state, with many native
species of fauna returning and flourishing.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cat had, with great forethought, booked us a guided tour.
This lasted for more than a couple of hours and was absolutely invaluable. The
guide was very knowledgeable about both the island and wider ecological and
environmental issues: we would not have gained nearly as much from our visit
had we just wandered around on our own.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And, somewhat bizarrely, the guide knew Guernsey well,
having lived on Alderney for ten years prior to emigrating to New Zealand. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And of course several visits to nearby Ambury Farm in Ambury
Park on the edge of Manakau harbour and, again, just a few minutes’ cycle ride
away from the house, with<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>several bird
sanctuaries. A favourite ride was along Kiwi Esplanade from Mangere Bridge
(where there is a new road bridge and a wonderful cycle bridge created in the
location of the original), where thousands of South Island Pied Oystercatchers congregate
on their migration north. Cat and Andy kindly took us here for our first New
Zealand fish and chips supper – the chips so much more delicious than the
usually fat, under-cooked and greasy chips beloved in the UK.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They also took us to several of their favourite eateries.
Ruby Red, the café in Mangere Bridge shopping centre was such a favourite that
the owner knows Cat’s usual coffee order. It sits in a row of cafés set back
from the road, enabling tables to spread across the pavement. There is a lovely
vibe there which makes the centre feel like a village. The centre has
everything: a hardware store, where we bought sandpaper to finish off a
painting job back at the house; a pharmacy; supermarket; doctor; hairdresser,
and various fast food outlets. Evangelists have set up their ‘shop’ outside,
with a sound system playing several well-known songs and choruses, our
favourite being the first, ‘Forever Grateful’, which we sang so often at Nairobi
Chapel and still have a recording of at home. Hearing the song – sounding identical
– literally stopped me in my tracks as I cycled past.s’s<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One morning, Bex took Cara and Rosie out for breakfast, so
Cat and Andy took us to a favourite café, ‘Percy’s, out near the airport, in a
tall modern building. Good to have time together just the four of us.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then there was Hallertau, a restaurant in Clevedon out
towards the east coast, which the girls loved: plenty of things to entertain
children in an outside courtyard. Fortunately, the sun was out as the wind was
quite chilly at the time. One particular bonus of our visit to add to the joy
of being with family was the weather: some days of rain, but still warm and
generally better than a summer’s day in Guernsey. #NewZealandautumn!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After four weeks or so, Sue and Allan, Andy’s parents, drove
down to Auckland for a church conference and so we drove back up to Pukenui in
the Far North with them. They had extended a warm invitation for us to visit
them several times, but we had been put off by the length of the journey.
Usually this would take a minimum of 5 and a half hours drive, but recently a
lot longer, as there had been damage to the roads caused by Cyclone Gabrielle a
few weeks previously. In the end, we made the trip in just 6 hours as several
of the diversions had been removed, although there was a very slow section with
several sets of traffic lights where the road was still being repaired after
portions had deteriorated or vanished in the cyclone and also the rain deluges
just prior to that. We all met up at Cornwall Park (which Richard and I had
cycled up to the day before, coincidentally, retracing a walk we did from One
Tree Hill down to the café there on a previous visit.) for a picnic lunch with
Bex and boyfriend Abe and his son Boaz before setting off.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The journey went more quickly than expected. I always love
to see the forests, particularly the distinctive Norfolk pines and the
indigenous trees, especially the tree ferns. We saw quite a bit of cyclone
damage but I was struck, again, by just how empty New Zealand is. Miles and
miles of rolling farmland with just a few houses or small settlements dominated
our journey.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">However, the highlight was a visit to the Hundertwasser
Toilets in Kawakawa. We had stopped opposite for a break halfway through the
journey and to get a snack from one of the many fast food outlets lining the
main street. I was absolutely astonished by the toilets, which looked like some
sort of art installation, until I realised that these are the famous toilets
made in 1999 by an artist named Friedensreich Hundertwasser. The toilets are one
of the few toilet blocks in the world which are considered to be works of art –
just having a tree growing through the middle of them is unusual enough in
itself, let alone the wonderful conglomerations of brightly coloured ceramic
tiles, glass and quirky ironwork (the gate into the women’s side incorporates a
small propellor, to name just one example). What a delight. I had heard of
these but we hadn’t ever stopped to join the bus-loads of tourists who come to
visit them on their tour of the Far North.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Staying with Allan and Sue was, however, even more of a
delight. They have moved into Sue’s mother’s old house on the farm, a small
wooden house built by Sue’s father just after the Second World War on his
return home. Bearing in mind visits from the family – Andy is just one of 5
children who have given Sue and Allan 13 grandchildren, to date – they decided
to remove a small lean to from the side of the house and use it as a base for
building a cabin (a <i>bach</i> as such are known in New Zealand) in the
garden. The result is a delightful two-bedroomed house, double-glazed and
well-insulated with a huge double garage attached which doubles as
kitchen/diner/family/games room. We were so comfortable there and found
ourselves totally relaxed.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We hadn’t felt hugely tired out by grandparenting duties,
but there is no doubt that the first four weeks had been full on as we tried to
help the family adjust to Life With Elsie Joy. We had a relaxing time sitting
on the little verandah in the sun, reading, catching up on this blog post and
hanging out with Sue and Allan. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Richard had fun helping Allan remove a tree stump, which
involved quite a lot of discussion and to-ing and fro-ing with the tractor
before after an hour or so they were, eventually, successful. Allan drove us
down to Houhora Heads, where seven years previously we had put up a marquee for
Cat and Andy’s wedding, meeting Owen Wagener who had generously allowed us to
use his garden on the edge of the water for the event. It all seemed very
familiar and brough back lots of memories.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We walked along the waterfront a couple of times, venturing
for a dip in the sea: at mid-tide there was quite a rip, which made swimming
seem like being in an infinity pool. The water was calm and clear: there was
something quite magical about swimming in this inland harbour, bordered by the mainland
on one side and the farm opposite, Camel Mountain (named by Captain Cook on the
basis of its appearance) rearing up majestically in front of us.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We made the return journey by air (the bus would have taken
at best 7 and a half hours, with a stop over in Kerikeri, but detours were
still in place so no doubt it would have been even longer) in just over an hour
from Kaitaia in a small Caravan, similar to the planes Richard had flown in
Africa. #blastfromthepast<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Back a day, and then we were off to Tapapakanga Regional
Park where Cat had rented a bach. A lovely holiday house perched on a hill overlooking
the sea. We walked down to the shingle beach, playing in the little ‘river’,
marvelling at the ancient pohotukawa trees gracing the shore. There was a
‘homestead’ – the first farmhouse built just over a hundred years ago, a proud
piece of history in this young country (even the Maori have lived here only
around eight hundred years or so). The wooden building was empty, but the
historical plaques in every window told<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>the story of a family of 14 children living a life reminiscent of
Richard’s childhood: a remote area, paraffin lighting and no running water.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A swamp harrier swooped and dived above the valley. A herd
of curious cows came up to the <i>bach</i>. We took a trip further east along
the coast towards the Coromandel peninsula, stopping at the Pukorokoro
shorebird centre at Miranda. We passed ‘Ray’s Rest’ – a motorhome stopover
right next to the beach where, a few years previously, we had stopped in our
hired motorhome. It had been marvellous to be so close to the waves and the
coast there has a wonderful open feel.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At the bird centre we were reminded how Manakau harbour –
just a few minutes cycle ride from Cat and Andy’s home – is a haven for
shorebirds. One of our favourite cycle rides has been to skirt the base of
Mangere Mountain, freewheeling all the way down the hill and through the
village of Mangere Bridge to the waterfront, turning left onto Kiwi Esplanade
just before the footbridge across the harbour to Onehunga. Cycling along with
the harbour on our right, there are thousands of South Island pied
oystercatchers gathering on the mudflats and the grass bordering the shore.
Throw in a few kingfishers, the odd variable oyster catcher (apparently
variable, but often completely black except for the red bill and legs) and some
immature black-backed gulls, and we are never disappointed with the bird life.
While not extensive in variety, New Zealand certainly makes up for that lack
with large numbers of each species.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">From Kiwi Esplanade – where we have been cycling with the
children, having afternoon tea<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or a fish
and chip supper – we go through Ambury Park, cycling past Ambury Farm (where we
also once went with Cat many years ago – my memory is of a great deal of
sheep<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>wandering around) and then along
the shore past the bird sanctuary. On almost our first day here, we ventured
down to the park from the other side of the mountain, seeing large numbers of spoonbills;
white-headed herons, seemingly unafraid; the inevitable oystercatchers; and all
kinds of small waders. A couple of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>pairs
of black swans had cygnets when we first arrived but, after a few weeks, the
cygnets were grown and the swans moved on. And, of course, the <i>pukeko </i>-
a beautiful purple/blue bird with bright red beak and legs, resembling an
overgrown moorhen – were everywhere, very tame. There was even a small flock of
chickens which hung around at the entrance to the footpath which climbed up
from the lagoon towards the exit, always rushing up to meet us. They seemed to
be all kinds of varieties, with various shapes and sizes and even a few tiny
chicks.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We had managed to cycle, on both sides on different
occasions, on designated cycle tracks/footpaths along the edge of the harbour
nearly all the way to its farthest inland point. Another ride took us from
Onehunga (once the main port for Auckland, at its heyday in the nineteen
twenties and thirties) up the hill to Cornwall Park.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The last days were filled with a trip to the Botanical
Gardens for brunch; trips down to the waterfront with the bikes – Rosie on her
balance bike and Cara on a newly acquired bicycle, at which she is remarkably
skilled; swims with – and without – the girls; playing in the garden. Easter
Sunday saw a gathering of friends from church – around 15 or so of us, all
bringing food to share. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All too suddenly our visit came to an end. Apart from the
very precious, special time with the family, we had enjoyed becoming
reacquainted with New Zealand. In some ways, it felt like coming ‘home’. ‘Home’
in its similarities with the UK – the language and customs – but also, strangely,
with Kenya. The pioneer style architecture of many of the towns and villages,
with their ribbons of shops boasting metal-roofed verandahs lining a main
street, reminded us of Nakuru. Add in the wonderful ethnic diversity and a
people speaking a tribal language – Maori - added a distinct sense of
familiarity. Mangere particularly, where Cat and Andy live, has a large
Pacifika population with an evidently different approach to life from the <i>pakeha</i>,
the white people. The Maori names, however, were difficult for us to get our
heads around… It helped a little to slowly learn the meaning of a few words (eg
<i>kai</i> means food) but often names of places were difficult to remember.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The weather, too, had been a bonus: brilliant summer
weather, even as ‘autumn’ approached, the days grew shorter (less than 12 hours
daylight) and daylight savings kicked in, resulting in lighter mornings but
evenings which began before 6pm. Even so, we were out most days in sunshine and
shirtsleeves. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We had been approved for residency eight or nine years ago
but, in the end for all manner of reasons, decided to remain in Guernsey. Difficult.
Mixed emotions doesn’t begin to describe our feelings as we prepared to leave,
but the inevitability of it helped. We left for home. For Guernsey.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And so…seven and a half weeks later, we arrived home, to be
met by dear Sarah who came to pick us up. Flying premium economy (Air New
Zealand, British Airways) certainly helped to make the journey much more
comfortable, as well as getting 14 hours under our belt to Houston so that it
was only (only!!) 9 hours after that. (And on that leg the plane was,
surprisingly, only half full.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All was well at home. Pickle seemed slightly surprised to
see us. In fact, she gave the hairdresser more of a welcome a couple of days
later…#tryingnottofeelmiffed. She had developed a slight limp on occasions –
probably incipient arthritis, which Anne-Marie, our first dogsitter, had
worried about. Otherwise, apart from needing to lost a little weight – she is
now a heft 13kg – all was well. Anne-Marie had been the most wonderful
companion for Pickle. She even fretted about leaving Pickle alone on her
departure, so the girls who came after (friends of my gap-year student
colleague Millie) had to message to say they had arrived in the house…very
sweet. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It took about a week to recover from jetlag and get the
garden back in shape – the grass had grown tremendously while the bushes and
hedges all needed attention. Satisfying to get back into a routine, although I
filled every day with catch-ups with friends: always helps to ‘ground’ me. But
oh.. we do miss them all….<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Mama Mpirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286444396409505857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4924526448032079811.post-10324526402027625962023-02-10T16:20:00.012+00:002023-04-22T10:05:11.642+01:00November, Christmas, packing, February, baby, family....Catching up!!<p>It’s been a while since recording monthly/periodical life
updates. Due mainly to computer glitches, but also inertia and busyness….</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So 2022, after a summer <a href="http://www.travelswithpickle.blogspot.com/">Travelling With Pickle</a>,
ended in preparations for a whole family Christmas visit. In between my regular
day and a half of R.E. teaching, this academic year only from Year 2 to Year 5
– quite a welcome change – and some supply teaching in a local school just ten
minutes’ cycle away, I sourced clothing and equipment for the small people who
would be coming to visit.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A neighbour put a child’s plastic table and chair outside
their house, for the taking; I picked up a car seat and children’s cycle
helmets for free on the OLIO recycling app<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>and bought a tricycle from a Facebook group; borrowed travel cots, more
car seats, boxes of toys and Duplo and even children’s crockery and table ware
from kind friends; and visited a charity shop (GO – giving opportunities for
young people into work – selling all kinds of things from toys to toilets,
books to bathtubs, fashion to furnitures…) for a bicycle and other useful
items.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It involved quite a lot of trawling through buy and sell
groups on Facebook and visiting local charity shops, but eventually I felt we
were well-enough prepared.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The six weeks that the New Zealand contingent visited, from
the end of November until early January, were full on, with all kinds of
activities organised for very active children. Sadly, the weather meant that
there were not many days where an extended play time on the beach was possible,
but the library was wonderful, the swimming pool always a popular option and a
couple of visits from Cat’s best and closest school friends provided
entertainment as well. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the middle, a week or so before Christmas, the Tanzanian
family arrived, Finn meeting his girl cousins for the first time. We celebrated
three birthdays within four weeks: first, Cara’s 4 years, with a pink palace
cake, liberally decorated with sprinkles; then Finn’s 1st, with a blue theme,
balloons and a sheep cake in honour of his favourite toy; and Rosie celebrated
turning 2 with a teddy bear, made from a mould sourced in our favourite charity
shop, or ‘op shop’, as it is known in New Zealand.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then add Christmas into the mix… stockings with a selection
of all kinds of interesting gifts. Rosie in particular loved opening presents,
regardless of who they belonged to. The joys of a 2 year old. During the weeks
they were all here we delighted in the progress they made: Finn beginning to
walk (although it was at least a month after they returned home that he really
began to branch out, although a wooden toy tricycle was invaluable as a
balancing aid); Rosie’s language developed exponentially as she began to string
words together into intelligible phrases, no mean feat for her age; and Cara’s
creativity in everything she approached, whether solving a puzzle or
negotiating a particular need or desire with her parents.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All too soon, their visit was over and the house was empty.
We consoled ourselves with a concerted attack on housework and putting the
house to rights again, giving away toys and children’s furniture and returning
the borrowed items… the potty and child step stool<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>from Sarah had been particular godsends: not
sure how we would have managed without them… January and February also saw us
intentionally catch up with friends, inviting many round for meals.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I also found myself teaching at another nearby school, all
with delightful – and alarmingly young (!) – teachers. It’s not a long-term
profession any more… the tales from the UK in particular are of extreme stress
and pressure caused by Ofsted resulting in mental breakdown or even, in one
horrific case, in suicide of a headteacher because of a poor (and seemingly
unjustified) Ofsted result. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The supply experience, though, has been great, and I
particularly like the children in my ‘new’ school. I have even found myself
enjoying Reception… helped no doubt by my experience with Cara, a year younger.
It’s very convenient, too: there is usually time to pop home at lunchtime to
see Richard, even when on my bicycle.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All too soon, half term arrived and with it our departure
for New Zealand. We had decided, back in November even before Cat and family
arrived, that we would try to go to visit them to help with the new baby,
expected February 22<sup>nd</sup>. Miraculously, as soon as I asked my head, he
gave his consent for me to take unpaid leave for the second half of the term.
(His last words to me, when we had a conversation about my renewing my contract
back in June 2022, had been that he ‘didn’t want someone who would disappear
off to New Zealand for 6 weeks’…!)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It had been quite hectic leaving all the lessons planned for
and prepared in advance. It is always more time-consuming to leave detailed
plans for others to deliver than to actually do the work oneself, especially as
I had no idea who would be teaching my lessons.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It had all been an interesting process. Covid – and
lockdown, staying in place for a couple of years – had left a legacy of finding
it hard to contemplate travel. We had, of course, gone off in the motorhome but
in many ways it felt like staying ‘at home’. Air travel, on the other hand,
seemed like quite a big step. Even the logistics of getting from Gatwick to
Heathrow and then to our hotel overnight seemed tricky. Still, we managed to
get the coach booked in advance at good times to allow for delays (although
there were none) and managed to negotiate our way through the vagaries of the
buses of the London Transport System to get to the Radisson hotel at Terminal
3. It was all well worth it – the hotel was very comfortable and had a swimming
pool, which we took advantage of both in the evening and early morning before
we left for our flight.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Once at the airport, all seemed familiar again. Virgin
Atlantic to San Francisco kept us very well-fed (I lost count of how many meals
they served us and even the gluten-free options were good) and entertained; the
transfer was incredibly easy and hassle-free, with no queues at passport
control and a delightfully friendly official; and then easy baggage check-in
and comfortable armchairs to wait in with a view over the airport apron to the
surrounding hills. After that, Air New Zealand was as wonderful as we
remembered and we felt surprisingly ‘untired’ when we finally arrived in
Auckland to be met by Andy’s brother John: Daughter No. 3 had arrived, just as
Daughters Nos 1 and 2 had, a day early, 12 hours before we touched down. Elsie Joy, 3.6kg.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We were delighted to be there and be of help. The weeks passed
in a blur of entertaining pre-schoolers, holding the baby and keeping up with a
constant stream of washing up, cooking, laundry and cleaning. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Entertainment included roughie time on the trampoline with
Yaya and, occasionally, Moomoo (no idea where Cara came up with that name as
she was learning to talk, but it has stuck). I learnt to recognise the early
warning signs which were precursor to Rosie launching herself, with some violence,
at me – and adorning Moomoo with pegs. The girls were crafty: they stripped off
all their clothes so they couldn’t be ‘pegged’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>back. Most games went well, with only a few tears… #result. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We – I and the girls – spent a lot of time on the trampoline
which Rosie, in particular, absolutely adores. She was incredibly entertaining
with it, ordering me around with great enjoyment: “I go out now. You stay,”
with a backwards glance as she marched off into the house to ensure that I had
followed instructions with a further “Don’t get out.” It has been an absolute
delight to see her language developing in leaps and bounds over the last couple
of months. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Particularly memorable words have been the ‘Hello’ series,
developed on a car journey home one day. “Hello cars!” extended to the
favourite “Hello cucumber” which became her ‘go to’ phrase. Jumping on the
trampoline together one day, my hair flying up as I bounced, inspired her to
yell “Hello Yaya’s hair!”. Constantly inventive, she used words with glee as
soon as she learned them – Andy’s phrase of ‘Hoolibah’ was instantly adopted.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cat leads the local Playcentre, a venue with an enormous
range of creative activities which all the parents involved take turns in
leading, and this is evident in the house. The list of ‘what to do when I feel
bored’ is impressively long, including ‘cups of tea and a chat’ and ‘drawing
with chalk’ – the house has a wonderful paved strip just behind it which houses
the Dow girls’ mud kitchen, a sandpit, numerous bikes and scooters and a
playhouse. Add to this the ‘garden room’ – a covered deck enclosed with PFV
rollblinds, furnished with comfortable couches and a coffee table and liberally
adorned with hanging pot plants and ferns growing up the ‘walls’.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rosie enjoyed helping with dinner, as did Cara, and was
particularly adept at peeling garlic. Peeling stickers or drawing was another
favourite pastime – we loved hearing Rosie talking to herself about what she
was drawing (which was, of course, unrecognisable!), friends often featuring in
the chat. She is a delightfully inclusive little girl but is also very independent,
enjoying playing on her own. Cara, by contrast, gains all her energy from
interacting with others and is at her happiest when engaged in anything social.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And, of course, it was a delight to see Elsie gain weight
and fill out at an astonishing rate – in the first four weeks (and the first
week, when babies usually lose a little weight and then regain back to their
birth weight) she gained nearly 40% of her body weight – approximately 13% a
week! By six weeks her weight gain was DOUBLE the norm. She is a relatively
calm baby: demanding, of course, as all babies are and easily bored – she rarely
likes to lie awake in one place for very long.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A couple of weeks around the six week mark saw her develop
fretful spells in the afternoon. We found, quite haphazardly, that George Ezra’s
song ‘Shotgun’ had an instant and magical effect in calming her. As soon as he
started singing (the first few bars of the intro didn’t always cut it) she
quietened down, body relaxing. The effect gave some blessed respite and lasted
quite a few days, before she tired of him.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It wasn’t all cooking, cleaning and washing, though. Most
days we were able to venture out on a cycle ride or to go swimming – the local
pool is free, and a ten minute cycle ride away. We walked up and across Mangere
Mountain, just by the house (the address ‘Mountain Road’ is a significant
clue…). <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cat arranged various visits for us: a kind friend insisted
on lending us her car for a week while she was away, which enabled us to visit
Duder Regional Park (one of Auckland’s many), enjoying a good walk and amazing
views.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cat got us tickets for Ayrslie Gardens, a private garden
somewhat like the Lost Gardens of Heligon with a variety of unusual plants
created by one family over decades; and a visit to <a href="https://www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz/">Tiritirimatangi</a> Island. We also
managed a visit to stay with Sue and Allan, Andy’s parents, at their home in
Houhoura in the Far North, driving up with them and flying back down to
Auckland.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And, of course, outings with the family. A trip to their
favourite beach in east of Auckland, at Maraetai, where Cat and Andy’s sister
Bex have done triathlons. We swam in a calm sea, warmer than back home in
Guernsey although still a little chilly at first.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Visits to the café and library in Mangere Bridge centre,
both such popular and frequent venues that the staff at the café know Cat’s
usual coffee order. And of course a dive into the ‘op chop’ (local Vincent de
Paul charity shop, with very friendly volunteers who seemed quite happy that
Rosie was rearranging the doll and toy corner to her satisfaction, trying out
the newborn baby clothes on selected recipients. A visit to an op shop was not,
of course, an isolated occasion: I returned there and also cycled across the
harbour to nearby Onehunga, sampling the shops there – one of which had
beautifully artistic displays. I even found a lovely soft wrap in the Red Cross
shop. It is a poncho made of merino silk: a mixture of merino lambswool, possum
fur and silk. It folds up into a remarkably small package. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A trip to historic Devonport across the harbour, involving a
train ride, a bus journey and a (very short, just minutes) ferry trip. Coffee
and ice cream were, naturally, features of the trip along with a visit to the
library and an impressive playground with a tall ‘lighthouse’ in the middle.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cat also bought us ferry tickets to <a href="http://www.tiritirimatangi.org.nz/">Tiritiri Matangi</a>, an island
sanctuary an hour from Auckland city centre. The island had, like Duder
Regional Park, been cleared for sheep farming in the 1800s but in the 1970s,
after the lease was withdrawn, it was designated a reserve and left, initially,
to regenerate. An active program of pest eradication (the kiore/pacific rat)
and dedicated seed-sowing and replanting of 280,000 trees and shrubs over a ten
year period saw the island returned to its original state, with many native
species of fauna returning and flourishing.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cat had, with great forethought, booked us a guided tour.
This lasted for more than a couple of hours and was absolutely invaluable. The
guide was very knowledgeable about both the island and wider ecological and
environmental issues: we would not have gained nearly as much from our visit
had we just wandered around on our own.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And, somewhat bizarrely, the guide knew Guernsey well,
having lived on Alderney for ten years prior to emigrating to New Zealand. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And of course several visits to nearby Ambury Farm in Ambury
Park on the edge of Manakau harbour and, again, just a few minutes’ cycle ride
away from the house, with<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>several bird
sanctuaries. A favourite ride was along Kiwi Esplanade from Mangere Bridge
(where there is a new road bridge and a wonderful cycle bridge created in the
location of the original), where thousands of South Island Pied Oystercatchers congregate
on their migration north. Cat and Andy kindly took us here for our first New
Zealand fish and chips supper – the chips so much more delicious than the
usually fat, under-cooked and greasy chips beloved in the UK.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They also took us to several of their favourite eateries.
Ruby Red, the café in Mangere Bridge shopping centre was such a favourite that
the owner knows Cat’s usual coffee order. It sits in a row of cafés set back
from the road, enabling tables to spread across the pavement. There is a lovely
vibe there which makes the centre feel like a village. The centre has
everything: a hardware store, where we bought sandpaper to finish off a
painting job back at the house; a pharmacy; supermarket; doctor; hairdresser,
and various fast food outlets. Evangelists have set up their ‘shop’ outside,
with a sound system playing several well-known songs and choruses, our
favourite being the first, ‘Forever Grateful’, which we sang so often at
Nairobi Chapel and still have a recording of at home. Hearing the song –
sounding identical – literally stopped me in my tracks as I cycled past.s’s<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One morning, Bex took Cara and Rosie out for breakfast, so
Cat and Andy took us to a favourite café, ‘Percy’s, out near the airport, in a
tall modern building. Good to have time together just the four of us.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then there was Hallertau, a restaurant in Clevedon out
towards the east coast, which the girls loved: plenty of things to entertain
children in an outside courtyard. Fortunately, the sun was out as the wind was
quite chilly at the time. One particular bonus of our visit to add to the joy
of being with family was the weather: some days of rain, but still warm and
generally better than a summer’s day in Guernsey. #NewZealandautumn!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After four weeks or so, Sue and Allan, Andy’s parents, drove
down to Auckland for a church conference and so we drove back up to Pukenui in
the Far North with them. They had extended a warm invitation for us to visit
them several times, but we had been put off by the length of the journey.
Usually this would take a minimum of 5 and a half hours drive, but recently a
lot longer, as there had been damage to the roads caused by Cyclone Gabrielle a
few weeks previously. In the end, we made the trip in just 6 hours as several
of the diversions had been removed, although there was a very slow section with
several sets of traffic lights where the road was still being repaired after
portions had deteriorated or vanished in the cyclone and also the rain deluges
just prior to that. We all met up at Cornwall Park (which Richard and I had
cycled up to the day before, coincidentally, retracing a walk we did from One
Tree Hill down to the café there on a previous visit.) for a picnic lunch with
Bex and boyfriend Abe and his son Boaz before setting off.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The journey went more quickly than expected. I always love
to see the forests, particularly the distinctive Norfolk pines and the
indigenous trees, especially the tree ferns. We saw quite a bit of cyclone
damage but I was struck, again, by just how empty New Zealand is. Miles and
miles of rolling farmland with just a few houses or small settlements dominated
our journey.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">However, the highlight was a visit to the Hundertwasser
Toilets in Kawakawa. We had stopped opposite for a break halfway through the
journey and to get a snack from one of the many fast food outlets lining the
main street. I was absolutely astonished by the toilets, which looked like some
sort of art installation, until I realised that these are the famous toilets
made in 1999 by an artist named Friedensreich Hundertwasser. The toilets are one
of the few toilet blocks in the world which are considered to be works of art –
just having a tree growing through the middle of them is unusual enough in
itself, let alone the wonderful conglomerations of brightly coloured ceramic
tiles, glass and quirky ironwork (the gate into the women’s side incorporates a
small propellor, to name just one example). What a delight. I had heard of
these but we hadn’t ever stopped to join the bus-loads of tourists who come to
visit them on their tour of the Far North.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Staying with Allan and Sue was, however, even more of a
delight. They have moved into Sue’s mother’s old house on the farm, a small
wooden house built by Sue’s father just after the Second World War on his
return home. Bearing in mind visits from the family – Andy is just one of 5
children who have given Sue and Allan 13 grandchildren, to date – they decided
to remove a small lean to from the side of the house and use it as a base for
building a cabin (a <i>bach</i> as such are known in New Zealand) in the
garden. The result is a delightful two-bedroomed house, double-glazed and
well-insulated with a huge double garage attached which doubles as
kitchen/diner/family/games room. We were so comfortable there and found
ourselves totally relaxed.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We hadn’t felt hugely tired out by grandparenting duties,
but there is no doubt that the first four weeks had been full on as we tried to
help the family adjust to Life With Elsie Joy. We had a relaxing time sitting
on the little verandah in the sun, reading, catching up on this blog post and
hanging out with Sue and Allan. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Richard had fun helping Allan remove a tree stump, which
involved quite a lot of discussion and to-ing and fro-ing with the tractor
before after an hour or so they were, eventually, successful. Allan drove us
down to Houhora Heads, where seven years previously we had put up a marquee for
Cat and Andy’s wedding, meeting Owen Wagener who had generously allowed us to
use his garden on the edge of the water for the event. It all seemed very
familiar and brough back lots of memories.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We walked along the waterfront a couple of times, venturing
for a dip in the sea: at mid-tide there was quite a rip, which made swimming
seem like being in an infinity pool. The water was calm and clear: there was
something quite magical about swimming in this inland harbour, bordered by the mainland
on one side and the farm opposite, Camel Mountain (named by Captain Cook on the
basis of its appearance) rearing up majestically in front of us.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We made the return journey by air (the bus would have taken
at best 7 and a half hours, with a stop over in Kerikeri, but detours were
still in place so no doubt it would have been even longer) in just over an hour
from Kaitaia in a small Caravan, similar to the planes Richard had flown in
Africa. #blastfromthepast<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Back a day, and then we were off to Tapapakanga Regional
Park where Cat had rented a bach. A lovely holiday house perched on a hill
overlooking the sea. We walked down to the shingle beach, playing in the little
‘river’, marvelling at the ancient pohotukawa trees gracing the shore. There
was a ‘homestead’ – the first farmhouse built just over a hundred years ago, a
proud piece of history in this young country (even the Maori have lived here
only around eight hundred years or so). The wooden building was empty, but the
historical plaques in every window told<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>the story of a family of 14 children living a life reminiscent of
Richard’s childhood: a remote area, paraffin lighting and no running water.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A swamp harrier swooped and dived above the valley. A herd
of curious cows came up to the <i>bach</i>. We took a trip further east along
the coast towards the Coromandel peninsula, stopping at the Pukorokoro
shorebird centre at Miranda. We passed ‘Ray’s Rest’ – a motorhome stopover
right next to the beach where, a few years previously, we had stopped in our
hired motorhome. It had been marvellous to be so close to the waves and the
coast there has a wonderful open feel.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At the bird centre we were reminded how Manakau harbour –
just a few minutes cycle ride from Cat and Andy’s home – is a haven for
shorebirds. One of our favourite cycle rides has been to skirt the base of
Mangere Mountain, freewheeling all the way down the hill and through the
village of Mangere Bridge to the waterfront, turning left onto Kiwi Esplanade
just before the footbridge across the harbour to Onehunga. Cycling along with
the harbour on our right, there are thousands of South Island pied
oystercatchers gathering on the mudflats and the grass bordering the shore.
Throw in a few kingfishers, the odd variable oyster catcher (apparently
variable, but often completely black except for the red bill and legs) and some
immature black-backed gulls, and we are never disappointed with the bird life.
While not extensive in variety, New Zealand certainly makes up for that lack
with large numbers of each species.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">From Kiwi Esplanade – where we have been cycling with the
children, having afternoon tea<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or a fish
and chip supper – we go through Ambury Park, cycling past Ambury Farm (where we
also once went with Cat many years ago – my memory is of a great deal of
sheep<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>wandering around) and then along
the shore past the bird sanctuary. On almost our first day here, we ventured
down to the park from the other side of the mountain, seeing large numbers of spoonbills;
white-headed herons, seemingly unafraid; the inevitable oystercatchers; and all
kinds of small waders. A couple of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>pairs
of black swans had cygnets when we first arrived but, after a few weeks, the
cygnets were grown and the swans moved on. And, of course, the <i>pukeko </i>-
a beautiful purple/blue bird with bright red beak and legs, resembling an
overgrown moorhen – were everywhere, very tame. There was even a small flock of
chickens which hung around at the entrance to the footpath which climbed up
from the lagoon towards the exit, always rushing up to meet us. They seemed to
be all kinds of varieties, with various shapes and sizes and even a few tiny
chicks.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We had managed to cycle, on both sides on different
occasions, on designated cycle tracks/footpaths along the edge of the harbour
nearly all the way to its farthest inland point. Another ride took us from
Onehunga (once the main port for Auckland, at its heyday in the nineteen
twenties and thirties) up the hill to Cornwall Park.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The last days were filled with a trip to the Botanical
Gardens for brunch; trips down to the waterfront with the bikes – Rosie on her
balance bike and Cara on a newly acquired bicycle, at which she is remarkably
skilled; swims with – and without – the girls; playing in the garden. Easter
Sunday saw a gathering of friends from church – around 15 or so of us, all bringing
food to share. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All too suddenly our visit came to an end. Apart from the
very precious, special time with the family, we had enjoyed becoming
reacquainted with New Zealand. In some ways, it felt like coming ‘home’. ‘Home’
in its similarities with the UK – the language and customs – but also,
strangely, with Kenya. The pioneer style architecture of many of the towns and
villages, with their ribbons of shops boasting metal-roofed verandahs lining a
main street, reminded us of Nakuru. Add in the wonderful ethnic diversity and a
people speaking a tribal language – Maori - added a distinct sense of
familiarity. Mangere particularly, where Cat and Andy live, has a large
Pacifika population with an evidently different approach to life from the <i>pakeha</i>,
the white people. The Maori names, however, were difficult for us to get our
heads around… It helped a little to slowly learn the meaning of a few words (eg
<i>kai</i> means food) but often names of places were difficult to remember.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The weather, too, had been a bonus: brilliant summer
weather, even as ‘autumn’ approached, the days grew shorter (less than 12 hours
daylight) and daylight savings kicked in, resulting in lighter mornings but
evenings which began before 6pm. Even so, we were out most days in sunshine and
shirtsleeves. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We had been approved for residency eight or nine years ago
but, in the end for all manner of reasons, decided to remain in Guernsey. Difficult.
Mixed emotions doesn’t begin to describe our feelings as we prepared to leave,
but the inevitability of it helped. We left for home. For Guernsey.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And so…seven and a half weeks later, we arrived home, to be
met by dear Sarah who came to pick us up. Flying premium economy (Air New
Zealand, British Airways) certainly helped to make the journey much more
comfortable, as well as getting 14 hours under our belt to Houston so that it
was only (only!!) 9 hours after that. (And on that leg the plane was,
surprisingly, only half full.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All was well at home. Pickle seemed slightly surprised to
see us. In fact, she gave the hairdresser more of a welcome a couple of days
later…#tryingnottofeelmiffed. She had developed a slight limp on occasions –
probably incipient arthritis, which Anne-Marie, our first dogsitter, had worried
about. Otherwise, apart from needing to lost a little weight – she is now a
heft 13kg – all was well. Anne-Marie had been the most wonderful companion for
Pickle. She even fretted about leaving Pickle alone on her departure, so the
girls who came after (friends of my gap-year student colleague Millie) had to
message to say they had arrived in the house…very sweet. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It took about a week to recover from jetlag and get the
garden back in shape – the grass had grown tremendously while the bushes and
hedges all needed attention. Satisfying to get back into a routine, although I
filled every day with catch-ups with friends: always helps to ‘ground’ me. But
oh.. we do miss them all….<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Mama Mpirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286444396409505857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4924526448032079811.post-43380139743601109252023-01-06T20:34:00.001+00:002023-01-06T20:34:40.636+00:00School teaching thank yous<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8R9cWlqVyzLoA3Mpq1EMAuygHEestjJ8iVNFj8aUK4KCPJTVXM0VByoR_hw8w-XZUfZS9I6Yh_rRUR3OlrhSCgx2v8lGhGJ2zuDiu5v_ID-m1tQKexXaRhl0J-B85jil2T1Cz2Vm12Uyr_ynbjsOu5NO_MOR4Axl5EG5gsDvWWmeAjPgvPfxuzqs/s770/20220502_150827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8R9cWlqVyzLoA3Mpq1EMAuygHEestjJ8iVNFj8aUK4KCPJTVXM0VByoR_hw8w-XZUfZS9I6Yh_rRUR3OlrhSCgx2v8lGhGJ2zuDiu5v_ID-m1tQKexXaRhl0J-B85jil2T1Cz2Vm12Uyr_ynbjsOu5NO_MOR4Axl5EG5gsDvWWmeAjPgvPfxuzqs/s320/20220502_150827.jpg" width="319" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Mama Mpirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286444396409505857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4924526448032079811.post-62363646989392754282022-10-03T19:15:00.003+01:002022-10-03T19:15:20.352+01:00January, February, March, April … the year begins to disappear…<p>JANUARY began after a delightful New Year’s Eve spent with a
few friends: a somewhat scaled down event as Omicron cases surged and we were
all mindful of being careful, social distancing and taking lateral flow tests
every time we ventured out.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Not that we usually stay up till midnight, anyway. After
all, every day is a new day and God’s mercies are new every morning. Still, the
New Year does give us a chance to reflect, and, as usual, we wrote down hopes
and dreams for 2022, tucking them away in a little jar until next year. We
shall see…</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But the beginning of January was dominated by a sense of
fear and panic, as we struggled to find out whether our internet and computers
had been hacked. There had been a number of threatening emails in recent weeks:
spam, of course, but still containing enough pointers to make us wonder and
want to find out what was happening. One or two sleepless nights, mindful that
online banking is always a danger…but unavoidable nowadays.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At one point, we thought it could all possibly just have
been Google’s intrusive software, but it did make us review and improve our
online security. Never a bad thing. And suspicions later were confirmed… and we
were just one household among thousands in Guernsey to have a problem.
#safetyinnumbers?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>#notreally </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Finn, of course, continued to grow apace and delight us all.
He is a strong, healthy baby, doted on by adoring parents and grandparents.
Such a wonderful answer to many prayers over the years…At five weeks old he
started smiling, chuckling even at the video of his adoring father teasing the
smiles out of him. We watch the videos on repeat.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The month dragged by slowly. Back to school, initially
limited to working in ‘bubbles’, so my normal teaching commitments were
suspended for the first couple of weeks. I did several days of supply, both at
ECJS and a morning in a new-to-me school in the next parish. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">January weather was cold, excluding many projects which
needed to be done outside, although nearer the end of the month we ventured
into the garden to trim and prune bushes and hedges.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There are A LOT of hedges in our garden. So much so that
Richard has bought a long pole, battery operated trimmer after a retired
gardener friend brought his round to show us. It has made all the difference.
No more clambering up and down ladders, moving (or occasionally cutting
through) extension cords, and much less tiring overall. It will make the task
of keeping the garden tamed much easier. And Pete’s comment, after we had shown
him round the garden (nearly half an acre, but he finished his career as
gardener of a beautiful 23 acre garden): “You have a LOT of bushes.” Indeed.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We tried to feed the birds, succeeding quite well until a
fieldmouse decided to muscle in on the grub. He sat on the bird feeder in the
gloaming, merrily scoffing away at the grain and only reluctantly moving away
when we actually got within a metre or so. So cheeky.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And January was, sadly, dominated by Dying Rabbits. One
little one, evidently suffering from myxamatosis, developed blindness and spent
much of the day sitting in the middle of the lawn, eating grass. Pickle must
have sensed that all was not well, because she refused to chase it,
uncharacteristically for her. After a couple of weeks, when we saw other tiny
rabbits just sitting on the bank opposite, there was a carcass on the road.
Every bike ride seemed to yield sightings of sick rabbits, shivering on the
verge or up on a bank, or dead rabbits which had been run over. One baby rabbit
in particular just seemed to crawl to the safety of the roadside…safety which
lasted only a couple of days. Much as we find the rabbits highly annoying and
very destructive, it is still sad to see them so ill and suffering.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And then… our ‘office’, the third bedroom where we keep
files and books, had developed a mildew problem due to lack of use. We had not
realised the extent of the condensation behind the big bookcase, staining the
carpet with mildew and mould. The smell lingered so much, despite airing, use
of the dehumidifier and cleaning, that we decided we needed to cut out the
offending part before putting the bookcase onto small blocks so that there
would be improved ventilation. Having books and files scattered in bags and
boxes around the house messed somewhat with my head and I found it difficult to
settle to my ‘jobs to do’ list. As for any writing, or more serious reading: a
huge challenge. In the end, I decided to go easy on myself. It is January,
after all… a time to hibernate and retreat and wait until spring…</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But first: there was FEBRUARY.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Normally ferocious, February was quite mild, with even a few
‘sitting out’ days where, for an hour or so, the suntrap outside our front door
offered a relaxing spot for coffee.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When I was at home, that is. I still had my regular day and
a half, but found myself doing more supply both locally and at the school. Still
wearing masks, still careful about how the children mixed – or didn’t mix, with
separate assemblies and, sometimes, playtimes. #legacyofLivingWithCovid<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I had swum a few times in January, or ventured to Vazon with
the bodyboard when the waves looked reasonable, but my swim in February was
almost frightening. I managed 8 minutes in the water without becoming too cold,
but my blood pressure afterwards seemed to be unnaturally high. A normal
consequence of constricted blood vessels due to the cold water (10 degrees),
but it was enough to make me consider easing off until the water warmed up a
little, or wearing a wetsuit – which is never very satisfactory in terms of a
good swim.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Catching up with friends over lunch (Nicky), tea (Sarah), a
Zoom call with Cath and Mary in Shrewsbury and Ireland, or going out for meals
with various others was great fun, along with a monthly breakfast for a few
ladies. (I had to cancel the March one… the reason for that comes later.) And,
of course, home group every week: a great joy.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Not only a joy, but home group has brought us into
friendship with Ellis, who has kindly agreed to come and ‘dogsit’ for a week
while we are away in April. Such a bonus.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But before April…MARCH.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The first half of the month: more of the same. Spring
started to peer around the corner, the primroses I planted last year having
multiplied hugely and blooming non-stop. (They carried on until May!
Astonishing!) The daffodils erupted from the banks and flowerbeds…I started
picking the buds but very quickly couldn’t keep up and the garden was awash
with yellow by the end of the month. We have five or six different varieties,
as well as my favourite narcissi: Soleil D’Or, which, apart from the
deliciously fragrant scent, hold a piece of my heart from having worked as a
teenager on a bulb farm on Tresco in the Isles of Scilly.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then, on 10<sup>th</sup> March, Everything Stopped. Richard
tested positive for Covid. He spent two or three days lying on our window seat,
soaking up the sun and dozing. Feeling unwell, but not desperately so.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then, 3 days later, it was My Turn. I had been testing daily
as part of the school requirements anyway, but was still astonished to see the
little pink lines in The Wrong Place. I did a couple more LFTs to be sure. Yep,
still positive.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And I felt ABSOLUTELY FINE. For 24 hours. Then, for the next
6 days, I became progressively worse. Unable to do anything except lie in bed
(doing my fair share of tossing and turning) or crawl – almost literally, on one
occasion, as Covid inflamed my badly arthritic knee – to the bathroom. I was
quite aggrieved, really: wasn’t Covid ‘just like a bad cold’ by this time,
especially for someone double-vaccinated and boostered? Or even asymptomatic,
as some friends had been? This shouldn’t be happening.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I was thankful for the spare room.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Friends were kind, dropping in with flowers (Bel) or baked
goodies (Martyn and Heather). We sat outside far away from each other: it was
hugely encouraging and cheered us both up no end. So grateful for such
thoughtfulness and love. And for weather, good enough to sit warmly in the sun.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I dragged myself into school after the mandatory 10 days
self-isolation, although still quite unwell, but it was nearly the end of term
and so I managed to fulfil all my teaching responsibilities in the knowledge
that a rest was on the horizon.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Social engagements – breakfast, suppers – were cancelled, of
course. School reports still had to be done: 135 altogether, even though I
teach for less than a third of a week. And then… there was packing…</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">APRIL arrived.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, 1<sup>st</sup> April saw us fly off the rock on the
first (of many) legs towards Tanzania, Jonny, Adele and FINN. First time for
meeting our favourite (our only) grandson.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I had prepared for weeks, receiving parcels for him from
England and New Zealand and the Mighty Amazon. Scouring our favourite
children’s charity shop for suitable clothes, finding some animal-themed
baby-gros which would fit perfectly. Finding little toys and books, which would
come into future use: who knew when we would see him again? Packing was an
absolute joy.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Margaret and David, old friends from Rugby days, had arrived
the day before to enjoy a holiday in Guernsey and keep Pickle company. Lovely
to catch up. Dear Sarah came to drop us at the airport (so kindly waiting for
us, too, on our return). </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The first flight to Gatwick was easy on the Aurigny jet and,
again, I met a former colleague on the plane, so great to catch up with her.
Coach to Heathrow was easy and we had plenty of time. We had planned to stay in
a hotel at Heathrow before catching an early morning flight to Amsterdam, but
that had been cancelled and so we were to fly that evening, overnighting at
Schiphol instead.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At least, that was the plan. Going through security was straightforward
and soon we were in departures at Terminal 3, enjoying a coffee at Café Nero
(surprisingly good: large, hot and delicious) as we alternately checked the
departures board, charged our phones and people-watched. Until…</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">First our flight was delayed by over an hour. Okaaay.
Then…CANCELLED! Our connecting flight to Amsterdam, enabling us to then catch
the flight down to Kilimanjaro, was CANCELLED!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We rushed back to the security personnel who told us we had
to go all the way in the opposite direction to go through the back of
departures to arrivals and thus back to the KLM check-in desk.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It was MILES. Bad knee cooperated and, as we rushed back, we
had an email before we even got as far as KLM. We had a departure at 9pm to ARL
with SAS. Not even Terminal 3…Terminal 2. Out we went into the open air across
the concourse, eventually finding the SAS check-in desk. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“We don’t fly to Amsterdam,” said the check-in agent when I
explained. “I’ll just check your name anyway…. Ah, yes. You’re flying to
Stockholm and then from there to Amsterdam. 6.30 tomorrow morning.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I had wondered where ARL was until the penny dropped:
Arlanda, Stockholm. We were going to Stockholm! ??? </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“So we’re going to be up all night?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The agent smiled sympathetically. “Afraid so.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Oh well. At least we were leaving Heathrow. I didn’t dare
think about the consequences of another delayed or cancelled arrival in
Amsterdam. When KLM had cancelled our first booked flight they had, initially,
wanted to re-route us with Kenya Airways via Nairobi, arriving a day later than
planned. Not ideal.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, off to Stockholm. Minus 5 degrees, but no snow, at
least. And, indeed, we spent the next 5 hours in the airport, wandering past
closed shops and cafés, intermittent Scandinavian artwork and groups of miserable
looking travellers attempting to rest on hard wooden benches.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A beautiful, clean airport: it would have been lovely in the
daytime. As it was, I found myself ridiculously pleased to be back on
Scandinavian ‘soil’ after more than 40 years away and walked through the
concourse grinning happily as I glimpsed familiar sights behind closed windows.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The feeling wore off after a few hours of ‘rest’ on a hard
bench in our own little corner near check-in. Thank goodness for free airport
wi-fi to help pass the wakeful hours.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Anyway. The flight was on time, we got to Schiphol with
enough time for a coffee and then a haphazard struggle through security and
passport control – it all seemed quite chaotic. (Though we escaped lightly,
after reading tales of huge queues and utter chaos a few weeks later, as
baggage handlers went on strike and Covid-induced staff shortages bit hard.)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As for the KLM flight: okay cabin-crew, not very good food,
(the gluten-free options were disgusting, and Richard ‘s ‘breakfast’ consisted
of 2 hard-boiled eggs! Luckily he likes them) but our extra-legroom (exit row)
seats were surprisingly comfortable and the long flight down to JRO was easy.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Beautiful heat greeted us at 9 in the evening as we made our
way through immigration and customs. Couldn’t claim our baggage, though: it
hadn’t managed to keep up with us. We suspect it was left at Heathrow as it
arrived, eventually, two days later, courtesy of Ethiopian airlines.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And what did all that matter, apart from a struggle, later,
with KLM to reclaim wasted hotel bookings? NOTHING AT ALL! We had arrived in
Tanzania. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The rest of April: a delightful blur of meeting Finn,
enjoying wonderful family times, birds, swimming, camping, Africa....</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Words are not enough.</p>Mama Mpirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286444396409505857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4924526448032079811.post-46778234273300778632022-10-03T19:11:00.003+01:002022-10-03T19:11:25.340+01:00Dominating December<p>The beginning of Advent came at the end of November and so,
December was dominated by thoughts of Christmas.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I started, as usual, by trying to focus my thoughts daily:
this year, with Lection 365’s daily readings, supplemented by a couple of other
emails which popped into my inbox with different ‘focus’ words. Still, I found
my thoughts somewhat scattered as I focused not only on the birth of Christ,
but on the impending birth of our first grandson. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We were glued to WhatsApp throughout the day of December 17<sup>th</sup>,
once we knew that Adele and Jonny had gone to the hospital, alternating with
long text messages between Lisa and I, she nearby while I was far distant. Both
of us wondering, waiting, reassuring each other that all would be well.
#thankGodfortheinternet </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After a gruelling labour, Finn Oscar John Pollard was safely
delivered by Caesarean section – a healthy 4.1kg – 9 lb, in old money. Already,
after a few days, he looked more like a two month old baby and, by the time he
was one week old, had been ‘out’ to dinner and gone on a lengthy visit to our
friends Byron and Lisa, who live a 40-minute drive away from home. Wonderful
photos of Other People holding him... our turn will come later.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But we are so, so grateful and rejoice that he has had such
a wonderful welcome. Not least, by his other grandparents whose journey we
prayed for as they made their way south from Doncaster, eventually arriving 36
hours after leaving home. (We, too, have booked to go and visit him in a few
months’ time, but going by a more direct route.)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The rest of the month was dominated by internet and computer
problems: the first, caused by a visiting baby unwittingly yanking on a cable
which in turn pulled wires out of a connection box, which in turn caused
intermittent and hard-to-identify problems, which led to a request for an
internet upgrade and then an engineer’s visit and then... many, many hours
trying to sort out various hacking issues. #joysofcomputers<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>#neverasimplesolution </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Otherwise, my commitments at school eased up and I had plenty
of time to enjoy writing Christmas cards and emails. I completed a lot of
festive baking, including inventing a wonderful recipe for crystallized orange
peel sugar cookies, baking 150 tiny gingerbread ‘stables’ for the Christmas
programme at church and perfecting my Swedish <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pepparkakor</i> recipe to be suitable for vegan friends.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My ‘Jesse tree’ became more of a decorated ‘hearts’ tree but
I did open up windows on our vintage Advent calendars: one, in particular, I
love,because the scenes behind the windows reflect the scenes in the whole
Advent calendar. It reminds me of Jostein Gaarder’s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Christmas Mysteries, where a little girl
journeys from Norway to Bethlehem, gathering characters from the Christmas
story as she does while simultaneously travelling back in time to the birth of
Christ. A lovely and very clever story, compelling to read.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We hosted a few small gatherings for friends, preferring to
keep groups small even though there was more preparation involved. First our
home group, as we shared our own Christmas and Advent traditions: from reading
the same beloved story each year to reminiscing about parents and sharing a
Christmas poem by John Betjeman, to tales of stringing popcorn and cranberries
to decorate a tree in the American tradition, to taking a dip in the sea on
Christmas morning...<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With other friends,
we gathered on December 22<sup>nd</sup> to celebrate La Longue Veille, the
longest night, an old Guernsey tradition where neighbours and friends gathered
just before Christmas Eve to drink mulled wine, tell stories and to work on
handicrafts to sell at the traditional Christmas Eve market.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And many, many of the writers I read, including the lovely
Ann Voskamp and her wise words, wrote of sorrow and loneliness and heartbreak
all amplified by the expectations of the season.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Of course, walking and cycling as often as weather allows
was a must, where we saw raptors of some kind on every occasion. One walk in
particular, through the fields by the observation post towards Pleinmont,
yielded several sightings of a buzzard, a sparrowhawk and a kestrel; another
cycle ride gave us a close up view of a kestrel hovering before it dived and
caught a vole just a few metres away from us.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sea swimming, on the other hand, didn’t happen quite so
often!!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Finally: a note on Lost Things. The first was a piece of
protective tubing which came off the battery case on my bike. It was not a huge
difficulty, but nevertheless an annoyance and inconvenience to replace. I tried
to retrace my route, keeping an eye out, with a ‘I know it’s not really
important, but it would be nice if I found it...’ prayer to God. And I DID!
Something caught my eye at the entrance to a neighbour’s driveway... and there
it was.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">More seriously, we set off for town on Christmas Eve when I
noticed that the diamond on my engagement ring had fallen out. After making
sure that it had not come out in the car, on my return home I shone a light
under the hall trunk, in the vain hope that it had fallen out while I had been
pulling something out of my bag. And... THERE IT WAS!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just a couple of minutes after returning
home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had prayed the same prayer,
after giving myself a sternly philosophical talking-to along the lines of ‘what
is done, is done’, never expecting that I would find such a tiny object. Quite,
quite miraculous. So grateful. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Living on this beautiful island, the sea with its
continually-changing moods and vistas always a delight and a consolation, even
in the worst weather – so grateful.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hearing from so many wonderful, albeit mostly distant,
friends over the Christmas season – so grateful.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ending the month with more visits with nearby friends – so
grateful.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Reflecting on so many answered prayers, especially for
Finnley, Jonny and Adele – so grateful.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thinking of Cat and Andy and our precious granddaughters in
New Zealand: charming caring Cara and fearless adventurous Rosie – so grateful.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A long-lasting, happy, interesting and exciting marriage –
so grateful.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, so grateful. </p>Mama Mpirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286444396409505857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4924526448032079811.post-61041504859412670392021-12-26T17:31:00.001+00:002021-12-26T17:31:19.353+00:00Nice November<p>November hurtled onwards towards the Advent season. My one
and a half days became 4 or 5, as I stepped in for various colleagues. Our
French teacher, Barbara (who is Italian and wonderfully multilingual) had
rushed to Italy, where her father had been taken ill; another colleague was ill
with a chest infection; and my former year group partner, now teaching Maths
and sport, tested positive for Covid-19.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It was, initially, quite a lot of fun and I certainly felt
incredibly useful as I knew the routines and all the children in the various
classes I covered, so it was relatively easy for everyone concerned. However,
the third week – when I was also due to help invigilate the entrance assessment
into Year 7, taken by all Year 6 children – was quite chaotic as I had no
timetable given me, so just wandered from one lesson to another, picking up the
reins as I went. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still managed to
fit in a few extra duties as well, to help relieve the pressure, as
mid-November we were inspected by ISI.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The inspection had been a long time coming and preparation
had been intense, with countless new initiatives introduced and reams of
paperwork completed. Somewhat galling to discover, after <s>hours</s> days of
planning, that Ofsted itself (which inspects ISI, the independent schools’
inspectorate) no longer requires planning, preferring to look at what the
children actually learn rather than what is taught. Yes, there can be a
difference!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As a part-time teacher, I had more time than most to prepare
and was quite relaxed. Nevertheless, I was observed twice in both of the
departments I work in. Not unexpected, as I teach so much of the R.E. and I was
assuming that the inspectors would look at least one lesson, if not more. All
seemed to go well... the report will be out in December.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The other project which took up quite a chunk of emotional
energy was that of finishing up the hard-standing Richard was preparing for the
motorhome. It had taken quite a bit of organisation: booking a cement mixer to
deliver and pour a load of ready-mixed concrete; hiring tools to help spread
and smooth the cement as it poured into the slab; and organising friends to
come and help, particularly Martyn who is highly expert at All Things Building.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But it was not easy. Richard caught the worst cold he had had
in years and had to cancel; the second week, the lorry broke down, so yet more
cancellations all round; but, finally, it was all done.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This in spite of Covid, with numbers of those infected
increasing rapidly. Nevertheless, the proportion of those double vaccinated testing
positive only amounted to 2%, as compared to approximately 15% of those
unvaccinated. We started to find several friends suddenly testing positive and
I was contact traced several times as children at school came down with it.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Nature in November was nice. Not many wet and gloomy days:
in fact, on one of the aborted ‘cement’ days we sat outside the front door,
drinking coffee with friends, for several hours. There were some stunning
sunrises and sunsets, and so many sightings of buzzards, harriers and kestrels
that we lost count. The garden<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>shone
with luminescent nerines, their pink trumpets almost seeming to glow in the
dark, while several shrubs produced an abundance of red berries, which the blackbirds
slowly and methodically stripped off the branches. The potato flower,
meanwhile, continued to rampage, almost drowning the oil tank and climbing up
to the top of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">prunus rusticana</i>
which shades our patio.</p><p class="MsoNormal">And then, the last weekend brought the beginning of Advent: but that is next month's story....</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Mama Mpirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286444396409505857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4924526448032079811.post-89923098901558818702021-11-04T19:51:00.001+00:002021-11-04T19:51:05.644+00:00Outstanding October<p>October began with a delightful day of supply, teaching 5
year olds. (It should have been 6 year olds, but I was glad for the switch over
– they were good fun.) It was surprisingly satisfying and I enjoyed meeting
younger siblings of older children in the other department of the school, who I
see once a week for R.E.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The weather was true Indian summer, continuing almost
unbroken from September. There were a couple of unpleasant days, but otherwise
it was absolutely beautiful. Sarah and I spent many afternoons sitting at the
top of Petit Bot beach, drinking tea after a refreshing swim in the crystal
clear waters between the cliffs. We could have been on a tropical island. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Almost every day was a cycle ride, whether to school, the
beach for a swim or just ‘for fun’. The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nerines</i>
– the Guernsey lily – exploded in the garden and the flowering shrubs yielded a
good crop of berries for the birds.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As for the ‘unpleasant’ days: well, one was just a day of
rain and winds lashing the windows. A friend called round and we enjoyed
coffee, conversation and good catch-up for a couple of hours, snug inside. It
was almost unbelievable: the previous day had been sunny, warm and so calm that
the silence was almost unnerving. Strolling in the garden in the evening, the
expected rain seemed unreal.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The second day was in fact a night: strong winds arrived by
evening, Force 7, expected to gust to Force 8. But by 11pm it was evident that
the wind was much stronger. A north-westerly, the bedroom window received the
full brunt of it, so much so that the decorative metal heart which hangs
against the glass started to rattle and soon the wooden bower – which was
screwed to the wall to stop it banging – also made its presence felt.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The next morning revealed that many trees had come down,
blocking roads across the island. I foolishly tried to cycle through the lanes
on my way home from school and found myself having to turn around and find an
alternative route a total of three times. How I managed to get to school safely,
only needing to negotiate the debris of leaves and twigs, is a mystery and it
was only afterwards, reading the Guernsey Press, that I realised how difficult
the morning commute had been for many people.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then there were countless bird sightings. First, a grey
wagtail, unmistakeable with its long tail, grey upperparts and yellow vent at
the base of the tail, hopping around the edge of the motorhome hard-standing. A
pair of silver pheasants, strolling through the grounds of one of Guernsey’s
many wonderful farmhouses, just a mile or so away. Many other pheasants clucked
in the neighbouring fields or delighted with their wonderfully colourful
plumage: some of the cock pheasants in particular seemed incredibly tame.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And buzzards. Seven one day: one after an early morning
swim, calling above the hill as I cycled up; five circling over the house; and
a final buzzard near the airport on a cycle ride. Coming home from school, I
glimpsed one sitting on a fence post: as I drew near, it rose lazily into the
air, the underside of its wings unusually white. We have seen this one before,
around its usual hunting grounds near the riding club which is on my commute to
school down ‘Chemin du Roi’ – the Road of the King – which goes past Forest
parish cemetery.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As for the greenfinches: a ‘charm’ of finches. They swarmed
the hedges, in particular in the field below the ‘lookout’ at Le Grantez mill
in Castel. The site, with a ruined mill which was demolished by the Nazis so
that their bunker would have an uninterrupted viewpoint, overlooks Vazon. The
base of the Victorian mill, which fell into disuse at the beginning of the last
century, has recently been rebuilt by prisoners, who have done a marvellous
job. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">October. Outstanding. </p>Mama Mpirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286444396409505857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4924526448032079811.post-89344612629564165442021-10-02T18:40:00.000+01:002021-10-02T18:40:02.463+01:00Superb September<p> June - to September? What happened to July and August? <a href="http://www.travelswithpickle.blogspot.com">www.travelswithpickle.blogspot.com</a>, of course!</p><p>And so, yes, to September.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Well, we had hoped for an Indian summer on our return to
Guernsey, after a wettish, albeit mild Scottish summer: and we got it, in
spades.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(In retrospect, hearing about the cold wind here which had
prevailed during the month of August, we think we actually had rather a good
summer – meteorological records even showing that Scotland experienced warmer
and sunnier weather than is normal!)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We got back into the house at the beginning of the month and
were grateful for such a long spell of hot, sunny weather that it made washing
the laundry, accumulated while we had been away, relatively painless. I even
did a couple of loads a day at one point, as the sheets dried in just a couple
of hours.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So the month, although it saw my return to work on a couple
of days in the week, was full of sea swimming, beach picnics, cliff walks and
blackberry picking, not to mention some brilliant cycle rides. The ‘inside’
jobs (of which there are many) were consigned to the Wet Weather List. It was
really an attitude which echoed Mole’s “Hang spring-cleaning!” Absolutely.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There were also lots of opportunities to reconnect with
friends as we started inviting people round or going out for breakfast, coffee,
teas and supper. Marvellous. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Slowly, the house was put back in order, refilling
cupboards, emptying cardboard boxes, carefully storing away towels and
bedlinens for next year. This is still a lot of de-cluttering, though, that
needs to take place. Later, in winter.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bird sightings: lots of buzzards, occasionally flying low
over the hedges as we cycled past but always calling distinctively. A bike ride
seemed incomplete without a buzzard encounter. Kestrels, too, swooping above
and below the cliff edge.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And rabbits. Too, too many rabbits. We had seen several sick
ones – myxomatosis taking its toll – while we were camping at Fauxquets Valley –
but the garden rabbits were in altogether very rude health. The warren has a
couple of LARGE holes exiting into various spots in the garden and we were
treated, one morning, to two large rabbits having a lovely long game of hide
and seek right in front of our window. Hmmm.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A couple of sightings of rats, too: far too familiar. Pickle
does her best, jumping around in the bushes and flushing them out, but they
scamper to safety in a very leisurely manner.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, back at home after one of the best safaris we have had.
It was good to be able to talk, inconsequentially, to all kinds of people in
our own language; to meet fellow-wanderers, hearing about amazing places; and
to learn all kinds of new things historical, geographical, scientific and just
plain awesome. So grateful to have this opportunity...</p>Mama Mpirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286444396409505857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4924526448032079811.post-68810296421179872112021-07-07T21:49:00.001+01:002021-07-07T22:02:15.819+01:00Just. June.<p> June flew by, yet was packed with both challenges and
delights.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The first delight was Roseanne and Chris’s wedding, in
Scotland, by Zoom. Rosie is Renee Cowan’s delightful granddaughter: very
clever, highly capable, high achiever – a CEO of several prestigious companies
and charities before she was 40 – and an absolutely sweet, wonderful person. We
celebrated with friends, dressing up and enjoying afternoon tea with bubbles.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSVjeNTML98QK1fxNnm3G9zylsVRPCvpK492uRt9zyeQDoDhNxh5UkL1nrc-U3F-ygsewH-xsLBk-QxAVw3LvVfHxRiXBbw6Yl4XMkJaV4vEUYUBqxtGfIOjGhm4jjbykrUjsYqjXBI8E/s2048/IMG_20210605_151635475.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSVjeNTML98QK1fxNnm3G9zylsVRPCvpK492uRt9zyeQDoDhNxh5UkL1nrc-U3F-ygsewH-xsLBk-QxAVw3LvVfHxRiXBbw6Yl4XMkJaV4vEUYUBqxtGfIOjGhm4jjbykrUjsYqjXBI8E/w640-h480/IMG_20210605_151635475.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXSmAlVVdM13FWeM9SGGkog7AHkKSzwdO45nbO8l2Reoy4nbED6pIbPkla21UYL4NeQ7oHhRYdVraa0ScBkPK_IM81UUDxWURxYM0o4J2YmOZ1qRwFZXVDsE-EvYAfLxiXkSsL97R_TzM/s2048/IMG_20210605_151704855.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXSmAlVVdM13FWeM9SGGkog7AHkKSzwdO45nbO8l2Reoy4nbED6pIbPkla21UYL4NeQ7oHhRYdVraa0ScBkPK_IM81UUDxWURxYM0o4J2YmOZ1qRwFZXVDsE-EvYAfLxiXkSsL97R_TzM/w640-h480/IMG_20210605_151704855.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9I2sAIdCSppW-MgEqousgyLZspeAIDIMRI1LJibTh4z4q_L5xIQGvBCss99DaEs-7vhbGSe2TbvJmumJMvZakC8AmtnopjsyLKVfXS1gO2yvqPH3EWJuh1pTHBrnTOSzyFupmQKuQaNk/s2048/IMG_20210605_151936839.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9I2sAIdCSppW-MgEqousgyLZspeAIDIMRI1LJibTh4z4q_L5xIQGvBCss99DaEs-7vhbGSe2TbvJmumJMvZakC8AmtnopjsyLKVfXS1gO2yvqPH3EWJuh1pTHBrnTOSzyFupmQKuQaNk/w480-h640/IMG_20210605_151936839.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">My time at school entailed much clearing up and clearing
out, as I prepared to vacate my classroom and gather planning and resources for
the coming year: a day and a half of teaching R.E. (It had also been referred
to as a ‘weekly activity’ rather than a part-time position!) Still, it was very
satisfying cleaning out cupboards and drawers, and taking cards and posters off
the wall around my desk. I photographed most of the little messages which I had
kept from the children over the years...I suspect I will find more squirreled
away at home, once I embark on The Great Big Tidy Up in September....</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Lots of little admin jobs, too: I won’t miss THAT aspect of
class teaching. I even had to organise the hoodie order, where the children
were each given a hoodie at the end of their time in Year 6. Hardly comes into
the realm of teaching responsibilities...</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">June also saw us spend a LOT of time in the garden. Quite
challenging to keep up with all the growth – plants seemed to explode. I’d
barely cut one hedge before it sprouted up, inconsiderately, all over again. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While Richard was busy heaving 35kg concrete
blocks around to create hardstanding for the motorhome, I took over lawn
trimming and hedge cutting... or perhaps lawn cutting and hedge trimming. In
any event, the cables for the power tools have survived so far: I think I might
have cut the hedge trimmer cable about four times in the last few years. At
least Richard had the foresight to install RCD sockets outside.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9oUnkZn6uwbiv-fe2ycUxMZIyTdRt-F9rKJzKybvAsqJEJETqAtpxOqAOBB_YpL1VL7RHbMvLGLoDZ6ulnhj6e2O17cS2agP54tYGi-OWXtAdqjBMxhbP7Uw5QFiGf-kwOY-qcgOIGyU/s2048/IMG_20210526_173145810.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9oUnkZn6uwbiv-fe2ycUxMZIyTdRt-F9rKJzKybvAsqJEJETqAtpxOqAOBB_YpL1VL7RHbMvLGLoDZ6ulnhj6e2O17cS2agP54tYGi-OWXtAdqjBMxhbP7Uw5QFiGf-kwOY-qcgOIGyU/w480-h640/IMG_20210526_173145810.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Found in the bush I chopped down. We replaced the bush with a jasmine: went to buy a <i>Clematis montana </i>only to find there were none to be had! Still, a jasmine has proved to be a welcome addition to the patio...</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkby_ZkLWQRqqqrxOOxpACvZ9OYGcIbwVRPx9SVty3oXj3C5VLv1rDVxtWU6nBJQE686TL438Ew3bCW0rKmwXq5Pq2vlmBqi5_4xYm3Nn6VbBUoLSKhqnrRn9sZTaQ0AQorho9R_A-u24/s2048/IMG_20210526_163924967_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkby_ZkLWQRqqqrxOOxpACvZ9OYGcIbwVRPx9SVty3oXj3C5VLv1rDVxtWU6nBJQE686TL438Ew3bCW0rKmwXq5Pq2vlmBqi5_4xYm3Nn6VbBUoLSKhqnrRn9sZTaQ0AQorho9R_A-u24/w640-h480/IMG_20210526_163924967_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhemHHvrK85M46pjz-ebFDXsxtlmsr0zwR5gG-4cRGvVRM5So-nUKl4PiTZph_ZIpC7whjJMuCzFDPjaY8nbnzq8FDuLbr_7y0u-H9RybZWCgkk1hIjT4rOkKLF5uSNInH8lqr3WvJWz9U/s2048/IMG_20210526_163937428_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhemHHvrK85M46pjz-ebFDXsxtlmsr0zwR5gG-4cRGvVRM5So-nUKl4PiTZph_ZIpC7whjJMuCzFDPjaY8nbnzq8FDuLbr_7y0u-H9RybZWCgkk1hIjT4rOkKLF5uSNInH8lqr3WvJWz9U/w640-h480/IMG_20210526_163937428_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">Hedges which border the road in Guernsey have to be cut, by
law, between June 1<sup>st</sup> and June 15<sup>th</sup>. We were comfortably
within that but there was still much frantic activity in the days just before
and after the final date, landowners relying on the inability of the constables
to get round the lanes quickly enough to catch them out. One afternoon, my
journey home was completely blocked by a tractor busily cutting, but more than
compensated by the sight of swallows swooping and diving over the hedge, intent
on insects, while a large dragon fly escorted me down the lane.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEW8D1eqQkY9MdRdOJvVeBO3DW3wmgpAu5H2MsHsGXY7RTYHxZOEzZKEZIcrSTEpvR0Xx4I3PS3mw4zNMv6dkj02zsIjCMbDxMa1p9IJ8apCXsPzu19a6KoPbvJ_nxIt1xuhE_1Zz5a94/s2048/IMG_20210617_162500504_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEW8D1eqQkY9MdRdOJvVeBO3DW3wmgpAu5H2MsHsGXY7RTYHxZOEzZKEZIcrSTEpvR0Xx4I3PS3mw4zNMv6dkj02zsIjCMbDxMa1p9IJ8apCXsPzu19a6KoPbvJ_nxIt1xuhE_1Zz5a94/w480-h640/IMG_20210617_162500504_HDR.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_LL6Z6tFuvAw2tf_LStclSvd3PzYjy6vLcDMFE-P_Udci04p43hb9ktkMy6pJ92v_mlNRx-6Omd_BbRTQhie9KiunoM6rH452Zx6SIwB61tMFMZTwycOfDnBy7Kl2lpQerAJd3X38ac/s2048/IMG_20210617_162520697_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_LL6Z6tFuvAw2tf_LStclSvd3PzYjy6vLcDMFE-P_Udci04p43hb9ktkMy6pJ92v_mlNRx-6Omd_BbRTQhie9KiunoM6rH452Zx6SIwB61tMFMZTwycOfDnBy7Kl2lpQerAJd3X38ac/w480-h640/IMG_20210617_162520697_HDR.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">I always think that hedge cutting, though necessary for
safety (cycling down some lanes has been rather like entering an underwater
tunnel, and quite scary at times as there is no knowing when a vehicle might
suddenly appear from the opposite direction), is rather a shame: the profusion
of wild flowers is quite incredible. Wild daisies cover the banks with white,
replacing the yellow brassicas which have shouted from the field borders over
the last couple of months. Pink campion is everywhere; valerian shoots dark
pink blossoms from the most unlikely of crevices; and the St PeterPort daisies
bloom profusely.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That is just the wildflowers: this year, osteospernum and
mesembryanthemum almost hurt the eyes with their brightness, particularly the
luminous quality of mesembryanthemum.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSqaZjjDPU6HB0gdRnXv3R3O_BFiJQMz8nIPCmTEPc2tkvawe1a7m3HLRkAzCizwEtidMRPlq3CCouFPMH6ag2ssXVQCnlhXAUmlYTOGgl0UZ-njmRkQVNcHiLu7hdUEXGz-J58eqZE4E/s5184/IMG_0942.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSqaZjjDPU6HB0gdRnXv3R3O_BFiJQMz8nIPCmTEPc2tkvawe1a7m3HLRkAzCizwEtidMRPlq3CCouFPMH6ag2ssXVQCnlhXAUmlYTOGgl0UZ-njmRkQVNcHiLu7hdUEXGz-J58eqZE4E/w640-h480/IMG_0942.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGnjq9g1cLIFRGfQ0hyFYpA6fXfKyLsrqoHDllqG7CcEdipqEwaPMhVnfLUaUF3RHsFV-vaUAn374R_uhRvC_oSsRv-EEWHL1vqqKH3gx5tjZbWa7m-QbMP-0PKQnY_ukrCC_IcHTR-c/s5184/IMG_0943.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGnjq9g1cLIFRGfQ0hyFYpA6fXfKyLsrqoHDllqG7CcEdipqEwaPMhVnfLUaUF3RHsFV-vaUAn374R_uhRvC_oSsRv-EEWHL1vqqKH3gx5tjZbWa7m-QbMP-0PKQnY_ukrCC_IcHTR-c/w640-h480/IMG_0943.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjer_aLays1XYtv8M3RbPpN1HLI25m1XWIan3aEa55S2ogipH_CZ6bmfmeyk6uZQOKbe-pXiZ46BORud2x4ugmOShKoLyb6vAYH3mzF4hzwpqn_-_CbfRRoqS-1gb1iqufXyZEH_PwwipY/s5184/IMG_0944.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjer_aLays1XYtv8M3RbPpN1HLI25m1XWIan3aEa55S2ogipH_CZ6bmfmeyk6uZQOKbe-pXiZ46BORud2x4ugmOShKoLyb6vAYH3mzF4hzwpqn_-_CbfRRoqS-1gb1iqufXyZEH_PwwipY/w640-h480/IMG_0944.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-pueJ0HNaIn5aCPBZ_3OVgnsXdPD0jYxLpXznpToKVtfry-JxEuye-xMR705iS7hxotNTzJnr8zS3M1BM-SmfJ_OhHUaD5tSFdGhqN8yVWYWnVMIi244w5DwyF29eFxZjmYDKhmdQpM/s2048/IMG_0947.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="2048" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-pueJ0HNaIn5aCPBZ_3OVgnsXdPD0jYxLpXznpToKVtfry-JxEuye-xMR705iS7hxotNTzJnr8zS3M1BM-SmfJ_OhHUaD5tSFdGhqN8yVWYWnVMIi244w5DwyF29eFxZjmYDKhmdQpM/w640-h366/IMG_0947.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile, we were busy at home preparing to go away next month
and leave the house for guests: quite a mammoth undertaking. It’s a great
chance to declutter and springclean, requiring quite a lot of organisation.
This year, I was very proud of my ‘changeover’ system, leaving linen, towel,
etc particularly neatly organised in boxes, stacked high, for Beth to put out.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Richard was particularly busy, preparing the motorhome and
repairing a toilet which had gone out of order. The latter took a great deal of
hard work and several days... but at least the hardstanding will take a break
until we return in September and there is less pressure to get it finished
quickly. All really, really hard work.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile: term accelerated to a close. We caught bad
colds/sore throats., which meant ringing the Covid helpline, having a PCR test
and then waiting for the results. The end of the month. I crawled back into
school on July 1<sup>st</sup>...</p>Mama Mpirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286444396409505857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4924526448032079811.post-80272861929744624522021-05-31T09:28:00.002+01:002021-07-07T22:12:59.031+01:00 Meandering through May<p>May seemed to be a long month. Marked with four family
birthdays, it began with Richard’s, then, after a brief hiatus, nephew Henry,
sister Isabel and daughter-in-love Adele followed on consecutive days.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I couldn’t help reminiscing, with heartfelt longing,
remembering Adele’s birthday with us last year. Tea on the
patio...scones...beautiful daisies, her favourite flower. (She had a reprise in
far away Tanzania this year, also remembering...)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The month breezed on by. Bright sunshine, cold days. A
couple of days of heavy rain, greening up the grass once more. Often warm in a
sheltered spot, but not really until the second half of the month did it warm
up....</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2MwrwmCZYo2u4I4iAj9pcX6ZbYAcf6ZSIwb9AidHvIyDpF1N-HMd7oZhIMni1pzDyquBh8TxyxH8J94CF2AM06AkVlDMgEoZteQgGJlQ5Z-Ijp9DrA2z7hUY8yIf0mMo2lHqn0qQ-fo/s2048/IMG_20210519_195643354_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2MwrwmCZYo2u4I4iAj9pcX6ZbYAcf6ZSIwb9AidHvIyDpF1N-HMd7oZhIMni1pzDyquBh8TxyxH8J94CF2AM06AkVlDMgEoZteQgGJlQ5Z-Ijp9DrA2z7hUY8yIf0mMo2lHqn0qQ-fo/w640-h480/IMG_20210519_195643354_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">School took over my life. Reports, planning, monitoring of
work... it seemed endless. The pressure is on to prepare documents before
inspection in six months’ time. Yet I got my reports written, relatively
easily, by the middle of the month. We managed to see friends; I hosted the
regular ladies’ breakfast and the ladies evening group I started in January.
Inbetween, I pottered in the garden, Richard worked on a project to create
hardstanding for the motorhome, and we planted pots and hanging baskets, ready
for the summer. Beginning to get ready....</p><p class="MsoNormal">...and becoming weary. Finally, the head came up with a suggestion for my part-time hours. One day teaching R.E. and humanities at the top of the school ...half a day teaching R.E. at the bottom of the school. The latter is a small class, so perhaps I will...</p><p class="MsoNormal">I find myself marking last milestones, as the end of term is only a few weeks away. Last final reports! I've always enjoyed writing them, marking and appreciating the children's progress as the year has gone on. I have started to tidy out my cupboard, throwing away old files, worksheets...decluttering, always satisfying. We even managed to take the children on our annual trip, driving round Guernsey to investigate the legacy of the German Occupation from 1940 - 1945, always fascinating.</p><p class="MsoNormal">And my colleague is also moving out of the classroom. He is just over half my age, but we have got on well and worked creatively together. New beginnings for both of us...</p><p class="MsoNormal">Halfway through the month, I was able to take part in the online Leadership Conference organised by Alpha and HTB. Such incredible stories and testimonies: so encouraging. What a privilege! Our little ladies study group perseveres, moving on slowly as members tend to come rather sporadically. </p><p class="MsoNormal">But May was full of sorrow as well. A dear colleague's 14 year old son had a serious head injury. A week later, despite all efforts to save him, he lost his fight to survive. I taught him 4 years ago, a delightfully polite, kind and fun-loving boy. His mother is a particularly lovely colleague, popular among the staff and working in the next room to me. His grandmother is a good friend from church. We are all devastated: I cannot begin to imagine their grief. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiru5eu9WdPQcDcYjVhhqRjMzleqWaYGYEInADOtOtIXn30-VTq2WYJVxYT-bdhU81Uu6vlf3yrnJ_HzUIPqCvbq_n_ZaJ-nQ_8tm3b0dHj_J_vE2dnrqil6-mRzgL7NuV5zg-s2ZXVnYc/s2048/IMG_20210626_143310650.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiru5eu9WdPQcDcYjVhhqRjMzleqWaYGYEInADOtOtIXn30-VTq2WYJVxYT-bdhU81Uu6vlf3yrnJ_HzUIPqCvbq_n_ZaJ-nQ_8tm3b0dHj_J_vE2dnrqil6-mRzgL7NuV5zg-s2ZXVnYc/w480-h640/IMG_20210626_143310650.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">In the middle of that were catch-ups with friends, some having moved into a house just a couple of hundred metres away. Good to have connection.</p><p class="MsoNormal">And the weather... well, by the end of the month, and unusually for a bank holiday, the sun shone with unexpected warmth. Summer arrived... over the bank holiday weekend, at least. Guernsey is at its best this time of year, the hedgerows and banks exploding with colour, birds nesting, the butterflies and bees in profusion.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8h5jTcYn1n8LXcJkrD3QGG0ahrhnHm7y8Xafogq9y9NxVTyE0S6J8p1os0K_ua7Eb-TMTp2OwH-E6i9fET2pH00fAeQLjP-NffeywtJ6V-ow4VhxE7Pnpgg1rdlngOheCL_AoBm7dYB4/s5184/IMG_0930.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8h5jTcYn1n8LXcJkrD3QGG0ahrhnHm7y8Xafogq9y9NxVTyE0S6J8p1os0K_ua7Eb-TMTp2OwH-E6i9fET2pH00fAeQLjP-NffeywtJ6V-ow4VhxE7Pnpgg1rdlngOheCL_AoBm7dYB4/w640-h480/IMG_0930.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6eCitrGO7JAwWdZujNqXacrSPoC5huRPAGumMidZZ3_K4M0aFMsvuVTk99KBEsdcvGC1C6lIYJIHTe93T3dYCyzr8wksqEoXeGOoBy-EQTf1m2o_3ij4V6efH878SSq5tmd04YmrxjjY/s5184/IMG_0931.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6eCitrGO7JAwWdZujNqXacrSPoC5huRPAGumMidZZ3_K4M0aFMsvuVTk99KBEsdcvGC1C6lIYJIHTe93T3dYCyzr8wksqEoXeGOoBy-EQTf1m2o_3ij4V6efH878SSq5tmd04YmrxjjY/w640-h480/IMG_0931.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5169H1qRS_Wv0N8Mn92bCHALl0yuf0gerSNnE0kc3SvGR2tQ2CbKolnp4iwUwnpextvQquZH75f3n7bgGVrd-vbmCMqiRwWxrcAI8JVeqpj2ZFf-KsqVIbs7FAC-DrqDuldz3A_oxDY/s5184/IMG_0935.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5169H1qRS_Wv0N8Mn92bCHALl0yuf0gerSNnE0kc3SvGR2tQ2CbKolnp4iwUwnpextvQquZH75f3n7bgGVrd-vbmCMqiRwWxrcAI8JVeqpj2ZFf-KsqVIbs7FAC-DrqDuldz3A_oxDY/w640-h480/IMG_0935.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLPvQp3mv_WSUQSUB0wka0JpiQTcu-ubNGQd42gll3OxenMgdyPZoA0PTGGdVfpbWaKn4bPTJy3vEvKF4NqHBRb9jq0AnUuGLyzj19ILzOofYF5BUqGNQnVdWt_fvH1S3ni6MWoegnbrI/s5184/IMG_0936.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLPvQp3mv_WSUQSUB0wka0JpiQTcu-ubNGQd42gll3OxenMgdyPZoA0PTGGdVfpbWaKn4bPTJy3vEvKF4NqHBRb9jq0AnUuGLyzj19ILzOofYF5BUqGNQnVdWt_fvH1S3ni6MWoegnbrI/w640-h480/IMG_0936.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Mama Mpirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286444396409505857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4924526448032079811.post-38887657716768209562021-05-01T13:52:00.005+01:002021-05-01T13:52:41.245+01:00 Amazing (and amazingly cold) April<p>April began in the most marvellous way with an unexpected
card and long letter from Cat’s parents-in-law, Allan and Sue Dow. What a
wonderful treat to sit down and read, like having a long chat. These are truly
precious people who God has blessed Cat with. I marvel, often, that we are so
so blessed with our daughter and son’s in-laws, who have become family to us. I
really have no words to express the wonderful gift they are and the great part
they play in our children’s lives. As for ‘labels’ – as well as 'really lovely lovely friends' - what DO you call your
children’s parents-in-law?! </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Last month, after being inspired by the proximity to their
kitchen window of a friend’s bird feeder, I decided to move our little feeding
tray as close to the house as I could get it. Partially hidden in a
particularly prickly bush, it was an instant hit, especially when I discovered
that garden birds absolutely adore porridge oats.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That was the beginning of a welcome distraction. I
discovered the binoculars for those all-important close-ups. I pulled the
camera out permanently once I remembered that we had a tripod, which now sits
proudly on the kitchen worktop. Every opportunity, I gazed out of the window,
mesmerised.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The birds came. The robins, aggressively guarding the bird
table: often four of them at one time. One would wait on the feeder, staring
accusingly at the kitchen window, waiting for emerge. Initially, the bird would
fly off and then wait for me to retreat into the house but very quickly the
robin would become so familiar that I would barely have closed the door and
then, eventually, I would stand outside a couple of metres away while the birds
would wait on a nearby twig, scowling at me while they waited for me to go in. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDmgMg_dJmSVaxuKmZraRF8-K5z1zff6zc1hfdv1CufL0MhWb_gwm0BP1psoWTEBr0vHfBZAnMZRwAyv-AuX01RHiOjE56W-h6KTYWj-TSzTWVjuiFkmpW__5tPiar4EXZpxO9wheuEE/s5184/IMG_0772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDmgMg_dJmSVaxuKmZraRF8-K5z1zff6zc1hfdv1CufL0MhWb_gwm0BP1psoWTEBr0vHfBZAnMZRwAyv-AuX01RHiOjE56W-h6KTYWj-TSzTWVjuiFkmpW__5tPiar4EXZpxO9wheuEE/w640-h480/IMG_0772.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIAghyTBeRVlL-MPoYoGyf5aWJAzl4TZyKXbrUTdAL-UUHWRoNlLkIUlOZ_HR2jwDBi9789CDMzYt8QxM3ezji4ggcQbGPG-XYLXRLDsus3ERsja1494aKXWE3s9WSd6V0XiWxVr-MvFc/s5184/IMG_0773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIAghyTBeRVlL-MPoYoGyf5aWJAzl4TZyKXbrUTdAL-UUHWRoNlLkIUlOZ_HR2jwDBi9789CDMzYt8QxM3ezji4ggcQbGPG-XYLXRLDsus3ERsja1494aKXWE3s9WSd6V0XiWxVr-MvFc/w640-h480/IMG_0773.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyq6aHAUeWZ6f8Kisv_MxycMplGDhb87XiCv3Y-YLGoxVDIH-dVLoJfUR73z0C7mCsB8d5Orsck-9po8bzquKDoO7A9CKtp9wc24rtOhgkKwqML1AdIH2pBZQUvGLWnVceqIPg4znsiy4/s5184/IMG_0817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyq6aHAUeWZ6f8Kisv_MxycMplGDhb87XiCv3Y-YLGoxVDIH-dVLoJfUR73z0C7mCsB8d5Orsck-9po8bzquKDoO7A9CKtp9wc24rtOhgkKwqML1AdIH2pBZQUvGLWnVceqIPg4znsiy4/w640-h480/IMG_0817.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZoPgE73ztZHMzt1jv-niq0PZ_KY1rxfuJG0GUq64OipmYhUK5rhaixFZYe9LNMMuDsS27FdnVZbErV6baoi3AI1MZV6WAgTFo2LeHHfsjcMzms32H17ikVK-rgpr8kkWaoiHGQt3dmOk/s5184/IMG_0819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZoPgE73ztZHMzt1jv-niq0PZ_KY1rxfuJG0GUq64OipmYhUK5rhaixFZYe9LNMMuDsS27FdnVZbErV6baoi3AI1MZV6WAgTFo2LeHHfsjcMzms32H17ikVK-rgpr8kkWaoiHGQt3dmOk/w640-h480/IMG_0819.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Two agreed to feed together while the others waited their
turn, perched strategically on nearby bushes or the birdbath. There would be
aggressive flybys or even competitive invasions. However, it was not all antagonism. One morning, I found one robin feeding another, putting
scraps of oatmeal into its beak.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsbcaf1921UdtpTSExGFxJkrC1QyN2bfvLiDuFvrRCDa2pslQepWOcdQ7yNys_fd2ZXfHVJfd8MBYs8ENrqbUxws1kYTpeQBrfJ-blwpC36F_-_6-Q7mylPRRV_6ncF83Da9dT3mo1RQ/s2048/IMG_0784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsbcaf1921UdtpTSExGFxJkrC1QyN2bfvLiDuFvrRCDa2pslQepWOcdQ7yNys_fd2ZXfHVJfd8MBYs8ENrqbUxws1kYTpeQBrfJ-blwpC36F_-_6-Q7mylPRRV_6ncF83Da9dT3mo1RQ/w640-h480/IMG_0784.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhfOFGb453cWFcmo_c1YBdXY14B16mimcksugAROhu8unKJUZimRLb5HQ7WXNEy7g6-JnbpxFzLyT53mYM9CqXHzCEsh6iewMPmwjWrorQFIqY12DAbBDJOm5KQvMLJTXNwi1hSRKyRA/s2048/IMG_0785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhfOFGb453cWFcmo_c1YBdXY14B16mimcksugAROhu8unKJUZimRLb5HQ7WXNEy7g6-JnbpxFzLyT53mYM9CqXHzCEsh6iewMPmwjWrorQFIqY12DAbBDJOm5KQvMLJTXNwi1hSRKyRA/w640-h480/IMG_0785.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">A wren hopped in and out of the bushes, but preferred to
peck at the lawn, in company with a pair of chaffinches. Sparrows were shy,
hiding in the cotoneaster before darting fleetingly onto the feeder, grabbing a
scrap and then flying off.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJyU9X-WGh6SZj_9WF8n0LIIvrXK4L3kAjiCrqqljk8WTIb_PHUWlsGXYW3kTencgg8ZHJ68LBalWA10bSpTAAAhMLPBRWaAxVcQqPyuADWY4vVp-kPGYFVjhci0Vu19015N9tdfiwOVw/s2048/IMG_0835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1471" data-original-width="2048" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJyU9X-WGh6SZj_9WF8n0LIIvrXK4L3kAjiCrqqljk8WTIb_PHUWlsGXYW3kTencgg8ZHJ68LBalWA10bSpTAAAhMLPBRWaAxVcQqPyuADWY4vVp-kPGYFVjhci0Vu19015N9tdfiwOVw/w640-h460/IMG_0835.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTIR341VfJe14EPM1KgZkgSEriXV-aBGw8d98oefMpw1qzphSZJYNA-hK_rJmElvwLgjblkI4h0i0w-gmctrCEhBJJ0W2lGzOcXpheEVhkN2oSroXU18g1oIP7fCRfxGPXzyb5M39Teck/s2048/IMG_0850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTIR341VfJe14EPM1KgZkgSEriXV-aBGw8d98oefMpw1qzphSZJYNA-hK_rJmElvwLgjblkI4h0i0w-gmctrCEhBJJ0W2lGzOcXpheEVhkN2oSroXU18g1oIP7fCRfxGPXzyb5M39Teck/w640-h480/IMG_0850.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGg-4GUhVu9oXZ-LRTGl-dRXEtNmZT21azraiCLIRzw2tKJZjC39dVSZdsh76P9Gkk3wa8uuigsHhDmXzWzN9yrDGfp73aHA-ecqgKHL1VCz1p87lSZvAZ9ra4lQB-6D0o_Xof2tg7agw/s2048/IMG_0825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGg-4GUhVu9oXZ-LRTGl-dRXEtNmZT21azraiCLIRzw2tKJZjC39dVSZdsh76P9Gkk3wa8uuigsHhDmXzWzN9yrDGfp73aHA-ecqgKHL1VCz1p87lSZvAZ9ra4lQB-6D0o_Xof2tg7agw/w640-h480/IMG_0825.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">As for the pigeons... one particularly huge fat pigeon broke the bird feeder. Enough said.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjonRAUbSJJvVVmd3sJpvqbpRFG7TEcf839KOFpt0rXny6YrugHvJTmL39HPgRyhJRZfcTBcpvN0HRihTwoyD8ps4q3U9rnR4hZS2oySg1KX3R4NF7lZ4W4nODMMAZklEu13r9czr26BJE/s5184/IMG_0777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjonRAUbSJJvVVmd3sJpvqbpRFG7TEcf839KOFpt0rXny6YrugHvJTmL39HPgRyhJRZfcTBcpvN0HRihTwoyD8ps4q3U9rnR4hZS2oySg1KX3R4NF7lZ4W4nODMMAZklEu13r9czr26BJE/w640-h480/IMG_0777.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7sJK5bFeEoo2t8W-H3uQM-P_OgZNhG88LxKQwXp1AdOmrB0pT3xELGuJztOU4kiwsix30c0FRt0yhm143zoVFqmh7PW3-8Ng0Cx2s6QxKaq_lCwdvry08ni-TFq8qeWnST9DXFZKt3-4/s5184/IMG_0779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7sJK5bFeEoo2t8W-H3uQM-P_OgZNhG88LxKQwXp1AdOmrB0pT3xELGuJztOU4kiwsix30c0FRt0yhm143zoVFqmh7PW3-8Ng0Cx2s6QxKaq_lCwdvry08ni-TFq8qeWnST9DXFZKt3-4/w640-h480/IMG_0779.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">The biggest delight, though, was discovering blackcaps for
the first time. These sparrow-sized little grey birds have a distinctive black cap
adorning the top of their heads – the female’s a beautiful chestnut brown. They
didn’t come to the feeder, though, but to the <i>Fatsia japonica </i>, also known as the castor oil plant, the fig-leaf
palm or – my favourite – the glossy-leaved paper plant.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZT0wLUqYYRdxhlnmDl-6fwRQLOurBitvJmDilpjm-ucyF7qR0vk4sv_N2J9p6xLmS0_305ZkjYDdol_Rv7HN-5IJw-3V9S9wmLWFwvUEU8og2eH2VXYBf_f8v4gV-XV7ySb_IMmUW_r4/s2048/IMG_0796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZT0wLUqYYRdxhlnmDl-6fwRQLOurBitvJmDilpjm-ucyF7qR0vk4sv_N2J9p6xLmS0_305ZkjYDdol_Rv7HN-5IJw-3V9S9wmLWFwvUEU8og2eH2VXYBf_f8v4gV-XV7ySb_IMmUW_r4/w640-h480/IMG_0796.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjBZg9O238D2V4I3ucg2hndtA02K8aLLD12ep60yW4cBZ-6zNFR-OvUAgGTkB82x0uCRJm1eiuoAgduZgRvyOZC4xxIZeOXQ4xs4vrG8lA1EjwWJhg_UhIJTH1ZLCZhszCEIBEiKf9MpQ/s2048/IMG_0801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjBZg9O238D2V4I3ucg2hndtA02K8aLLD12ep60yW4cBZ-6zNFR-OvUAgGTkB82x0uCRJm1eiuoAgduZgRvyOZC4xxIZeOXQ4xs4vrG8lA1EjwWJhg_UhIJTH1ZLCZhszCEIBEiKf9MpQ/w640-h480/IMG_0801.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">The <i>Fatsia</i> seeds
itself prolifically – there are tiny plants coming up all over the garden,
growing in corners, under trees or through bushes. The seeds are striking,
initially white, on a globular head and look wonderful in flower arrangements.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The blackcaps wait until the seeds turn black before
methodically and intensively stripping them off the plant. I watched in
amazement as, over a twelve hour period from dusk to dawn, one tree was
completely denuded of seeds. Blackcaps, seemingly, are the locusts of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fatsia</i> world.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCJZcD1y4SVuVFWymvmTha3SOfpKe6ZtCymgxeYCT0GS_s6tiBayd-K-dmRE9UR4KCxRnUPJM54PH8pYEHT-BtG4D5sLyMKyCLQ-z_CvQvcI98DvowGgDQtotPkZXgq8g9o2_oA8sShQ/s2048/IMG_0824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCJZcD1y4SVuVFWymvmTha3SOfpKe6ZtCymgxeYCT0GS_s6tiBayd-K-dmRE9UR4KCxRnUPJM54PH8pYEHT-BtG4D5sLyMKyCLQ-z_CvQvcI98DvowGgDQtotPkZXgq8g9o2_oA8sShQ/w640-h480/IMG_0824.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDWAmmFLBbwR0X6xPfbVnSGLsCaos-6cm1T-tMEcBhVUcPjtaJhN4_9fuzu0ESSkqbllJIyUwAoraw68Q4aETL0gYVauwmcLYaaLaKpxPeJQ5KDW5yO9rBU8VmUyy4MNuLSYbkGIj_dQ/s2048/IMG_0827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDWAmmFLBbwR0X6xPfbVnSGLsCaos-6cm1T-tMEcBhVUcPjtaJhN4_9fuzu0ESSkqbllJIyUwAoraw68Q4aETL0gYVauwmcLYaaLaKpxPeJQ5KDW5yO9rBU8VmUyy4MNuLSYbkGIj_dQ/w640-h480/IMG_0827.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN8sO6piU2mz7g2WXW6qfalxQuw_GJJrUsDDcJn1uBkg3wxZTsvHD3So67XKXhIuV5dUcl7BmS7J4biP0jHKSjYTHpOYdOasaT9PruzURWwqmIjQFZFCAvy80o9Ew3YyzIm-dVo0NvfJk/s2048/IMG_0829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN8sO6piU2mz7g2WXW6qfalxQuw_GJJrUsDDcJn1uBkg3wxZTsvHD3So67XKXhIuV5dUcl7BmS7J4biP0jHKSjYTHpOYdOasaT9PruzURWwqmIjQFZFCAvy80o9Ew3YyzIm-dVo0NvfJk/w640-h480/IMG_0829.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">This was all helped by the sun. April, true to form, was
sunshine and showers, especially at the beginning of the month: one day, even,
brilliant sunlight interspersed with snow showers – first grains, then, another
time, actual flakes which melted as they kissed the ground.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Walks and cycle rides yielded glimpses of buzzards, although
not as many nor as often as in March. The few that did appear over the cliffs
were mercilessly mobbed by crows. (I do like crows, though: they are such
characters and such aerobatic fliers.)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">April wasn’t, of course, just birds. Easter. So much sorrow
and joy within such a short space of time.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3LDoOaFkPmZP72ZXtlhdXurxo0eNtMN-PFGOYoelbLdRcs7UA3zvriR_Gr_nU4IhBV9vpr08h3rRHuL2MOz8QrYjyPnW5hyphenhyphenzPEbRirrFV8dwKcTvs2MU5EJNF6WJKUkkQ1wJLxoCrqs/s2048/IMG_20210402_144623193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3LDoOaFkPmZP72ZXtlhdXurxo0eNtMN-PFGOYoelbLdRcs7UA3zvriR_Gr_nU4IhBV9vpr08h3rRHuL2MOz8QrYjyPnW5hyphenhyphenzPEbRirrFV8dwKcTvs2MU5EJNF6WJKUkkQ1wJLxoCrqs/w480-h640/IMG_20210402_144623193.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipHwLZUjBEUXJT1aUGBIzaVD3fIS5-I63D35EI2bv8dFg2RDYvIiBeo_M34jO84x9MstiWL4Mi7OPEK36mwFxDcApXJestkt1_kkiAjaQnkHrgUOFsq2IDW8cvVUQT69lwzk8RSykFw4s/s2048/IMG_20210402_144633972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipHwLZUjBEUXJT1aUGBIzaVD3fIS5-I63D35EI2bv8dFg2RDYvIiBeo_M34jO84x9MstiWL4Mi7OPEK36mwFxDcApXJestkt1_kkiAjaQnkHrgUOFsq2IDW8cvVUQT69lwzk8RSykFw4s/w480-h640/IMG_20210402_144633972.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ63-tiImK-2gIjmk6dRnGo7LK3CGWXIw7-L7bPLqbTqwJNeutmNGvPqZ3Xog8bEQ64jX4Ay5i2jKI72zDRZATd309565fXjKjN4aXyEJAPTs9URa9c9r7mkt0qwpIofHFh3v8LGhReaU/s2048/IMG_20210402_144705407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ63-tiImK-2gIjmk6dRnGo7LK3CGWXIw7-L7bPLqbTqwJNeutmNGvPqZ3Xog8bEQ64jX4Ay5i2jKI72zDRZATd309565fXjKjN4aXyEJAPTs9URa9c9r7mkt0qwpIofHFh3v8LGhReaU/w640-h480/IMG_20210402_144705407.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Breaking up for the holidays just
before Good Friday gave time for reflection, the days after, time for catching
up with friends. One weekend was so busy, with back-to-back social engagements
(including a lovely ruby wedding celebratory tea), that we needed the next weekend
just to catch up...<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The break also gave the opportunity to catch up with jobs,
already thinking ahead, completing school reports and beginning to ready the
house for the summer when, hopefully, we will be able to travel and rent the
house out again.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKs-LFEbSz5tNGWqmlQhn7dIaVQlrQ_EyX0la7DKE_2VQE99vfcg7ETgMKucHwRK3dbpcRP8_G2G2lfy-BQUCEBvN6uJkmZVHwCjHakUfI5AiB2gz94VoEI_WGkJN3lfOQuTVzloSBpJs/s2048/IMG_20210402_175355589.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKs-LFEbSz5tNGWqmlQhn7dIaVQlrQ_EyX0la7DKE_2VQE99vfcg7ETgMKucHwRK3dbpcRP8_G2G2lfy-BQUCEBvN6uJkmZVHwCjHakUfI5AiB2gz94VoEI_WGkJN3lfOQuTVzloSBpJs/w640-h480/IMG_20210402_175355589.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBaL58yGtD3O_BY_CJnDHXC3roku4_VRPPoMYjjtC_faKUxFEmxmQqTihltc0roMrtSukNb7xG1z2aUadlmj3dI0uMenCu2uLTh41AaHpKI4rN0mWalre7gs8rOjf64dztROAkiZvxz7c/s2048/IMG_20210402_175403434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBaL58yGtD3O_BY_CJnDHXC3roku4_VRPPoMYjjtC_faKUxFEmxmQqTihltc0roMrtSukNb7xG1z2aUadlmj3dI0uMenCu2uLTh41AaHpKI4rN0mWalre7gs8rOjf64dztROAkiZvxz7c/w640-h480/IMG_20210402_175403434.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNifAhRp_N0md4o7GqM6n_yPvo9eLx6Ik0wqB8b796soSbWvbOhpqiMJ-gs7y-ViifqeIPMNLWSgPuFqYvK2eshF8DxqcqGEyn30Ib2quqUy6cnuLUFJ0knmmkk3IcH4BUyqXuO4ifwVw/s2048/IMG_20210404_150339945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1596" data-original-width="2048" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNifAhRp_N0md4o7GqM6n_yPvo9eLx6Ik0wqB8b796soSbWvbOhpqiMJ-gs7y-ViifqeIPMNLWSgPuFqYvK2eshF8DxqcqGEyn30Ib2quqUy6cnuLUFJ0knmmkk3IcH4BUyqXuO4ifwVw/w640-h498/IMG_20210404_150339945.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFqdx4vQ2lVOPoH6mkZRFw-eIz1hwQs8C7jgsaEMqmyIPI6HJJybZ9Gbvb5-ui6S9vlPW0975KM1-elEFv7muzcrg_pkxuzGChE-qvu_0Iz7HfRzGoe9jeWKortsVB68aOypdjgzcrFSU/s2048/IMG_20210404_151326516_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFqdx4vQ2lVOPoH6mkZRFw-eIz1hwQs8C7jgsaEMqmyIPI6HJJybZ9Gbvb5-ui6S9vlPW0975KM1-elEFv7muzcrg_pkxuzGChE-qvu_0Iz7HfRzGoe9jeWKortsVB68aOypdjgzcrFSU/w640-h480/IMG_20210404_151326516_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Back to school, and the weather turned cold. Bitter, some
days. Temperatures as low as 5 degrees, rarely rising above the early teens. No
rain: officially, by the end of the month, a meteorological drought. And fierce
winds, cutting through. Still, we managed a lot of garden jobs: hedge trimming,
planting out pots and hanging baskets, tidying up after the winter...</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And, always, lovely photos and videos of Cara and Rosie,
delighting with funny conversations and charming smiles....</p><p class="MsoNormal">But it was a dry month. A cold month. A back-to-wearing-winter-woollies month. And a month of bright, bright sunshine. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTT-ORhkHUGQFuwmpYmKn6h5I67v5CecuTVO-bIwgMmQvJJxs0aE3tbxi0R7s-h12noyPE4G-nTENkPSbKwlm5eS8Zd9XFl3DGiO0h9RX-b80MrLQY0Ll6FCueC656qBq9F3RRxZR8HEA/s2048/IMG_20210408_101149215_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTT-ORhkHUGQFuwmpYmKn6h5I67v5CecuTVO-bIwgMmQvJJxs0aE3tbxi0R7s-h12noyPE4G-nTENkPSbKwlm5eS8Zd9XFl3DGiO0h9RX-b80MrLQY0Ll6FCueC656qBq9F3RRxZR8HEA/w480-h640/IMG_20210408_101149215_HDR.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOZdCt0XdPl4c95cO45FSxi949Inusi3pFreKYLfp0rIW5PW4Df0A4rjLMTSOH0f-ci4QMvEoiQSffX7oEaAilMF24m0eItoCljgRVBS3BnoqlC6uMGJo8qTQjSWQGxQO1WjfsytWp7jo/s2048/IMG_20210412_180010154_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOZdCt0XdPl4c95cO45FSxi949Inusi3pFreKYLfp0rIW5PW4Df0A4rjLMTSOH0f-ci4QMvEoiQSffX7oEaAilMF24m0eItoCljgRVBS3BnoqlC6uMGJo8qTQjSWQGxQO1WjfsytWp7jo/w640-h480/IMG_20210412_180010154_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXY4jBYKVLf5DU3iXQV_G40RoPFbNZPhGsi6CzbTYEY9ZlnaOvuwUA4kcfx9ak-ZYnrmidlLkZRSAaXQW-0Sb32OcQT5AJnWxH5EokciG_5_2EfxLWEpm9yfrKxKiGEC1LFkfU9i0Mc0/s2048/IMG_20210412_180020889_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXY4jBYKVLf5DU3iXQV_G40RoPFbNZPhGsi6CzbTYEY9ZlnaOvuwUA4kcfx9ak-ZYnrmidlLkZRSAaXQW-0Sb32OcQT5AJnWxH5EokciG_5_2EfxLWEpm9yfrKxKiGEC1LFkfU9i0Mc0/w640-h480/IMG_20210412_180020889_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidDk4gN0y_RzTU5XYZac_Xd4_pXFPn9qtzEFQIzOvumnqWLEj6el01Ck2AkAHoeKE5Fo4cecQgg8l34GodgGausYONOd-sMlC03jffzlOFS05VJHh08gmN-FnSfybZIXc4HxBI06OE6l8/s2048/IMG_20210412_180110819_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidDk4gN0y_RzTU5XYZac_Xd4_pXFPn9qtzEFQIzOvumnqWLEj6el01Ck2AkAHoeKE5Fo4cecQgg8l34GodgGausYONOd-sMlC03jffzlOFS05VJHh08gmN-FnSfybZIXc4HxBI06OE6l8/w640-h480/IMG_20210412_180110819_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoXI_PNW16EmA49y9JS_NRtod6yStAT8l8toiT9JjQAaWCikCYL0_5EKAd6KRIvcDAxTCCd8_vCsN1bP_famlxMfkYheryO2ey3GVDXQK9g175suKAIWLXVoS-VqHBw2K5s9mQ2Mptc68/s2048/L%2527Eree+sunset+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Mama Mpirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286444396409505857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4924526448032079811.post-87925748288032757222021-04-01T20:27:00.002+01:002021-04-01T20:27:50.453+01:00Mercurial March<p>March came in like a lamb... beautiful weather. Beach
weather, even: Kareena and I met for a socially distanced walk at the beach and
then ended up sitting by the wall, socially distanced metres apart, for our
usual chat and pray.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Teaching online had become a joy, as we had devised a system
which gave the children instant feedback on their work and cut down on the many
hours of marking. I still worked long days, but was able to take breaks at
lunchtime to sit in the sun and relax for a few minutes.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Back at school on 8<sup>th</sup> March, so we were up
earlier for our morning cycle ride: mine to school, Richard’s to accompany me.
One day, he spotted nine buzzards circling together in the air above. It was good to get back to a regular cycling routine.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It was strange to be back at school in our Covid ‘bubbles’ –
out of our usual classroom, sitting apart, unable to share books or equipment,
only able to use certain areas of the school at certain times. Still, the children were glad to see one another and it was good to reconnect with them after a 7 week break.</p><p class="MsoNormal">However, restrictions lasted for only two weeks until Guernsey reopened on March 22<sup>nd</sup>, with plans
for further relaxing of border restrictions until later on in the summer. One
of our colleagues burst into tears of relief at the news.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But spring has sprung. Daffodils, violets and primroses
exploded everywhere, trees and bushes started to come into bud and birds
arrived on patio. Robins – 4 at one point; dunnocks; great tits, blackbirds and
thrushes; and even a pair of coal tits all visited the bird feeders regularly.
A great joy to watch them from the kitchen window....</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiHC1rrGluyZ1gFuQs3vvLbNzF4hxJTdc8YCdXPeW7ogrACtTWZR3pex-ySMY9kMMUnpUN79Lhgm6u1Pqs6sjEdYNpfHtApa_eAM0mAwqPxm_9i1M0qYTPptxnhKdgX2_FnpBPqMRhylQ/s448/IMG_20210330_165843837_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiHC1rrGluyZ1gFuQs3vvLbNzF4hxJTdc8YCdXPeW7ogrACtTWZR3pex-ySMY9kMMUnpUN79Lhgm6u1Pqs6sjEdYNpfHtApa_eAM0mAwqPxm_9i1M0qYTPptxnhKdgX2_FnpBPqMRhylQ/s320/IMG_20210330_165843837_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpl8_PKZ9kEtK-9BKiAojrdEpxyqqumsn0q0gk7UJ6na5Se23PVvZC-TpVDHdqGpvpodei6V-ssNMO2y3qtm2pfTYbn-c29GiHzJqfzXqBoyyaza8192Ap1goPkNZouQ05zCDTdBT391E/s423/IMG_20210330_165912332_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_Tt1DrHL-XgHZxdSfGqomqBzcz_zXJo8NNIT4G_ekNECp5wDexMmrxkB4hxv8EYB_8eqQtK07vjj8K9a-IpAvkQIjdqzgrAUuTkQI6phFX_e_zOEij7peTtJuJzP1rMZzbzyj3izmQA/s448/IMG_20210330_175434832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="336" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_Tt1DrHL-XgHZxdSfGqomqBzcz_zXJo8NNIT4G_ekNECp5wDexMmrxkB4hxv8EYB_8eqQtK07vjj8K9a-IpAvkQIjdqzgrAUuTkQI6phFX_e_zOEij7peTtJuJzP1rMZzbzyj3izmQA/s320/IMG_20210330_175434832.jpg" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>...and out like a lamb, after acting like a lion in the penultimate week. Several days of stormy weather:
wind, rain, gales, hail... everything spring has in its wide repertoire was
thrown at us. And then came beautiful balmy weather.. a warm wind with bright sunshine raised temperatures into the late teens and the front hallway thermometer registered 35 degrees. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Sprimg sprang into action big time. </p>Mama Mpirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286444396409505857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4924526448032079811.post-19701713557042813312021-03-02T21:39:00.000+00:002021-03-02T21:39:04.392+00:00 Reflections on Covid-19 in 2021 - my (lack of) contribution<p><br /></p><p></p><p>I wrote this during the first lockdown without, I think, posting it anywhere. Now that we are gradually coming out of the second lockdown, after a number of cases appeared in the community on 22nd January, not much has changed. (Figures this time are nearly 600 cases; the first wave was 252, with a blissful six months or more of no new cases and complete freedom across the island.)</p><p>The first time, there were rainbows everywhere: drawn and coloured on pieces of paper in windows; painted on pebbles, walls and even a boat. This time, lockdown was sprung on us - we woke on the 23rd to social media messages of : 4 cases in the community. Stay at home. Everyone heaved a collective sigh and did, indeed, stay at home, getting stuck in to online learning and working from home once more, venturing out only for essential shopping or some daily exercise outdoors.</p><p>With all the encouragement to really act as a community, looking out for and helping each other, I felt that my own contributions have been absolutely paltry.</p><p></p><p>True, I saw a lot of my neighbour – not elderly or in need, but we helped each other out with shopping, sharing garden tools and tips and moral support in the form of coffee mornings and wine evenings. (Over the fence at double Safe Social Distance.) Otherwise, despite the little cards I dropped through letter boxes a few weeks ago, offering help and giving my contact details, my neighbours seemed to be self-sufficient and happily getting on with isolation. I didn't even bother second time around...</p><p></p><p>So I don’t feel I do much. Even working from home, one of my colleagues has been planning the maths for my year group, the other the English. I’ve only had two lots of R.E. and the Geography to sort out, so have felt a little guilty that I haven’t been doing more.</p><p></p><p>Until my marking load hit me with the force of a runaway truck. No boring details, but, potentially, I could have to give up to 300 pieces of feedback a week. 300 pieces of work to mark, checking that answers are correct, giving explanation of errors and pointers for improvement.</p><p></p><p>How do I know? Well, as I started to feel overwhelmed – by then it was 10pm and I was way off finishing the day’s work - I timed how long 10 assignments took and calculated the average. That seemed reasonable. I was both reassured that I had a solid reason for my feelings of drowning in a sea of screened work and hit with despair at the monumental task in front of me.</p><p></p><p>Each assignment has different demands. Some feedback – the delightful writing and drawing of six year olds – is quick, easy and lifts my spirits. Maybe up to a minute – yes, sixty whole seconds – for each child. It takes a little time to click through to the work, wait for it to upload, read and then think about my response, but it is easily manageable. Others – English grammar and comprehension – takes a minimum of 2 minutes. Geography: about the same, once I had spent the time to work out my expectations, criteria for success and levels of achievement. Oh, and the all-important house credits to be awarded as well, of course.</p><p></p><p>And the maths? Oh, my goodness. If the maths doesn’t want to make me slit my wrists, I don’t know what does. A minimum 5 minutes, often more. Why so long?</p><p>· The work is set at two levels: basic and extension, children’s choice.</p><p>· Their finished work is not given in with any indication of which task they have chosen.</p><p>· Their finished work may be filled in on the sheet electronically (relatively easy); filled in on a paper print out and photographed, then uploaded; written in full, set out neatly, in an exercise book; or just the answers written down, so I have to work out which task they actually completed.</p><p>· The work may be out of focus; photographed sideways or upside down; or even given in as a video, the camera panning blurrily from one page to another.</p><p></p><p>Apart from the workload, the fact that feedback is online, instantly visible to parents as well as children, gives me some anxiety. Some parents, of course, are too busy juggling their own work from home to even help their children, let alone go through the answers with a toothpick. (Yes, I know the analogy is toothcomb, but this combines also with an excellent nit-picking attitude so a new word</p><p>seemed called for.) But there are still the few – or the few children with an assiduous eye for detail and wish to catch the teacher out – or love to find fault.</p><p></p><p>The head has it right when he asks everyone to be kind. I’m doing my bit. I haven’t named anyone. (But you know who you are….)</p><p></p><p>So am I doing my bit? You betcha. I’m keeping the school and education system going, educating children and keeping them out of their parents’ hair and providing a valuable service to the community.</p><p></p><p>Working hard. And still able to make the odd cake or two to donate to young people struggling in isolation…now, that DOES feel good and worthwhile. #personaltherapy #makesmefeelbetter #getbacktothemarking</p>Mama Mpirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286444396409505857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4924526448032079811.post-44519254299611469062021-02-28T15:34:00.002+00:002021-04-07T15:23:55.317+01:00Ferocious February? No, Feeble February. Even FANTASTIC February<p>Well, we had hoped that February would be drier than
January, but it certainly didn’t start off that way and by February 3<sup>rd</sup>
the garden was completely awash again: the pump could barely keep up and water
flowed into the ‘swamp’ as quickly as water was pumped out.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Even February 2<sup>nd</sup> – Candlemas – was a
disappointment. In my mind, it should be crisp and clear. To add to that, the
film Groundhog Day, featuring the semi-mythical groundhog <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punxsutawney_Phil" title="">Punxsutawney
Phil</a>, wasn’t even on television. Not that I would have had time to watch: I
was mired in online marking as, once again, we struggled to carry on teaching
through lockdown. I worked out that I had in the region of 250 assessments a
week to feedback on...</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So I did what any self-respecting teacher would do and took
up some crafting hobbies. Specifically, a little darning, a little crochet and
a little embroidery, customizing my elegantly navy face mask with yellow and
white flowers and a little rainbow. #littlethingstokeepmesane</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDfW3rBJej7DjU_mZQSpp55WdqpFVqJXgdEwCI3LzYTZeF44X9qT45DD9pveZAwD6aegQkFjPeGSzrjPt0JGypeX1XBl4AnVSh2C-gBStAliLlSRi5v6lIdcFETOfxhZEBPXx_6X5-tC0/s2048/IMG_20210202_165611651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1925" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDfW3rBJej7DjU_mZQSpp55WdqpFVqJXgdEwCI3LzYTZeF44X9qT45DD9pveZAwD6aegQkFjPeGSzrjPt0JGypeX1XBl4AnVSh2C-gBStAliLlSRi5v6lIdcFETOfxhZEBPXx_6X5-tC0/w376-h400/IMG_20210202_165611651.jpg" width="376" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At school, we were told to decorate/embellish a mask, send in the photo and the deputy head would create a 'Guess Who' powerpoint. I made quite sure that I would be completely unrecognisable...</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiP9Z9FCBre6S8jgmUTOGr_T1mi8XGNPuvmujzi-Sr_1o30WhdxygUX97Dz-gY82CZ6PP0YPhQ1Kf0lZCf-poDcHoE-bJXxEychYfZ8UrePnQkCaG3kKBsaxbU8Y_c5HUa8Z5gl3t48gQ/s2048/IMG_20210202_165755292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1895" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiP9Z9FCBre6S8jgmUTOGr_T1mi8XGNPuvmujzi-Sr_1o30WhdxygUX97Dz-gY82CZ6PP0YPhQ1Kf0lZCf-poDcHoE-bJXxEychYfZ8UrePnQkCaG3kKBsaxbU8Y_c5HUa8Z5gl3t48gQ/w370-h400/IMG_20210202_165755292.jpg" width="370" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...though I did have my own more respectable, embroidered one.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRa5e0X-_tkds9kko7lMp5t0eL_wSSuhJ2Kj1ITpGpiCUGpmRhyxecr_mJkmQ4aoBCAYqRj0xz24TgevF4S6HeGhk5_fCny7ibawUCqO1DwRpE7HsM0D8cIxjStTPPlCYCgIJDkEGIDQ/s2048/IMG_20210209_125335865_HDR%257E2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1854" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRa5e0X-_tkds9kko7lMp5t0eL_wSSuhJ2Kj1ITpGpiCUGpmRhyxecr_mJkmQ4aoBCAYqRj0xz24TgevF4S6HeGhk5_fCny7ibawUCqO1DwRpE7HsM0D8cIxjStTPPlCYCgIJDkEGIDQ/s320/IMG_20210209_125335865_HDR%257E2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">Half term was a relief and provided an opportunity to catch up on marking... those assignments that had been handed in, anyway. And then it snowed! Light grains, consistently for a few hours, were enough to put patchy coverings on banks and lawn. Fun.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDfHSL-Yr9YT5EA_S4yyZ-i_8Rkaqyj-DaKoht3rMPxGYI1CQOq9rCvHf_P7OlqiA52QZJc063Vm84L25Ks_Qi-d9Wwyt5wg-6FmN9l0Ln3i2s9wNjl-TOchbjjmgM80bvquJQavmE8X4/s2048/IMG_20210208_201222403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1925" data-original-width="2048" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDfHSL-Yr9YT5EA_S4yyZ-i_8Rkaqyj-DaKoht3rMPxGYI1CQOq9rCvHf_P7OlqiA52QZJc063Vm84L25Ks_Qi-d9Wwyt5wg-6FmN9l0Ln3i2s9wNjl-TOchbjjmgM80bvquJQavmE8X4/w400-h376/IMG_20210208_201222403.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv9tbO4A1Xe1O_7bRtdhINEw6yuz7w5F0bVpScHBMkPPTDpfzDZENdbHuYtIQjgGgWja8UXJmdFymCM1VcfZiQYjVO_OTwaVAllVucgETRvHgQN5cr27iwS5O7h9EHkXpRex6wZ0-ls0c/s2048/IMG_20210208_201546837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1925" data-original-width="2048" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv9tbO4A1Xe1O_7bRtdhINEw6yuz7w5F0bVpScHBMkPPTDpfzDZENdbHuYtIQjgGgWja8UXJmdFymCM1VcfZiQYjVO_OTwaVAllVucgETRvHgQN5cr27iwS5O7h9EHkXpRex6wZ0-ls0c/w400-h376/IMG_20210208_201546837.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51_qEAP5E-hi1GHWVZuMHWYA14oUiKVNy4s6OEc-8kZvGub4iyBW-B0PHEKNqPuhCYlLFnmAMaYV3-79fianjr28Ewp7O1d2G7EpWziOFQbd2qQMPjGox8LYisyVnRfQs5MWHxmCNjaE/s2048/IMG_20210209_115815766_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1925" data-original-width="2048" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51_qEAP5E-hi1GHWVZuMHWYA14oUiKVNy4s6OEc-8kZvGub4iyBW-B0PHEKNqPuhCYlLFnmAMaYV3-79fianjr28Ewp7O1d2G7EpWziOFQbd2qQMPjGox8LYisyVnRfQs5MWHxmCNjaE/w400-h376/IMG_20210209_115815766_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDh0BfuBNY8XE_TWhsTLNsZrLnK9aF6MAaZ1GcYw5QE2vwoG_VNZBxFVMW8_n83oK_c1hPy4bL97iZHE5PjzzkbFJaD7V1a5nML6iUXNvF4NSOh4jjwcJIFKsl6_fNqDF5GxHxY255v0/s2048/IMG_20210209_115850267_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1765" data-original-width="2048" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDh0BfuBNY8XE_TWhsTLNsZrLnK9aF6MAaZ1GcYw5QE2vwoG_VNZBxFVMW8_n83oK_c1hPy4bL97iZHE5PjzzkbFJaD7V1a5nML6iUXNvF4NSOh4jjwcJIFKsl6_fNqDF5GxHxY255v0/w400-h345/IMG_20210209_115850267_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_v5IQC9iCOXYl55UidM54a01Ly7N0fGrkyozO3Qb0qrhiESLz6GEho4G8VXeFrYh50OukoUnPRjv4hLM0-zHlsbVM79ICehkBrHzuwEBbJSDnIdaKEcWkRBQJ9ieuoYGlKAXqqpdnZPA/s2048/IMG_20210209_115929862.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1925" data-original-width="2048" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_v5IQC9iCOXYl55UidM54a01Ly7N0fGrkyozO3Qb0qrhiESLz6GEho4G8VXeFrYh50OukoUnPRjv4hLM0-zHlsbVM79ICehkBrHzuwEBbJSDnIdaKEcWkRBQJ9ieuoYGlKAXqqpdnZPA/w400-h376/IMG_20210209_115929862.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS1ju9eCHfcPbAn_oiSuRVT8IGTXXAq-Ge4ale4Cq3h4C-j3-vGaEqGE2R_JV1w6T3_k1A4vnj3bEGOauwcBl3tR2_v-OI_qnT6ypkwKroTfyJOaP2wP2kHyU_ULL5h1fysHqZ97Hp1Ls/s2048/IMG_20210209_120003085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1925" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS1ju9eCHfcPbAn_oiSuRVT8IGTXXAq-Ge4ale4Cq3h4C-j3-vGaEqGE2R_JV1w6T3_k1A4vnj3bEGOauwcBl3tR2_v-OI_qnT6ypkwKroTfyJOaP2wP2kHyU_ULL5h1fysHqZ97Hp1Ls/w376-h400/IMG_20210209_120003085.jpg" width="376" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhebmkwam-kVULXICXJETyTGicHAOCM3oEXdoBLBn7MOK0b9G-7RNOQV_3KM8ch3RRQlqTVzatO8T83tQ_FTv7syMYbyet1JdDomxfqM45oijOYp-ofGZtrkzB2ltaW2qAArZ61WSzKT34/s2048/IMG_20210209_120053346%257E2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1925" data-original-width="2048" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhebmkwam-kVULXICXJETyTGicHAOCM3oEXdoBLBn7MOK0b9G-7RNOQV_3KM8ch3RRQlqTVzatO8T83tQ_FTv7syMYbyet1JdDomxfqM45oijOYp-ofGZtrkzB2ltaW2qAArZ61WSzKT34/w400-h376/IMG_20210209_120053346%257E2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0sR91zvoB0WJMQFjrWYJfltnSFEiLN9RAlA6EffGnAWJ04JCCgNUgc2hFeJ0MJBchF_F4E4w8dgxexGUs-Q9cranBk56ypD-cONcjaaYHT2Royr6Rkdt6olfGDsN6vInXAKg1cvuaKWk/s2048/IMG_20210211_130150199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1925" data-original-width="2048" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0sR91zvoB0WJMQFjrWYJfltnSFEiLN9RAlA6EffGnAWJ04JCCgNUgc2hFeJ0MJBchF_F4E4w8dgxexGUs-Q9cranBk56ypD-cONcjaaYHT2Royr6Rkdt6olfGDsN6vInXAKg1cvuaKWk/w400-h376/IMG_20210211_130150199.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbUEe7D1P8Fb2EhSSPuUd_pc9YSTygqh2Jm7mLvnk1d0W-3BzqGydEPkmNHdtYVMe2zNi4YVJW4Wqazm-PEoBL5S7BUNWeTDS-xbvjF45iz7vLXsyXeCRevbUCemg1we62kEO77fsMy2g/s2048/IMG_20210211_130201596.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1925" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbUEe7D1P8Fb2EhSSPuUd_pc9YSTygqh2Jm7mLvnk1d0W-3BzqGydEPkmNHdtYVMe2zNi4YVJW4Wqazm-PEoBL5S7BUNWeTDS-xbvjF45iz7vLXsyXeCRevbUCemg1we62kEO77fsMy2g/w376-h400/IMG_20210211_130201596.jpg" width="376" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">Guernsey continued in lockdown... mask wearing in force.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Generally, February turned into a maw of lockdown and
weather. Warm days, sunny days – heating up the front porch to ridiculous temperatures,
cold days. We had grainy snow one afternoon, which lingered in ice puddles for
several days, but not the wonderful soft sticky stuff we longed for. High
winds, waves, bright seas...every day seemed different. And, despite the
greyness, it became gradually lighter.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8_bpuhckiCqVJ6KAN1p1gxP1KHia4PRNgYYNpfyZWiUDxRXEIFmJ95muf3F92Q-ZbRKOxdPnszQdOGQbWOOZJ2Ft3H5xVIr0ujes8-JeiJuyV_Qk4A_Vslnu-qsvqd7xQfjTjCzXYVQ/s2048/IMG_20210210_121957137_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1925" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8_bpuhckiCqVJ6KAN1p1gxP1KHia4PRNgYYNpfyZWiUDxRXEIFmJ95muf3F92Q-ZbRKOxdPnszQdOGQbWOOZJ2Ft3H5xVIr0ujes8-JeiJuyV_Qk4A_Vslnu-qsvqd7xQfjTjCzXYVQ/w376-h400/IMG_20210210_121957137_HDR.jpg" width="376" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">It seemed hard to stay in touch with friends and family,
despite Zoom or Skype. Overwhelmed with marking online work, which trickled
relentlessly over long days, it was hard to find creativity for anything else. The lockdown was not at all as enjoyable as last year's, when we had the wonderful company of Jonny and Adele, and then Nicky and Richard next door...</p><p class="MsoNormal">Still, I made lemon curd; finished customising my face mask with
embroidery; started, half-heartedly, a crochet project before running out of
wool. The woodburner came into its own, greedily eating up garden kindling,
throwing heat out into the room. I discovered a new and successful recipe for
gluten-free Christmas cake. The trouble was... I had adapted it, but not
remembered what I had done. Prunes were a factor, as were apricots and too much
liquid. Had to try again. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Feeling sorry for the birds, I decided to be more intentional and discovered that they loved porridge oats. The robins were particular fans and we soon discovered that four of them lived in the garden when they dcied on the oats even before I had retreated into the house after restocking the feeder every morning. Great tits, coal tits, dunnocks and even a wren were soon seen to join the robins. What a joy.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheiyr2opnfWO8CQEBFndu8PYQxVsAwy_tyXntf384zPjJyYlixHswr_hZkR2eq1RRzh1_N5FP2dBjChLe3fSTWo_H90SCAS9_E2dX2H6B28GQBCxh_UKA22VRCLZEtF0DdksQf9asq9OI/s2048/IMG_20210210_121957137_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1925" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheiyr2opnfWO8CQEBFndu8PYQxVsAwy_tyXntf384zPjJyYlixHswr_hZkR2eq1RRzh1_N5FP2dBjChLe3fSTWo_H90SCAS9_E2dX2H6B28GQBCxh_UKA22VRCLZEtF0DdksQf9asq9OI/w376-h400/IMG_20210210_121957137_HDR.jpg" width="376" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp08AseJiBop3COn3HfawPXV0YnRr2YTQrj-5vrKVnG23luRx3UhblAbzDJFoFaNBkmVnjhKMF7cVP3cnk-LY4b_7-0NVF6yfG7Sfu67YjrBG9HJguNG7-tMOYkeeu0IBRFFhgamct_ZU/s2048/IMG_20210224_065609408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1851" data-original-width="2048" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp08AseJiBop3COn3HfawPXV0YnRr2YTQrj-5vrKVnG23luRx3UhblAbzDJFoFaNBkmVnjhKMF7cVP3cnk-LY4b_7-0NVF6yfG7Sfu67YjrBG9HJguNG7-tMOYkeeu0IBRFFhgamct_ZU/w400-h361/IMG_20210224_065609408.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> Christmas decorations were, finally, tucked away, save for
the collection of hearts which moved to a twig tree in the entrance hall. A
little tidying up, a little catching up of emails. A sense of time wasted,
spinning in circles as we waited for warmth.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal">A serious energy deficit, a sense of impotency in Feeble
February. </p><p class="MsoNormal">And then... it all changed. My winter posts are heavily weather dominated, not least because the weather has such an effect on our wellbeing. The last week in February was marked by much warmer weather, no rain and brilliant sunshine. Flowers bloomed: daffodils, primroses, violets, celandines...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVePIUdJ_1eG1keSFI1gug9P0s7wFOIbkd5VtQQOHrBvNIWpg7AmYRpwJZaz5myeATbqxjf21alIDNnhs1jtnrSpLivFhnATbTn4DU5AZrZ7xGrgcS4ccTnIFY98qzae_Iyuwvgy1JQJE/s2048/IMG_20210225_162352894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1261" data-original-width="2048" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVePIUdJ_1eG1keSFI1gug9P0s7wFOIbkd5VtQQOHrBvNIWpg7AmYRpwJZaz5myeATbqxjf21alIDNnhs1jtnrSpLivFhnATbTn4DU5AZrZ7xGrgcS4ccTnIFY98qzae_Iyuwvgy1JQJE/w400-h246/IMG_20210225_162352894.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">Sitting outside on the last Saturday of the month, my shoulders were sun-tinged. I can't say sunburnt - we are talking February in the northern hemisphere, after all - but definitely a change of colour after an hour of basking in the sun on the bench outside the front door. No wind, 'feels like' temperatures in the twenties.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Add to that: lockdown rules relaxed. We were allowed to 'bubble' with one other household and could gather outside, masked and socially distanced, with up to five of us altogether. It made such a difference being able to meet friends again. Of course, I'd had a great deal of online interaction: meetings with children and colleagues; Bible studies online; and numerous one to one or group gatherings via Zoom. Still, being able to have friends round, or go out to breakfast, was a joy. The last Saturday, in fact, we had a pre-breakfast cycle ride on our way to our 'bubble' for breakfast; bumped into a friend out for a walk on the way home; a family stopped on their cycle ride past our house; and my dear friend and colleague Carry and husband dropped in on their cycles for a socially distanced chat. Really wonderful.</p><p class="MsoNormal">So my motivation returned. I was inspired by Orsola De Castro, an Italian woman who has founded and created<a href="https://www.fashionrevolution.org/dont-overwash-its-time-to-change-the-way-we-care/" target="_blank"> Fashion Revolution</a> in a bid to change the way we approach fashion, encouraging us to conserve and restore the environment with the choices we make about fashion. One of the simplest changes was to repair, rather than throw away, clothes.</p><p class="MsoNormal">In theory, that has never been a problem for me, but I don't always catch the necessary repairs in time. All through lockdown I have kept cosy in a couple of old - at least 25 years between them - cashmere jumpers. Both of them had been repaired but still had worn completely through at the elbows, the sleeves hanging in tatters. Inspried by Orsola, I cut the sleeves off to just above elbow length, hemming them neatly, patching the larger holes and embroidering wherever I could, albeit in the same colour. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBVNjvdMHoPg3sV-cNL7zsofi6jGho_UyOwSRCNcQYU6JTr68_y-Vc8kyNBmLxM-xTZ7o8XXRizT5CMWMs98U5dT5rVVvR0wvOAYFZTrD93Vvmfi5d2cSBBFqhGsHCPy2h3S50q9y1Z8/s2048/IMG_20210228_145800751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1835" data-original-width="2048" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBVNjvdMHoPg3sV-cNL7zsofi6jGho_UyOwSRCNcQYU6JTr68_y-Vc8kyNBmLxM-xTZ7o8XXRizT5CMWMs98U5dT5rVVvR0wvOAYFZTrD93Vvmfi5d2cSBBFqhGsHCPy2h3S50q9y1Z8/w400-h359/IMG_20210228_145800751.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">I was thrilled with the result and am inspired to, perhaps, seek out similar garments in charity shop throw outs to see if I can similarly rehabilitate beautiful wool. A new hobby...</p><p class="MsoNormal">So, when I look back, I see a full month. I may have felt, at times, as if I did nothing except sit in front of a computer, teaching lessons, marking work or attempting to sort out a myriad of different issues, but in fact life was considerably richer than that. Prayers with friends over Zoom, or writing a prayer in a birthday card, were answered subtly and quietly. Creativity in embroidery and sewing lifted my spirits. And talks with family - Cara particularly becoming ever more interactive - were a joy.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Fantastic February indeed.</p>Mama Mpirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286444396409505857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4924526448032079811.post-24400788431895099972021-02-03T20:29:00.007+00:002021-02-08T20:42:57.107+00:00New year, new beginnings, new adventures through January<p>January began in a great rush after a busy Christmas. We had
had a wonderful time at home and with friends, continuing on into the New Year.
I managed to get a visit in to the garden centre to see the Christmas
decorations – a wonderful Christmas miniature ski village, with train,
ski-lift, balloon rides and all manner of interesting buildings had been introduced last year. I
loved it. Sadly, by the time I got there after Christmas, it was still up, but
not in operation. A bit of a disappointment. But the cycle ride there was
wonderful: an exceptionally clear day gave us great views of Alderney to the
north, with even the little islands Burhou, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ortac">Ortac</a> and the rocky islets of
the Casquets clearly visible. Extraordinary.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I was soon back to school – INSET on the Monday, a public
holiday still in some parts of the world. We had to do some online courses on
various aspects of teaching which proved to be quite interesting and
inspirational – always a bonus. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Time at home was spent helping Nicky and Richard, as they
finished clearing their field next door. The first third of the month was full
of rain and so, eventually, the field and our garden flooded. We had the pump
well set up by then, so, although much of our garden was quite soggy, nothing
was quite underwater.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It was a different story with the field. The compost heap
was dry enough to shovel clear, but the hen houses were standing in inches of
water. We paddled as we helped carry various parts of it – each one flat-packed
down into 6 boards. The houses were going to a good home: <a href="https://www.soil.gg/">The Soil Farm</a>, a sustainable smallholding,
majoring on wormeries and chickens in an effort to utilise local food waste and
improve the soil. Appropriate, then, that a friend lent us a copy of the film
The Biggest Little Farm... fascinating.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After all that, it was a relief when it eventually stopped
raining quite as much and we had a couple of sunny, dry days.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile, I prepared for a little Ladies’ Bible study group
I was initiating with, it has to be confessed, more than a little
trepidation... a group of women were coming who I barely new.
#alwaysinteresting.</p><p class="MsoNormal">And Cat sent us frequent, absolutely delightful photos of Cara and Rosie... and videos of Cara's adventures. She is consistently funny, brave, adventurous, charming: such a delight to see her developing so quickly.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Then, three weeks into January, Guernsey was thrown into turmoil once more. We woke on Saturday 23rd January to... Lockdown. Declared overnight, the news spread rapidly by local media such that by 9am the roads were busy and shop car parks filled to overflowing as people rushed to do their shopping. By 3pm, the roads were almost deserted. Stay at home, stay at home... only going out for essential shopping, medical visits and 2 hours exercise outside a day.</p><p class="MsoNormal"> 4 cases had appeared in the community with no apparent links to the few cases - only 6 - which had developed while visitors were still in self-isolation. By the evening of the next day, the Sunday, there were 20 cases; by Wednesday 27th, 84. Getting on for a thousand people had been tested in less than a week and more were self-isolating, waiting to see if symptoms would develop.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Guernsey - particularly Dr Nicola Brink, our leading virologist and director of public health - acts quickly, following New Zealand's example. (Even there, a case developed after somone came out of mandatory 14 day quarantine.) Travel in and out of the Bailiwick had been banned, in any case, earlier in the month as the virus rampaged through Britain. Even travel between the islands of Herm, Alderney and Sark was restricted, with travellers to Alderney having to isolate for fourteen days in order to protect the island and its rudimentary medical services.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The hospital was already full to capacity with the usual winter illnesses and ailments. Schools were closed - completely, not even for key worker children. My school instantly went to online learning, with daily online staff meetings.</p><p class="MsoNormal">We were prepared, but the onslaught of technology was still exhausting. I spent two hours - TWO HOURS - with one child, who was a techie whizz but nevertheless was struggling with his ipad. We got there eventually...</p><p class="MsoNormal">And the weather. Ranged from beautiful bright sunshine, so clear we could see Alderney and Jersey with no trouble at all, to a day full of fog, mist and drizzle. A day to sit in by the fire and wrestle with marking work - mostly clear and well-processed, but some submitted as upside down or out of focus photographs, often with a large expanse of carpet around them, rendering the actual work almost too small to read. I am getting quite a good idea of the carpet choices in some of the households....</p><p class="MsoNormal">And then the email came. I had been in contact with a member of the school community and needed to self-isolate. Fourteen days from the last time, which, as we had already been in lockdown for a while, turned out to be just four remaining. </p><p class="MsoNormal">I moved into the guest room, working in the hallway, with the same set up we had used for Jonny and Adele last year. It seemed a bit silly, isolating from Richard, as we had been together, but it did mean that he could still take the dog out for solitary walks through the lanes.</p><p class="MsoNormal">We communicated through the glass of windows and messages on WhatsApp. The menu was somewhat limited...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdCYDhSJ0KZOUQMFM98HVemCknp3cexaMvQ-Rw8v4_8kplU5UHV6vkxBle4p9kCVTIowp53JUSEkxtLmRLXZHLS2HDPsJZBD3LJA1XoBsdt_VnwxzV0TkZD1wN1QGRqDx_BGpnxzhKwNk/s2048/IMG_20210129_111450620.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdCYDhSJ0KZOUQMFM98HVemCknp3cexaMvQ-Rw8v4_8kplU5UHV6vkxBle4p9kCVTIowp53JUSEkxtLmRLXZHLS2HDPsJZBD3LJA1XoBsdt_VnwxzV0TkZD1wN1QGRqDx_BGpnxzhKwNk/w300-h400/IMG_20210129_111450620.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">And the weather settled in to wet. We had actually been, unwittingly, following 'dry January' in not drinking wine. There's more than enough water to compensate - poor plants, sitting soggily in a swamp... </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_UvT-VeudCNz-cKhy7PTbqW1UlUWgNscggn8pX170pY7tr4_QePrj7pRwm3n2eBc0ZSDhaO7yNoL1hvg_Jcmag_HddchfBI-fWJrYYJEXlrm8XDIaM35XdSrjDOJpxYik6uyfi-gupQw/s2048/IMG_20210110_125907751.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_UvT-VeudCNz-cKhy7PTbqW1UlUWgNscggn8pX170pY7tr4_QePrj7pRwm3n2eBc0ZSDhaO7yNoL1hvg_Jcmag_HddchfBI-fWJrYYJEXlrm8XDIaM35XdSrjDOJpxYik6uyfi-gupQw/w400-h300/IMG_20210110_125907751.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7P9REiswPfPdvOObUuN3DximSmjVvHQFvNH98U6YxbTz-SWVs9Um-dSbaIzLuvcbKfIFdXc8riVa4mpIb2aX8oi9wH6E27h2WpWR2rfP2aVJlfYaPPBl1saedUJ6pIp_m3yCW7rzhe0/s2048/IMG_20210110_125916733.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7P9REiswPfPdvOObUuN3DximSmjVvHQFvNH98U6YxbTz-SWVs9Um-dSbaIzLuvcbKfIFdXc8riVa4mpIb2aX8oi9wH6E27h2WpWR2rfP2aVJlfYaPPBl1saedUJ6pIp_m3yCW7rzhe0/w400-h300/IMG_20210110_125916733.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgB0bQabgvpumTDK9PIMYDrJhLdusRnZjTMrG-D3DWoy9xnPS-W2G-4y4u1dUF47WGeErO4kWJNkskzXx_dp9rRxjQoCBSDUmEHGTsb3JrLbBZY47QN5SnENWIioZuBS81g4uedrMNyc/s2048/IMG_20210130_092437912.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgB0bQabgvpumTDK9PIMYDrJhLdusRnZjTMrG-D3DWoy9xnPS-W2G-4y4u1dUF47WGeErO4kWJNkskzXx_dp9rRxjQoCBSDUmEHGTsb3JrLbBZY47QN5SnENWIioZuBS81g4uedrMNyc/w300-h400/IMG_20210130_092437912.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0jzDDs0qkllNCsiaaLANrkcpQBkHqgjGBPEyUiLjeePhTMYE57NSSFpgJ1R0khfheY-sRHabBaj7CWg_2eFzrz32E-z0szxjaL-MMGnYi_D9gPDr4FCK3iXDDNftvOXSjvPt-Jum3W2Y/s2048/IMG_20210130_092504731.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0jzDDs0qkllNCsiaaLANrkcpQBkHqgjGBPEyUiLjeePhTMYE57NSSFpgJ1R0khfheY-sRHabBaj7CWg_2eFzrz32E-z0szxjaL-MMGnYi_D9gPDr4FCK3iXDDNftvOXSjvPt-Jum3W2Y/w300-h400/IMG_20210130_092504731.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZp-mFNCDmIw4Fsa0RfBlM7nH-M7FQT2keKEMsJlNJCwwAjo1616UUEdGkEoXfF_R2EK4P4BsKZ6MAS-lbQsCyP0Xr-BeF8ENVFBzfi4QuBY5Jts7xqNKQJkLd3bJK4Xn2Mw4zv1pWlo/s2048/IMG_20210130_092523135.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZp-mFNCDmIw4Fsa0RfBlM7nH-M7FQT2keKEMsJlNJCwwAjo1616UUEdGkEoXfF_R2EK4P4BsKZ6MAS-lbQsCyP0Xr-BeF8ENVFBzfi4QuBY5Jts7xqNKQJkLd3bJK4Xn2Mw4zv1pWlo/w300-h400/IMG_20210130_092523135.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4WAxrNKn-UEfmGUAUTfrfEdr6oYp29t6gwgV6alpGv-S5jtETQhPJYY_kZ70dVYm7NEXo8gV5h0eQ5jbGA72QLteUiMV8m8vcpKuP5cRalQ5EX4dKeKlk_stvjlsttxvAX6qkqc4_P_U/s2048/IMG_20210130_092538856.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4WAxrNKn-UEfmGUAUTfrfEdr6oYp29t6gwgV6alpGv-S5jtETQhPJYY_kZ70dVYm7NEXo8gV5h0eQ5jbGA72QLteUiMV8m8vcpKuP5cRalQ5EX4dKeKlk_stvjlsttxvAX6qkqc4_P_U/w400-h300/IMG_20210130_092538856.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzfPtO644WgjiDY1ArJ7NLDSdSVnbTYC_jUBCKQ2sqRkO04yjiEmnXPx9h3tCb4ckRNGJgvhZYV_kWn0ZDptP2ZO6FjLz3bWL1nP9KJbFGtCRBwuG7PTlUXf7qSut40H-ZoX2ng6wvL8/s2048/IMG_20210130_092545532.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzfPtO644WgjiDY1ArJ7NLDSdSVnbTYC_jUBCKQ2sqRkO04yjiEmnXPx9h3tCb4ckRNGJgvhZYV_kWn0ZDptP2ZO6FjLz3bWL1nP9KJbFGtCRBwuG7PTlUXf7qSut40H-ZoX2ng6wvL8/w480-h640/IMG_20210130_092545532.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">Let's hope that February is drier...</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Mama Mpirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286444396409505857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4924526448032079811.post-40654372059463550232021-01-31T17:56:00.001+00:002021-01-31T17:56:21.129+00:00Book review... Fall in Love with God's Word - Practical Strategies for God's Word, by Brittany Ann<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdo4ecGivxB2F-5MXwiMpVsgtEdXmZ7pH8MxTu1dPEzkE7nxjZXKqrXpMsEANLb6xSS2V3nBmkXZXHtrysOqMfmMZx12y6xP6ZlkQWPjD62j7E_t0zsyQGaD-9V22mt3xwtrfCEBBiXHQ/s2048/Fall+in+love+with+God%2527s+Word.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1442" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdo4ecGivxB2F-5MXwiMpVsgtEdXmZ7pH8MxTu1dPEzkE7nxjZXKqrXpMsEANLb6xSS2V3nBmkXZXHtrysOqMfmMZx12y6xP6ZlkQWPjD62j7E_t0zsyQGaD-9V22mt3xwtrfCEBBiXHQ/w225-h320/Fall+in+love+with+God%2527s+Word.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I posted this over on my other blog, but reading this book - making notes, thinking about it - has taken up most of the month of January, so it seemed fitting to post here as well.</p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #002e3f; font-family: Trebuchet, "Trebuchet MS", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.04px;">I received an advanced review copy of Fall in Love With God’s Word by Brittany Ann just as I started a small women’s group – perfect timing. The book is divided into three parts, each one a practical guide to studying and learning from the Bible. I particularly enjoyed the first part, which gives a clear, concise explanation of the different ways in which we might approach the Bible. None of these on their own is perfect and we need to understand the genre and context of the various books and writings if we are to read and interpret Scripture correctly. Brittany Ann also talks about the different ‘lenses’ with which we view verses, which helps to gain a correct interpretation and application to our lives.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #002e3f; font-family: Trebuchet, "Trebuchet MS", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.04px;">The second part of the book explores how we can root out sin and recognise and replace incorrect teaching and unhelpful/sinful thoughts. Brittany shows that “We don’t read the Bible to learn </span><i style="color: #002e3f; font-family: Trebuchet, "Trebuchet MS", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.04px;">about </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #002e3f; font-family: Trebuchet, "Trebuchet MS", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.04px;">God. We read the Bible to meet </span><i style="color: #002e3f; font-family: Trebuchet, "Trebuchet MS", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.04px;">with </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #002e3f; font-family: Trebuchet, "Trebuchet MS", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.04px;"> God.” and gives practical tips and strategies for doing so.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #002e3f; font-family: Trebuchet, "Trebuchet MS", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.04px; text-align: left;">Lastly, Brittany looks at the obstacles we put or permit to stand in our way of growing closer to God. Busyness, tiredness, lack of motivation, distractions, forgetfulness, lack of biblical knowledge, lack of intimacy with God are identified and helpful tips for overcoming these are given. I am passionate about forming spiritually deep relationships with others and so I found the last chapter, Cultivate Spiritual Community, particularly encouraging and affirming.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #002e3f; font-family: Trebuchet, "Trebuchet MS", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.04px; text-align: left;">This is a wonderfully practical manual which does what it says. I’ve just started a new small group of women who want to share ‘more than small talk’ and create community together: this couldn’t have come at a better time. A great book for all Christian women, wherever they might be in their journey with God.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #002e3f; font-family: Trebuchet, "Trebuchet MS", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.04px; text-align: left;">Brittany Ann writes in an easy-to-understand style and this is a wonderful manual for exploring widely while diving deeper into Bible study. One to revisit.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #002e3f; font-family: Trebuchet, "Trebuchet MS", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.04px; text-align: left;">(And one other reason I am grateful to Brittany Ann: last year I joined an Advent study group she hosted on facebook. To my delight, I found that an old friend - who I hadn't seen for two decades and who I had lost contact with - had joined the same group. We reconnected, much to our joy and delight. What an amazing 'coincidence'.)</p></div>Mama Mpirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286444396409505857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4924526448032079811.post-55924166349157906962020-12-29T09:30:00.003+00:002020-12-29T09:30:37.062+00:00Delightful December<p>Well, December has been absolutely delightful, in spite of
the weather: wind and rain arrived with a vengeance and we have just had a
tremendous hailstorm. Even a couple of hours later, the hail is still lying
around in drifts.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFWyv7CbHpBJdY3FHsqJuAQHWkp4CtFhYh_vQ4Cjk8TxKFHuHiXeil4BpxB9O4rH-l_-rXIysVGK9Jpa5L8QslHFxGpRDv4BKj-eoEEQcyciRJafyQJqfw5drUOqonqzQRXMN_QNp3YM/s2048/IMG_20201228_102613769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFWyv7CbHpBJdY3FHsqJuAQHWkp4CtFhYh_vQ4Cjk8TxKFHuHiXeil4BpxB9O4rH-l_-rXIysVGK9Jpa5L8QslHFxGpRDv4BKj-eoEEQcyciRJafyQJqfw5drUOqonqzQRXMN_QNp3YM/w640-h480/IMG_20201228_102613769.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD4gb9FDXxujWBHwxFbMCe6viqT4dk5VqCGwQMap7IYJuVtj6GXOhwLajhvQ-ulQT86XUzvf283e-Ilw5WCyjPwLIpunrlG4DPJHcsuvqz8Ifims3iT41bYc82RZJfwP1MVPNRcqTRtLE/s2048/IMG_20201228_102623715_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD4gb9FDXxujWBHwxFbMCe6viqT4dk5VqCGwQMap7IYJuVtj6GXOhwLajhvQ-ulQT86XUzvf283e-Ilw5WCyjPwLIpunrlG4DPJHcsuvqz8Ifims3iT41bYc82RZJfwP1MVPNRcqTRtLE/w480-h640/IMG_20201228_102623715_HDR.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMpAbeFYbLLjqbAPm463OYNPDO1au0dRj44CFEbH6XiPfyWAiIqFQ6384woUKgwyysLphYgEZ8TS2ixGVQjcAp-Z_YZNcdh4-DPk2fO4OsFerdFTKfweK88_dt7ILPJW4NPy_Y1tH4jY/s2048/IMG_20201228_102636550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMpAbeFYbLLjqbAPm463OYNPDO1au0dRj44CFEbH6XiPfyWAiIqFQ6384woUKgwyysLphYgEZ8TS2ixGVQjcAp-Z_YZNcdh4-DPk2fO4OsFerdFTKfweK88_dt7ILPJW4NPy_Y1tH4jY/w640-h480/IMG_20201228_102636550.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Early in the month, we set up the pump which we bought last
year, after the back of the garden flooded. The field behind is slightly
elevated and so, once sufficient rain had waterlogged the ground, the water
took the easy option and filled up the lowest part of our garden. We dug a hole
as far as we could, down to the marl, sank an old dustbin in and installed a
pump which then takes the water out to the drain.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We’ve used it several times already, sometimes for an hour
or so at a time. By the end of the month, there was flooding in various bits of
the garden: it subsides after a few days without rain, but we are keen that the
plants, shrubs and trees do not stay waterlogged. Last year, in fact, the rain
flooded the slabs which the shed stands on, so that the shed itself had a
couple of inches of water inside it.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">School, of course, was the usual run-up to Christmas. Actually,
a wind-down. Reports had been written, projects were nearing completion and we
started to ease up a little on homework. The last week was full of carol
service rehearsal and performance; Christmas activity booklets – mostly maths
and English, with some ‘Victorian Christmas’ thrown in; Christmas party and
disco; and my traditional, Victorian fireplace themed, 3D Christmas card. The
children all make one each, of course, and this year I made one for a friend
who had taken ill and was in hospital. He is an artist, so it was a delight to
see him examine each tiny intricate feature, including the handwritten Christmas
card on the mantelpiece.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDh3ChkBLPyWo1qw3eiMS4RBJRY1tQuHqkucBcOEngUbM5-sXvOraDNT42KXtHKOBDwm_5h-DXtUHfJYe0fOFfv0jnM7En1M5hQAUzV9W01LkO1TYa5hw8IcKB5LSHWY3UvRzrBTATl4/s2048/IMG_20201217_155443533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1735" data-original-width="2048" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDh3ChkBLPyWo1qw3eiMS4RBJRY1tQuHqkucBcOEngUbM5-sXvOraDNT42KXtHKOBDwm_5h-DXtUHfJYe0fOFfv0jnM7En1M5hQAUzV9W01LkO1TYa5hw8IcKB5LSHWY3UvRzrBTATl4/w640-h542/IMG_20201217_155443533.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">Many of the children wrote me cards, but my favourite
by far was the handmade nativity card. A lot of painstaking work by a shy,
quiet, under-confident child who took great pleasure in showing me all the
different aspects of the nativity which he had included. It gives ME tremendous
pleasure to look at it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbketjbnUWwu6Y8L0zaWVeQ9_whMfGJu1EYVlPY6y6lVDonQoxEcmacqnFP0dhFSxq_iVISFuY7Nk5mW-gL1EbswBM0ekfvS3qBvSZeAqC0XyFekoCkU2JgWQXpQeCCeW1XeZ7GHgXziw/s2048/IMG_20201225_095920002_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2038" data-original-width="2048" height="637" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbketjbnUWwu6Y8L0zaWVeQ9_whMfGJu1EYVlPY6y6lVDonQoxEcmacqnFP0dhFSxq_iVISFuY7Nk5mW-gL1EbswBM0ekfvS3qBvSZeAqC0XyFekoCkU2JgWQXpQeCCeW1XeZ7GHgXziw/w640-h637/IMG_20201225_095920002_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">I managed to write, and send off on time, our card and
Christmas emails, completing the last of them by Christmas Eve. Intentionally,
we tried to have a low-key Christmas. At the beginning of December I began to
feel extremely sorry for myself. We couldn’t go anywhere to see family as we
would have to self-isolate for at least two weeks on our return and the holiday
was barely two weeks long in any case. Plus that Covid does indeed make it
risky to travel and New Zealand does not allow visitors in at the
moment – let alone having to comply with THEIR quarantine requirements (a mere
two weeks in a Government-approved hotel).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I forced myself to start putting Christmas decorations up.
First a few strings of lights: this year, for the first time, we draped them in
the entrance hall which gave a wonderfully welcoming glow. They will probably
stay there until the end of February...#Januarycheer<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nativity sets went out quickly, as did my
Jesse tree – twigs from our spring-time pruning this year, with a variety of
ornaments. A few years ago – over 15, in fact – Cat and I made saltdough
ornaments. There are only a few left, so I have supplemented with others
although, over in New Zealand, she has made a complete set for Cara. Perhaps I
might do that next year... Eventually, the tree was decorated, a candle lit and
evergreens placed in a vase to host my collection of hearts.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0i9Cddjk1yGow5B5b0ARtdyFYB5JUL4aKmaDVEm4PxekMH9MtYfc-HWi5nBMfuA2ZPXQeDxaSeI-gB8HB7TdthtyGRk9vshAwzxdCQIZOI8qaK5_B0duW91heTrC_Fu3qoV6eHwaf85o/s2048/IMG_20201129_190212713%257E3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1915" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0i9Cddjk1yGow5B5b0ARtdyFYB5JUL4aKmaDVEm4PxekMH9MtYfc-HWi5nBMfuA2ZPXQeDxaSeI-gB8HB7TdthtyGRk9vshAwzxdCQIZOI8qaK5_B0duW91heTrC_Fu3qoV6eHwaf85o/w598-h640/IMG_20201129_190212713%257E3.jpg" width="598" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvK9TEryuIbuxbkhBulguMFZ4e3eNLV51m3IRXL9lXFs0CpgCSgZrQNYxC2DrO6nbq3YncwJCZixtg7h32c45PEpupX0Ac5X_N5wOlTBQzun3d0HkX3qgB7WRKLHxNk6R1hBvrS4Gzvs/s2048/IMG_20201117_185246754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1650" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvK9TEryuIbuxbkhBulguMFZ4e3eNLV51m3IRXL9lXFs0CpgCSgZrQNYxC2DrO6nbq3YncwJCZixtg7h32c45PEpupX0Ac5X_N5wOlTBQzun3d0HkX3qgB7WRKLHxNk6R1hBvrS4Gzvs/w323-h400/IMG_20201117_185246754.jpg" width="323" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUjx86u45J_bUIWUeYabuYPZBIJSH7a7mfe8mnURSs8VvJIOuluhfeT-8ZqRVn_EX2qIOnOiwrJPZRNCRJJKd4D8rFt5BSq7bcqR54sqbFgpd4wOfJJINohoItVybUtc6yhMkqiaGdDyc/s2048/IMG_20201117_185325251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1759" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUjx86u45J_bUIWUeYabuYPZBIJSH7a7mfe8mnURSs8VvJIOuluhfeT-8ZqRVn_EX2qIOnOiwrJPZRNCRJJKd4D8rFt5BSq7bcqR54sqbFgpd4wOfJJINohoItVybUtc6yhMkqiaGdDyc/w344-h400/IMG_20201117_185325251.jpg" width="344" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTqzbFJ_0KT6UdXgJ2_tf6LlMzn_V6QS2Xe86o0nPqNmv004QD6Be14odfpta9JWUZgAkWDm4fhuCFo41SfAGMZyt9v1eCLlCbF8xe6GNOC7Twvu3CA6is_xxkXW9HNenDaeHTvW02cPM/s2048/IMG_20201201_210200037%257E2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1694" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTqzbFJ_0KT6UdXgJ2_tf6LlMzn_V6QS2Xe86o0nPqNmv004QD6Be14odfpta9JWUZgAkWDm4fhuCFo41SfAGMZyt9v1eCLlCbF8xe6GNOC7Twvu3CA6is_xxkXW9HNenDaeHTvW02cPM/w331-h400/IMG_20201201_210200037%257E2.jpg" width="331" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqzjOQ-Ojn-fjrkSrVpoGwJqh7H4oA_tbErEeLALPuNtrsTtpYv24U35-cS_OokCFcPj8jnAn41PyX9tLoxOJVHxH-IW_JQW3jHgO7S3sqNCS4ERTmEi0di7BHp2FSAmThB-rXTZyE2s/s2048/IMG_20201205_165107646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqzjOQ-Ojn-fjrkSrVpoGwJqh7H4oA_tbErEeLALPuNtrsTtpYv24U35-cS_OokCFcPj8jnAn41PyX9tLoxOJVHxH-IW_JQW3jHgO7S3sqNCS4ERTmEi0di7BHp2FSAmThB-rXTZyE2s/w300-h400/IMG_20201205_165107646.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguePTPM4ZgPA_33rVIsRvx0UO3Wdbre4RWNe4YEmlto_t2fy4wurlxeiIjr25uXmBnYluOpuyE5nqIEt5pWQoEQ0MRptyx76ek9PGlXNTuFvjRME8XClYM7LE5C9r9xsvzAIWBEN567H8/s2048/IMG_20201205_165144046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguePTPM4ZgPA_33rVIsRvx0UO3Wdbre4RWNe4YEmlto_t2fy4wurlxeiIjr25uXmBnYluOpuyE5nqIEt5pWQoEQ0MRptyx76ek9PGlXNTuFvjRME8XClYM7LE5C9r9xsvzAIWBEN567H8/w300-h400/IMG_20201205_165144046.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86VRnSe0I4W0Ts_C_BS4R5_GndAhI1vCoSlXvIMtxGEgwCLT7r0WgjzU3-entjnsi13kulW_UHF8PKH5V_zSwHc8-K6bWDWg6H9ntADH30AmxG4LGxSwOHYka9SXJIVVXezlzHR7sM6c/s2048/IMG_20201205_165323236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86VRnSe0I4W0Ts_C_BS4R5_GndAhI1vCoSlXvIMtxGEgwCLT7r0WgjzU3-entjnsi13kulW_UHF8PKH5V_zSwHc8-K6bWDWg6H9ntADH30AmxG4LGxSwOHYka9SXJIVVXezlzHR7sM6c/w640-h480/IMG_20201205_165323236.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">And I got over myself. We committed to helping with lunch at
church on Christmas Day, discovering, to our delight, that several other
friends were also on the ‘team’. Our job turned out to be preparing vegetables
beforehand and then welcoming guests on the day, hosting a table. A very
different Christmas Day lunch – we had always had friends and family, or gone
out to friends, for all our married lives. It was good to facilitate lunch for
several people who were completely on their own and it proved to be a very
enjoyable time. Even the weather proved to be fine enough to cycle: a glorious,
sun-filled day, the air crisp and clear over the cliffs.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Baking <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pepparkakor</i>,
distributing the clove-scented spicy Swedish biscuits to friends, is a
tradition I have followed for many years. This year I added vanilla fudge and
lemon curd as well. The gluten-free Christmas cake turned out moister than in
previous years, thanks to a recipe from Nigella, but was still unsatisfactorily
crumbly. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The best part of December, though, was reconnecting with
friends, near and far. Writing cards and emails, reflecting back on last year’s
news, is always satisfying but we also found ourselves very busy socially. My
Christmas work meal was enjoyable, immediately followed by my friend and
colleague Carry’s birthday party – in a pub with a skittles alley. Good fun.
Our church carol service provided more opportunities and then we were at
friends for the <a href="https://www.priaulxlibrary.co.uk/articles/article/23-december-la-longue-veille">Longue
Vielle</a>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Longue Vielle. What a great tradition. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The origins of La Longue Veille date back to
17th Century, when an Act of Parliament allowed the export of wool from
mainland Britain to the Bailiwick to service Guernsey’s woolen industry. Many
islanders were engaged in the manufacture of woollen stockings, frock jackets
and jumpers, and neighbours would often gather in each other’s homes to work
together in the production of garments in a social setting. </i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>In the long winter evenings neighbours were in the habit of meeting at each other’s houses in turn, and while the matrons took their places on the 'lit de fouaille' [bed made of grass or rushes],1 and the elderly men occupied the stools set in the deeper recess of the chimney, the young man and maidens gathered together on the floor, and by the dim light of the crâsset, plied their knitting, sang their songs, and told their stories. The saving of fuel and oil, which was effected by working in company under the same roof, entered for something in their calculations. These assemblies were called 'veilles,' or vielles, and were well adapted to keep up a pleasant neighbourly feeling.<br /><br />The wares produced were
taken into St Peter Port on a Saturday to be sold at market, with a special
market held for them on the day before Christmas, known locally as “surveille”.
The evening before, on the night of December 23rd, goods were packed ready to
be taken to market and, it being the last market of the year, the opportunity
was taken to celebrate the hard work of the last twelve months.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Masters were in the
habit of regaling their servants—merchants treated those with whom they had
dealings—and neighbours clubbed together to supply the means of spending a
joyous night.”<br />
Edgar MacCulloch, <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Guernsey Folk
Lore</span><o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">During this period in
Guernsey’s history the church took a somber view of any celebrative gathering
connected to religious festivals, in an attempt to remove the influence of
ancient pagan festivals on their congregation. With no link to a festival, be
it Christian or pagan, there could be little objection to this celebration and
consequently La Longue Veille became an opportunity for islanders to openly
celebrate the festive season without incurring the displeasure of the local
clergy. La Longue Veille continued to be a traditional gathering of family,
friends and neighbours on the evening of December 23rd long after the importance
of the island’s woolen industry and regular veilles had declined.
Traditionally, spiced and sweetened mulled wine (known as “vin brûlé) is served
in coffee cups, along with cheese and a Guernsey biscuit or galette.<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal">Here is a recipe for mulled wine: <i>Receipt for Guernsey Mulled Wine.</i></p><i>Some cloves and whole cinnamon;<br />An ounce of the last;<br />Of the first just one quarter;<br />Boiled, but not boiled too fast;<br />In a quart of cold water<br />To a dozen of wine;<br />Take a pound of loaf sugar,<br />Don't break it too fine;<br />Let them stand both together<br />While boiling the spice;<br />You can taste it to see<br />That the sweetness is nice.<br />That the cloves and the cinnamon<br />May simmer away,<br />If you're not in a hurry,<br />One third of the day;<br />It may then be poured into<br />The wine, and is fit<br />To be warmed—but not boiled<br />When you wish to drink it.<br /><br />From Louisa Lane Clarke's The Folk Lore of Guernsey and Sark, pp. 7-8.</i>
<p class="MsoNormal">After that, we had planned or impromptu invitations every
day until New Year – possibly one of the most fun Boxing Days we have spent,
playing charades with new friends. We enjoyed skype chats with family and my
two dear ‘sisters’ – Cath and Mary. (Our WhatsApp group is called Three Sisters
– we miss dear Ann, our fourth, so much.) The busiest Christmas season I can
remember... despite not being able to be with family, we have enjoyed the time
with friends both old and new.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3yJSdMSrovDPKmVlg-777gJkkurdXuL2Mscq-GTVcd1bgqnCUiDZeMXZGElf2kIE_fM6Mvi7mQaRserahlY1C0bZKrnv-BdBK5YF5d4oBH09vtai5jPtiNFFL1hUvKmIR0-udI6lldF8/s1883/IMG_20201129_175814840%257E2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1610" data-original-width="1883" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3yJSdMSrovDPKmVlg-777gJkkurdXuL2Mscq-GTVcd1bgqnCUiDZeMXZGElf2kIE_fM6Mvi7mQaRserahlY1C0bZKrnv-BdBK5YF5d4oBH09vtai5jPtiNFFL1hUvKmIR0-udI6lldF8/w640-h548/IMG_20201129_175814840%257E2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">It has been lovely. We look back on this year with
tremendous gratitude. God has been so, so good to us: keeping us and ours in
good health; providing us with family, friends and fellowship (even in a season
of loss - our marvellous neighbours, Nicky and Richard, moved into town just before Christmas); and, lastly, the safe arrival of Rosalie Freda Noel Dow, born on 28<sup>th</sup>
December in New Zealand – a wonderful sister for Cara. Such joy.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnkKPSTwqNUgxU0I04wMqc-aS6oEUnJfN6cRD6iImCY9sLjF2mHrLXtnbn6QbtGaYORb0_o8ayEVL0NR7VumYDgOgav5W4lE1qIEiORxqD7ZoBVZNb88ClsclCCqg5WSXVNhtpzZBtKpc/s2048/IMG_20201224_112951404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnkKPSTwqNUgxU0I04wMqc-aS6oEUnJfN6cRD6iImCY9sLjF2mHrLXtnbn6QbtGaYORb0_o8ayEVL0NR7VumYDgOgav5W4lE1qIEiORxqD7ZoBVZNb88ClsclCCqg5WSXVNhtpzZBtKpc/w640-h480/IMG_20201224_112951404.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Mama Mpirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286444396409505857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4924526448032079811.post-52586764301866616922020-11-30T19:22:00.003+00:002020-12-29T09:44:42.435+00:00Niggling November<p>November began with a bang: fireworks, of course. The obligatory garden bonfire had, in fact, already happened, thanks to a wonderfully calm day in October half term: no wind = no worries about the neighbours. We were actually out for supper on Bonfire Night itself: we returned to find my rucksack and its contents - even down to pencils and pens which were secreted in quite a small pocket - strewn across the hallway. Had we been burgled? No, it was just Pickle having a panic attack because of the (distant) pops of fireworks. Similarly, the sofa cushions were scattered across the living room and all the pillows and cushions on our bed had met a similar fate.</p><p>We were out for supper two days later, on the Saturday. We left music blaring VERY loudly in two different rooms. Result: calm.</p><p>Having had gales and storms lashing our little island with rain, it was a relief, albeit a tad annoying, to have wonderful warm (15 degrees: yes, that's warm for November) sunny days for our first week back at school. Still, the weather lasted in to the first weekend as well: perfect for a chilly sea swim and a walk on the beach. We took the motorhome down, then hunted - very successfully - for sea glass and pretty pebbles. Satisfying. </p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">We enjoyed hosting quite a few meals (as well as my monthly breakfast.) We
weren’t too sure about one particular combination of friends, who didn't really know each other well, but it turned out to be inspired –
there were so many coincidences. It was an international gathering: Guernsey, England, South Africa, Kenya, Korea and New Zealand were all represented. (In fact, I counted up to nine countries where we had all, at one time or another, lived.) One had spent part of his childhood in Korea, not
too far away from the home of another who is Korean herself; they all had Chester (where a family member is
living) in common, knowing it well. Then we started talking about Francis Chan,
who I’d been listening to the day before (having only heard him once before,
maybe six months ago); there were common experiences regarding upbringing
overseas; and we all shared our faith stories and experiences. I love evenings like this.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Early in the month there was no news from our dear neighbours Nicky and Richard next door about their impending move to a house in town, so we were hopeful they might not, as they hadn't sold their own house. However, they had an offer at the end of the month. It will all happen rather quickly, and, for us, sadly, but they will be gone by Christmas. <span face=""Segoe UI Emoji", sans-serif">☹</span>
Anyway, we’ll still be friends!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Otherwise, we’ve spent quite a bit of time watching
Christmas movies (no one dies! Happy ending!) as the weather has turned dark
and gloomy. I only get home before dark on a couple of evenings a week – we’ve
had reports, and now new planning and recording to do for Maths, which will be
time-consuming but at least reports and writing assessments have been done. And
the difficult child in my class has had only two meltdowns in four weeks,
which is amazingly good news. Long may it continue! 3 weeks to the end of term.
The state schools here go on until Dec 22<sup>nd</sup>. Eeek!</p><p class="MsoNormal">So the month ended with a glorious weekend of sunshine. Long bike rides, walks and even a splash with the bodyboard in the excellent waves in between catching up with three different lots of friends. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Small delights. Spotting an albino pheasant hiding in a hedge; seeing pairs of buzzards every morning on our daily cycle ride. There are two which live very close to us and another pair - one of which is very pale - a couple of miles further on, known as the Riding Club pair. Kestrels too, and often harrier hawks swooping back and forth across the fields. Daisies still blooming voraciously in the garden. The New Zealand spinach showing no sign of slowing down for winter. Doesn't it realise how cold it is getting?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNk8PCFbuUOq2Q72flkqvsEmxp0sjE61i6Z0U30rRS_QILKJ6FsWULV2XoElyDjk9j2-_aQlM3q30jQaCP3LM-ckHeJtYk3Uq6qILmCen3lFHUq3Pe6zvPMVUBN8LuraX6qTesgTLD8R8/s2048/IMG_20201122_122445422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNk8PCFbuUOq2Q72flkqvsEmxp0sjE61i6Z0U30rRS_QILKJ6FsWULV2XoElyDjk9j2-_aQlM3q30jQaCP3LM-ckHeJtYk3Uq6qILmCen3lFHUq3Pe6zvPMVUBN8LuraX6qTesgTLD8R8/w480-h640/IMG_20201122_122445422.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwADBeHZWh93voKyJspuj2ImU-T_kLusZ6q9bE8G9b-wYirTb_3bIZvCEvhPvq4Pg8IMrZ8anmN25zdfnwPBtucq_ejb_5cqrxih39h-RRuQRkNTgRXis7H-fzi8SvqLCfog136dzdwx8/s2048/IMG_20201128_110606465%257E2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1677" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwADBeHZWh93voKyJspuj2ImU-T_kLusZ6q9bE8G9b-wYirTb_3bIZvCEvhPvq4Pg8IMrZ8anmN25zdfnwPBtucq_ejb_5cqrxih39h-RRuQRkNTgRXis7H-fzi8SvqLCfog136dzdwx8/w524-h640/IMG_20201128_110606465%257E2.jpg" width="524" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3IPLHktnCQQgyVrdeDnZm1MOjs3LVOqYagmggxzuR-a10F_0kz1S_yZW0QHi-JvuU5TWMqgmkFdvnpT5dY0dX5n-ACIZIhOdg8qV8IjZwOTbZtSU0hK8fF42LiQcN2EnUeqee70i58BE/s2048/IMG_20201014_163110295.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3IPLHktnCQQgyVrdeDnZm1MOjs3LVOqYagmggxzuR-a10F_0kz1S_yZW0QHi-JvuU5TWMqgmkFdvnpT5dY0dX5n-ACIZIhOdg8qV8IjZwOTbZtSU0hK8fF42LiQcN2EnUeqee70i58BE/w480-h640/IMG_20201014_163110295.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The vociferous <i>solanum</i>, shouting over the woodshed roof and oil tank</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZNeSXyembK5SoJXJVsvq-52K5SDnBYzBOSho2IxMXEh4MrH5qhyWtrI-oWU4vO4KaOAIgsS47UJzmbR4Cag_bOt2pwMDp85S1ggZTcPFvFi4cRgueC2YWE5BF-7Wmr60W6ImxtSHhKGs/s2048/IMG_20201105_155531676_HDR%257E2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1526" data-original-width="2048" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZNeSXyembK5SoJXJVsvq-52K5SDnBYzBOSho2IxMXEh4MrH5qhyWtrI-oWU4vO4KaOAIgsS47UJzmbR4Cag_bOt2pwMDp85S1ggZTcPFvFi4cRgueC2YWE5BF-7Wmr60W6ImxtSHhKGs/w640-h476/IMG_20201105_155531676_HDR%257E2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXcIcvavIdSA9KcUG7H2ow7GvR2JP3ccpAmjTSWIZW6ZlL7h6lDfm106tGTHlet04qwJVPgCSt17v_bNOoQF3IhZpkG4dCsHXl5CAyYPz-joMwQRn7uXorXgdJ0bWo6OUiUv_LAwe2DW0/s2048/IMG_20201105_171204631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1228" data-original-width="2048" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXcIcvavIdSA9KcUG7H2ow7GvR2JP3ccpAmjTSWIZW6ZlL7h6lDfm106tGTHlet04qwJVPgCSt17v_bNOoQF3IhZpkG4dCsHXl5CAyYPz-joMwQRn7uXorXgdJ0bWo6OUiUv_LAwe2DW0/w640-h384/IMG_20201105_171204631.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8bpewKjWLmAuX7Bk_aWOOp5trAy8dVoFysAUxyqDPBe14xgzHC1l5-p7lPYMAPVokYvbDanSLoYJRH1ibLZ5N1ch3OVHuEk67dgjHUuUOucbOjNCpJu2-fB2RPF6Nvud4mCoZclK0eg/s2048/IMG_20201108_141140862.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8bpewKjWLmAuX7Bk_aWOOp5trAy8dVoFysAUxyqDPBe14xgzHC1l5-p7lPYMAPVokYvbDanSLoYJRH1ibLZ5N1ch3OVHuEk67dgjHUuUOucbOjNCpJu2-fB2RPF6Nvud4mCoZclK0eg/w640-h480/IMG_20201108_141140862.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful L'Eree</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnlRlaV7oI583WH_jw0AuEJPhqWKlhWBuk5P-93YgqQeCS8g91vbmF6VoPkurcSq5zjPQUU4NlqiXqVKo0kg8ywNr4VFPCJ0Vzdk8wmGApyHfRS-KfkgZJvtg2D7osKa_ZY-S3gh4MDT8/s2048/IMG_20201108_151913331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnlRlaV7oI583WH_jw0AuEJPhqWKlhWBuk5P-93YgqQeCS8g91vbmF6VoPkurcSq5zjPQUU4NlqiXqVKo0kg8ywNr4VFPCJ0Vzdk8wmGApyHfRS-KfkgZJvtg2D7osKa_ZY-S3gh4MDT8/s320/IMG_20201108_151913331.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea glass beach finds</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2r4rZr0WnMuE-ahdyTgdQE1ix7cbZ3J6B80wIAdbvwm1WPY_0HE9ndtxJOz_NKJwaDUupBESGsHFp_Seu8oCEaYOuMEcy2Iq0IHqWsmkRXEFMbf99MU3r_OfgKAW7xfrn1v2X91-Fl5U/s2048/IMG_20201108_152026976%257E2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1817" data-original-width="2048" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2r4rZr0WnMuE-ahdyTgdQE1ix7cbZ3J6B80wIAdbvwm1WPY_0HE9ndtxJOz_NKJwaDUupBESGsHFp_Seu8oCEaYOuMEcy2Iq0IHqWsmkRXEFMbf99MU3r_OfgKAW7xfrn1v2X91-Fl5U/w640-h568/IMG_20201108_152026976%257E2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">??</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLQ9ktQIPS9nXx1xRvTVry7osp8glpOkYUl2w2vyNqTiNFDd6cjBsRw0-8KUXTTQjj8SphT_05urWRusLHviSXCH42U8Xs1XvyQiAJDVvpLyQ-htIf9n4je-bII-k8rT43AcQZu83XLg/s2048/IMG_20201011_085741149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLQ9ktQIPS9nXx1xRvTVry7osp8glpOkYUl2w2vyNqTiNFDd6cjBsRw0-8KUXTTQjj8SphT_05urWRusLHviSXCH42U8Xs1XvyQiAJDVvpLyQ-htIf9n4je-bII-k8rT43AcQZu83XLg/w480-h640/IMG_20201011_085741149.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdpYPQ16yLYYshmnAcc67Qc25Lbtka0npkXYuTEJiDWGsGfhOU7-WRd9v7zmK0lI-kJBKXDZiCPDX1Vq45fzI9R0vswFR6mExvCZLn0B7B7w8o2aV2qzgw53XHDMeBXQdGgR0OSXWEQBs/s2048/IMG_20201011_104923565_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdpYPQ16yLYYshmnAcc67Qc25Lbtka0npkXYuTEJiDWGsGfhOU7-WRd9v7zmK0lI-kJBKXDZiCPDX1Vq45fzI9R0vswFR6mExvCZLn0B7B7w8o2aV2qzgw53XHDMeBXQdGgR0OSXWEQBs/w640-h480/IMG_20201011_104923565_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">The first Sunday in Advent, too, saw me haul the decorations out of the loft and start our 'Advent tree. On the other side of the world, in New Zealand, Cat had made similar saltdough ornaments with Cara, continuing a tradition. Christmas is coming.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Before that, to paraphrase a traditional Swedish children's rhyme (<i>Nu ar det jul igen...), </i>we celebrated Cara's birthday with her, enjoying the new delights. Cake! Party! Presents! So precious.</p><p></p>Mama Mpirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286444396409505857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4924526448032079811.post-14796484369167552992020-11-01T21:48:00.001+00:002020-12-29T10:50:14.522+00:00Opportunities in October...or Awful October<p> Actually,
neither of those titles are accurate, although I pray for a positive mindset to
SEE those opportunities afforded us this month. Hmm... let’s see.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Well, there
were opportunities to meet up with friends, although after the busyness of
September we took a bit of a rest. We started the month, though, with a meal out with some of our closest friends and finished with a fun, fancy dress birthday party with the usual suspects of 'our' crowd. An unexpected, last minute lunch invitation
was a joy; the monthly ladies’ breakfast a delight, as always, especially when
one friend stayed on to chat and catch up over another coffee. And then, of course, were my weekly afternoon tea, chat and prayer sessions with Kareena. #lifeline </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">There were a
few sea swims, including one in the Venus pool on Lihou Island, where I'd gone with my class for an overnight 'team building and leadership' exercise. Also a few body-boarding sessions, especially when huge surf (4 metres)
arrived on the island, albeit with high winds. The sea is still remarkably warm.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p> </o:p>Chats with
Cara were always a highlight. She is an absolute delight, discovering language
and communicating in every way she knows, so often with smiles and giggles.
Videos show her collapsed with laughter on the sofa: “Cara funny. Bubba funny.”
Bubba is her doll companion, whose nappy she is adept at changing, ‘cleaning’
the doll’s bottom with a tissue, alternately wiping her nose after using it.
Hope she doesn’t do that with Baby Sista, once she arrives in December. Another
video shows a thoughtful little girl, saying, “Cara waiting. Dada.” as she
waits for her dad to come home from work.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">A night away
in the motorhome at Beaucette Marina in the north of the island coincided with
the arrival of a storm and strong winds. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIir6gyGh91MiD2za8IJ6HiqDI3w8zZMvgKxbVRxhuGHBg-bmac071laAhxh5Mtlom4wMxT0YoyWi_hbtkXa1MfhEsOILR3xPXNk5Xubbu8u_hewLFdBdYXiDc0__dk6jLUq3loCIWFBQ/s2048/IMG_20201027_145045914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIir6gyGh91MiD2za8IJ6HiqDI3w8zZMvgKxbVRxhuGHBg-bmac071laAhxh5Mtlom4wMxT0YoyWi_hbtkXa1MfhEsOILR3xPXNk5Xubbu8u_hewLFdBdYXiDc0__dk6jLUq3loCIWFBQ/w640-h480/IMG_20201027_145045914.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kLvZC2x1IwPkdKozJPwE0oONUIZdjaBl80GSgJczOQ1EHfMCh37ww37gDaFX5G9Pofw2UcKrO-szdxFCPsDCy5pIC2nIU5R1En6Km_JBKGVLG65_-O0zZ66W1YoYCN5HvFmSBl-OeVs/s2048/IMG_20201027_145244927_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kLvZC2x1IwPkdKozJPwE0oONUIZdjaBl80GSgJczOQ1EHfMCh37ww37gDaFX5G9Pofw2UcKrO-szdxFCPsDCy5pIC2nIU5R1En6Km_JBKGVLG65_-O0zZ66W1YoYCN5HvFmSBl-OeVs/w640-h480/IMG_20201027_145244927_HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">We managed a good walk up to Fort
Doyle and Fort Le Marchant and then went to the restaurant there with friends
for supper. We’d wondered about staying an extra night... but woke up to
lashing rain, so fled for the comforts of home. It seemed like a long way...
all of eight miles. One bit of excitement on the way home: a wasp emerged from somewhere in the van - it must have been there since the summer, when we were next to many of them feasting on fallen apples. In my panic, I flicked it off my finger...onto Richard's jeans, while he was driving. I won't say exactly WHERE it was crawling around, but he had to do a sudden stop so he could concentrate on persuading it to leave, rather than thinking about when - and where - it might sting him. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">And we had a
good tidy up of the loft. Finally, after several suggestions on my part, we will be giving
away the gazebos Richard had been hanging on to ‘in case’ we had another huge
party in the summer.(The last time was 6 years ago.) Perfect timing, just right for Christmas...along with the
electric sauna, which is also leaving us. At least THAT is appropriate for the winter season...</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The month,
though, wasn’t the best. School was, at times, incredibly stressful and it took
me most of half term to begin to regain energy and recapture my resilience. The cumulative effect of
the griefs and losses of the year added to the stress, catching me by surprise,
coupled with the sad news that our wonderful neighbours are moving into town.
They have become dear friends: the positive is that they will STILL be dear
friends. At least they haven't moved to Alderney...yes, that was on the cards at one point, for a mercifully short-lived time.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">So, what were the positives this month? Friends. Fresh air. Faithfulness. Family. Fun.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Not such an awful month, after all, then.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdbpg10rKNGbH8Bgx1y4NaZ0Mta-yKjPmXl6Cnw3HA8nqvTMisailW6q2Zu9VKyiNpLDbToQv9wYt5SWYGgonoEJ5jjNfvBRn_zycCE5ZNYUAtq1VJYoHwwYOTiwj5QLS6RC6ic03t6s/s2048/IMG_20200413_215146549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdbpg10rKNGbH8Bgx1y4NaZ0Mta-yKjPmXl6Cnw3HA8nqvTMisailW6q2Zu9VKyiNpLDbToQv9wYt5SWYGgonoEJ5jjNfvBRn_zycCE5ZNYUAtq1VJYoHwwYOTiwj5QLS6RC6ic03t6s/w640-h480/IMG_20200413_215146549.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Contentment</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3GuNNwp2fRtKaMm7oa-4plbCERqNXxLzyr_c2VBY4Wt7z0cVMsrZXi76f8QxyN3DIylZt_Fc1Ii4o_Cjtyx0RpLvWTVLs21XUFn5MMZtsB37_mEHvSGBb70-neT1FnQOfOgyyFPR86M/s2048/IMG_20201003_204703442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3GuNNwp2fRtKaMm7oa-4plbCERqNXxLzyr_c2VBY4Wt7z0cVMsrZXi76f8QxyN3DIylZt_Fc1Ii4o_Cjtyx0RpLvWTVLs21XUFn5MMZtsB37_mEHvSGBb70-neT1FnQOfOgyyFPR86M/w480-h640/IMG_20201003_204703442.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chilli. I thought it was a sweet pepper...TOOK A BITE!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p>Mama Mpirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286444396409505857noreply@blogger.com0