The boys started school early again today – such a bonus for me – and I let them skip their reading since Aaron was well ahead of his reader schedule (instead of reading just three or four pages from his assigned book, he’ll read it all in one go!), and Caleb is reading fairly advanced books on his own, so I thought it wouldn’t hurt if we skipped it for a day. We had a science experiment to do which involved mirrors and code writing and carbon paper, which the boys absolutely loved, and after just a bit of history and a read-aloud we ended up finishing school at 11 am - yeeha!
Nick discovered a beautiful part of St Helena that we have never seen before. There is a little path leading out of Piccolo at the bottom, which goes along several fields of weeds, potatoes and wildflowers. We were staggered to see so much flat land, and disappointed at its poor use. It belongs to the government and is designated as farmland. They could be growing enough crops to feed half the island’s population – tomatoes, squashes, onions, potatoes – but instead it has been neglected. Alternatively, it could be used for the airport (these are our grand schemes for better ways to utilize the land), but since it’s allocated as farmland that will never happen. Sometimes you just have to shake your head in wonder at the diverse ways that are found to waste tax-payers’ money. But still, we had a lovely walk in the afternoon, through the fields and then into a small wooded area. It was quite amazing and I will have to remember to take the camera there some time.
Our fundraising blog is now up and running - please support us in our efforts to raise money to rebuild the manse, church and schoolroom. I really feel quite heart sore every time we go to the rockfall site. We were at the manse yesterday, and I needed to get a few things from the schoolroom (actually I found what I was looking for in the church). Walking through the rubble which was once our church is so discouraging – it almost seems like a hopeless cause, BUT for the fact that we are in the hands of a powerful and miracle-working God! We’re still retrieving our personal effects from the manse. I don’t think we actually have space here for all the stuff that we’ve accumulated at the manse, so gradually we bring what we need next. Yesterday it was wrapping paper, the boys’ baby teeth which I’ve kept which they now want to see since the tooth fairy’s identity was exposed, two small pillows and a few books for the boys, rolled oats and digestive bran (which I had to toss due to the small creatures living in the tub), samples of Caleb’s early writing, and a glass jug. The other day it was a pair of boots and a jacket. Tomorrow it will be the hosepipe connection and an empty tin which I will transform into a tool tin for Nick. Silly stuff all the time. How much stuff is too much? Perhaps I should go on a simplification scheme and use this as an opportunity to declutter, but perhaps while we’re on the island it wouldn’t be prudent…I mean, I can’t exactly replace a roll of tulle or decoupage serviettes at the drop of a hat!
We threw a small party for Maddison’s birthday yesterday evening – Pam and I didn’t even touch our guitars! Once the cake had been enjoyed and some E-numbers drunk, Maddy went off to entertain the boys while Pam and I looked at each other’s photos of our pre-St Helena lives.
Our fundraising blog is now up and running - please support us in our efforts to raise money to rebuild the manse, church and schoolroom. I really feel quite heart sore every time we go to the rockfall site. We were at the manse yesterday, and I needed to get a few things from the schoolroom (actually I found what I was looking for in the church). Walking through the rubble which was once our church is so discouraging – it almost seems like a hopeless cause, BUT for the fact that we are in the hands of a powerful and miracle-working God! We’re still retrieving our personal effects from the manse. I don’t think we actually have space here for all the stuff that we’ve accumulated at the manse, so gradually we bring what we need next. Yesterday it was wrapping paper, the boys’ baby teeth which I’ve kept which they now want to see since the tooth fairy’s identity was exposed, two small pillows and a few books for the boys, rolled oats and digestive bran (which I had to toss due to the small creatures living in the tub), samples of Caleb’s early writing, and a glass jug. The other day it was a pair of boots and a jacket. Tomorrow it will be the hosepipe connection and an empty tin which I will transform into a tool tin for Nick. Silly stuff all the time. How much stuff is too much? Perhaps I should go on a simplification scheme and use this as an opportunity to declutter, but perhaps while we’re on the island it wouldn’t be prudent…I mean, I can’t exactly replace a roll of tulle or decoupage serviettes at the drop of a hat!
We threw a small party for Maddison’s birthday yesterday evening – Pam and I didn’t even touch our guitars! Once the cake had been enjoyed and some E-numbers drunk, Maddy went off to entertain the boys while Pam and I looked at each other’s photos of our pre-St Helena lives.
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