The Anglican church is still celebrating their 150 years on the island and had yet another parade to mark the occasion, this time re-enacting the arrival of the first Anglican Bishop all those years ago. The plan was for the current Bishop, accompanied by the Cubs, to come around from Ruperts to Jamestown by boat. The sea was uncooperative though with an incredibly rough and high tide, so the boat ride plan got canned and the parade simply started at the landing steps and headed up lower Jamestown to the roundabout, then back down to the Grand Parade area where it was concluded with a short service, which the boys were required to attend. 
Nick, Pam and I left the boys there and went to Pam’s place for lunch. Geoff had taken Maddy around to Ruperts for a Guide’s swimming thing, so he was home alone when we arrived. At 1.30 Nick went to fetch the boys; they had their lunch, I took them to the manse to get dressed in swimming costumes and regular clothes, then drove them back down to the swimming pool where Hannah was having her 8th birthday party. Cindy had produced a beautiful cake with marzipan-sculpted mermaids and other sea creatures which took many days of hard work. 
Pam and I experimented with some black and white photography in town and then walked back down to the pool a little later to fetch the boys (Nick had left during the afternoon to do music with Tammy as usual). Pam and Geoff treated us to pizza again for supper – we were happy to not be at home in the early evening so as to avoid the trick-or-treaters!
Nick, Pam and I left the boys there and went to Pam’s place for lunch. Geoff had taken Maddy around to Ruperts for a Guide’s swimming thing, so he was home alone when we arrived. At 1.30 Nick went to fetch the boys; they had their lunch, I took them to the manse to get dressed in swimming costumes and regular clothes, then drove them back down to the swimming pool where Hannah was having her 8th birthday party. Cindy had produced a beautiful cake with marzipan-sculpted mermaids and other sea creatures which took many days of hard work. Pam and I experimented with some black and white photography in town and then walked back down to the pool a little later to fetch the boys (Nick had left during the afternoon to do music with Tammy as usual). Pam and Geoff treated us to pizza again for supper – we were happy to not be at home in the early evening so as to avoid the trick-or-treaters!
Then onto an early school day for the boys so that Nick didn’t get saddled with too much schoolwork on his birthday, as I was off selling jewellery. I had a dismal morning of sales so at 11.30 I packed it up and came home – also preferring to spend as much of the day as possible with Nick! We had hamburgers for lunch, and at the same time started watching a DVD I had hired which was suitable for family viewing. That was finished mid-afternoon, and we went back to town together. We left the boys swimming while we did a bit of window shopping, and then at 4.30 there was the official opening of a photographic exhibit at the museum. There had been an island-wide call for photographs depicting ‘people, place and politics’, and a number of photographers had submitted work. It was so exciting to see our photos printed on A4, mounted, and displayed! 
The actual opening was attended by invited guests including the photographers and the National Heritage Society etc. Nick chatted briefly with the Bishop (above) who was also celebrating his birthday. To end off the day (and also because it was too late to go home and cook), we had toasted sandwiches at the Consulate.
Nick had his regular guitar lesson in the afternoon – this is Sophie who obligingly sat for a photo before playing riffs and chords. Most Saints have dark brown eyes – hers are a real treat! (The boys acted as my photographic assistants to hold a silver reflector in the right place).
Other than that, the day was uneventful. Both boys came with me to town for Part II of the grocery shopping, mostly because they wanted to spend some money. Aaron bought a torch and Caleb a radio. School this morning was full of its usual ups and downs. 
In the afternoon we had our monthly visit to the CCC. The old folk really look forward to our visit and this is something practical we can do for them. 
On our way home from the CCC we saw that an ice-cream stand was operating at the Longwood Green, so we stopped off for ice-creams with flakes (not quite the variety that you might find at Bonkey’s!). Super yummy, but what a mess – even I couldn’t keep the melted bits from dripping onto the grass. 
I wandered along the rocks a short way and came upon a tern, nestled on the rocks. It looked like a juvenile fairy tern but the red feet said otherwise – perhaps a sooty tern? It seemed to be fully grown but was very weak and could not balance or stand and we felt it best to leave it be rather than bringing it home and watching it die slowly. I felt sad but there was really very little we could do for it. 
We packed up at twelve, then went to the manse quickly to gather in yesterday’s washing and hang up another load which had been going while we were in the market. Then it was home to Piccolo to fetch Nick who had been at home doing sermon prep, gather supplies, and head back to town, for lunch at Pam and Geoff. After lunch and coffee, and a quick look at Pam’s new lenses which she got this morning, we went to Ruperts’ together. Nick, Maddy and Geoff swam; the boys paddled in the water which has been made into more of a swimming beach by the removal of several large rocks, revealing more of the black sand and a safer swimming area; and Pam and I meandered with our cameras. Plenty of sunblock was applied and hats were the order of the day. Seems like Ruperts was the place to be today – the weather was great after days of grey skies, and the Queen Mary’s and Victoria’s stores were having a going-away party for a staff member so many of their staff and families were enjoying the beach. 
The Sandy Bay chapel was nicely packed out in anticipation of the special meeting. Nick led the first part of the service, then we tuned our ears to the CD player as Graeme Beckett preached for us. After the service Steve conducted the official members’ meeting, giving a very nice biographical sketch of Graeme, with Maureen including a few details about his wife Hazel as well. The vote to call Graeme as the next pastor of the St Helena Baptist Church was conducted by show of hands, and it was unanimous (of course!). The show of hands in the photo is deceptive, as only members could vote. We are very excited about the upcoming events as we wait for Graeme and Hazel to arrive on 30 November. 
After church we called in at Steve and Maureen so we could be with them when they phoned G&H with the news. I couldn’t believe that they wanted us to have a cup of tea first!! Having just been through the process of waiting for the call I was imagining the new pastoral couple sitting by their phone, anxiously waiting to hear the news. By the time we phoned they were in their evening church service, so Steve left a message and then e-mailed them after we had left. Had a great visit with S&M though, good to catch up and chat. We will miss them – Maureen has been one of my ‘island moms’.