So today is sunday, amazing that it sometime comes round so quickly sometimes, especially when when you are preaching! I preached twice and it seemed to go well. I wasn't run out of the church anyway. After the service there was a cup of tea downstairs and a cake decorated in white and green icing in honour of their Irish visitors. They went to the trouble of getting a message put on it in Irish. I only got there when the cake had been half eaten but Jonathan tells me that the message was "Best wishes". As part of the coffee time they presented me with a prayer quilt for Mum and said a prayer of dedication over it before giving it to me to take home. Well as you know I am a real tough nut until they mentioned Mum and then I managed to choke out a thank you and how impressed I had been by the quilt ministry before I became overwhelmed and had to shut up!
It seems that the way has been opened for future parish swaps perhaps over a Summer at some stage. Not just me by the way, if any of my classmates etc are reading this - there are apparently a number of clergy that would be interested in a holiday swap. It's all happening in New Brunswick.
Greg and the family have gone and we said goodbye at the church. I commented that they were very trusting to leave us in their house with 4 days to clear the joint but they have even trusted us with the cat. We spent the rest of the day with the Campions. originally from Enniscorthy and Kilkenny. Fully Irish and no explanations required. They are truly delightful and just what I needed. After a glass of wine and lunch, Mrs Campion said that I must be tired from meeting people all week and tucked me in for a nap. She woke me up about an hour later and I discovered that Jonathan had been given free reign of the TV - which he hadn't had the opportunity to watch for the last 10 days - and they had checked out the TV guide and found the Euro 2008 final was on. How happy was he!? Go Torres............ It was lovely for him to have a chance to chill. Following an extremely relaxing afternoon we had dinner with them and Jennifer their daughter dropped us home.
So tomorrow we head off early in the morning when we are collected for the run to Camp Medley, which sounds like an placename from the Simpsons. We don't really know what awaits us there but we will be there for about 24 hours before being collected again and brought back to St John. Its about 2 hours away inland so its quite a trek but in for a penny etc. This means loyal readers that there is unlikely to be a blog tomorrow night - try to contain the disappointment. Off now to pack the bug spray. X
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Flip Flop Heaven and the Leprechaun Snowman
Hello loyal readers, tired of my trip yet? You haven't had the pleasure of the thousands of photos that are still to come! I haven't got the cable with me to connect the camera so no drip feeding them it will be all or nothing!
We had a relatively quiet day today in terms of placement. Jonathan and I were picked up by the lovely Muriel and taken to do as much shopping we could in 3 hours - we hadn't had the opportunity to go up to now as there was always something on. So off to Old Navy to begin kitting Jonathan out for school etc as he doen't have to wear uniform any more. We got a few its and pieces but for some unknown reason he doesn't seem to want to try on the things I choose for him. The flip flops were on special offer at a dollar a pair with a limit of 5 pairs. I am sorted for the forseeable future.
We then mooched into a craft shop and went into the Irish Craft Shop to freak the owner out as only a very small proportion of the goods on sale would ever have been connected to our beautiful land. You could buy a cadbury flake for 2 dollars - about E1.50 We go the most wonderful Christmas tree decoration to mark our visit- some of you may not know that we pick up a tree decoration from every holiday. This authentic irish snowman is awesome! I can honestly say that I have never seen the like at home. Wow, truly special.
So home to finish the sermon for tomorrow and then what a surprise --out for dinner. this time a t-bone steak barbequeued and thank goodness, salad and NO CAKE! Praise be! Most of the people who took us out during the week have threatened to give me feedback on the sermon tomorrow. I look forward to it. After church when the Mc Mullins have left, we are to go to the Campions for the rest of the day, their son Peter is the chaplain of Kings Hos school in Dublin. The home to an empty house and the cats.
Bye
We had a relatively quiet day today in terms of placement. Jonathan and I were picked up by the lovely Muriel and taken to do as much shopping we could in 3 hours - we hadn't had the opportunity to go up to now as there was always something on. So off to Old Navy to begin kitting Jonathan out for school etc as he doen't have to wear uniform any more. We got a few its and pieces but for some unknown reason he doesn't seem to want to try on the things I choose for him. The flip flops were on special offer at a dollar a pair with a limit of 5 pairs. I am sorted for the forseeable future.
We then mooched into a craft shop and went into the Irish Craft Shop to freak the owner out as only a very small proportion of the goods on sale would ever have been connected to our beautiful land. You could buy a cadbury flake for 2 dollars - about E1.50 We go the most wonderful Christmas tree decoration to mark our visit- some of you may not know that we pick up a tree decoration from every holiday. This authentic irish snowman is awesome! I can honestly say that I have never seen the like at home. Wow, truly special.
So home to finish the sermon for tomorrow and then what a surprise --out for dinner. this time a t-bone steak barbequeued and thank goodness, salad and NO CAKE! Praise be! Most of the people who took us out during the week have threatened to give me feedback on the sermon tomorrow. I look forward to it. After church when the Mc Mullins have left, we are to go to the Campions for the rest of the day, their son Peter is the chaplain of Kings Hos school in Dublin. The home to an empty house and the cats.
Bye
Friday, June 27, 2008
Good evening!
This will probably be quite a short blog tonight as it is late and there's not much to say. Up this morning and went with Jonathan down to the local dollar shop to get a load of gear so that we blend in on Canada Day on Tuesday. I have a funny feeling though with the maple leaf neckerchiefs, the hats, the socks and Jonathan's giant flag, that we will look like Irish tourists and just end up being regarded as quite simple by the locals!
With 2 dozen Tim Horton doughnuts under our arm we set our for the parish youth trip to New River beach an hour or so out of town. Well us and the Mc Mullins and one other family and a lone youth we picked up. It was pleasant to walk on the beach and the expected rain didn't materialise and the barbeque was good. Jonathan was in swimming for most of the time. I went beach coming with Patti and her daughters and she found me a silver dollar shell. There is apparently a legend on the internet about it so I must check it out.
It appears that though I knew the rector was heading off to do his naval service on Sunday, his family are joining him - musn't have got that email! Ah, so that explains why we are going to the diocesan youth camp Monday night {no internet, no blog} are being entertained by a parish family on Canada Day and taken sailing all day Wednesday and dropped to the airport by the lay reader on Thursday!!!!!!! We are continuing to stay at the Rectory and minding the cats.
That's it folks. Time for bed, I need to tidy up my sermon tomorrow for Sunday.
This will probably be quite a short blog tonight as it is late and there's not much to say. Up this morning and went with Jonathan down to the local dollar shop to get a load of gear so that we blend in on Canada Day on Tuesday. I have a funny feeling though with the maple leaf neckerchiefs, the hats, the socks and Jonathan's giant flag, that we will look like Irish tourists and just end up being regarded as quite simple by the locals!
With 2 dozen Tim Horton doughnuts under our arm we set our for the parish youth trip to New River beach an hour or so out of town. Well us and the Mc Mullins and one other family and a lone youth we picked up. It was pleasant to walk on the beach and the expected rain didn't materialise and the barbeque was good. Jonathan was in swimming for most of the time. I went beach coming with Patti and her daughters and she found me a silver dollar shell. There is apparently a legend on the internet about it so I must check it out.
It appears that though I knew the rector was heading off to do his naval service on Sunday, his family are joining him - musn't have got that email! Ah, so that explains why we are going to the diocesan youth camp Monday night {no internet, no blog} are being entertained by a parish family on Canada Day and taken sailing all day Wednesday and dropped to the airport by the lay reader on Thursday!!!!!!! We are continuing to stay at the Rectory and minding the cats.
That's it folks. Time for bed, I need to tidy up my sermon tomorrow for Sunday.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Fiddlehead Soup
I know, I know, you are wondering how I keep coming up with such wonderful titles for my blog entries.
Well this morning I waqs round at Joanne's house for a cup of tea. As is the way here it wasn't that simple with the wonderful hospitality. She was to bring me back to the church in time to get organised for the funeral. She showed me round her lovely home and showed me her quilting room. The church where I am on placement has a prayer quilt ministry. There is a group of ladies who get together and make these beautiful quilts as gifts for the sick. The quilts have individual designs and a cross on the back. i have photos but unfortunately I didn't bring the cable I need to load them up so you will have to see when I get home. The ladies leave various ties loose and there is a meditative time when these are tied and the persons tying them each say a prayer for the recipient - who they will know something about. The 3-4 ladies who stitch the quilt together give a guarantee of daily prayer for the individual for a year after the quilt in handed over. It is a real gift from a church community to the sick. The quilts are the size of a single bed and so beautifully made. It is truly special. They were amazed I couldn't think of anyone who quilted in Ireland. Anyone know of an Irish quilting group?
So Joanne thought that an early lunch was the way to go instead of a simple cup of tea and had made a local dish, fiddlehead soup. To the ignorant, like myself, a fiddlehead it the very top of a fern just before it unfurls. these are taken here and cooked in various ways including being deep fried. Soup was made with these, a little onion, sweet potato and a smidgeon of garlic. The end result when purified is like a broccoli soup. It was lovely.
The funeral went without a hitch. There was a tenor soloist who sang so effortlessly and beautifully at the end I thought I wouldn't hold it together. It was sad but a celebration of life. Harold's family honoured his desire to be an organ donor and there were 8 organs harvested. What a legacy.
This evening we were taken out by Julia and Neil and their friends Bruce and Carol. Bruce is currently the head of the Church Army in Canada. It was a lovely evening and Neil was very kind to Jonathan especially and has given him some scouting memorabalia from his own collection. We met their dog, Molly- a beagle, and they took us round the sights as we haven't really done much of the touristy things. So we have seen a little. It is a very provincial city but despite the oil refinery and paper mill in the city centre it is nonetheless very nice.
I am ready for bed. Just to add HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESSICA! We rang her and she is having a lovely time and has just arrived in San Francisco.
That's enough for today. X
Well this morning I waqs round at Joanne's house for a cup of tea. As is the way here it wasn't that simple with the wonderful hospitality. She was to bring me back to the church in time to get organised for the funeral. She showed me round her lovely home and showed me her quilting room. The church where I am on placement has a prayer quilt ministry. There is a group of ladies who get together and make these beautiful quilts as gifts for the sick. The quilts have individual designs and a cross on the back. i have photos but unfortunately I didn't bring the cable I need to load them up so you will have to see when I get home. The ladies leave various ties loose and there is a meditative time when these are tied and the persons tying them each say a prayer for the recipient - who they will know something about. The 3-4 ladies who stitch the quilt together give a guarantee of daily prayer for the individual for a year after the quilt in handed over. It is a real gift from a church community to the sick. The quilts are the size of a single bed and so beautifully made. It is truly special. They were amazed I couldn't think of anyone who quilted in Ireland. Anyone know of an Irish quilting group?
So Joanne thought that an early lunch was the way to go instead of a simple cup of tea and had made a local dish, fiddlehead soup. To the ignorant, like myself, a fiddlehead it the very top of a fern just before it unfurls. these are taken here and cooked in various ways including being deep fried. Soup was made with these, a little onion, sweet potato and a smidgeon of garlic. The end result when purified is like a broccoli soup. It was lovely.
The funeral went without a hitch. There was a tenor soloist who sang so effortlessly and beautifully at the end I thought I wouldn't hold it together. It was sad but a celebration of life. Harold's family honoured his desire to be an organ donor and there were 8 organs harvested. What a legacy.
This evening we were taken out by Julia and Neil and their friends Bruce and Carol. Bruce is currently the head of the Church Army in Canada. It was a lovely evening and Neil was very kind to Jonathan especially and has given him some scouting memorabalia from his own collection. We met their dog, Molly- a beagle, and they took us round the sights as we haven't really done much of the touristy things. So we have seen a little. It is a very provincial city but despite the oil refinery and paper mill in the city centre it is nonetheless very nice.
I am ready for bed. Just to add HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESSICA! We rang her and she is having a lovely time and has just arrived in San Francisco.
That's enough for today. X
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
The Ring, the Cakes and the German
Jonathan had an all night Lord Of the Rings session last night with 2 of the kids in the house. They tanked themselves up on junk food in an effort to be so hyper that the night would pass in a haze of sugar. Well it worked up to a point and there is a dispute about who actually managed the whole night without sleep but they all looked a bit rough this morning. I tootled down to the local coffee shop for a fix this morning. Partly in a effort to work off some of the backlog of food and partly because I have become seriously decaffinated. It was the most glorious day and the temp went up to 27 C. It didn't really feel that hot though.
We headed off for lunch and had a delicious meal with cake to finish and this time though Greg was laughing at me for having to eat so much he got nabbed to stay as well. Vanessa has suggested that we start to ask for slices of things to bring home so she can have some too. Jonathan who was sleep deprived functioned sufficiently to have seconds. Home then for a few minutes and then having dropped Jonathan off we headed for the funeral parlour where we met with Harold's family and said that we would call back later for prayers. It was a little odd to meet with a family for a funeral visitation when the deceased had already been cremated and the urn was on the table beside a photo of him. We went back this evening and I went too at the request Harold's Mum who really is a very gracious lady. The funeral is tomorrow at which I am assisting and it may well be a full church. The fire dept limit for the church is 335.
Dinner this evening was courtesy of Isle, a German born lady who had the Lutheran minister there as well. He said the grace in a kind of sing song voice that I really only existed in odd tv programmes- I was afraid to look at Jonathan. Dinner was extensive and the lady herself was a very germanic woman and I was very glad I ate all my vegetables and ......no thank you I won't have a slice of cream cake........gosh all your own fruit in the inside, how lovely...............and low in sugar..................well I wouldn't like to offend you...............just a sliver then since you obviously went to all that trouble...............thank you, but that looks looks like a whole slice. And then to the end of another day, full and tired. And we've been here less than a week?
til tomorrow then. X
We headed off for lunch and had a delicious meal with cake to finish and this time though Greg was laughing at me for having to eat so much he got nabbed to stay as well. Vanessa has suggested that we start to ask for slices of things to bring home so she can have some too. Jonathan who was sleep deprived functioned sufficiently to have seconds. Home then for a few minutes and then having dropped Jonathan off we headed for the funeral parlour where we met with Harold's family and said that we would call back later for prayers. It was a little odd to meet with a family for a funeral visitation when the deceased had already been cremated and the urn was on the table beside a photo of him. We went back this evening and I went too at the request Harold's Mum who really is a very gracious lady. The funeral is tomorrow at which I am assisting and it may well be a full church. The fire dept limit for the church is 335.
Dinner this evening was courtesy of Isle, a German born lady who had the Lutheran minister there as well. He said the grace in a kind of sing song voice that I really only existed in odd tv programmes- I was afraid to look at Jonathan. Dinner was extensive and the lady herself was a very germanic woman and I was very glad I ate all my vegetables and ......no thank you I won't have a slice of cream cake........gosh all your own fruit in the inside, how lovely...............and low in sugar..................well I wouldn't like to offend you...............just a sliver then since you obviously went to all that trouble...............thank you, but that looks looks like a whole slice. And then to the end of another day, full and tired. And we've been here less than a week?
til tomorrow then. X
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Too Much Pie
Well hello faithful readers!
I missed a day there. I had the morning and afternoon off yesterday and hung round the house with Jonathand and the kids during the torrential rain and went out for a walk as soon as it stopped. There is a small mall near the house and joy of joys there is a Dollarama - everything for a dollar, or if you are really pushing the boat out there is a much more upmarket option where you can spend up to 3 dollars for a single item. As there is a tax of 13 cents to the dollar, it can get pretty expensive but I reckon most of you are worth 3.39 so its looking good for a pressie! There is also a drug store which sells everything from magazines and deoderant to chewing gum so that took me half an hour to negotiate. All in all it was a busy morning.
In the afternoon when Greg came back we established that Jonathan was indeed expected to Barb's house for dinner so off we set. Though not enamoured by an evening with 2 older ladies and his mother, he rallied well and by his second dessert and his 3rd peanut butter square, he was positively chatty! To do him justice , he has been very good. barb ad her friend Patsy turned out to be real characters and we thoroughly enjoyed the visit. barb belonged to the Red Hatters Club a social group for older ladies based on the Jenny Joseph poem Warning. Look it up on line if you don't know it, its brilliant. I knew the poem already but had no idea the group existed. Check it out on Wikipedia.
Today I went with Greg to morning prayer, then to do a funeral prep visit for Harold's family. I will be reading the lessons at the event on Thursday. He then dropped me into the city centre to meet Archdeacon Stuart Allen who I was originally on placement with. He's a really funny guy and the church warden joined us. He was very warm and I had no difficulty realising why he and Walton got on so well together. I had a club sandwich and a slice of the homemade lemon pie - this is relevant- Greg collected me then off parish visiting. They were a lovely elderly couple who were anxious to entertain us properly so we had to sit down to tea and a big slice of pie, precut and ready to eat. So 2 slices within 2 hours. On then to house number 2. What a lovely thing to do, to set up drinks and snacks for us, no really you shouldn't have gone to all that trouble........gosh and melon and cheese on crackers and strawberries and cake and choc chip cookies........all for us????? So here I am 3 hours later and I can't lie down and it really is impossible to refuse everything put in from of you. Oh Dear. I am not getting much exercise and I have at least one meal date courtesy of enthusiastic and very welcoming parishioners every day before I leave and some days I even have 2. I will arrive home twice the size I left.
After a very very small dinner here we went down to the cove for a swim. I didn't get in I would just have sunk.
Til tomorrow then..... X
I missed a day there. I had the morning and afternoon off yesterday and hung round the house with Jonathand and the kids during the torrential rain and went out for a walk as soon as it stopped. There is a small mall near the house and joy of joys there is a Dollarama - everything for a dollar, or if you are really pushing the boat out there is a much more upmarket option where you can spend up to 3 dollars for a single item. As there is a tax of 13 cents to the dollar, it can get pretty expensive but I reckon most of you are worth 3.39 so its looking good for a pressie! There is also a drug store which sells everything from magazines and deoderant to chewing gum so that took me half an hour to negotiate. All in all it was a busy morning.
In the afternoon when Greg came back we established that Jonathan was indeed expected to Barb's house for dinner so off we set. Though not enamoured by an evening with 2 older ladies and his mother, he rallied well and by his second dessert and his 3rd peanut butter square, he was positively chatty! To do him justice , he has been very good. barb ad her friend Patsy turned out to be real characters and we thoroughly enjoyed the visit. barb belonged to the Red Hatters Club a social group for older ladies based on the Jenny Joseph poem Warning. Look it up on line if you don't know it, its brilliant. I knew the poem already but had no idea the group existed. Check it out on Wikipedia.
Today I went with Greg to morning prayer, then to do a funeral prep visit for Harold's family. I will be reading the lessons at the event on Thursday. He then dropped me into the city centre to meet Archdeacon Stuart Allen who I was originally on placement with. He's a really funny guy and the church warden joined us. He was very warm and I had no difficulty realising why he and Walton got on so well together. I had a club sandwich and a slice of the homemade lemon pie - this is relevant- Greg collected me then off parish visiting. They were a lovely elderly couple who were anxious to entertain us properly so we had to sit down to tea and a big slice of pie, precut and ready to eat. So 2 slices within 2 hours. On then to house number 2. What a lovely thing to do, to set up drinks and snacks for us, no really you shouldn't have gone to all that trouble........gosh and melon and cheese on crackers and strawberries and cake and choc chip cookies........all for us????? So here I am 3 hours later and I can't lie down and it really is impossible to refuse everything put in from of you. Oh Dear. I am not getting much exercise and I have at least one meal date courtesy of enthusiastic and very welcoming parishioners every day before I leave and some days I even have 2. I will arrive home twice the size I left.
After a very very small dinner here we went down to the cove for a swim. I didn't get in I would just have sunk.
Til tomorrow then..... X
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Sunday, Sunday
Well today was Greg the placement rector's birthday and we had 10 minutes to guess what he might have liked from the shop. thus sorted we got a safe card last night and signed it up. I was ready to go at 7.45 and Greg and I headed off to the cuurch and met with the terrible 3 from the nursing home and lunch the other day. Priscilla having hugged and teased Greg til he blushed sat down, her work done for the day. The 5 of us had Morning Prayer and then got quickly robed for 9a.m. Communion and as soon as that was over it was straight through for the main service of the day. I administered the chalice at Communion and read the epistle and the prayers at the service of baptism at the 10.30 service which lasted and hour and a half as it was including end of year presentations to Sunday school and those graduating college and senior school from within the parish. The church is probably a little bigger than Kilternan and mainly wooden, it is really very pretty. The congregation are so welcoming and so many people came up to me and said- You are coming to our house for dinner. By the time I get home I will be adding an extra seat beside me to accomodate the excess flab! Jonathan is expected by most of these people so he may have to come along. He is really being superb and charming and patient with all that he is having to do as a result of my placement.
After lunch when we were joined by Greg's Mum and Dad who had travelled from about 60 miles away for his birthday, they stayed for the day. Greg and I headed back to the hospital where we arrived in ICU to find that Harold is officially braindead and arrangements were underway to harvest the organs. His partner came in to see him before signing the necessary consent forms, the doctors having done their job in fulfilling the legal requirements. It was awful but there was no point in staying as we weren't needed so we headed out to his Mums house to briefly touch base with her. The funeral will be later this week.
St John is a town that has massive industry and there is one major oil refinery processing crude right in the centre of the city. There is a fog that rolls in from the bay in the Summer and today it was particularly bad in the city - not out where the rectory is. Pollution is generally not too bad but I could taste the fog today.
We will be here for Canada day and there are plans afoot to bring us into the city for the celebrations. One of the parishioners has bbeen assigned this task. We were talking to her today and she is intending to let us decide what we want to select from the available entertainment. Greg leaves to do navy chaplaincy duty on Sunday so we will not see him from then but he has set up the schedule to cover it.
Following dinner with the family including grandparents inlaws and cousins, here I am blogging before bed. Jess was in contact from California by text and seems to be enjoying herself. Off hospital visiting most of tomorrow and that includes one in Fredericton abbout 1 and a quarter hours away. and dinner out tomorrow night. Love to all X
After lunch when we were joined by Greg's Mum and Dad who had travelled from about 60 miles away for his birthday, they stayed for the day. Greg and I headed back to the hospital where we arrived in ICU to find that Harold is officially braindead and arrangements were underway to harvest the organs. His partner came in to see him before signing the necessary consent forms, the doctors having done their job in fulfilling the legal requirements. It was awful but there was no point in staying as we weren't needed so we headed out to his Mums house to briefly touch base with her. The funeral will be later this week.
St John is a town that has massive industry and there is one major oil refinery processing crude right in the centre of the city. There is a fog that rolls in from the bay in the Summer and today it was particularly bad in the city - not out where the rectory is. Pollution is generally not too bad but I could taste the fog today.
We will be here for Canada day and there are plans afoot to bring us into the city for the celebrations. One of the parishioners has bbeen assigned this task. We were talking to her today and she is intending to let us decide what we want to select from the available entertainment. Greg leaves to do navy chaplaincy duty on Sunday so we will not see him from then but he has set up the schedule to cover it.
Following dinner with the family including grandparents inlaws and cousins, here I am blogging before bed. Jess was in contact from California by text and seems to be enjoying herself. Off hospital visiting most of tomorrow and that includes one in Fredericton abbout 1 and a quarter hours away. and dinner out tomorrow night. Love to all X
Sunday Sunday
Well today was Greg the placement rector's birthday and we had 10 minutes to guess what he might have liked from the shop. thus sorted we got a safe card last night and signed it up. I was ready to go at 7.45 and Greg and I headed off to the cuurch and met with the terrible 3 from the nursing home and lunch the other day. Priscilla having hugged and teased Greg til he blushed sat down, her work done for the day. The 5 of us had Morning Prayer and then got quickly robed for 9a.m. Communion and as soon as that was over it was straight through for the main service of the day. I administered the chalice at Communion and read the epistle and the prayers at the service of baptism at the 10.30 service which lasted and hour and a half as it was including end of year presentations to Sunday school and those graduating college and senior school from within the parish. The church is probably a little bigger than Kilternan and mainly wooden, it is really very pretty. The congregation are so welcoming and so many people came up to me and said- You are coming to our house for dinner. By the time I get home I will be adding an extra seat beside me to accomodate the excess flab! Jonathan is expected by most of these people so he may have to come along. He is really being superb and charming and patient with all that he is having to do as a result of my placement.After lunch when we were joined by Greg's Mum and Dad who had travelled from about 60 miles away for his birthday, they stayed for the day. Greg and I headed back to the hospital where we arrived in ICU to find that Harold is officially braindead and arrangements were underway to harvest the organs. His partner came in to see him before signing the necessary consent forms, the doctors having done their job in fulfilling the legal requirements. It was awful but there was no point in staying as we weren't needed so we headed out to his Mums house to briefly touch base with her. The funeral will be later this week.St John is a town that has massive industry and there is one major oil refinery processing crude right in the centre of the city. There is a fog that rolls in from the bay in the Summer and today it was particularly bad in the city - not out where the rectory is. Pollution is generally not too bad but I could taste the fog today.We will be here for Canada day and there are plans afoot to bring us into the city for the celebrations. One of the parishioners has bbeen assigned this task. We were talking to her today and she is intending to let us decide what we want to select from the available entertainment. Greg leaves to do navy chaplaincy duty on Sunday so we will not see him from then but he has set up the schedule to cover it.Following dinner with the family including grandparents inlaws and cousins, here I am blogging before bed. Jess was in contact from California by text and seems to be enjoying herself. Off hospital visiting most of tomorrow and that includes one in Fredericton abbout 1 and a quarter hours away. and dinner out tomorrow night. Love to all X
Saturday, June 21, 2008
The good, the bad and the ugly
To say that I am being given a serious placement is an understatement. Jonathan and I were taken out for lunch by 3 lovely elderly ladies yesterday, a lay reader from the church Betty, her sisterPriscilla and Alice the organist. They took us into St John for lunch and a little wander round the city centre which was almost traffic free and it would have been lunchtime! We were dropped off and then I went with Greg to a nursing home where betty and Priscillas Mother was celebrating her 106th - not a typo- birthday. Well since I had only ever previously met a lady of 102, this was going to top that. To cut a long story short, despite being poked and prodded by her daughters the birthday girl didn't wake up to perform. At one point Betty even suggested that her mother may be dead! Not sure of the pastoral response to this, there was a brief pause before all present burst out laughing aside from the birthday girl who thankfully continued breathing but heavily asleep.
Today after a trip to the local farmer's market I went out to lunch to a couple of parishioners and the were so welcoming. I will have to diet when I get home I have so many lunch dates booked. Ed was in the airforce and his wife of 54 years Fay was so nice. When Greg came to collect me he received a call about an urgent hospital visit. Since the others were going on to a pool party we left Jonathan behind and headed to the hospital. He is very determined that I shadow him where at all possible. The family graciously consented to me being present while they waited to see their son/partner/brother in the ICU. He collapsed earlier today and has had a massive brain haemorrhage. I was with them as they went in to begin to say their goodbyes. He is in his early 50s and there is no hope of recovery. He is on life support as they hope to harvest his organs but Greg has just come back from the hospital again and apparently as there is still minimal brain activity they can't proceed for the moment. Please pray for Harold and his partner and family as they wait for the inevitable to happen.
The ugly - there are moose here and apparently they have a reputation for wandering onto the road during the day and charging at cars at night. I don't know why I thought they were extinct. I have been told they look like cows on stilts and extremely ugly and stupid. These unfortunate creatures also suffer from a brain worm on occasion and they go completely mad, rampaging round the country. I would really like to see one before we go home but I don't think its likely. Poor moose. I think that the idea of whale watching and the water park have gone by the wayside too and have fallen victim to the schedule. I am glad we will have a few days off in Montreal before we come home.
Today after a trip to the local farmer's market I went out to lunch to a couple of parishioners and the were so welcoming. I will have to diet when I get home I have so many lunch dates booked. Ed was in the airforce and his wife of 54 years Fay was so nice. When Greg came to collect me he received a call about an urgent hospital visit. Since the others were going on to a pool party we left Jonathan behind and headed to the hospital. He is very determined that I shadow him where at all possible. The family graciously consented to me being present while they waited to see their son/partner/brother in the ICU. He collapsed earlier today and has had a massive brain haemorrhage. I was with them as they went in to begin to say their goodbyes. He is in his early 50s and there is no hope of recovery. He is on life support as they hope to harvest his organs but Greg has just come back from the hospital again and apparently as there is still minimal brain activity they can't proceed for the moment. Please pray for Harold and his partner and family as they wait for the inevitable to happen.
The ugly - there are moose here and apparently they have a reputation for wandering onto the road during the day and charging at cars at night. I don't know why I thought they were extinct. I have been told they look like cows on stilts and extremely ugly and stupid. These unfortunate creatures also suffer from a brain worm on occasion and they go completely mad, rampaging round the country. I would really like to see one before we go home but I don't think its likely. Poor moose. I think that the idea of whale watching and the water park have gone by the wayside too and have fallen victim to the schedule. I am glad we will have a few days off in Montreal before we come home.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Hi from St John!
As you can see we are live on line so should be able to continue boring/entertaining you. We arrived to be met at the airport by Greg who took us the 15 minutes to his house to meet his wife Vanessa and their 3 kids Samantha 15 Ben 13 and Maddy 11. The seem like a lovely family and their home is very homely. After dinner they took us on a quick tour round the area and though it is a city; it is full of trees and an awful lot of water. Not having adjusted to the time changes yet we went to bed at a very unsocial 9.30!
Their kids are on their last day of school so they have gone out to that and due to that we are just hanging round the house by ourselves getting acclimatised. Greg has just called in to give me a schedule of my placement and it is packed with visiting; marriage prep; suppers; lunches and a veritable whirlwind of activity. Apparently Jonathan and I are to be taken sailing as well and those of you who know me well will know I normally avoid any contact with boats. I will smile and embrace the experience.......! Other highlights include the youth camp over night and a fun day out at the beach with the youth group.
The weather is about the same as home except more humid and I am told the squirrels are red. Jonathan is quite chilled about the whole thing as you would expect and last night we met their cousin Matthew who is his age and will be hanging round as well so I feel that he is sorted when I am out and about.
Event though Greg says his church is middle of the road iut would appear that is is quite high church by our standards. He has morning prayer every morning at 8.30.
Thats about it for the moment
x
As you can see we are live on line so should be able to continue boring/entertaining you. We arrived to be met at the airport by Greg who took us the 15 minutes to his house to meet his wife Vanessa and their 3 kids Samantha 15 Ben 13 and Maddy 11. The seem like a lovely family and their home is very homely. After dinner they took us on a quick tour round the area and though it is a city; it is full of trees and an awful lot of water. Not having adjusted to the time changes yet we went to bed at a very unsocial 9.30!
Their kids are on their last day of school so they have gone out to that and due to that we are just hanging round the house by ourselves getting acclimatised. Greg has just called in to give me a schedule of my placement and it is packed with visiting; marriage prep; suppers; lunches and a veritable whirlwind of activity. Apparently Jonathan and I are to be taken sailing as well and those of you who know me well will know I normally avoid any contact with boats. I will smile and embrace the experience.......! Other highlights include the youth camp over night and a fun day out at the beach with the youth group.
The weather is about the same as home except more humid and I am told the squirrels are red. Jonathan is quite chilled about the whole thing as you would expect and last night we met their cousin Matthew who is his age and will be hanging round as well so I feel that he is sorted when I am out and about.
Event though Greg says his church is middle of the road iut would appear that is is quite high church by our standards. He has morning prayer every morning at 8.30.
Thats about it for the moment
x
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Hello from the Holiday Inn Airport hotel in Montreal. I have just discovered wi-fi in the hotel room. We have an eventful journey from Dublin. Our flight was delayed and we would have missed our connection at Heathrow. Then they bumped us up to the previous flight and that was delayed. We hit Terminal 1 with 45 mins to get to terminal 4 and when we legged it through the arrivals area a fire alarm went off and they attempted to send everyone out of the terminal and wouldnt let us use the lifts to get to the train to terminal 4.
As a result of our dash we will be representing Ireland in the Olympics in the catch the flight despite the odds 500 metre sprint!
The flight was calm and British Airways are good to go with as we had plenty of grub; and seat back tvs showing a big range of stuff. Even more amazingly the suitcases made it too.
It is now 2.50 a.m at home so it may be time to go to sleep. On to St John tomorrow. Will hope the internet is available there too. Night!
As a result of our dash we will be representing Ireland in the Olympics in the catch the flight despite the odds 500 metre sprint!
The flight was calm and British Airways are good to go with as we had plenty of grub; and seat back tvs showing a big range of stuff. Even more amazingly the suitcases made it too.
It is now 2.50 a.m at home so it may be time to go to sleep. On to St John tomorrow. Will hope the internet is available there too. Night!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Getting Ready
Well Hello Everybody,
I am sitting at the dining room table getting sorted for the big trip. I have two suitcases ready to be closed and sealed so that the nice people at Heathrow can lose everything for me. I will let the cases go at Dublin around 11 a.m tomorrow and start looking for them around midnight in Montreal. I have learned that hope is eternal! Jonathan has finished his exams and so neither of us have to study.
I have been doing a little reading in preparation of the placement and I have discovered that we Irish are a very generous nation, bringing cholera to the Canadians in the 19th century. I hope to pick up something more socially acceptable in duty free as a gift for my placement rector. About the only real information I have about my placement is that I am going to do an overnight at their diocesan youth camp. Jonathan fell around the place at the thought of it until I reminded him he would probably come with me, now its not so funny. I may have to get used to children other than my own sometime I suppose!
I have never been away from home for this length of time before. I am not the most adventurous person so if it works out I may lose the run of myself completely. Jessica has gone to California and a text a few minutes ago suggests that there is a pancake house in down town Los Angeles about to have its "all you can eat" menu severly tested.
I sign off with a request that you keep us and especially my parents in your thoughts and prayers as I step forward into the wild blue yonder. Thank you for all the encouragement. Hopefully I will have reasonable access to the internet when I am away to keep y'all updated on my placement and Jonathan's heartbreak tour.
I am sitting at the dining room table getting sorted for the big trip. I have two suitcases ready to be closed and sealed so that the nice people at Heathrow can lose everything for me. I will let the cases go at Dublin around 11 a.m tomorrow and start looking for them around midnight in Montreal. I have learned that hope is eternal! Jonathan has finished his exams and so neither of us have to study.
I have been doing a little reading in preparation of the placement and I have discovered that we Irish are a very generous nation, bringing cholera to the Canadians in the 19th century. I hope to pick up something more socially acceptable in duty free as a gift for my placement rector. About the only real information I have about my placement is that I am going to do an overnight at their diocesan youth camp. Jonathan fell around the place at the thought of it until I reminded him he would probably come with me, now its not so funny. I may have to get used to children other than my own sometime I suppose!
I have never been away from home for this length of time before. I am not the most adventurous person so if it works out I may lose the run of myself completely. Jessica has gone to California and a text a few minutes ago suggests that there is a pancake house in down town Los Angeles about to have its "all you can eat" menu severly tested.
I sign off with a request that you keep us and especially my parents in your thoughts and prayers as I step forward into the wild blue yonder. Thank you for all the encouragement. Hopefully I will have reasonable access to the internet when I am away to keep y'all updated on my placement and Jonathan's heartbreak tour.
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