Dear friends and Followers.
Another week trundles by with high winds and lashing rain, driving our Mrs. P (Lollipop Lady), Fr. P and I crazy. Every Thursday we seem to have a monotonous repetition of foul conditions for car duty at home time, and the three of us end up saturated - as rats out of a drain.
That was last week. The weekend has been a gem of still air, blue skies and sun; warm sun! Fr. P and I voyaged into the back garden and patio to salvage our troughs of Heathers which had been virtually obliterated by Storm Brendan. Then we pulled out the planters of sprouting bulbs from the grotto to make the place look “Spring-like.” It is so heartening to see the Winter bulbs peep out, and the Snowdrops are ready to burst into downy white bloom.
Next weekend is RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch. Have you got your record sheet, binoculars, biscuit tin and mug of tea ready for the observations? Fr. P's garden this weekend has been electrically active with all sorts of friends; Woody Wood Pigeon, the extended argumentative Blackbird family, the ever acrobatic-Houdini style Robin after the fat-balls, the gregarious Tit Family and my favourites; the Sparrows. Dusky, chattery, noisy, colonial, not popular, much loved at St. Joseph's. Fr. P and I watch them from the Sacristy window having baths and showers in the guttters and living to the full all their lively, innocent, cheeky-chirpy antics.
I was up to my elbows in gooey papier-mache on Friday with Class 1, making globes for future painting of oceans, land masses etc., etc. Mrs. F and I were robed in all sorts for cleanliness. The children did have bibs on but were like plastered ghosts by the time they had finished.
“I'm done Jane.”
“So am I!!”
Forest School Lessons are a riot; the characters of children come out; exasperation of Staff over welllingtons, boiler suits, coats and scarves and mitts and the expedition out to our little woods. Mrs. P has nerves of steel and calm personified. Mrs. F and I were too busy cleaning up and calming a very exuberant, activated Class. O my; too much energy.
The School has joined in the New Year Resolution earnestly, giving contributions to our appeals in church. Thanks a million. We have many more projects ahead, of which I will duly inform you. The big delight of my week was a surprise visit of my two great-nieces, care of Mummy Sian and Grandma Tracy. It was a joy and such a booster for low spirits. They are only 6 weeks but such little ladies; fabulous. Fr. P was tickled pink to see them, as I was, and did the little girls like his spectacles. Beautiful.
God bless you all for the coming week.
I have a very poorly friend. Please pray for him.
Have a sunshine week.
See you in two weeks.
Love and prayers.
Jane
Most weekends we have our young people helping with the Collection, collecting Missalettes at the end of Mass and taking part in the Offertory Procession. We try to alter our front of church Tableau each week to fit in with the Gospel of the Day, and a short explanation is given to the Congregation.
People show great interest in what the Catechist does each week!. Our parish is a small country one, and through the Sunday Mass our little ones get to know each other before entering our school.
