Variety of life

River work has once again almost finished for the winter season with just the occasional taxi shift. Meanwhile the Volunteer Band is keeping me very busy with concerts and things to organise, rehearse and perform with the ever growing band. Five of my music pupils will be taking instrumental exams next week and I now spend nearly a whole school day each week teaching. The yacht Lucy Morales (!) is keeping us busy with tidying her up, and the Gypsy build is currently at a standstill until I can afford some more epoxy resin. Finally, the church seems to fill the remainder of my time. At least there is no time to get bored!

Sailing, yachts and things

Continuing the busy October theme, we used the last week in the month to help make Pinafore, Han, Dan and Sophia's yacht seaworthy and sail her down to Brighton, their new home. The voyage was a little lumpy, but gratefully swift. We thanks God for His gracious protection. My favorite memory of the sail was Sophia (aged 11 months) laughing at her mother trying to fill a bowl with the contents of her stomach!
Another notable event took place in October when a Lovely gentleman named Roger asked me to take possession of his yacht, as he was unable to sail her anymore. I look forward to tidying her up and taking some of the kids from the youth club out on the water. I may have to think about changing her name though (see picture).

Visit to Durham

What a busy October! Earlier in the month we departed from Canterbury (see below) to travel up country to Shropshire. What a lovely county! This was to deposit Lydia, our budding writer, at a creative writing course. From there the remainder of us completed a 12-hour drive to Durham. Here we had a lovely time with Mum, Hazel, Katy Tony , Joseph and Cloe. How the kids are growing! I was able to deliver a piano accordion, kindly donated by Ed, to my mother.

Nephew Bobby - and parents

Driving around the world loking for Universities for Lydia has afforded us the opportunity to visit family not seen for ages. Our wet camp in Canterbury was relieved by a most pleasant afternoon spent with Lynn's brother Phil and his lovely wife Syanne, together with our newest nephew 'Bobby'. Bobby is a real charmer and it was lovely to see them all.

Comet in the River

Great excitement, on the way to visit Jireh last week I espied a Gypsy catamaran in the river. Well I just had to call on them, meeting two very pleasant people in Graham and Katherine with whom Lynn and I spent an interesting and very pleasant couple of hours. What a small world, Katherine used to work for Jubilee Sailing Trust, overlapping with Hannah by a few weeks.

All systems go!

A new year - well new academic year and all things are starting up again. The band has had its first rehearsal and a number of gigs are in the diary, the first being a RNLI fund-raising river cruise this Friday. I have a great sextet of jazzers who will really make the Christie Belle swing!
Top of the Town Club starts up next week and we are having a change of format for the teens club - still with the emphasis on showing them that Jesus loves them.
Still waiting to hear from the school - now an 'Academy' - about teaching starting up again.
Of course, river work has been very busy but starts to run down as the sailing season finishes - apart from the more hardy mariners.
Lots of Uni viewing to do with Lyds, and we are looking forward for a visit to Durham in Oct to see Mum, Hazel and the family.

Busy week over

We have just got to the end of a busy week with our Holiday Club at church called 'Rocky's Plaice'. The club is set in a 'fish & chip shop' and we looked at the words: HOPE, BE FILLED, HAVE FAITH, LOVE and TELL. The words were linked to accounts of the life of Peter in the book of Acts and we considered the ascension of Jesus when the angels promised he would return; the account of the coming of the Holy Spirit; the healing of the lame man; the life of Dorcus and finally the account of Peter and Cornelius.
Also, it was the week the Guides practiced their rowing for Regatta and also river duties on most evenings.