Happy Easter
3 days in a row. Because it is Easter and communication is sometimes difficult, once again our guaranteed 7 am breakfast did not happen. When Margie took a plate of boiled sweet potatoes up to level 3 (were all the boys rooms are) there was no words needed. To Chris Downey’s delight and Tom Hill’s opposite of delight we had jollibee and chow king delivered to the hotel.
We were surprised to see that our lovely pool that we have been enjoying so much had turned brown over night. The pump has broken, David told us it happened last week too and they emptied it and refilled it. So hopefully as soon as Easter is over someone will get onto that for us.
We are not working today, as it is Easter Sunday. So after breakfast we went into the street markets to try get some fruit to have as a back up if our breakfast situation continues. After which we went to the Cathedral, which is about 20 minutes, walk away to attend what we were told (by the Sisters) would be an English mass at 10.30. It was packed and it was not in English.
After which we split up into 3 groups Margie, David and myself took 4 boys each and went our own ways in this market type area. My group (Mat Moore, Mat Lee, Jesse Ansell, Bayden Nicols) were looking for shoes. After a successful 30 minutes or so the shoes were bought and we still had time up our sleeve before we needed to get back to the hotel for lunch. So let me set this up for you.
The markets consist of a number of criss crossing streets that have street vendors and shops lining them. In the middle of these streets are the real locals markets with much less touristy stuff and more things for the locals. So after the boys had had there fill i asked if they wanted to try something different, to which they said yes. I took them on a sensory over load, of sight, sound, touch and smell were pushed to the limits. My aim was to go deep into this local area (about the size of paddy’s markets in Sydney, with much narrower walkways) and get as lost as possible, knowing full well that we would eventually pop out a side and then we could get trike bikes (motor bike with side car) back to the hotel.
It was fantastic, we came across; the butcher area, the fish market, the fabric merchants, the straw weavers, the fruit and veg growers and many,many more. We did lose our bearings and we did pop out a side, but instead of going home we went back in for more.
This afternoon we will go to a huge supermarket to stock up on supplies and then a restful afternoon before we go back ‘on the tools tomorrow’.
3 days in a row. Because it is Easter and communication is sometimes difficult, once again our guaranteed 7 am breakfast did not happen. When Margie took a plate of boiled sweet potatoes up to level 3 (were all the boys rooms are) there was no words needed. To Chris Downey’s delight and Tom Hill’s opposite of delight we had jollibee and chow king delivered to the hotel.
We were surprised to see that our lovely pool that we have been enjoying so much had turned brown over night. The pump has broken, David told us it happened last week too and they emptied it and refilled it. So hopefully as soon as Easter is over someone will get onto that for us.
We are not working today, as it is Easter Sunday. So after breakfast we went into the street markets to try get some fruit to have as a back up if our breakfast situation continues. After which we went to the Cathedral, which is about 20 minutes, walk away to attend what we were told (by the Sisters) would be an English mass at 10.30. It was packed and it was not in English.
After which we split up into 3 groups Margie, David and myself took 4 boys each and went our own ways in this market type area. My group (Mat Moore, Mat Lee, Jesse Ansell, Bayden Nicols) were looking for shoes. After a successful 30 minutes or so the shoes were bought and we still had time up our sleeve before we needed to get back to the hotel for lunch. So let me set this up for you.
The markets consist of a number of criss crossing streets that have street vendors and shops lining them. In the middle of these streets are the real locals markets with much less touristy stuff and more things for the locals. So after the boys had had there fill i asked if they wanted to try something different, to which they said yes. I took them on a sensory over load, of sight, sound, touch and smell were pushed to the limits. My aim was to go deep into this local area (about the size of paddy’s markets in Sydney, with much narrower walkways) and get as lost as possible, knowing full well that we would eventually pop out a side and then we could get trike bikes (motor bike with side car) back to the hotel.
It was fantastic, we came across; the butcher area, the fish market, the fabric merchants, the straw weavers, the fruit and veg growers and many,many more. We did lose our bearings and we did pop out a side, but instead of going home we went back in for more.
This afternoon we will go to a huge supermarket to stock up on supplies and then a restful afternoon before we go back ‘on the tools tomorrow’.
Craig Jeffery
Meanwhile Peter, Julie and I (Philippa) went to the Mother House for the Easter Sunday Mass, where this is the very special Mass to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and the 124th Anniversary of the Foundation of the Sisters of Consolation. What an experience for us!!! A once in a lifetime with over 150 Sisters and Mothers all dressed in white and black. Sister Joan and Sister Gavina welcomed us and were overwhelmed that they had some staff from St Augustine’s to help them celebrate. After the mass we enjoyed a Filipino lunch prepared by the Sisters. Sister Pinky and Sister Niceta took us shopping at Greenhills where our bags were checked by armed guards on entering ,– a massive shopping complex, for three hours we only covered half the ground floor. The Sisters are very big on shopping and love to haggle with the shopkeepers for a better price.. Although they won’t buy they love to help us. Travelling on the bus through the streets of San Juan the beggar children come to the windows of the bus begging for us to buy their wears. Julie passed out some pesos and next thing the whole family was at the window trying to get money. A sobering moment particularly when we are not used to beggars at street intersections. We called in to the Orphanage, dropping Sister Rose back who has been on retreat at the Mother House for a week. The children were so excited to see her (they call her Lola). The children were upset that the pet chicken had died ( it had been in a basket on the kitchen bench when we had eaten) don’t fret no –one touched it. Dinner will be soon, hopefully it will be there because a lot of times we have turned up for meals there has been nothing – but in true spirit we have rallied around and found a way to provide for all. All is good, every one is well & happy and really getting into the Filipino way of life. Slow and steady, no hurry for life in general!!!
Meanwhile Peter, Julie and I (Philippa) went to the Mother House for the Easter Sunday Mass, where this is the very special Mass to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and the 124th Anniversary of the Foundation of the Sisters of Consolation. What an experience for us!!! A once in a lifetime with over 150 Sisters and Mothers all dressed in white and black. Sister Joan and Sister Gavina welcomed us and were overwhelmed that they had some staff from St Augustine’s to help them celebrate. After the mass we enjoyed a Filipino lunch prepared by the Sisters. Sister Pinky and Sister Niceta took us shopping at Greenhills where our bags were checked by armed guards on entering ,– a massive shopping complex, for three hours we only covered half the ground floor. The Sisters are very big on shopping and love to haggle with the shopkeepers for a better price.. Although they won’t buy they love to help us. Travelling on the bus through the streets of San Juan the beggar children come to the windows of the bus begging for us to buy their wears. Julie passed out some pesos and next thing the whole family was at the window trying to get money. A sobering moment particularly when we are not used to beggars at street intersections. We called in to the Orphanage, dropping Sister Rose back who has been on retreat at the Mother House for a week. The children were so excited to see her (they call her Lola). The children were upset that the pet chicken had died ( it had been in a basket on the kitchen bench when we had eaten) don’t fret no –one touched it. Dinner will be soon, hopefully it will be there because a lot of times we have turned up for meals there has been nothing – but in true spirit we have rallied around and found a way to provide for all. All is good, every one is well & happy and really getting into the Filipino way of life. Slow and steady, no hurry for life in general!!!
Philippa Sherwood
3 comments:
hi daddy i love you, hugo and cleo. J1 is always keen to get onto the computer and see if you have posted anything for us to read and look at. I have to make the photos as big as I can for him, he is always looking for one of daddy. Great to here that you had a lovely easter, even though there were things that still didnt work to plan. Hope the coming days will be better. The kids typed the first line that is what they wanted to say.
Hi everyone,
It's really great to hear about your adventures - Craig, your reports are fabulous.
Pete: the slab looks bigger that I'd imagined...
Boys: glad to hear you are all well and enjoying the experience. Can't wait to har what happens next.
Happy Easter to you all.
Thank you so much for these detailed reports and it is brilliant to see photos of the lad! I am glad things aren't going according to plan it will test the boys but I am sure they are all rising to the occassion. Poor Tom, he HATES sweet potato, I will be interested to know if he ate it anyway!!
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