Man in Black

During the summer, with temperatures 100F+, I have decided not to wear my cassock (black robe) at church and only wear my surplice (short white linen vestment normally worn over a cassock).
But without the cassock I have had to invest in an all-black outfit to wear under my surplice. Walking to church now feels much hotter in my black clothes, so I have started to use an umbrella to provide some shade. I get some strange looks, so I wear my sunglasses as a disguise. P

Oh for water games

The 'Summer Camps / Holiday Clubs' have ended, but the temperatures have remained high. Our current heatwave started a few weeks ago and yesterday climbed to 114F (44C). The favoutite activity was water games. It was quite amusing to see relay races and team games where the prize for winning was having water ballons broken over your head; and pass the parcel (pass the water balloon) where the prize for holding the water balloon when the music stopped was bursting it over yourself.

One advantage of not having air-conditioning and a car is that you become more accustomed to the heat. Last night we were driven back to our home in a nice air-conditioned car and when I got out my glasses misted over because of the heat and night-time humidity - something that normally happens when you enter a steamy kitchen or bathroom. P

Supermarket Dash

We are now into the season of children's holiday clubs, with a choice of various workshops. A couple of days ago I was asked to run a 'Little Scientists' workshop for next week's camp, so with the weekend drawing closer and closer I had to go on a supermarket dash. When I got to the till I wondered what was going through the cashier's mind. After a packet of balloons, napkins, wrapping paper, straws and plastic cups she probably thought that I was organising a birthday party - but then confusion was written over her face as she scanned vinegar, cooking oil, food colouring, rope, glycerin, pipettes and Alka-Seltzer (to make a home made lava-lamp, together with the cooking oil and food colouring). P

Razor Teeth

One night last week as Jane made a nocturnal visit to the fridge (just for a cold drink!) a slight rustling was heard in pile of recycling materials; it was all neatly folded and she assumed that it was a crunchy poly bag; she returned to her night time rest.
Five minutes later she hears a yell in the darkness of the night. Peter shrieked in fear and trembling. Awakened from his deep slumber he felt sharp claws and something large and fluffy on his arm. His shrieks frightened the poor beast and as he rushed to the assitance of the electic light; the illuminated room, revealed a rather large rat. Ratty is rather terrified and runs up a plastic window roller blind. Quick thinking Peter slams down the blind forming a sealed unit of glass and plastic blind.
The rat stressed from his misdemenour falls asleep and the worried humans have an animated discussion about how to deal with their new 'friend'. The next day as they asrise from a disturbed night the decision has already been made; King rat has climbed over the security mesh and then chewed his way right though the wire insect screen escaping to certain freedom. J

IKEA

The IKEA angels recently bought us a Poang chair. For those who haven't been tempted into an IKEA corner-shop the Poang chair a simple but very comfortable chair, especially when combined with a Poang footstool (we had two in the UK). We are grateful for all the furniture that we have in our appartment, but we have been waiting for a comfy chair for a while. The chair and footstool boxes also resolved our shoe storage problem. P
PS The absence of blogs in June were partly caused by Mr Lloyd Mastercard not sending our monthly direct debit to Mr Israel Orange, and thus causing our internet to be disconnected for a couple of weeks.

Condolences

One of the problems of being away from home is not being able to share in grieving for those who have died. Over the last few weeks Peter has lost an uncle and Jane a person who had a great influence in her life.
Uncle Derrick was Peter's father's youngest brother and like most of his father's family he lived in Devon all his life - why would anyone choose to live anywhere else?
Joan had a zest and enthusiasm for life which was infectious. She always had time for everyone and was a real people's person.
Bereavement is quite different over here. The funeral is the day after the death (Uncle Derrick's funeral was 2 weeks after he died). This is followed by 3 days of condolences when a hall is hired as a place where people can visit the family of the deceased to express their sadness.

Mint

It has taken a year to start adding a few luxuries to our lives. We now have mint growing on our kitchen window sill - apart from Arabic coffee, black tea with mint is the favourite hot drink. The weather is set fine (no rain is expected until October) so we now have our own bar-b-que, which will get regular use, and we are planning to buy a micro-wave, which will transform our cooking.

Jane's parents are half way through their holiday with us and are currently enjoying 100+F temperatures at Masada, so look out for some shrivelled 'Burgoynes' when they return to the UK in a couple of weeks. P