Christmas Day 2016

Las Posadas:What a party last night!

2015

2016

Things got a little raucous last night. Mary Joseph and the donkey met up with old friends and an evening of merriment and laughter ensued. ( Donkey's singing has not improved !) It was some night!!

Las Posadas: It wasn't just Mary who needed a rest last night!

Las Posadas: Donkey caught catnapping!

 

 Thursday 22nd December
We were very grateful to our travel consultant who very kindly dropped us off to our new host yesterday afternoon. We arrived to find our accommodation all ready for us, our very own house! Joseph and I were pleased to discover that there was even a crib in the bedroom!

Our host was busy checking her work emails and donkey was frightened by the four adopted cats that live here and started braying very loudly! so we decided to explore the garden, where we met more adopted animals, including guinea pigs called Rocko, Caramel and Butterscotch and two rabbits who had arrived just days earlier called Jack and Frost, they seemed very friendly and came over to chat to us.

Our host had to go to work but invited us to come along, so we set off on a very long car journey, we stopped briefly to look at the view from a very big hill and I was very relieved we didn't have to walk as I am getting very tired now.

After a long drive our host disappeared into a house and reappeared a while later, while we waited in the car, this happened several times throughout the evening, stopping at different houses, and we didn't get home until very late!!!
We had to get up very early this morning to attend morning prayer and there was a brief panic when donkey disappeared!! Where had he gone??
Luckily our host eventually found him, asleep with one of the cats!

After a short drive we arrived at a large church where we met yet another dog collar - there certainly seem to be a lot of them! He was very friendly and was very interested in our journey, after morning prayer we stopped to admire the huge Christmas tree which had a very large star on top of it, was this a sign that would lead us to Bethlehem?

 

Las Posadas: It's a GIRL!

21st Dec

KIDNAPPED?

 

A frantic message from the travel co-ordinator! "Have they been kidnapped?"

 

No! Following the Xmas sleepover and with 'no room at any inns' a visit to the House family!

I'm afraid here their adventures are not very exciting as we had to visit Dorchester Hospital for an arrival of our own! Our first Grandchild! While visiting they stayed here at home as we as we thought the midwife may limit visitors numbers! But they made use of their time looking after the dog & kitten! We are thankful of their help at this busy time!

On return they have been looked after by our son Nathan kept him company while on the sofa! 

We wish them a safe journey and hope that Mary's delivery of her own child is a wonderful one! 

 

Las Posadas: A Cub Christmas sleepover in the church!

   

20th Dec

After a brief period of being lost our trio found their way to St Mary's Winterborne Stickland where they found the cubs having a Christmas sleepover!

The first thing they did was to discuss Advent and light four of the candles.

Following this they tried bell ringing. This was a wonderful experience for all and we are all very grateful to the bell ringers who were brilliant!

They greatly enjoyed an Xmas singsong, singing carols and a cubs twist on the 'twelve days of (cub camp!) They loved the following Hot Chocolate and Cake especially Donkey who had seconds! These were special cakes celebrating 100yrs of Cubs and 30yrs of Beavers of who recently started in Winterborne Whitechurch and two of the leaders came along to help and enjoy the experience.

 

 

 

 

 

 They were also very lucky to enjoy as we were a visit from the Rev Alan Ryan and who popped in. Alan took time to took time to talk to us all flying through a 800yr history of the church and getting us all thinking. It all helped us to realise what a special place we were in. A prayer for us closed their visit. 

Mary, Joseph & Donkey enjoyed sitting down to an Xmas story written by one of the leaders before bed.

Some sleep or should that read 'Little' sleep was had and the next morning they were awoken to the smell of bacon & sausages! 

They then renewed their cubs promise as part of the 100yr celebrations.

12 o'clock came around all too soon and I'm sure that they were as sad as us leaders to see the cubs go home to their families to enjoy Christmas!

But what happened to them following the sleepover?

Las Posadas: Lurking behind a tree.

Our travellers attended the Houghton carol service and (despite having to peer through the branches of a large tree) they enjoyed the children's shadow puppet show - They were a little confused because the story seemed to be about them. Donkey felt that he should have had a lead part!
Where did they spend the night? Who hosted them? Where did they go next?