Rick, Katie and Reuben arrived today. Reuben now just started to walk unsteadily but happy to sit on his chair.

What has grabbed his attention?

He's discovered TV!

Lilian and I went with Freddie and Linda to hear "The Leading Ladies" an all female singing group at Belvoir Parish Church last night. The event was in support of Cystic Fibrosis Trust. An excellent evening with a repertoire of songs ranging from "songs from the shows" to opera. Well worth hearing.

After the clean up, (see previous post) some of us went out for a sail on Dave Mitchell's superb boat, "White Pearl".

Rick had called down to collect me from church and he came along.
We had a lovely clear and very calm afternoon and between sailing and motoring we slowly made our way across Belfast Lough and down the county Down coast past Bangor and Groomsport, watching the HSS coming in as the light started to drop.

As evening fell, and sustained by coffee and McVitie's Chocolate Digestives we made our way round the Copeland Islands in the dark.

The rain came on before we made it home again.

Really good afternoon and evening out!

Had a clean up and fix up day at the church on Saturday. Good number of people turned up and we got our list of jobs done both inside and out!

Also had a dry run at erecting a tent which we are hoping to use at the Carrickfergus Pageant this year serving tea & Coffee and having literature available. Someone suggested that we might encourage people to come in if we had a sign outside calling it the Baptist Evangelical & Educational Resource Tent or (BEER TENT for short) but I don't think so!

Thanks to everyone who turned up. Afterwards some of us went sailing on David Mitchell's boat. (Post on that to follow)

I'm not walking, I'm just pushing! OK!

Just a couple of pictures of the brief fall of snow we had last week. Rick and Katie took Reuben up to Winnie's. He seemed to enjoy the snow.

Dave and Stacey sent us a couple of pictures of themselves and their growing family from Canada.

The snow had cleared from Carrick and Lilian and I went out for a walk on the Friday morning, (Friday is our day off.) Lovely sharp winter's day and we had a picnic in Woburn Wood.

Sunday was heavy rain and the Top Road flooded. A couple of guys from the church went up to help clear the drains to prevent houses down the hill from being flooded. This is Tommy making sure the water goes where it's supposed to!

Mrs Iza Baird, our oldest church member was 100 years old on Sunday. We took her up some flowers and a card from the church. As well as our card you can see the one she got from the Queen behind her.

Winnie got me a milk foamer for my coffee for "Pandora's Box" (a Christmas tradition in our family) and it works! (As you can see in this picture.)

Let it snow let it snow let it snow!

First snow of the year arrived today. Just a skim in Carrickfergus but heavier in Belfast and County Down. Day off today so Lilian and I went for a walk in Woburn Wood.

Earlier in the week Rick, Katie and Reuben had arrived back from Christmas in New York and so we had Christmas morning all over again on 1st January! Reuben got a cart full of blocks which he pushes along at about 100 miles an hour! He's literally running before he can walk!

Had our Christmas/New Year dinner, roast goose, which was delicious!

Then we Skyped Dave and Stacey and Caleb and Grace in Canada and had a good chat with them, opened a few late Christmas presents over the webcam and exchanged a few pictures. Grace is getting big.

Caleb got a plane for Christmas that really flies! Everybody is all smiles!

Home Group Christmas party in Johnny's house on Wednesday. Plenty of food and some games including horse racing on the Wii. Ended the night with an Hawian Swap!