- The Finnie family in Blighty, December 2021
- Dean and Paula pastor The Gathering together
- The Gathering
- Baptisms at The Gathering
- Preparing to serve at The Gathering's Soup Kitchen
- Soup Kitchen Welcome To 2022 lunch
- Serving hands - the heart of The Gatheirng
- Thankful Thursdays
- HOPE Home Based Care Team
- Gathering Ground
- Staying fit as a family
- The Helderberg - The prettiest of the mountains we face
Yule Tide Fun
It's Very Very Cold!
The weather is some 30degrees celsius less here than it was at home so we're really feeling the cold! The boys are really excited to be here and are getting on great with their cousins which is a real blessing. Lisa did a small Birthday Tea for Eli in the afternoon of our arrival which was really sweet.
If we don't post again before Christmas we hope you have a great time and remember the reason for the season: Jesus!
Christmas Hampers
Early 2nd Birthday
Eli had a lot of fun and was very proud of being the Birthday Boy. We were quite amazed at how much he understood of what was going on. At lunchtime we went to Vergelegen for a family picnic in the camphor forest. We had a lovely lunch and a lot of fun doing the treasure hunt.
Trading Summer For Winter
This photo came from Sheffield Hallam Uni' alumni and depicts a winter's scene in Ewden Valley just North of Sheffield. It looks very cold!
Holiday In Boggam's Baai
We're Back
We'll post something meaningful later but thought you might enjoy this sign which we saw at the Outeniqua Transport /Railway Museum George.
Christmas Tree
This evening we put our Christmas tree up, mainly in anticipation of our forthcoming Mulled Wine & Mince Pie 'do' on the 18th (anyone who's been to one in the past knows this is not to be missed).
The People Your Parents Warned You About
Suits You Sir!
Maurice Fox was quoted as saying: "I am a loud farter, but there is no smell"Inevitably, there was no-one from the club available for comment.
Check out the full story: Flatulence ban for club pensioner
This article really made my day.
PS. Whilst there have a look at The poetry of bodily functions
Dozeyhead & The Weekend
Oh dear, someone didn't wake up too well and got himself into a bit of a pickle with his sleeping bag. Actually, Eli never wakes up very well as he'd rather be left to sleep, which is why the bunk beds were a bit of a disaster. Joel is the total opposite and always wakes quite early. We're not sure where he got that gene from!
Please pray for healing for Eli, he's got a terrible ear infection, the ear is oozing blood and gunk and he won't let anyone near it. Paula took him to the GP who prescribed anti-biotics so hopefully he'll be fine again soon.
Tiny Bubbles Créche Graduation
Tiny Bubbles Christmas Party
Place Of Safety
Today was a big day for Michael & Joyce as they were back in court with the ACVV social worker as the Place of Safety Order expired today. The ACVV were keen to formalise Michael & Joyce’s application to become registered foster carers and this happened this morning.
Hayden’s mother and ouma were at the hearing and gave the social worker a hard time, but ultimately there was no way the child would be returned to their care until radical changes were made by them. Michael & Joyce were brilliant and behaved very graciously towards the birth family and were very professional.
Thanksgiving & Dedication
Emyezweni Christmas Party
On Friday I had the privilege of entertaining the children at Emyezweni Pre-School in Lwandle. This seems to have become a bit of a tradition but it's a lot of fun and the children really appreciate it. This year I had my fire clubs fixed so I was able to juggle with fire too. As you could imagine it was a real hit and the children requested that I juggle fire again at the end.
Christ, A Radical Too Far?
DISGRACEFUL!
Blooming Weather!
However, we are once again in the process of organising Christmas Hampers for the needier folk amongst us. Last year we distributed 35 hampers but this year we're planning to distribute 62. We're away for most of December so won't actually do the hard physical work this year but we will oversee the planning of the operation. Last year the hampers cost R150 each, this year they will be R248 for exactly the same items. Apparently food inflation only runs at 10% so either our maths is dodgy or 'official figures' aren't quite as precise as they could be.
Gone Fishing
There are worse ways to while away a few hours!
SS. Jolly Roger
Cpt. Trumpet Trousers ordering his deckhand around
Christmas Pageant
Our Back Garden
Lollipop time in the Nature Reserve
Life Goes On
Hot Or Not?
Hot or not?
You decide!
We've not updated this Blog for a while but will do soon. In the meantime check out the new photos on Finnie's In Focus.
Rub A Dub Dub..
The weather is really picking up and today it's 29°C and a little overcast so we're having lots of fun in the garden.
Unintended insult of the weekend goes to Liz, our baby-sitter on Friday night. As she was putting on a DVD she noticed the David Gilmour in concert DVD and said "You'd get on well with my Dad." Thanks for that!
"Fine" Or Do They Mean Something Else?
I wonder what the punishment is if it's not really a "fine"?
For more of this kind of nonsense have a look at: The "Blog" of "Unnecessary" Quotation Marks.
GoLD Peer Education
Home Based Care
Church Leaders
That's My Boy!
My boys make me very proud!!
Reasons We Love Africa - Part 3
Magnanimity In Victory - Not A South African Quality
You won, live with it!
Friends & Weekend
On Thursday we picked Richard, Sal, Josh' & Isaac from the airport for their eagerly anticipated three week holiday here in sunny SA. Their staying in a cottage in Gordon's Bay just a couple of minutes walk from the beach, ice cream parlour and chippy so they're well set for a good time. It's really great to see them again and Joel is especially delighted to see Sal whom he adores!
Fire On The Helderberg - Again
Hardship In Zimbabwe - In Pictures
It's not often these days that Christian's get good publicity, admittedly we tend to solicit bad press (such as the whole fiasco surrounding the ordination of homosexual clergy) by failing to handle situations well. Anyway this post isn't a rant & rave about that but rather to draw your attention to some very positive press regarding Tearfund and the work they're doing in Zimbabwe.
My favourite quote of the whole weekend comes from Matt Dawson 72 minutes into the RWC semi-final:
"If the game carries on this way, England will steal it, I'm telling you, they will steal it. Stay patient England, stay patient."
Nomzamo Fire - Unsung Heroes
Last Snow Of Winter?
Lourensford Classic MTB Race
On Saturday I rode the Lourensford Classic MTB race, a tough 60k's around the stunning Lourensford wine estate at the foot of the Hottentots Holland mountains. The weather was almost perfect apart from a brief spell of rain, with the sun remaining firmly behind the clouds.
Shack Fire In Nomzamo – The Church Responds
The fire started at around 4 a.m. and was difficult to control due to the strong winds. Firemen from Strand worked for many hours to dampen down the smoke and flames.
The shacks were packed tightly together causing the fire to spread rapidly. Many homes use parrafin stoves which added fuel to the fire.
Fire In Nomzamo
Family Life
Penguins At Betty's Bay
10000 Visitors
Ahmadinejad vs Borat
Karoo To Coast MTB Challenge
The race itself was tough and at the 50K point I wanted to puke, but held on. I caught Pete at that point which helped motivate me through a rough patch before hitting the 65K mark at which point I got my second wind and really stepped it up.
Together We Can Do More
Jose Mourinho To Manage Palace
Jose told the sun earlier in the year, 'London is perfect. My family is happy living here.
'So although you can never predict what will happen in football, I would like to be in London by 2012.
'If it is not working at Chelsea, then Crystal Palace or somebody else.
'London is a special city because it has won the right and the privilege to host the Olympic Games.
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