Snookery Travels - N. Ireland

N. Ireland

And so our travels continued in February.  We had only been back from Florida for four days and then we were off again continuing on to N. Ireland for 2 weeks.  

It would seem that we only ever go to Ireland in February or when the weather could possibly be bad, especially going across the Irish Sea on the ferry which takes 8 hrs.  However, this time the weather was cold, but calm.

Here once again we were working in communities with the drama at two different churches.  It was a wonderful time with them and we met some amazing people.

It was certainly frosty and cold at times, but we did manage to see some more of this beautiful country in our spare time.  

Ireland is certainly a green and pleasant land.  I so enjoyed driving along the coastline, along tree lined lanes with green fields where new born lambs were enjoying the sunshine.  Then there were the communities and little white cottages which are so typical of the scenery here.  The colours were so vibrant in the sun everywhere you looked and blossom and flowers were appearing everywhere.  

You do get some surprises too.  We were told about a little harbour in a village called Downpatrick, where many fishing boats are moored.  Sometimes you can see seals swimming in the harbour we were told, hoping for a few fish from the catch that the fishermen had caught.  We were not disappointed either, sure enough we saw 3 following behind one of the boats as it came in to moor.

Coffee shops are always a favourite place to visit, and we have certainly visited quite a few over the years.

There is still much to explore and I'm sure we will see more on another occasion.

Snookery Travels - Florida

Florida

The song says, "When You Wish Upon a Star, Your Dreams Come True". 

Well my dream of going to Florida became a reality and especially to Disney World.  I know we do a lot of travelling, but this was on a whole new level!

It is some where I have always wanted to go to, but I knew we would never have the money. 

God knew my dreams though and decided this was an adventure He would provide for.

The Christian organisation we work for have teams like ourselves all over the world. We all do the same drama (Heaven's Gates & Hell's Flames) and from time to time we have conferences, where we get together for prayer, encouragement and teaching.  

We were asked if we would like to join our American teams for a conference in Florida.  Here we would be able to have fellowship with one another and have time to seek God for the future. Then if we were able to stay on for a few extra days we would be able to visit Disney World.  Wow, we couldn't quite believe it, but like excited children we went.

When we arrived, it was quite humid, but the temperature the next day dropped and was cold with a few frosts too. It stayed that way during the conference but got a bit warmer nearer the end of our time there. It was great getting to know the other teams and we were emersed into the American culture including the final of the Super Bowl!!  It was a lovely conference and one we shall always remember, spurring us on into the future.

After the conference finished we went and stayed in our friends very large motor home which was parked just inside Disney, in one of the many camping parks.  Then it was time to explore.

On the last two days we walked around just 2 of the kingdoms and it was beautifully sunny, but with a cool breeze.  Music filled the air wherever you went and wifi was everywhere!!!  I guess my only disappointment was that there weren't the disney characters walking around.  They were in different locations and you had to queue up to get your picture with them.














Our grandson was thrilled to see us posing for a photo with Buzz Lightyear, its one of his heros right now.

I think one of my favourite shows out of what I saw was Fantasmic.
It was like fantasia with Mickey on some rocks in the middle of a lake.  Here there were projected images on fountains, many of the characters on boats, laser lights, music, fireworks and fire!!!

We enjoyed Universal Films too, with stunt cars and also Raiders of the Lost Ark.

We also saw Frozen and The Muppets in a theatre production.  So much still to see still, but maybe another time!!

I did managed to bring home a gorgeous cushion of Mini Mouse.  Fell in love with her.  Now the grandkids can enjoy her too.  

I might be a Nana, but I'm a kid at heart!!

Snookery Travels - Hungary

Hungary

Travelling to Hungary, was something I was rather looking forward to.  I hadn't been there before, so everything was going to be new, even the language!!

One of the B&Bs in Germany where we stopped overnight

It took us 3 days of travelling to get there by car.  First we took a boat from Portsmouth to Le Havre, then we travelled on through France, Germany, Austria and finally Hungary.  Chris did an amazing job with all the driving which was around 2,000km altogether.  For me I always have my faithful bag of crochet with me to keep me occupied.

Székesfehérvár - Venue

We arrived first of all in Székesfehérvár, in time to check that all the scripts were translated correctly.  We were staying with a brother and sister whose parents were missionaries.  They spoke good English and they helped us with the translation. 

We met the cast, had rehearsals and the three performances went really well.

Our next city was Budapest.  Wow what a city. There is so much to see here and the architecture is amazing.  

Budapest - stayed in a rented apartment 3rd Floor!

View from the apartment - Budapest

Budapest - Venue for drama

The venue the drama was being performed in, was in an old university campus, which is now being used for the arts and has many musical events and concerts here each weekend for young people.  This is where the second church we were working with worshipped each week, and it was in one of the concert halls we had the drama.  The hall was packed each night with many giving their lives to the Lord.  

During our time in Budapest we had the opportunity to sightsee, which was a real treat and to learn some of its history.  

Hungarian Parliament

It was very cold here, very different from the cold we experience in the UK. We saw so much in Budapest, it was a fantastic time and something we will always remember.  As the light faded, it seemed to change every few minutes while the lights all over the city came on.  It gets dark early here in the winter, 3.30pm and they are one hour ahead of us too.

A tour round the Parliament Building was amazing

The Parliament Building was amazing.  From the outside it looked like a fairy castle, especially at night.  Inside it was beautiful, much of it covered in gold leaf, paintings and statues.

A Tour Bus that goes on land and sea!

Hero's Square

There was so much we were able to see, I can't put all the photos up on this blog, but it was a great experience.  They have a fantastic Christmas market here too, and we were told that it is one of the best in Europe.  Even the lights were different from the UK too, so pretty.

























Our final destination was in Miskolc, a small town compared to the last two.  Just a small church, but like a very warm loving family.  Here we had a room upstairs in a small business where many of it's employees were members of the church.

Chris talking to the cast through an interpreter

The cast were excited as we met them, something new to get involved in.  Each night the church was full, with many visitors.  The cast did a great job and at the altar call we saw many people come forward.

Altogether we saw around 200 people give their lives to the Lord during our time in Hungary and we give God the Glory.

Our time in Hungary finally came to an end.  We met some amazing people and made many new friends, it was sad to finally say goodbye.  But we had to get back to the UK, as Christmas was getting nearer and we knew we had a lot to do to get ready.

And so our journey back home again began, retracing our steps as it were and staying at the same B&Bs too.

In Germany we were the only ones there at the B&B, it was such a blessing to us with a wonderful breakfast spread and a beautiful sunrise to watch.

Finally we got home Saturday 12th December at 7am Portsmouth Harbour, not far from home. 

Nana's Crafty Christmas Makes

Christmas Crafts

Snookery Craft Stall

Preparing for Christmas is always something I love, especially when it comes to making Christmas decorations as well as other crafts.

I had decided to do quite a bit this year, especially as we were organising a Christmas Fayre during November.  But despite my good intentions, in the end I didn't get enough time, as I was also preparing to go away with the Ministry to Hungary for a month.  However, the Fayre went really well with about £2,000 raised for the Church Building Fund.  The atmosphere was really lovely and we had a lot of favourable comments, which was encouraging. 

Christmas Present Tags

Little Gift Bags

 

Mini Crocheted Stockings

Here you can see some of the different things I have made this year.

Kids Christmas Cards

Chris' 60th

Part 1

They say that being 60 is the new 50!!!!

Well maybe, people do seem to be more active today than when my grandparents were that age.  I guess there are more opportunities today than ever before and people do live longer.  But despite not ever wanting to reach your 60s, it does have a habit of catching up with you eventually. I think as you get older time does give you the illusion it goes quicker.

This last September my husband reached this mile stone and so it was one of those occasions to celebrate with all the family. After many discussions of what and when to get together, we decided on a meal at a carvery at mid day. With little ones and a great grandad who is 92 and goes to bed early, it seemed to make sense. What a lovely time we had too. Feeling very blest being a nana.

Part 2

This was the view we had over breakfast

Our second part of the celebration was a lovely treat for just Chris and I.  We travelled to Wareham where we had lunch and a trip up the river there.  Then we went on to Poole Harbour, which was absolutely beautiful and the weather was lovely and warm.

The hotel we stayed at for just one night, was at the entrance to the harbour and the views were stunning.  

It was quite a posh hotel and the food was just amazing.  

The following day as the weather was so sunny we decided to make the trip to Brownsea Island, which is located in the middle of the harbour.  This is run and belongs to the National Trust.  We had never been there before, so it was all new to us.  We caught the ferry and as the island wasn't very big, we were able to walk round it in a few hours.  I was especially pleased with myself as I was in a lot of pain with my shoulder and managed it all OK.  

Brownsea Island is one of the places in the UK, that still has red squirrels and I had so wanted to see one while we were walking round.  I had prayed about it earlier in the day, asking the Lord if He could arrange it.  Initially we could see them high up in the trees and many people were trying to take photos of them.  In the end we decided to rest a while on a bench, quietly taking in the views of the harbour by ourselves.  It was then I noticed out of the corner of my eye something moving.  Sure enough, a red squirrel decided to check us out and came right up to our feet.  What a treat and we were even able to take a few photos.  What a wonderful answer to prayer. 

I shall remember this trip for a long time, it was extra special.

Poland

Snookery Travels in August

During August we went on our travels again.  The drama ministry we do full time were at last having a conference in Poland.  We hadn't met our other teams around the world for 7 years and many of us were really missing some time together to share and pray.  The teams came from S. Africa, Germany, Estonia, Romania, Ukraine, India, Australia, Russia, Siberia, Ethiopia, Poland, Canada and USA as well as ourselves from United Kingdom. Wow what a time we had too.  The times of prayer were amazing after we had shared what God had been doing around the world through the drama, including healings.  No one really understands what we do and the difficulties we overcome except another team, so it was a very special time for us all.  Very emotional with tears of joy and much laughter.

So we decided that as our flights were paid for,  we would add on an extra couple of days at the beginning so we could spend time in a hotel in Krakow and do some sightseeing.  We had been here a few times before and we always enjoy the market square.  It's a huge open space filled with various restaurants and cafes around the edges where you can sit and soak up the atmosphere.  Every where there are various market stalls and traditional food is sold to eat too.

We were serenaded by concerts and busking musicians playing various instruments around the square.  The weather was lovely and warm too,  so it was great to eat your meal and enjoy everything.

One of the things they do here is have horse and cart rides.  So we indulged in this too and took a tour around Krakow.

In the middle of the square is a brick building which is a covered market.  Here they sell many wooden items from boxes to chess sets and much much more.  

One of the lovely things here being sold is the silver and amber, which is incredibly cheap.  It's just that there is so much choice, what to buy!!!!  Eventually I decided that I would buy an amber and silver ring for myself and some items for the grandkids.

It was a very special time here in Poland and a time we shall always remember for a long while.  Envisioned to carry on reaching out with the Gospel through drama to a hurting world, filled with people who need hope, truth and a purpose for living and that is found in Jesus Christ.

Later in November we are travelling down to Hungary which will be another experience, working with 3 churches there.

Keep you posted.

Snookery Family Time

Grandchildren Time 

Having travelled down to Taunton to visit our grandkids over the weekend, I was thinking how our lives are in seasons and how the seasons come around again, but slightly different each time.  We were fortunate in having three of our own children, but now two of them have children of their own, its our turn to enjoy them without so much responsibility, or should I say the responsibility has changed!

It's a very special relationship for us.  Once again, on going out with them we need to check, do they need the toilet, have I enough nappies, baby wipes, tissues, drinks and so the list can go on.  Invariably there is always something that nana hasn't thought about!!!  But it is surprising how things come back to you, well eventually!

So after waking up to excited screams of delight having found that Nana and Grandad were still there in the morning, bouncing on the air beds and making castles out of the bedding, nana pretending to be Mr Wolf and blowing down their houses, we were off for part of the day.  "Play Castle" was first port of call.  Nana had to climb the castle to help navigate them through the maze of netting to the slide.  The only thing was getting down again. It would seem that the easiest way was to come down the slide but I found my backside was rather tight so it ended up being rather difficult in the end!  MacDonalds was next for lunch before we made it back to base.

I do like Taunton, it has it's own maze of canals, streams and weirs which are filled with wildlife if you choose to look.  Looking at it through the eyes of a child is always a blessing and just to feel their little hand holding your finger is very special.  The bikes came with us as we walked and then it was time for swings and sand.  Such great fun.

Eventually it was that time to go home to mummy and daddy and a lovely dinner, followed by bath time, lots of laughter, chasing each other around and bed.

I'm sure they looked for us the next morning, but once again we had disappeared, having had to drive back home for 2+ hours after a full fun day.  It's these memories that we will look back on with smiles and I hope that  they will too.