Friday 24 June 2016

Bowling Night

Juan, Suvarna, Dev, Lynne, Pauline
Sonali, Amira




An especially BIG WELL DONE goes to Juan, from Ecuador, who had never been bowling before but was the winner of the second game!!

Jon, Hussein, Arshad
Jill, Pesila
                        Joachim

Well done to Jon also, who got the highest score of the entire evening!!






The ten-pin bowling equivalent of 'man of the match' goes to Hussein for the incredible effort he put into the art of bowling  ...  if only I had it all on video!!

Saturday 18 June 2016

On a personal note ...

My Dad and I have just returned from five very pleasant days exploring the south coast of Kent.  We stayed in Ramsgate and took day trips to Deal, Margate and Broadstairs as well as taking in several lovely beaches including Botany Bay, Kingsgate Bay and Joss Bay  ...  all very lovely (well, except for Margate, which has most certainly seen better days).

Here are a few picks ...

Ice-cream is an absolute must on holiday


Finally ... my chance to paddle!!

All very thirsty work!!


 


 

Holidays also involve a sufficient dose of 're-sale' therapy ... we explored a more than adequate number of emporiums and charity shops :-)
Best not to ask >>>>>







One highlight  ...  other than paddling and ice-cream and re-sale therapy and cooked breakfasts  ...  was a visit to the Ramsgate tunnels built just prior to World War II and through which THOUSANDS of lives were saved!!

A spot of reminiscing for Dad

 The tunnels were lined with bunk-beds like these and every
so often there was an alcove cut in to the chalk
providing toilet facilities divided by a curtain.
The buckets were only emptied once a day!!

 Many people were so frightened of attacks at night they spent years living in these make-shift shelters. Having spent just over an hour in the tunnels I simply can't imagine the cold and the damp; and the sheer lack of facilities.


There is so much history in these towns, most of which relates to the two world wars



At first we thought this was a diving bell but discovered it was a shelter for fire-watchers during WWII who were able to give guidance to emergency services about where incendiary devices had been dropped and buildings were ablaze.
That's it  ... I've gone and I'm not coming back again ...



Sunday 12 June 2016

The Big Lunch

Whilst the weather wasn't totally in our favour, a good time was still had by all at our annual St Mark's Big Lunch event.





A very, very BIG THANK YOU goes to all those who helped make the event run so smoothly  ...




Those who set up for the event ... those who served drinks ... 







Those who helped with crafts  ...
and face painting  ...
and henna tattoo'ing

Those who welcomed and chatted ...

Those responsible for sounds and other technical stuff I never understand  ...  to JT, Zac and friend who entertained us so brilliantly :-)

Last but not least, to those who helped clear up and restore the Old Vicarage and hall to some semblance of order for the week ahead.