The Weekend....

View from Oasis toward Mourne Mts.

Friday was a long hard day. Bebe and I cleaned the Oasis and washed dishes for the 60 guests we expect next week. The kitchen there is not regularly used and seemed to have not been cleaned in a while. Just a lot more manual labor than either of us single gals were used to doing. I slipped on the freshly mopped floor and took a tumble. I thought  I might have aggravated the weak knee but it seems to be normal. The whole body aches so the knee feels ok.

The Oasis

 We ate an early light supper of parsnip soup with ginger and then wonderful warm from the oven chocolate chip scones!  Who would have thought parsnip soup could be so good!!

In the evening we prepared for a youth group coming in for a weekend event.  Deirdre made even more scones…chocolate chip, cinnamon and fruit. The group arrived at about 8:15 in an eight car caravan. I greeted them at the door and I was impressed. Practically every teen greeted me and all were courteous and smiling. They met in the common room for “house rules” and then tea and scones. Very gracious!

Bebe, Richard and I went to Tesco’s in Newcastle with a list. This is a small Tesco and they didn’t have small appliances (we need a hair dryer) or other “household” items. Still it was good to get out-- even in the damp night.  As we were driving through Newcastle, Richard said “that looks like Leonard…..because it is!” Yes, we had a ‘Leonard sighting’.

Deirdre in the kitchen!

Saturday…

We were in the kitchen by 8:30 to serve breakfast at 9. Cereal , toast and juice but that’s still a task for 34! We helped prepare lunch of roast pork, roasted potatoes, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, broccoli, and corn. And then for dessert there was a choice of Plum Crumble or Apple Crumble with Warm Custard Sauce. The plums were from the Murlough House trees and a bit tart so the custard smoothed it out nicely.  After lunch we took a break and then packed up to go to Lisburn for a meeting with AIM and Martin Goldsmith. It was a mini-missionary conference with the couple from the work in Madagascar and then Martin sharing about missions.

A young fellow named Davey was the missions “clerk” at the church. He helped us set up the hospitality area with tables for tea and biscuits and more tables for Martin’s books and yet another one for the AIM literature.  Bebe and I had to make a food run across the street and down a bit for sandwiches for the musicians and more milk for the tea.

The meeting went well. There were 75 or so in attendance; the music was quite contemporary.  It was a good evening and the social time after was nice. Most came for tea and visited with the Aulds and Martin.

The vehicle we brought was a small sedan and comfortable enough for the four of us. However on the return trip to Dundrum, there were six of us. The back seat with four adults was a bit cramped! For just a few minutes, I thought I was back in Kenya! We did take turns breathing. : )  

As we came up the lane to Murlough House we saw several rabbits, then several metres further on, another half dozen or so and then another bunch. Alan said that a while back there was a problem with rats at the Murlough Preserve so the government put out poison. The foxes got into the poison and were decimated. Now the rabbits are multiplying like…well, rabbits!

Sunday

The breakfast duty was easy and a couple of the leaders from the retreat helped us with lunch so it all went well. Bebe and I got the credit for the wonderful meal Deirdre had prepared for us to finish: Chicken Supreme, Rice, Green Peas and then Jelly Roll and Ice cream.  The teens stripped their beds and Bebe got the laundry going. The kitchen was cleaned and we put away things that were out of place. Richard offered to show us a hawthorn tree we had inquired about but we told him we were simply too tired for the walk. Kindly, he prepared tea for us so we sat in the front hall for an afternoon rest.

We did our last hospitality thing for the Missions Conference meetings with Martin Goldsmith. We went to Newcastle at 5:30 but the centre wasn't open. We did spot Leonard!! Another sighting!!  Alan suggested we might want to take a walk while he set up the books at the church. We went down the main street to Maud's for a cup of coffee, then walked back along the sea on the promenade. At one point I stopped to take two photos...to my right, the Mourne Mountains...to my left, the Irish Sea...Imagine!

We walked back to the church for the service. It was rather international. Besides the two American guests, there was a couple from Latvia, a couple from Switzerland and some missionaries from the Philippines. It was Harvest Sunday and the church was decorated very nicely with not only beautiful hydrangea (and I mean stunningly gorgeous!) on each pew but also fruits and vegetables plus grain and bread. I think Harvest Sunday is observed in all Irish churches but each one decides which Sunday in October. The music was good, led by two young people and accompanied by guitar.  After that we were transported to Glenada Centre to set up for the tea and biscuits with a q&a period with Martin. Then home to Murlough House by 11 pm.  We plan to sleep in tomorrow!!

Hope to hear from you! You know my email and my FB so send a message!!