Four Thomas Family Stories

Jesse reckons that sad experience has taught her that she can tell about four Thomas family stories before she has to stop or people will start to look alarmed. (The Thomas's are Joan's side of the family.)

At the charming and delicious farewell dinner* for Georgie (she's going to Argentina) held at Susie's house we got the next four stories.

One:

When Joan was very little she had Rheumatic fever and the prescription for a full recovery was rest.

So Grandma Thomas did what she had to do to have a rambunctious two year old rest - when she was number three of four little kids. Her clever solution was to put Joan in a pram and wheel her about the garden.

When Grandma had to attend to some other pressing matter she put Warren in charge - I don't know why - maybe she hadn't figured him out yet - or maybe she thought she had spoken sternly enough to change Warren's usual behaviour - but she was wrong. As soon as her back was turned Warren took Joan in her pram and pushed her to the top of the mullock heap and pushed her back down again for a wild ride.

Joan loved it - but it wasn't what Grandma had in mind.

Two:

At Nambour Primary School Bob said he went to the office every morning to get the cuts - and they always laughed at home because Warren had inevitably just left.

Warren reckons he took pride in at least being first cab off the rank each morning.

Three:

Also at Nambour Primary School - Warren would catch little tiger snakes - sew up their mouths - safety first I guess - and then throw them in amongst the girls to watch them scream.

Four:

Because Grandad Thomas was a kiwi he was mortally scared of snakes. So naturally Bob caught a snake, sewed it's mouth up, and then hollowed out the salt shaker, stuffed the snake inside then put the salt shaker on the table. Then, of course, when Grandad picked it up the snake fell out and slithered all over the table. Jumping, screaming and a certain amount of swearing followed. Mission accomplished - never let your weakness show in the Thomas family.

For the record - I have never sewed a snakes mouth shut and I don't know anyone else who has either - except my uncles!

* We had beef casserole, baked ham, salad greens with balsamic, baby steamed potatoes with masses of butter and herbs, french bread and wonderful homemade cakes for dessert. It was a menu worth remembering.

High Tech

Max and Louisa and I were talking about fingerprints and Max was wondering if it was possible to change fingerprints - maybe with a machine or with plastic surgery.

When I said I didn't think so Max sighed and said 'I guess we'll just have to wait till we get some high technology'.

I suppose when you are only 9 all this stuff I call high tech is just life.

Sydney

Photos arrived today from Alec's Mission President's wife - I think a gracious wife must be essential to the call - along with a lovely letter.

These are the two missionaries who will be training Alec in Orange. (Note the rolled up sleeves!)

Setting Apart

Alec was set apart by President Gilkes to serve as a missionary the night before he left.

Louisa wept.

Max too.

Both loudly enough that I opened my eyes mid-prayer to see if they were going to make it - and saw Peet and Jesse wiping their eyes too. It was a hard night.

We tried to take the edge off the tears by looking at Christmas lights on the way home - and I had lots of fair trade chocolate waiting for dessert - but nothing really worked.

Only some of us could muster a smile for a photo.

Other Christmas Events

The night before Alec was set apart we squeezed in a birthday dinner for Anne at our house. (So that week went Saturday: Alec's farewell; Sunday: Bishops Youth Discussion at our house; Monday: Anne's birthday party; Tuesday: Alec's setting apart; Wednesday: Alec Leaves; Friday: Pine Christmas Concert.)

Max is mad for all things Mighty Ducks - and in the absence of ice has taken to playing hockey with roller blades and a golf club - in the house.

Helen and Gary and family arrived for a couple of weeks of family and sunshine. Dinner was at our house. Lots of fun with no photos.

We invited the Simpson family for dinner the next day and heard the best Santa Clause story. When Carolyn was in grade two her parents divorced - leaving not much ready cash for Christmas which meant that Santa was a bit skint that year. Carolyn was a bit surprised that her friend down the road had lots of Santa toys - so her friend told her 'you know Santa is really your Dad'. Carolyn thought for a moment then dismissed it because 'if Santa is my Dad then how come he gave you lots of presents and me none.' Thereby proving that Santa was not her Dad!

Christmas Elves came to our house. Samantha and Anastasia came with a basket full of presents and overflowing with Christmas cheer - they were too cute for words. These are good people for the big kids to have for friends. There were homemade treats and presents for all and they stayed and chatted and told funny stories too. Then left in time to climb Mt Ngungun with Thomas and Jesse that night.

And the Walkers (except Donald and Lisha an family) came todiner - and we got to meet Rex - who I like.

Christmas Day

Presents

Eggs Benedict for breakfast compliments of Jesse

Talking to Alec for an hour (he has a much more generous mission president than Tom who was only allowed 20 minutes)

Anne's house for family presents

Petie's house for a seafood lunch - with enough seafood for 20 people (we had 10 people)
and more presents.

Then a swim at Little Cove

And dinner at Warren & Helen's - with cousins, aunts and uncles, turkey and pudding.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve may be my favourite part of Christmas - it's the only part with fairly firm traditions. For everything else we pretty much go with the flow but Christmas Eve has become quite ritualised over the years.

This year we had dinner at Lee and Joan's with the Hugo family from Joan's ward - fish, special volkhorn bread, hummus, olives, feta and orange juice - and damper.

And we had an extra nativity at Joan's house.

Peter Hugo is more than a little bit musically talented and he brought his harp - that he made by hand - to play for us. And Joan joined him on the Cello for Away in a Manger.

Tom sang Angels we Have Heard on High - in Russian. (I think he gave a total of five performances over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.)

Thomas was Joseph, seated beside Mary, with Roger the wiseman and Lee as King Herod.

After rounding up that lovely part of the evening we drove across to Becky and Trav's where Becky had hung pictures of Christmas past all over the walls - lovely.

Paul and Lynn and Tahlia came this year too. We had the nativity play and the present game before Becky and Travis went back to work - leaving us with an enormous box of rocky road to munch on all the way home.

Finally, the kids all slept in the shed while Roger and I played Santa.

And this year beside our stockings we found a note and a chocolate from Peet, Lousia and Max saying that they were playing Santa as well this year for Roger and I - too sweet.