The Montifiore Manse

Summer Holidays !

We had the privilege of once again spending Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with Pastor Iaian Smith, his wife Mary, and some other friends in Hobart.

The Klaver Klan headed down to visit the Smith family in Hobart on Christmas Eve. Most of the day we had good fellowship.

On Christmas Day we had a large lunch at Ian and Mary's with friends from the Hobart congregation. In the above photo you can see us all (minus Terry). From bottom right, moving left: Julia Klaver, Martha Klaver, Bev Connors, Terry Connors, Iain Smith, Patricia Ashworth, and Mary Smith.

We had an abundance of food.

Patricia and Julia reading together after lunch while "pudding" (the general word in Oz encompassing all deserts) was being made ready.

Pastor Iain Smith is ready for pudding.

Terry Connors engaged in pre-pudding conversation about his latest readings in Francis Turretin. Terry is a retired Elder. He still preaches, is quite well schooled in Theology, and is marvelous to speak to about all aspects of the Christian life.

Mary Smith and Bev Connors finishing off the last of the lunch dishes. Too Iain's credit he often does them but his wife is giving him a break so he can chat with the boys and entertain the guests.

Conservative Presbyterians do not celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday and do not have worship services. Many do not celebrate it in anyway, but Pastor Iain allows his wife a "wee" Christmas tree.

Mary and Julia beginning gift distribution.
We had to clarify that Julia was not allowed to "be Santa" as Mary hoped.

Gifts were distributed and enjoyed with many laughs.

The gift that seemed to fascinate the Hobartians was a calender with pictures of Native Americans in traditional dress with a brief explanation of their dress and tribe.

Once the get together was over Julia sat down in her own little chair to draw (with Mom's help of course).

New Years Eve we had the Kingston family (from left to right: Steve, Julie, and their daughter Emma- Robert could not make it) over to our home. Getting together with the Kingstons has become an almost annual tradition since I moved to Tasmania (and Martha had come along for a few days).

The above picture is of a "craker" or "cracka." A cracker is a traditional Australian (and British apparently- at least they were on Dr. Who) New Year's tradition. The cracker is opened by pulling on both ends of the package. When pulled properly it pops open with a "Crack." Inside the cracker is a little gift or candy, and a joke and paper crown/hat. The more expensive the cracker the better the gifts, jokes, and hats.

Here Julie is modeling one of the crowns found in a cracker.
She is also pouring some punch.
As you can also see Julia is studying the punch.

Emma also modeling a crown.

After a good game of Balderdash, punch, and some cheese and crackers, we brought in the New Year with sparklers and a glow in the dark game of catch. The Kingstons brought a package of glow sticks which could be joined to form a ball. The pic above and below depict the ball hurtling through darkened space to its next receiver.

New year's Day we had a get together at our home. We ended up having to waves of visitors. The first group came over for a BBQ around lunch time.

Our friend Elva Salmon was even able to leave the hospital (she was under going some treatment) to join us.

After the BBQ we headed inside as the temperature was rising. In the left hand corner is Steve Kingston, then moving right, Pat Connors, Joan Cameron-Smith (having a little fun with Pat), and Pat's wife Mavis Connors.

Continuing to move from left to right: Emma Kingston, Pastor Raeburn Cameron-Smith, and Elva Salmon.

The lunch BBQ crew left by around 3pm or so. Martha and Julia both went down for naps while I cleaned up and sorted the left overs.

We were not sure if more folk would becoming but at 4pm Dennis Miller came by and the second stage of the BBQ began.

Dennis Julie and I doing a little reading over some tea.

Dennis helping Julia with her sandals so she can go outside.

Sometime after 5pm the Dinsmore family came over and we all had "Tea" (known as dinner to some in North AM). Pictured above from right to left: Alan Dinsmore, Martha Klaver, Deborah Dinsmore, Rowena Dinsmore, and Huon Dinsmore. Clancy and Lorraine Dinsmore were there as well but not in this photo.

The second half of the New Year's BBQ was a great success. We had a good time of food and fellowship until about 9pm.

It was a tiring couple of days but a real blessing to have some of the church family over to the Montifiore Manse!

Summer holidays (which still feel strange to me because I still expect cold) can be difficult being away from family but it is a great blessing to spend the holidays with new friends and church family!