A very special boy

Today was my second last time at Oblate Primary School, and I was pleasently surprised with my class of 4B's and C's who read "English is Fun" which I might add is not much fun for most of them so far, but today was different. I was so proud of them.( I love them sooo much)   so instead of reading more, I took the liberty of doing something different with them,  we played word games, which was more difficult than I thought, but once they got the hang of it, it was fun for them.

Then I said now we've played word games, we have to sing a happy song, (do you know a happy song?) total blank faces and a shake of the head, but I said yes you do, you all sang a happy song at Mass on Monday. Bingo!  Shy smiles and coy looks at each other.
We then sang Alleluia complete with hand movements, at first the little hands didn't lift of the table, but they got into the joy of it, it was a joy to behold.

They left the room so happy, (and one very happy volunteer) one lot said we don't want to go back to class, ( such a change)
But But there's more, my last group when I asked if they knew a happy song, and when some were shaking their heads, one little bloke said yes I know one, and he started singing the Our Father, the others then  joined in, I tell you it brought a tear to my eye.
 My time has been rewarded with that little episode. I don't know if I'll do the same next week coz I don't want to spoil the memory.


This a photo of Rebecca one of my beautiful grand-daughters.

I have no others to share today

Now today was another story altogether, we started our packing and what a nightmare that is, how I'm going to fit everything in I don't know. I think we may just squeeze it all in somehow!

We then decided to go to see Marigold Hotel, it took us over a halve hr to find the cinema, and then to find out we were at the wrong one, GRRRR!, so then we walked through the markets yet again, and then home I was very disappointed, but we still might get there on Saturday after work.

Mass at Oblate Primary School

Today I have a day off, as its the school Mass it was their 37th Anniversary.  It  was to start at ten am and by then the scholl yard was in full sun, and all the kids have to sit  there, its nothing short of cruelty). However proceedings took off around 10.15 not bad for Hong Kong.
All the Oblates came even the two old blokes who are both 90 or over, the Mass was very nice and give Fr Slavic his due he didn't keep the kids out too long in the sun, There was to be an open air concert afterwards but they cut that short and sent most of the classes back to the classroom, and just had 3 classes in the air conditioned hall. the concert was very good. Fr John Son one of the 90yr old priests was the first priest at the school, so he was invited onto the stage to cut the cake, and instead of a speech he decided to sing, so he burst into  'Edle Weis' (not sure of that spelling) and he sang three verses of that, then as quick as a wink he breaks into another one, and the teachers were all clapping in time, but Fr Slavic was clapping for him to finish, but he was not giving up the mike, he kept on going, then Fr came over for the mike and tried to take it from him, but he said he wanted to sing a hymn, and he did all 4 verses of it. Then the two priest's and the principal went to take the mike and reluctantly he gave it up!! what a laugh it was.
We were then invited to lunch and like all meals here when you go out the food just keeps coming and coming, and of course I keep eating and eating, wow I feel soo full.

Today Tony is very crook and is quite ready to return, so lucky its only another 2 weeks.


The three other principals

 Trying to get the mike from Fr John

now for some of the photos from the concert and Mass

Fillipino's Mass and Concert

Today being mother's day the Fillipino's had a special Mass at 4pm, it was 20yr anniversary of the Children of Mary in Hong Kong. Lovely singing and all the mothers were given a carnation and a special blessing it was all very nice and reminded me that last mothers day we were at Mass in Singapore and also got a carnation and a blessing from the Bishop there.

After we were sat down to a fantastic meal and a concert it was as usual fantastic and the singing was good too.

Two friends of Fr Slavic who has been visiting from Poland were there and we had a great chat with them, such nice blokes and they also enjoyed the different culture. so different to Europe, but he got up and sang a Polish song, great fun all round.

FR LUKES 25TH ANNIVERSERY

This week has been  very busy for us, Retreat for the Priests started on Sunday evening, I took the Retreat co-ordinator to HK Island in the morning then we took her to Mass at Notre Dame College and thought, well now for a weeks rest, and it was on Monday, but by Tuesday things reved up a cog or two, maybe it was that we had the day off so I decided we'd make one last trip to the markets, as time is running out I had to make it worth my while, by the time we got home we were quite exhausted!! and some more, so much to see there, and so little time left. Tony not being a great fan of these places I really had to squeeze a lot into the day, but I managed it all.

Friday I was judge of an English Book review for grade 11 students, I found this quite a challenge as I've never done anything like this before. It went all very well and very entertaining, the students work so hard to improve their English speaking, and I am just amazed how they have improved during our time here. (Not what we have done too much, but through their own efforts mostly)

Friday pm the Priests arrived back from retreat and I met Sr Inigo (key speaker) at NDC took here back to our home, let her have a rest, then back to NDC for dinner, then Fr Ronnie took Fr Brian Sr Inigo and myself to Mon Kok markets just to let them see something of HK by night.  Fr Brian was totally gobsmacked by the size of it and the number of people there, we did no shopping there, but  we had a very enjoyable evening showing the tourist's the place.

Saturday Tony and I did our Saturday lesson, and then Sr wanted to do some shopping, not a lot mind you, but she likes to walk everywhere and oh boy its so hotttttttt walking,

From there we came back had some lunch here, and then up to Mass for Fr Luke's 25th Anniversary Mass, this was really special, all the Oblate priests from HK  2 from the mainland, 3 from Australia and one young man from China taking his 2nd last vows. (not sure what they are called)

I would post some photos of this mass but   unbelieveably Tony dropped my new camera again so no photos from that event.

After that we were taken to a restaurant for a banqet ( food nowhere near as nice as the other places we've been to) but still very nice.

We then took Fr Chi, a 90yr partly retired  priest back to our place for the night, and I asked him if we would take a taxi, but he refused and said its only a ten minute walk, ( and that may be the case if you are not ninety) but it was such a  nice  night it had cooled down and there were not as many people on the streets at that time.It was very pleasent indeed! If you can imagine one sprightly 90yr old and 2old fogies wandering around the streets of Kowloon at 9pm.(and no camera) took us slightly over ten minutes! and closer to 45minutes, because he kept stopping to chat with people who knew him.

He lives in a retirement home, and he was asked by someone was  he coming there to die and his reply was quote                   "NO I'VE COME HERE TO LIVE"   I love that !!


We met a lot of the Chinese community and that was nice.

Sunday we went to the Airport and met Mary and Pete who are on their way to England for 3and a half weeks holiday. It was such a thrill to catch up with them, and Pete (my hero) fixed my camera. Thanks Pete

I think thats it for this week



Book Review

2nd Place

Special Merit

 1st Place Eric and David

 Frs David,Harry and Brian

MORE VISITORS

Saturday Fr Harry arrived with Fr Brian in tow, they have come for a retreat for a week. They had a very bad flight, as they were caught in a very bad storm over Hong Kong and had to return to Manila, they had to sit in the plane at the Airport for over two hours, and then when thy arrived back in HK there was a bank up of planes and had to circle over HK for another hr or so. They arrived something like 4 hrs late. Pleased that didn't happen to our visitors. Fr Brian was a little shook up but otherwise all was well.
We had lunch and dinner with them on Saturday and Fr Harry was in fine fettle. It was a very enjoyable evening

Saturday Sr Inigo from Delhi on Saturday am and  arrived on time.  ( She  is doing  the retreat for the priest's. 
Fr David asked us to look after her for the two days, which we did. We took her to lunch on Saturday and then walked back here, she then rested and we then took her to the Presbytery for dinner.

Sunday it was bucketing down, and I thought we'd would be unable to move anywhere, but when I asked her she said she would love to go over to HK Island and visit the Cannosian Sisters.
So herself and myself set off in the pouring rain, (me not being too sure where I was going, especially after my escapades last week)  but we met a young bloke that I knew on his way to Mass, and he wrote out the address in Chinese for me, and we got there without a hitch.

We met Sister Cynthia ( boss) she was delightful, we had coffee and lunch, and then walked us back to the Ferry. By this time the rain had cleared and it was extremely humid but we managed.

Sister Inigo has been giving retreats all over the world, so I think these priests will get a lot from her knowledge. She is a very humble woman and reminds me of Mother Teresa, she of course will have none of that.

Today was a public holiday in Hong Kong for Labour Day, its quite nice having a day off in the middle of the week, we went on the Ferry and then to the North Point markets, we had a lovely day.

now for some photos hopefully