Thursday, 22nd September 2011
A little bit of washing in the morning before we got ourselves ready to go to Sta Barbara and sleep the night at Jonny and Joselyn DeVera's home.
We were organised and got away in good time and took a bus to Dagupan. I got to sit next to Silas while the others sat on the other side of the bus. Silas and I enjoyed looking at the sights out the window, taking pictures etc... unfortunately he enjoyed looking out the window so much that his new hat blew off, out the window and into oblivion. Within half a second all the people on the bus knew that he had lost his hat – such was the volume of his distress. I comforted him and could not help but feel some of his loss.
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| Some of the "scenery" we saw on our way to Dagupan |
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| Little boy and his mum on the bus |
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| Big boy on the bus |
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| The "famed" hairdressing salon |
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| More sights |
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| Jollibee's - they are everywhere, although maybe not as flash as this one |
We arrived at Dagupan and the bus did not stop for us, so I had to rush up the front and stop the driver.
He set us down outside of a Bosch Service Centre! It must be the only one in the Philippines. They had a proper workshop, hoists, tools and an office. I would have liked to stop and talk awhile, but the others were busy back-tracking back to the shopping mall where we were supposed to be buying a few supplies. As a treat we had lunch at Shakeys and everyone enjoyed a change in our diet for one meal.
Outside the shops we caught a trike – which this time with clear instructions took us exactly to where we wanted to go. Onto a jeepney heading for Sta Barbara. From Sta Barbara we took another trike to Barangay Cablong where the hall is located. We gave the trike driver the wrong directions and ended up going the long way and coming into the hall from the other direction.
When we got there the hall was locked and there was nobody around. So we took a short rest under the shelter until people started to arrive. There were only about ten Bre & Sis who could come to the study, Bro Fernando Basa was in hospital. Apparently his condition is not to serious and they have it under control (he needs more Potassium), but with the recent health problems that he has had it is not a good sign. After the study we walked to Jonny's house (20mins), it is good to walk when we can, because we really don't get any exercise over here. Anywhere that you need to go that is more than 5mins away is a trike or jeepney ride!
Jonny and Josleyn had prepared very well and provided a lovely feast for us. The children enjoyed playing and riding the bike and trike. Dinner was minced pork with a tomato sauce, crumbed chicken drumsticks and rice. We were even served a dessert – graham cake. I had two serves of the main course, so that meant that I needed to have two serves of dessert. Sarah enjoyed the graham cake (even though she likes pink ham more than grey ham). Our children were complaining rather a bit after tea, probably a result of a very late night last night and a busy day – so off to bed for them.
We sat and chatted with Jonny for an hour or so before we also retired for the evening. Silas & Eden slept on the floor while Sarah, Noah and myself slept sideways on the double bed. Mum had the luxury of a room and bed to herself (although her bed had no mattress, just sheets over a wooden base).
Staying a Jonny's has been a highlight for us. We really enjoyed ourselves, and were sorry we couldn't stay longer, and that we won't be able to visit Sta Barbara for a memorial meeting. We will miss them. They are a wonderful family, and made us feel very welcome each time we visited Sta Barbara
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