Liberia 1

We've just returned from Liberia, West Africa where for one week we were the guests of our son Olly and his family aboard the Mercy Ship, Africa Mercy, the largest non-government hospital ship in the world. Africa Mercy entered service just over a year ago. It has a crew of 400, plus fifty children, 6 operating theatres, 78 recovery beds, dental and eye surgeries, scanners and X ray machines and all the equipment that you would expect to find in a UK hospital. What's more its staffed entirely by unpaid volunteers who pay their own fares out to the ship and also pay for their board and lodging on the ship. If you would like to know more about the charity Mercy Ships, and opportunities for serving with them, log on to http://www.mercyships.org.uk/. The photo shows the Africa Mercy viewed from the stern - the top right hand window is part of our family's cabin.

Stone carving 2

Last year David carved a "Green Man", based on a Green Man in Wells Cathedral, Somerset. Wells is said to be the smallest city in England and the Cathedral there is one of the two seats (or Cathedras) of the Bishop of Bath and Wells. Green Men go back a long time in history and there are various explanations of their origins, significance and meaning. One common theme is that they are fertility symbols.

Stone carving class

On Wednesday mornings we go to a stone carving class held in a former Baptist Chapel in a village about 45 minutes drive from here. Its dusty work but great fun. To date Jenny has carved a Tudor rose, a relief of two geese and a mother and child. Currently she is working on a pineapple and the individual scales take a long time. David has carved a female torso, a Green Man and a house sign with Pippin apples and the name of our cottage. Here is a photo of Jenny's Tudor rose which I have built into the wall of our inglenook fireplace.

David' sponsored cycle ride

Three weeks ago David and a friend completed a sponsored cycle ride which took in the churches in five local villages, Charlton Horethorne, Stowell, Goathill, Milborne Port and Milborne Wick. Between them they raised over £400, half of which goes to their local church and half to The Friends of Somerset Churches and Chapels. This charitable trust makes grants for the repair of churches and chapels in Somerset.

Sorry we forgot the photo

The Peet Family in Liberia

For the last five years our elder son, Olly, his wife, Sally, and their three children, Noah, Anna and Libby have been volunteers with the international Christian charity, Mercy Ships. Currently they live, work and go to school on the Mercy Ship, Africa Mercy, in the Port of Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa. If you want to know more about their unusual lives and the work they do log on to their blogspot, www.peetfamilyinliberia.blogspot.com. The photo shows them standing outside their home on the Africa Mercy, the biggest non-government hospital ship in the world.

Anyone for tennis?

This was another visit from Ben, Claire, Sophie and Thomas when we all went playing tennis at the local sports club.