Photos: birds and sheep!

Music and family: a perfect combination!

Last week on Thursday, Steven had a very important meeting in a recording studio called Redbridge Studios in Bolton! As a retirement gift from his last school, St Peter in Hixon, the pupils chose to give him a voucher for a recording session and he was over the moon. The session went extremely well and Neil, the music producer was very friendly. I will put the recording on my youtube channel as soon as possible now that we are back home!

In the evening, our daugthers who were in Manchester joined us for a diner with the bride to be Verity and David, the bridegroom in the Rivington. It was great to spend time all together and we talked a lot about the wedding of course! 

On the Friday, it was the wedding rehearsal at the church and I decided to join the girls who were still in Manchester so we went for a relaxed lunch. Later on that night, my sister in law Pauline and her sister Eiline met us at an indian restaurant in the centre of Adlington, Zalzala. I recommend this place, the service and the food were excellent and we had a great time!

More to come, everything on the wedding will be revealed! lol 
Have a blessed day :)

Christmas celebrations in the Kerygma bus!

Ems baked a delicious ginger house!

Joy, Sarah and Brian

Tonight, thanks to Colin and his team, the youth in Hixon had a great Christmas celebration. There were games, a quiz, gifts and carols. We all had a great evening! We had party food and delicious deserts. One of the game had a twist, somebody would call out a card, i.e. the queen of club and if you had it you could retrieve a gift that someone had, but it was not yours because somebody else could get it back ...so those gifts were only yours at the very end of the game! The children were very excited and keen to get their gifts back, the most popular were those, funny big plastic glasses, chocolate orange and a big box of chocolate bars (I can't remember the name now, oups!)
Have a lovely evening and God bless you! Remembers the Lord loves you so much, He is a loving Father and is looking after you. :)

Do you like biking?

Sponsored Bike Ride - Le Tour de France comes to Hixon - Staffordshire Saturday 29 August 2015
At the Airfield. first entrance on the right as you are going down New Road to the A50
2.30 to 4.30 pm
Family friendly - Refreshments - Fun for the whole family.
Sponsorship forms

Kerygma bus bbq evening

We had a fantastic time tonight at the Kerygma bus bbq in Hixon playing fields. More than 50 children attended and we started to play a new game of netball, only the ball had to fall in a basket...pretty comical...you had to be tall to manage to shoot it ...Then we played rounders, not with bats but with tennis rackets. 

Time for bbq ended up with more games and the ultimate desert, roasted marshmallows! (la guimauve en français!)

Ninite.

 

Off to the Kerygma bus

We are off to the Kerygma bus and tonight, it's bbq time, an event that the children enjoy very much!

There is no bus in the summer, we all meet under a gazebo in the Playing Fields. Two weeks ago, it was another exciting event, the Talent Show. I was honoured to be asked if I could be one of the judges..and we found it hard to chose, every candidate was sooooo good!
Have a lovely evening. Blessings in Christ. N.

Fundraising fun!

    The 'Tour de France' comes to Hixon! I am not very confident in my drawing skills, so I thought I'd find a few pictures inspiring me and others. However there is no French reference there. Well we'll have to add a flag!

Hixon luncheon club

It was great to return to Hixon luncheon club run by a wonderful team of dedicated volunteers and talk to everybody there. As it is Valentine day tomorrow the tables were decorated with chocolate hearts. Vera and David who celebrated their birthdays today brought a superb selection of wine and non-alcoholic beverages.! Lunch was wonderful, it included minced lamb and a lovely selection of various vegetables followed by a choice of apple strudel and custard or red berries jelly. 

The quiz brought a lovely spirit of competitivity, every team had to write down the names of all the English counties that have a boarder by the sea! When my team was stuck I waved my mobile and offered to help them with Google map but I was promptly reminded that I should not cheat! Yep, I knew that of course. Ten minutes later Steven suggested the same thing and they all nodded ok. Shocking!!! Well the answer was, 'we can move the goal post when we want!' So we all had a good laugh!!!! Here are a few photos of everybody. Have a blessed day. 

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
13 planted in the house of the Lord,
they will flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They will still bear fruit in old age,
they will stay fresh and green,
15 proclaiming, “The Lord is upright;
he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”

Psalm 92 12-15

Enjoy the Christmas church services

Last night, Steven went carolling at Stowe last night and I joined him later on. Everybody had a great time. 

Sunday 22nd December
St Peter's, Hixon - Team Service and Communion 10.00
St Peter's, Hixon - Carols at the Inn at 7.00.pm where the 'Inn' is the Bank House pub
Tuesday 24th December - Christmas Eve
All Saints, Sandon -  Christingle at 4.00.pm.
All Saint's, Milwich - Crib Service 4.00.pm
St. Peter's, Hixon - Christingle 5.00.pm
St. Andrew's, Weston - Christingle Service 6.00.pm
St. James the Less, Fradswell - Christmas Communion 8.00.pm
St. Peter's, Hixon - Midnight Communion 11.30.pm
All Saints, Milwich - Midnight Communion 11.30.pm
St. James the Great, Salt - Midnight Communion 11.30.pm
All Saints, Sandon - Midnight Communion 11.30.pm
St. Andrew's, Weston - Midnight Communion 11.30.pm
Wednesday 25th December - Christmas Day
St. Rufin, Burston - Christmas Communion 9.30.am
St. Peter's, Hopton - Christmas Communion 9.30.am
St. Peter's, Gayton - Christmas Communion 11.15.am
St John's, Stowe  - Christmas Communion at 11.15.am
Sunday 29th December
St. John's, Stowe  - Team Service at 10.00.am - farewell to Jason

True joy at Christmas in Mid-trent Churches

Sunday 16th December
All Saints, Sandon - Carol Service 11.15.am
St. James the Less, Fradswell - Christingle and Carols followed by sherry and mince pies starting at 2.30.pmSt. James the Great, Salt - Carol Service at 4.00.pmAll Saints, Milwich - The Village Nativity. The congregation goes around the village starting at 4.00.pm in Church
St. John the Baptist, Stowe - Candlelit Carol Service at 6.00.pmSt. Rufin, Burston - Carol Service 6.30.pm followed by Mulled wine and mince pies
Monday 17th December
St Andrew's, Weston & Weston Methodists - Carols in the Woolpack 8.00.pm
Friday 21st December
St Andrew's, Weston -  Ingestre Singers Christmas Concert at 7.30.pm Tickets £5 pre book - 01889 200002 / 270594
Sunday 23rd December
St Peter's, Gayton - Team Carols Service and Communion 10.00

St Peter's, Hixon - Carols at the Inn at 7.00.pm where the 'Inn' is the Bank House
Monday 24th December - Christmas Eve
All Saints, Sandon -  Christingle at 4.00.pm.
All Saint's, Milwich - Crib Service 4.00.pmSt. Peter's, Hixon - Christingle 5.00.pm
St. Andrew's, Weston - Christingle Service 6.00.pmSt. James the Less, Fradswell - Christmas Communion 8.00.pm
St. Peter's, Hixon - Midnight Communion 11.30.pmAll Saints, Milwich - Midnight Communion 11.30.pm
St. James the Great, Salt - Midnight Communion 11.30.pmAll Saints, Sandon - Midnight Communion 11.30.pm
Tuesday 25th December - Christmas Day
St. Rufin, Burston - Christmas Communion 9.30.am
St. Peter's, Hopton - Christmas Communion 9.30.amSt. Andrew's, Weston - Christmas Communion 11.15.am
St. Peter's, Gayton - Christmas Communion 11.15.am
St John the Baptist, Stowe - Christmas Communion at 11.15.amSunday 30th December
All Saints, Milwich - Team Service at 10.00.am

Hixon harvest supper 2012

Time really flies! However as this week-end we've had beautiful evenings that remind me of an 'Indian summer' it is hard to think that autumn is on its way! Hixon PCC is getting ready for the harvest supper hence the poster above. Do come along, bring your friends and have fun! Yours in Christ! N.

Holy Week in Mid-trent churches

Holy Week Services - all at 19.30 unless otherwise stated

Monday        -        The Arrest          (Hixon - Steven) (30min)
                        Mark 14:32-52        Tuesday        -        He Stands Alone        (Stowe-Jason) (30min)
                        Mark 14:32-52
Wednesday -        He stands before Pilate   (Gayton-Steven) (30min)
                        Mark 15:1-15
Thursday          -        Maundy Thursday HC   (Salt-Jason) (1hr)
                        Mark 14:12-31
Friday     -                10am Good Friday Meditation   (Burston-Philip) (1hr)
7.30pm Crucifixion (Weston) (1hr 30 min)
Saturday        -         He lies buried (Milwich- Philip) (30min)
                        Mark 15:42-47
Sunday 8th April - Easter Day - Our Saviour's resurrection
Thursday 26th April - All in the April Evening - Salt Church, more details here

Butternut squash and nut roast?

Steven and I decided that Imogen (who is a vegetarian) would have a nut roast this Christmas..and I thought I would cook it! However, those of you who know me will not be surprised to hear that I left it a bit late. Two days ago I tried to cheat and get one from M&S but to no avail, they did not have any left! Not taking no for an answer, I bought all the ingredients in Tesco and last night I was scouring the Internet to find an easy recipe! 

However, I had to deal with an emergency so I was in no mood to bake it then and feeling emotionally exhausted. 

Today has been great, we've just come  back from a convivial Christingle service in Hixon church. I am still humming Come and Join the celebration. I have found a perfect recipe. Click here to see it on the web! However as Imo does not like onions or garlic, I will have to make some slight changes..so we shall see! Below is the recipe adapted for children or fussy teenagers!
450g/1 lb peeled, deseeded butternut squash, cut into cubes
225g/8 oz raw, chopped hazelnuts, almonds, pistachios and brazil nuts
Provencal herbs
salt and pepper 

Put the butternut to roast for half an hour at gas mark 7/ 220 C. When the squash has finished roasting, mix all the ingredients together, then press the mixture into a lined 2 lb loaf tin. Bake for 60 mins at gas 190 C. Imogen has looked at it and cut a little sample and all is good. 
Have a blessed Christmas and may the Lord bless you in abundance. 
Yours in Christ.

Christmas fair

Our Christmas fair was held in Hixon memorial hall. There was a huge variety of stalls, old and new, i.e. dolls, craft, quilt, toiletries, cakes, home-made jams and marmalade, jewellery,  books, knit craft for Macmillan cancer research...and more. 

It started at 10 a.m. and finished after 4 p.m. It was well attended and everyone left holding lots of presents. There were refreshments and delicious mini minced pies. There was the opportunity to win a Christmas Hamper and five dinner dates.

The next event is Carols at the Inn, Sunday 18th December at 7:30 p.m. 

Have a blessed evening. Your sister in Christ. N.

Hixon Harvest Supper 2011

We had so much fun at the Harvest supper. Ger, Jo, Mandy, and I went to the village hall fairly early in the afternoon to see if we had everything we needed. The only thing missing were the forks, I suppose they have their role! When Jenny, Joy and Thelma came, we started a debate on the 'best way to cook the baked potatoes'. The views were shared. Do you prick them with a fork (what I usually do!) or do you slice them in the middle? Do you pre-bake them? This was fun..and before you say..we do go out! Later on we went back home and came back just for 6ish pm. Everything went smoothly, our friends brought lovely apple cakes, superb salads, thick slices of ham and turkey so we knew that we would have plenty to eat! Praise the Lord!

While the guests were sitting down and got talking, the music group were having a bit of a practice, Anna-Greta and Ingrid were singing, Chris on the guitar, mum Helga on the keyboard, and John on the mandoline. Thelma was giving the last tickets for the raffle. After Steven said grace, everybody went to queue and help themselves for food. I was told that there had not been a harvest supper in Hixon for ten years. This was an amazing opportunity to have fellowship and fun. After a bit of rehearsal, the members of the music group went to sit down and soon, you could feel the love coming from a relaxed and friendly atmosphere over diner. 

Later on, when Anna-Greta and Ingrid started to sing everybody stopped talking. Appreciation was read on every face. 

The quiz designed by Nigel was rather challenging, raising people's interest and competitivity. There were prices for the winner and the 'loser'! At this point, Ger was telling me that in days bygone, men used to go and play quiz often and even if they' d lose, they would win a pint of beer or two so they were very positive about participating!