Sunday 31st December 2017....another year!!!

My Grandma Pearson's favorite hymn was Count your Blessings and part of the chorus says.."Count your blessings name them one by one"!!!!

Well this is a good as time as any for me to do just that!!!

I have so many to count I am so lucky to have such great family even though we have spent our adult lives an ocean apart we remain a close tight knit family and for that I am always grateful....

I have too many wonderful friends to name them individually but you know who you are and how
important you are to me...to you I say a simple  "Thank you"!!!!

Then the list just goes on and on.......

Had my final tennis game of the year yesterday and it was as always a great two hours on the court....

I am really busy with the 3 Kings Toy project but it is and will be so rewarding to see nearly 300 kids get a gift on January 5th 2018..thanks to so many people for helping with this event.

Last night Gracie and went to a theater to see a mentalist...

Thomas Baxter is a full-time professional Mentalist who has performed in 31 countries world-wide. His acclaimed theater show, 'Thomas Baxter’s Thought Control', tours several months each year.

Baxter has also performed his wonders for a slew of Corporate Clients, including several Fortune 500 Companies. His talents have resulted in his being utilized as consultant for a number of feature films (most notably Daredevil, The Santa Clause), television series (Discovery Channel's Grand Illusions: The Story Of Magic, and live theater productions (World Of Wonders; The Cherry Orchard; Nutcracker; The illusion; Taming of the Shrew; Alice Through the Looking Glass.

Some of the things we were, we think, able to figure out but he was truly amazing and at one point he came off the stage and got three people to pick a card out of the deck and not that card to anyone, one of the people he picked was Gracie.  he had her hold it to herself and not show it to anyone, then to my surprise he got me up on stage and asked me a few questions and then he said pick a number from 1 to 10.....I picked number 7...then he asked me to pick a color red or black.....I picked black...then he asked to pick a suite spades or clubs...I picked spades.....then he had Gracie reveal the card she was holding.......yes you have guessed it...she was holding the 7 of spades!!!!

We talked about it for a very long time after and have no idea how he did that....

So here is a question for you?

How many of you have been sun bathing this afternoon?

Am I the only one???

I just want to wish everyone reading a very safe and happy and healthy New year and may all your dreams come true in 2018!!!

Yashi Kochi!!!!

Thursday 28th December 2017...another post today!!!

I hope you enjoy this read!!!!

December 28 or April Fools? Mexico celebrates the Holy Innocents

• 

Holy Innocents

In Mexico and all over the Catholic world, December 28 commemorates the Santos Inocentes or Holy Innocents, considered the first Christian martyrs. Upon hearing of the birth of Jesus, King Herod ordered the death of every child in Bethlehem under the age of two in an effort to wipe out all competition to his throne. But an angel warned the Holy Family and they sought refuge in a foreign land to save the life of their baby, the Christ child.

In Mexico — as well as Spain and other Latin American countries — December 28 is the equivalent of April Fool's Day. Although it may seem irreverent, jokes of all kinds are played on the innocents. Fortunately, the jokes are well taken.

Among the traditions, this poem is recited after someone has been fooled:

Inocente palomita,
Que te dejaste engañar,
Sabiendo que en este día
Nada se debe prestar.

Innocent little dove,
You let yourself be fooled,
Knowing that on this day
Nothing should be lent.

People make the most outlandish statements. They tell others shocking news like they're going to be parents, or they're getting married to someone else's sweetheart. In this electronic world, Facebook postings are a way of fooling friends at home and farther afield. .

The news media also play a part in this traditional day. Newspapers often have two front pages — one with real information and another with headlines that are hard to believe. These reports are always something unexpected such as surprise marriages between politicians and famous musicians, huge salary donations by politicians, silly archeological discoveries and other improbable news.

Television journalists also prepare astonishing and hard to believe headlines and, if you're caught off guard, you can be fooled.

Fortunately for teachers, the holiday falls during Christmas vacations.

It is on this day of Holy Innocents that people in Mexico get back in touch with the prank-playing child we all have inside.

Yashi Kochi!!!!

Thursday 28th December 2017.....Yet another

win at poker this time 200 pesos!!!!!

The 3 Kings Project is coming together with lots of help from some special friends here...I did not fully realize how big a project it was going to be but we have reached our goal for the 3 schools and still have some gifts left so I am going to decide what to do with those.

All the age categories have been filled and next Tuesday a small group of friends are meeting to do the wrapping and final count and make sure all the gifts are labelled ....one issue I will have is where to store the gifts till we deliver on the 5th January and the other is to find drivers to take the pressies and people out to the schools in the campo but I am sure it will all work out.

Off to tennis..did I mention how sunny and nice it is here  sunny and warm????  I know I have friends in colder and snowy climes...just saying!!!!!!

Yashi Kochi!!!!

Tuesday 26th December 2017..the celebrations continue!!

On the way to tennis this morning the San Antonio church is only 100 yards away from where we play and there was a huge celebration taking place and I asked what the occasion was and it was a huge communion for the younger children.

Tennis was great under perfect blue and sunny skies...

I had to go back to the church this afternoon to see one of my students I wanted to give her 2 soccer balls for her sons for Christmas, they do not have much money, she was thrilled and told me her boys would be also......

Outside the church this time this couple was getting blessed before going into the church.

This was taken in the Jardin on Christmas eve...

Tonight going to do an inventory of the gifts we have already collected for our 3 King project..doing really well thanks to so  many giving residents...

Yashi Kochi!!!

Sunday 24th December 2017....Just had to tell

you what happened this morning....

I really enjoy Christmas music and this morning the Community Church here in town was having their Christmas carol service and I went...I have been to the church a few times before and last when Linda was here in September...the people are very welcoming and kind.

As I arrived and  going into the church, no the roof did not cave in!!!  A woman was handing out the programs they were 3 pages stapled together and on every seat there was a six inch long white candle

.

I sat close to the back behind two charming older ladies and the service began....there was some robust singing of carols, a short and powerful sermon and then they dimmed the lights in the church and came around and you lit your  own candle.

So with candles lit they asked us to stand and we sang Oh Little town of Bethlehem......I was singing but watching the lady in front of me who was engrossed in the song that she did not know that she was starting to set the last page of her program alight!!!...

It burst into flames and I immediately grabbed it from her and stomped out the flames and then gave her my program....it happened so fast and now we can smile about it but it could have been very sad.....

After the service I was like the local hero!!!!!!!!!

Always a story to tell right????

Please read the next blog to get your Christmas wishes!!!

Yashi Kochi!!!

Sunday 24th December 2017......wishing

everyone who reads my blog new or long time readers the best of this holiday season....I still like to say Merry Christmas and a Happy New year!!

Thanks for all the great comments and e mails and glad that my writing has been well received.

Wish you all a very safe, happy and healthy holiday season.....blessings les

Yashi Kochi!!!!!

Friday 22nd December 2017...have not had one of these in a long while!!!!

A PEARSON DAY...which is defined in the Oxford Dictionary as a day to myself, no appointments, no seeing anyone and usually going off into the hills!!!

Which is what I did.....enjoy the mystery drive....

Never know what you might meet on these small roads....

A nice panoramic view...

If I ever see anything and think should I stop and go look or not..I always do.....
and came across the charming small village..

Another small town specializes in selling these wooden animals!!!

Then I was into the city of tunnels, Guanajuato

This looks like a church but it is actually a restaurant....

The view of the city...

My next little town was Santa Rosa de Lima and I saw the church in the valley and wondered if I could find a road down there

Sure did a bit small but no traffic

Yes I went through here

A lovely church and a very quiet village..

Back on the road I saw this and right at the peak of the hill I saw a cross

See it now with the great zoom on my camera...

and I wanted to hike to the summit...found a dirt road that took me into this very small village where I asked if it was OK to park and set off for the cross..

It was hard going with no trails and through lots of scrub brush and after maybe 45 minutes reached the top

Great views of the valley

Coming down was much harder and I could not find the way I had come up and finished going down through some very nasty and sharp bushes...took me a lot longer to find my  way back to the car and i was thinking I bet there are not many guys from England done this trek!!!

My hiking wounds....

Back on the road again and just outside San Miguel on a very straight stretch of road came across this..it had just happened the Police were there but not the ambulance yet....

Sadly on the other side of the truck was a car that was very badly crushed....

I was gone all day and spoke to no one and now after a nice dinner a long shower and soothing my arms and legs with cream have some tea and going to watch a show!!!

Yashi Kochi!!!!!

Thursday 21st December 2017.....Two for One!!!!

Two days reporting.......

Yesterday morning I had to go to the Deaf school in town and pick up some gifts..I arrived in the middle of their last day of school and a  party....

 I was totally amazed and thrilled to stay for a little while and watch what fun you can have with 12 plastic cups!!!!!
The kids and grown ups had a lot of fun and the smiles prove it!!!!

Yesterday another great win at poker 150 pesos keeps me from eating tacos and beans!!!!

Last night was another Posada and Gracie's street....

•••

Posadas are an important part of Mexican Christmas traditions. These community celebrations take place on each of the nine nights leading up to Christmas, from December 16 to 24th. The word posada means "inn" or "shelter" in Spanish, and in this tradition, the Bible story of Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem and their search for a place to stay is re-enacted.

Posadas are held in neighborhoods across Mexico and are also becoming popular in the United States.

The celebration begins with a procession in which the participants hold candles and sing Christmas carols. Sometimes there will be individuals who play the parts of Mary and Joseph who lead the way, or occasionally images representing them are carried. The procession will make its way to a particular home (a different one each night), where a special song (La Cancion Para Pedir Posada) is sung.

Asking For Shelter

There are two parts to the traditional posada song. Those outside the house sing the part of Joseph asking for shelter and the family inside responds singing the part of the innkeeper saying that there is no room. The song switches back and forth a few times until finally the innkeeper decides to let them in. The hosts open the door and everyone goes inside.

Celebration

Once inside the house there is a celebration which can vary from a very big fancy party to a small get-together among friends.

Often the festivities begin with a short Bible reading and prayer. Then the hosts give the guests food, usually tamales and a hot drink such as ponche or atole. Then the guests break piñatas and the children are given candy.

The nine nights of posadas leading up to Christmas are said to represent the nine months that Jesus spent in Mary's womb, or alternatively, to represent nine days journey to Bethlehem.

History of the Posadas

Now widely-celebrated tradition throughout Latin America, posadas originated in colonial Mexico. The Augustinian friars of San Agustin de Acolman, near Mexico City are believed to have celebrated the first posadas. In 1586, Friar Diego de Soria, the Augustinian prior, obtained a papal bull from Pope Sixtus V to celebrate what were called misas de aguinaldo "Christmas gift masses" between December 16 and 24. 

The Aztecs had a tradition of honoring their god Huitzilopochtli at the same time of year (coinciding with the winter solstice), and they would have special meals in which the guests were given small figures of idols made from a paste that consisted of ground toasted corn and agave syrup. The friars took advantage of the coincidence and the two celebrations were combined. 

The celebrations were originally held in the church, but the custom spread and later was celebrated in haciendas, and then in family homes, gradually taking the form of the celebration as it is now practiced by the 19th century..

This is exactly what happened last night across the street and we attended and also bought a Pinata which the kids just loved.....the people were so friendly and welcoming...sorry my photos are not very clear as I was on Gracie's roof with a rope dangling the Pinata!!!!

I am on this end of the rope!!!

It was really nice to be able to join in this special event!!

Today had a great 2 hours of tennis and then I went on a pick up run of presents and cash donations for the 3 Kings toy drive...the gifts are coming in and yesterday I was able to get a deal at a market stall....I bought 60 soccer balls for 5000 pesos...a great deal..the first fun will come next week when we have to wrap them and then all the boys will get a soccer ball they will love that.

Tonight at English class was the last night and no classes just a nice Christmas Party!!!

 As you can see the turn out was not very good from a school of over 200 students...unfortunately none of my students showed up I really think it is too close to Christmas and many activities taking place over town!!!

Giving myself the day off tomorrow and going into the mountains about 80 minutes away to explore and hike!!!

Yashi Kochi!!!!!!