New Beginings - 26. NB Chapter 26

Both Tom and Margaret were a little annoyed that Sebastian was spending so much money on non essential comforts, but Sebastian and I, insisted that they accept these gifts as a big thankyou for allowing for Sebastian and his brothers to move onto the farm, and that as they were now in their 50’s, they should enjoy a few more comforts of home, and relax some more, now that Sebastian, Jose and I are now working on the farm.

Now I was fit again, I was able to assist with the unloading of all of the furniture supplies, and place it all in the correct buildings, and as we finished the second truck, the first truck had returned with a second load, containing a brand new vehicle, for the farm.

Later that day, Eric arrived with the Captain of the Ocean Explorer – Paul Kingsley with him, so he could have a face to face meeting with his bosses, mainly Sebastian and myself, and once Margaret had delivered some lunches for us at the main office, we sat down to eat and to discuss plans for Christmas.

Normally the timetable for the ship, has it arrive in Albany on December 13th for 21 days of Christmas & New Year holidays, but it was decided to alter the timetable slightly, to allow for the ship to arrive back in Stanley just three days before Christmas, after heading to Cape Town, with stops at South Georgia Islands, Bouvet Island and Gough Island.

With just two days to resupply the ship instead of the usual four days, the ship would then go onto Marion Island and Heard Island, before heading back to Stanley, in time for Christmas, where it will remain for 14 days, to allow the crew to have some shore leave, instead of continuing onto Albany.

With Annette and Kyle Davies and our housekeeper, June Cooper travelling over from Western Australia, Tom and Margaret, Eric and Mary plus Jose would be joining, Sebastian, the boys and I on the ship for Christmas Lunch, with the Captain bringing extra supplies for the celebration from Cape Town.

Once we had finalised plans for getting the ship back to Stanley for Christmas, and working out that there would be 12 of us for Christmas day celebrations, once the Christmas Day service at the Cathedral has finished, Captain Kingsley left the office, and Eric was waiting for him, to take him back to the ship in Stanley.

After four days in Stanley, the Southern Explorer left, departing two days early, so as to get back here in time for Christmas, and in the mean time, I was slowly getting back into work on the farm, much to Jose’s disappointment, as it meant less time with Sebastian, who was now spending some time in the office, and helping with the boys.

For the next three weeks, I was happy to get back into a routine on the farm, and once Tom had recovered from the Flu, I encouraged him and Margaret to take a few days off from the farm and stay in Stanley to just relax and do absolutely nothing, recruiting Eric and Mary to assist to make sure they did just that.

As Christmas was fast approaching, the final plans had been made for Annette, Kyle and June to travel to the Falkland Islands via Santiago, where they would spend a few days, before flying to Stanley, arriving three days before Christmas, the same day the ship is due to arrive back. I had spent a lot of time talking long distance to Kyle once he had returned home from school, putting together a special plan for Christmas eve at the Cathedral.

While Annette, Kyle and June were in transit to the Falkland Islands, I was organising things here on the island, making sure that Eric and Mary, plus Jose, Tom and Margaret accepted an invitation to attend Christmas lunch on board the Ocean explorer. I had arranged with Mary, for my Australian guests to stay at their place for their stay on the Islands, which Mary and Eric were very happy to do.

Speaking to Captain Kingsley, I made sure that plans were in place, for the crew to provide a fantastic Christmas lunch meal for all of our family and friends, and having made preparations for a quick trip to Santiago, Sebastian arranged for me to have a chartered flight that came from Santiago to collect me and take me back to the Chilean capital, arriving the day after Annette, Kyle and June had arrived, to spring a surprise on them later that evening.

I had spoken to Kyle after they had settled into their hotel rooms, in Santiago, and I knew that they would be eating at the hotel’s main restaurant each night they were there, and arriving in the late afternoon, I checked into the same hotel, and showered and changed, before heading down stairs to the restaurant.

“Huon, hello buddy” Kyle shouted as soon as he saw me, and he jumped out of his chair and rushed towards me, “Hey my friend, how have you been enjoying Santiago?” I replied as I received a bear hug from Kyle, while Annette and June looked on, before we walked to the table and sat down.

I explained that I would be travelling with them in two mornings time, as I had to come and buy some Christmas presents for my three cousins, and some friends on the Islands. Kyle told me all about their day and a bit in Santiago, since they had arrived, telling me about all the amazing places that they had visited, with his mother adding some information from time to time.

“What about you Mrs Cooper? How have you been enjoying the trip here to Chile and looking around the place” I asked noticing that she was fairly quiet, as Annette and Kyle chatted. “It has been a new experience for me, I have never been out of Australia, and I found it a little unsettling at first, I think the overnight stop over at Auckland helped alot, that is a beautiful city, and I would love to see some more of it some time” June replied.

I made a mental note to make some adjustments to Mrs Cooper’s return journey to Australia, to include a 9 day road coach tour of the North Island of New Zealand, as a special Christmas present for her. After dinner, June and Annette chose to remain in the hotel and relax, while I arranged a limo, to take Kyle and I on a tour of the city, and with me knowing Spanish, I had no problems talking to the driver.

My room was just down the passage from where Kyle and the ladies rooms are, so when we arrived back to the hotel, we headed up to the fourth floor and saying goodnight, Kyle thanked me for an awesome night and headed to his room. The next morning, Kyle joined me for breakfast, while the ladies slept in a bit longer.

Kyle agreed to join me for shopping, and as we left the restaurant, the ladies arrived for some breakfast, “Good to see you both this morning, did you sleep well?” I asked as we approached them, “Yes good thanks Huon” Mrs Cooper replied with a smile, “I was going to leave these at reception for you, but now I can give it to you in person” I said as I handed them both a envelope.

“Inside is some cash, so you can do some shopping of any kind, just have fun while you are here, Kyle is coming with me to help me do some shopping for my cousins, so we will meet back here for afternoon tea, if that is ok with you?” I said to the ladies. “That is fine Huon, have fun” Annette replied, and they headed in for some breakfast, while we set off to do some major shopping.

When Kyle and I arrived back at the hotel shortly after 2pm, we were both exhausted, and once we had stashed away all of the purchases, we had a rest before heading downstairs for afternoon tea with the ladies. When we met up with them, we were not surprised that they too had a short rest before coming down for afternoon tea. When finished, we agreed to meet up again jsut before dinner, and we once again retired to out rooms for a longer rest.

After dinner, we retired to our rooms to pack and prepare for the early start the next day, with the flight leaving at 6.45am, and we had to be at the airport 90 minutes before that. Arriving at the airport just after 5am the next morning, all four of us were still half asleep, as we checked in and passed through Customs, and headed to the departure lounge, were we found a cafe to buy some breakfast.

For 3 ½ hours we travelled till we landed at Punta Arenas, where we would be stopping for 75 minutes, before making the final 2 ½ hour journey to the Falkland Islands, arriving at the Mount Pleasant Airport at 1pm, where Mary would be waiting to collect us, and take us into Stanley. With the Falklands being so much further south of Santiago, our guests, were a little shoocked at how cool it was as we stepped out into the open, and made our way into the terminal to pass through customs.

Mary was in the arrivals lounge when we had finished being processed, and she welcomed Annette, June and Kyle, and led us out to the waiting vehicle, with trailer attached to carry all of the luggage, including the large amount of luggage that I had brought with me from Santiago.

“I had a call from Sebastian, just over an hour ago, he informed me that the Captain has called to say they would be arriving at 1400 hours, which is about now, I will get Annette and June settled into their accommodation, if you would like to go to the jetty to talk with the captain” Mary said to me. After spending an hour onboard the Southern Explorer, talking to the senior officers, about Christmas day celebrations, and calling Seb to let him know I was staying in town, I walked to the accommodation where I found my land rover waiting for me, which I was expecting, as I entered the guest house, where Mary and her guests where busy chatting away over a cup of tea.

“Excuse me for the interruption, Mary, can you spare me about twenty minutes, I have a special request to ask of you” I said as I approached them. A few minutes later, Mary and I were walking down the road heading towards the cathedral, “I would like you to introduce me to Reverend Hart, as the mysterious singer please Mary” I said to her after a few minutes of silence, and Mary looked at me stunned, “Are you really sure you want to do this?” she asked me, “Yes, I have a special reason for this request and all will be revealed shortly” I responded.

“Hello Mary, what brings you to the cathedral at this time of the week?” the Reverend Hart said when we arrived, “Hello Lionel, I have been asked to make a special introduction, I believe you know my friend here, Huon Devonport, he works for Tom and Margaret at Douglas Farm, and he is a first cousin of the owner of the ship Southern Explorer” Mary said to the the minister, as I stepped forward to shake his hand.

“Yes, hello, I think I recall seeing you on some Sunday services” the minister replied. “Sir, I have a special request to ask of you, and in return I will have a special gift for you” I said to the minister, “Go on, I am listening” he said and I smiled, “I have some friends who have arrived from Australia, and we are having Christmas Lunch on board the Southern Explorer, when it returns to Stanley, a few days before.

I would like to invite you and your wife, to be part of those celebrations, along with 24 needy people, of your choosing, who would normally have a less happier Christmas, due to personal and financial circumstances” I requested, “Well that is very unexpected, and I will gladly accept the invitation, and I will get right onto getting a list together of people in need to invite,” the minister responded.

“I would like that it be a surprise for them, so maybe send them a invitation to a free Christmas dinner at the cathedral hall for 12 noon on Christmas day” I said, “that sounds possible, now what is the return gift that you mentioned?” the minister replied.

“Well, my best friend from Australia is here for Christmas along with his mother, who is an Anglican minister in our home town of Toodyay, Kyle and I have been doing some recordings last year, and well, we would like to give you something in return” I said as I turned to Mary.

“Reverend, the other thing I have been asked to do, is introduce you to your mystery singer, Mr Huon Devonport” Mary said with a huge smile, and the minister stumbled back a little bit at this news, and his mouth dropped open ins surprise, which made Mary and I chuckle.

“Sir, back home in Western Australia, my friend Kyle and I have featured in a ABC television Sunday morning special, as we sang at different Anglican churches and chapels around the state, and as a one off and only a one off, Kyle and I would like to sing at your Christmas Eve service in two nights time” I said to the still shocked minister.

“Well, how can I refuse an offer like that, and yes I have heard of your performances on ABC television in Australia, as a friend of mine sent me a DVD of some of your performances, I would also like to invite your friends mother to assist with the Christmas Day service, if she is willing?” the minister replied.

“I will have to ask Annette, I mean Reverend Davies, if she would do that, as she is on holidays, she is staying with Mary and Eric, so we can ask her to come down and meet and talk with you” I responded.

A few minutes later we left the Cathedral and headed back to Mary’s place. Once there, I chatted to Annette, and told her about the request to help with the service on Christmas Morning, and she agreed to go and speak to the minister later.

“We might come with you mum, as we need to rehearse before Christmas eve tomorrow, so we can do that while you are meeting with the minister” Kyle suggested, and a few hours later, just as it was getting late in the afternoon, Annette, Kyle and I walked over to the cathedral. While Annette and Reverend Hart talked, Kyle and I went towards the front of the cathedral and sang a few Christmas hymns.

Kyle was amazed at how good their singing sounded in the Cathedral, and after a few hymns,, Annette appeared with the smiling minister, who was thrilled to hear us sing, and he suggested that maybe we could sing from the loft of the cathedral, so as to keep anonymous, and he led us through some steel gates and up a tight spiral staircase, to the loft, which had an amazing view of the cathedral.

Kyle and I sang one more hymn, and it sounded even better from up in the loft, and before leaving the minister gave a list of the hymns for the Christmas Eve service, and asked us to chose 3 of the six hymns to sing, and to let Mary know, so she can let him now before the start of the service tomorrow.

After a wonderful dinner, Kyle and I helped with cleaning up, while the Annette, June, Mary and Eric chatted in the lounge room. Once we had served them some coffee, we said good night and retired for the night. The following morning, after breakfast, Kyle came with me as I drove back to the farm, where I introduced him to Sebastian, Louis, Joachim, Tom and Margaret and Jose.