Week 44( a week to remember)

We spent Monday and Tuesday doing some genealogy and getting things ready for our trip to Isle of Wight.

This was Thanksgiving week.  The holiday is, of coarse, not celebrated in England, but we found some Americans to celebrate with.  On Wednesday we spent the day making rolls and pies for Thanksgiving dinner.  The Powells and the Smarts were invited to have dinner on Wednesday evening at the London Family History center director's home in London with missionaries from the "other mission"  that work at the family history center.  Some of the long time patrons of the center were also invited and we had a lively "old" group celebrating together.

The other dinning room

Thanksgiving Dinner Dining Room

Desert Bar

Vegetable Tray

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On Thursday a senior missionary couple traveled from east London to get some help on their family history.  We spent all day with them at the London Family History Center and helped them to make some real progress.

On the Ferry, Happy Sister

Friday morning we started on our trek to the Isle of Wight.  We caught the bus near our home and went to Richmond train station.  We traveled East to Clapham Junction and changed trains to go southwest towards Hampshire.  At Hampshire we caught the ferry and arrived on the Isle of  Wight at West Cowes, 25 minutes later.  The last of our journey was an island bus to Newport.  We had a 10 minute walk from the bus station to our Hotel.  The entire trip took about 4 hours.

Our  B & B on Quay (Key) Street

Historical Buildings on Quay(Key) Street

Courtyard outside our room

Reception room in our B & B

That afternoon we had time to visit the Newport Records office and began the paper search.  We visited the Isle of Wight Family History Society Resource Centre on Saturday morning.  Here we got email addresses of three people that are also researching the Major line in the Isle of Wight.  Paul has since been in touch with them and we will see what we can glean from them. Probably Paul will be more help to them than they are to him, but any help is appreciated.

Saturday afternoon we found the Unitarian Church that one of Paul's ancestors had donated an artifact to in 1829.  The church was closed, but it is our goal to get someone to open the area that may contain this artifact. We also visited the historical St. Thomas Newport Parish Church.  Beautiful building with lots and lots of history.

Newport Church Alter

St Thomas Parish Church

Stained Glass Window, St. Thomas
Newport Parish Church

We then took a walk to find the LDS chapel here.  It is not too far away from where we are staying, about 15-20 minute walk.  There was a primary party going on and they were being visited by Santa.  Lots of fun!  Lots of memories!!

This was the day that Newport started its Christmas celebration.  In the town square we listened to Elementary children singing Christmas carols.  At dusk the city tree was lit and the street decorations were turned on.  We watched the Newport Christmas parade go past our hotel Saturday night.

Town Sq, Newport, Children singing Christmas Carols

Christmas Parade, Newport, I of Wight

Motorcycles lit up in parade

    




This place is so quaint and full of history that we cannot even explain the beauty of it.

City of Newport, Isle of Wight

We should have a lot more to share of our adventures here in next week's blog.

As far as our digitizing.....we are still waiting.  This free time is a blessing right now.  It is why we are able to   spend this week in the Isle of Wight.  We are grateful for this opportunity.

We want to wish Kathie, Cyntha and Bryler a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY during the coming week!

We do love the Lord and we are blessed to be able to serve.  This CHURCH IS TRUE!!!!  The time is now to quicken the work.

Love always (we especially want you to know how much we missed you all at Thanksgiving),

Grandma and Grandpa, Mom (Mum for Brits) and Dad, Paul and Annie, Elder and Sister Smart