Mangana Mission News - August 2011

Dear Friends and Family,
I hope that you are all dually impressed that I have managed to update the blog after only one months activities compared to the last very slack effort.
August was thankfully the last month of what felt like very long and oppressive winter in Mangana.We were blessed with a range of conditions from frosty mornings with temperatures down to -6 degrees and a number of wet and dreary days which made motivation for outdoor work a challenge.
Thankfully those dark days are now behind us and Spring has come with a vengeance!! With the warmer weather I am pleased to advise that my spirits have improved as well as a new found motivation to get outside and make the new projects come to life. There will be more updates on these events in the coming blogs!
August saw Mangana Mission blessed with 2 wonderful Helpers. The first was Ching from Taiwan who was a great girl who always had a smile on her face and was the strongest Asian Helper to have worked here on the farm ( except for Huni from Korea of course!- but he was a man!!!)

Cold morning in Mangana with Victa behind the water tank!

Ching working in the kitchen



Ching at Binnalong Bay Beach

 During her stay here at Mangana, Ching helped to clean up the formal garden after the large black wood tree fell over in a wind storm and had to be chopped up and moved to the side fence for next years winter fire wood supply. As well as this she helped by looking after the village children, cooking beautiful meals, cleaning around the house, and undertaking the challenging job of sorting out my workshop- a job not to be taken on by the faint hearted.

A few weeks after Ching departed for Westbury I was blessed by the return of a very special Helpx friend Laurine from Belgium.She originally came to visit for 12 days back in May this year but she decided to make Mangana her final home stay for 1 week before flying back to Belgium to continue her adventures. The 7 days flew past all to quickly however we managed to get the frame of the new Hot House secured in the vegetable paddock, pick a wheelbarrow load of potatoes, brew a fine Magana Larger, sing many singstar hits and enjoy a rendition of "Dirty Old Town" with the crew at the Friday Night Music Night.

Laurine fishing for Bream at the Scamander River

Laurine with the ghosts at Cullenswood Church

Happy snaps in the fromt garden

Well that about sums up the month that has just passed all to quickly ! The next couple of months appear to be very quiet on the Helpers front although Cosmos has a way of surprising us when we least expect it.
November onwards is now almost fully booked until early 2012 so there will be lots more  to report I am sure.
Till next time keep happy and safe,
Love, Light and Peace to All,
Warm Regards,
Andre