Some pix from convention time 2016

We had the unexpected visit from Bernard Manning who came over to Buenos Aires to renew his Aussie passport.  Monica and I took the poor man traipsing around the streets in the pouring rain, with a 50kg pack on his back, full of coffee and other goodies for me from Gus!  The three of us got soaked to the skin as we ended up with one brolly between us.  Not to worry, the passport was obtained, and so was mine (before his 👍).  Pictured also are Keith Drury (England), and Walter Goodridge.

Many cooks! Buenos Aires convention with many helpers.  Kevin making pizza bases, Florencia and Karen turning out some Hassleback spuds with a twist; Arlene Garcia and Ronda Stidolph standing in kitchen; Jenny Connelly and Marcela; Floppy making bread; Floppy and Marcela mocking my dud porridge buns.

Waiting to leave at the bus station.

Cooking at Rio Cuarto

Three Aussies: Beverley Loechel, Bernard, Wendy Cornthwaite

Four members of the extended Barjacoba family who are in the work: Patricia Oberto, Mirna Barjacoba, Sara Barjacoba, Walter Goodridge.

Norma Justus and I, co-workers this year.  We were together in 2011.

Bernard's "mongrel dog" that wandered in after the meeting and made itself at home.

Bryce and Delwyn arriving at Neuquen airport, with Jenny Connelly who knows Bev's family well!

This was GOOOD!!! Staying at their hotel with them, it was so hot, just what the doctor ordered!

View from my hotel window - very typical of Neuquen!!

Lunch out with Jenny

And Marcela Salgado

Marcela's twin Gisela made a 7-hour bus trip and turned up to the meetings on Sunday as a surprise. First time she's been to a meeting since Marcela went in the work.  She was pretty happy!  

Workers all having tea together before catching their respective buses to their fields/back to their countries.  For the visitors it's the last of their 3-month round of mtgs.   It's always a huge rush!

Last photos from 2015

Here are some photos I intended to past late last year and never got around tuit! Our final visit to the town of Chos Malal in the north of Neuquen province, where one of our friends is an English teacher.  I was lucky enough to happen upon some goatherds bringing their flocks from where they winter over, droving them up into the mountains to their summer pastures.  It was a real neat sight!

The herd of goats coming down the river-bed.

There must have been around 300-400 goats.

They were putting them in this corral for the night, ready to start the journey again in the morning.

This is Graciela Luck and her husband Fernando and children.  Graciela was brought up going to meetings with her parents, but never wanted it for herself.  Almost two years ago, she suddenly felt a strong need to be in the meetings, and in December told us she would like to make her choice known publicly.  She is one of 10 siblings, and has just three brothers serving God. Both her parents are still alive (father turned 90 recently), so has been real nice for them to see!

To farewell the year, some got together for a picnic by the river (NB a "picnic" in Argentina usually involves meat and fire, not sammies!!)

Pix from around Esquel

These photos are all from when I was in the Esquel field during August.  The above photo was taken walking to Sunday am mtg.

Sara Mereles and I - Sara was in the work for a few years and we worked together in the north of Argentina 2006 and 2007.

The painting we did on Sara's kitchen wall.  Top right is the one she saw on internet that she liked, I sketched it in chalk and she painted over it with acrylic!  Not bad for a pair of amateurs. (non-artists at that)

The little town of Trevelin.  Originally a Welsh settlement, Trevelin has retained a lot of it's Welsh roots, including the high tea that they offer in tea shops in town.  Typical surnames are: Hopkins, Williams, Jones, and a whole lot of other British names.  Kind of incongruous in a latin country.

Some of the exhibits in a local museum.  Note the museum sign written in Welsh as well.  Also a page from the Welsh Bible, different saddles including a side-saddle, spurs.

Predecesor to the JD? An old combine harvester behind Sara.

Playing ladies...taking high tea.

The absolute best cake is the cream cake on the right side of the plate...closely followed by the raspberry tart!

View out the bus window travelling to Sun am mtg (note, it's not that early, about 8.30am, but the sun rises really late in winter on the west side of the country.  Should be an hour's difference to the east, but too difficult to do that!!)

Buying "choripan" one cold, wet night.  (Spicy sausage grilled over the coals, wrapped in bread).

Drinking rose-hip tea at Haidee's.  The rose-hips are in the basket to the left of the photo.  Apple fritters and cream to go with!

This is a typical way they build the fire...stick a big log in and push it in as it burns.

Two cute little fellas added to the family!

A wet, gloomy scene.  Behind those clouds is a magnificent mountain view.  The farm at Trevelin, belonging to Luis and Haidee Estuardo.

Haidee's son's partner Evelyn came to teach Ronda and I how to make the Welsh cream tart.  Delish! (she is of Welsh descent and worked in a tea-house, baking).

Esquel on a snowy, wet morning.

Putting together "Arab empanadas" at Rosa Sanchez' house.  Silvana her daughter-in-law and Ronda helping, son Alex watching on.  These little pies are filled with a mince mixture that has been marinaded in lemon and then given a quick burst in the oven.

Going out for a drive to a lake with the Sanchez one afternoon.  Beautiful scenery.

With Rosa Sanchez

Rosa's husband Benio

The car broke down about HERE.... i.e. miles from nowhere, not much cellphone coverage...

Standing freezing in a patch of cell coverage waiting for tow-truck man to ring back....

On way home drove through this part of the forest where there were huge fires earlier this year.  Looks eerie now, just black skeletons for trees.

Sara treated me to this that evening! Very typical Argentinean fare.

Pulling out of Esquel on the bus, bound for my field of Neuquen to the north.  The wide open spaces never fail to fascinate as do the long, long roads stretching on forever...