 | |
 |
The Xmas Fayre this year for St. Thomas’ had been revamped by the new “ xf crew”. As donations poured in generously, the xf crew thought of the church hut as their second home, spending days and nights sorting everything. We laughed and cried together many times! We thought at one point that “Our hut” as we now call it, could do with a lick of paint, some flowers and a couple of beds as it was our second home. We became attached to it! Sad I know, but it really was funny.
On the eve of the Fayre 14 dads and the Martins arrived at Trinity school, shifted 400 chairs, bought in 60 tables, loaded and unloaded the van with all the goods in an hour! Fantastic, all that was left to do was lay it out and decorate. The grotto team set up in a flash. Michelle and Denise set to work on their stalls. They looked great.
On Saturday morning the toy crew arrived for Sharon “elf” Cameron and they were like little beavers, as were all the stallholders, making the whole place exciting and festive. It looked fabulous. In came the CWL team and we soon had a cup of tea. By 2 o’clock the whole place was buzzing.
The doors opened at 2 with a sea of faces scurrying around looking for bargains. Fun and giggles could be heard everywhere. The support and attendance was fantastic. A real sense of community togetherness. At one point I stood still and watched everyone. Old and young, families and friends all laughing and enjoying time together. People sitting together chatting, laughing, meeting friends old and new. It beats dragging children around the shops or doing mundane chores any day. A time for many families to just be together. Stalls run by parishioners old and new, all ages working together. It was truly heart-warming.
There were games, toys and crafts for the kids, gifts for all ages, home-cooked food, smellies, refreshments and raffles, painted faces running around, santa was busy meeting the children, festive teams on bottles and sweets stalls, stalls everywhere. The repository stall and the CHF and the Convent were all running great stalls.
The counting house was busy all afternoon. At 4.30 the dads returned with their children too, all put back and cleared away as if we had never been there by 5.30.
The XF crew arrived home with big smiling faces, and then spent the next hour on the phone discussing it, still on a high from it all.
Thanks to our families for being so supportive and of course to everyone who donated, attended and helped in anyway to make the day so great. It was a success because of all of you and we should be proud of our community and thank God for everyone in it. A real sense of belonging! God bless until next year!
Dolly. Xx