By Firefly I Came To Shambani. By Uncle Monty.

By Firefly I Came To Shambani.

By Uncle Monty.

-.-

Early evening was now all around me

has I first arrived at South Australia's

Mount Barker after my 11-hour ride

by Firefly Coach. There to greet me so

warmly was Carl and Myrna Hancock,

who had invited me to visit and stay

with them at their huge 50-acre hobby

farm or homestead that they have called

"Shambani." The African word means "at

the farm." Their use of the word stems

from their many years in Africa at where

Carl himself taught school as a Welsh-

born headmaster at one of Kenya's

top British prep schools until he and

his lovely wife Myrna retired to

Australia some 10 years ago. He,

Carl, is also the noted author of

the book "Angel Over Africa."

His pen name is Harry Atkins.

-.-

So I stood in amazement at "Shambani"

that is set so nicely against the inspiring

backdrop of the open Adelaide Hills.

In England, "Shambani" would be

worth perhaps 3 to 4 million

pounds without a doubt.

-.-

I soon named their Aussie hobby

farm as "God's Big Acre," which,

of course, is a far cry from my Big

Issue pitch at London's Long Arce

at where by good omen I first met

The Hancocks some 3 years ago.

And to think that I was now actually

standing and staying at their own

"Shambani" some 10,000 miles

or more away from my pitch was

almost mindboggling with my joy.

It was like a dream come true.

.-.

Aside from meeting and having

dinner on my first night at "Shambani"

with their vivacious daughter Rosiland

and their brilliant son-in-law Perry, I

was surrounded by a whole menagerie

of Hancock pets that included four

very friendly dogz - one of which was

an Australian Blue Heeler - two racing

horses, two curled-up kitties, a lost

sheep and, on occasions, families of

kangaroos that stop by at their glorious

hobby farm. Along with 12 professionally-

furnished rooms with also a very large

appointed kitchen coupled with a spacious

and relaxing sitting room that is rounded

out by stacks of African, Welsh, and Aust-

ralian artwork and pictures galore all

adoring every wall of "Shambani." And,

let me add their own library, too. All this

combined with the sheer beauty, tranquility,

and harmony of the good Hancock home. If

this isn't "God's Big Arce," then God doesn't

exist. Carl and Myrna are also truly God-

fearing and Jesus-loving people with Carl

as a faithful Welsh Anglican and Mynra

as a devout Welsh Presbytarian.

.-.

I felt so privileged and thankful to share

the delights and comforts of their home-

stead for all too short of a time. Never-

theless, I was glad all over at being at

"Shambani" thanks above all to The

Hancocks themselves and Firefly. We

had a wonderful time together and a

deepening, I do believe, of our per-

sonal friendship and open faith.

.-.

Sorry, I must run right now to go

to Philips Island at where I shall

see the famous night penguins and

some families of koalas. I shall write

more about "Shambani" and have lots

of photos I took, too, to share with

you all. So until then ...

Best wishes, Uncle Monty.

+3rd Day of Advent, 2oo8.

.-.