Wed 19 August

Stephen took me to Heathrow last night. After I'd checked in my luggage we sat and had a coffee and a last minute chat. He told me about the new series he's filming at present. It sounds great; really hilarious, about some amateur home renovators who find themselves in some very funny situations. It sounds like they have a lot of laughs on the set as well.

He repeated that he and D. might follow me out at the end of the year. He said that he'd like to experience another hot summer Christmas, and watch the Aussie cricket team try to win their next Test Series. Steve reminded me that I'd be arriving at the end of the Australian football season. He explained that the Australians were so sports mad, they actually had four different sports that were all called football. "It depends on where you live, what code is most popular." he said.

If you were in Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia or Western Australia, then football meant the Australian Rules Football. It originated in Melbourne in the 1800's and is most like the Gaelic football, I played in Ireland; and was probably based on this game.

On the other hand, in New South Wales and Queensland, football usually means either Rugby League or Rugby Union. What we in Britain understand as football, is referred to as Soccer in Australia, and is generally not as popular as the other codes I've mentioned.

At 10.30 the "Now Boarding" lights started flashing for my flight, so we prepared to move towards the departure gates. We promised each other to keep in touch by phone, but also agreed to check out using email. Steve asked me to check with Phyllis and John, to see if it was convenient for him to join me at Christmas, and I promised I would.

It's not going to be easy this year, being the first Christmas without you, Mum. I can't help thinking about the weird way last Christmas turned out. It was the time Kevin O'Kelly fell down the mine, and by the time he was rescued, everyone's turkey was spoilt. We all ended up at the pub, but with Assumpta's help everyone had a good meal and a happy time. So much has happened since then; it seems like a lifetime ago.

I was pleased to see that I had the window seat I'd asked for. Unlike Steve, I don't get to fly that often, and I enjoy watching the world in miniature far below. My companions were two young Australian girls who were returning home after spending a year in the UK. They'd been acting as 'tutors' in boarding schools, where they'd been responsible for supervising the students
doing their prep and study in the evenings, as well as assisting as coaches for sports and other activities.

They introduced themselves as Lisa and Amy. They said that they'd had a great year, touring the European mainland in the holidays, and generally having a year off, before starting their University studies next year. To me it seems a very good way for young people to see something of the world. Their agreement included free board, then on top of that they were also paid for their services to the school which they then used to pay for travelling around Europe in their holidays. All they'd had to save for was their fare out to the UK initially.

When they asked me what I was doing, I told them I was also having a year off travelling, before looking for a new job. They seemed satisfied with my answer, so that saved me trying to work out what to say. When I say I am or was a priest, I usually get some funny looks, and people start to behave differently. Some ask me why I left. It's easier not to have to explain, and I feel I'm treated as a normal human this way. John and Phyllis know I've left the priesthood, but I haven't told them why yet. I said I'd fill them in when I got there. It's really hard to make any definite plans. When Steve pressed me, I told him I intended to stay with Phyllis and John for a few weeks. Then while they're in Europe I want to travel north to Queensland and see some of the outback, tropics and the Great Barrier Reef, before the cyclone season starts. This all depends on whether anything else comes up. John and Phyllis have insisted I arrange my itinerary so that I'll be with them at Christmas. In the new year, if I haven't found myself working again (I've organised a one year working visa), I want to explore the centre of Australia and  maybe even travel to the west.
 

Thurs. 20 August

In 8 hours we'll land in Singapore. I'm already looking forward to stretching my legs. I wonder how I'll feel by then?  Twenty-four hours of flying is a long time. It makes you realise how big the Earth is, and how far Australia is from England.
 

Dawn, Friday 21 August

It's starting to get light at present, and we're only about an hour out from Sydney. As I look out of my window, I can make out the red soil of the land we are flying over. For hours now I haven't seen any friendly twinkling lights, that indicate a town or other human community below. It shows how sparsely populated the country we're flying over is. I've just caught sight of the lights of the first town I've seen since we first reached this continent.

I wonder what these next months will bring. I'm glad I've made the decision to come. It's all so new. In some ways I feel as if I've left you and Assumpta behind in England; strange isn't it? I think about you both every day, and little things that bring back certain memories still bring tears to my eyes. But I no longer feel hopeless. I'm actually looking forward to the future, and my grief seems a little easier to bear, most of the time. One thing I've learnt is to keep myself busy, and my mind active.
 

Evening 21 August

Phyllis and John live on a ten acre (four hectare) property, just outside the small village of Bundarra. This is about 15 kilometres outside Canberra, the capital city of Australia and about 300 kilometres south of Sydney. They told me that they'd built their house about ten years ago, before they retired. It took them nearly a year to plan their dream house, and I could tell they were proud of it. It sounded really nice.

We had nearly four hours driving in front of us. I could've flown straight to Canberra, but as John had to be in Sydney yesterday for a specialist doctor's appointment anyway, we'd decided I would land in Sydney, and we'd drive back together to their home.

Their car is very comfortable, and has plenty of room in the back seat. Not like my little ford Fiesta I left in Ireland. I felt very relaxed, and the rhythmic sound of the tyres nearly sent me to sleep.

I quietly watched the old city buildings give way to newer more modern buildings, just like in nearly every city in the world. Gradually the houses became newer and larger, until all I could see from the car were very new homesand only small trees in bare new gardens. Suddenly, nearly three quarters of an hour after we'd left the airport, we left Sydney behind. The highway was now surrounded by green pastures called 'paddocks', my hosts informed me. If it wasn't for the evergreen eucalyptus trees along the roadside, it could've been anywhere in the world.

In many places the median strip, dividing the two sides of the road was planted down with native bushes or 'shrubs'. It was nearly spring, so the yellow wattle was out in its full glory. They were alternated with red flowering bottlebrush (callistemons) bushes. It all looked very attractive I thought.

The amount of traffic was about as heavy as it might have been in England. John explained that this road was probably the busiest highway in Australia, connecting its two biggest cities Sydney and Melbourne, both of which have populations of over 4 million. I noticed that there was a higher proportion of large cars on the road. I asked John if this was because of the large distances Australians often have to travel to get to places.

John agreed that this was possibly the reason. He explained that in Australia people definitely traveled greater distances without giving it a second thought. He said that often, when he has to travel the 300 km to Sydney for these regular visits to his doctor, he'll go up and down in the same day, rather than spend the night there. That's 600 km for a half hour consultation; I was amazed.

I must've drifted off to sleep for awhile, because the next thing I remember was the car slowing down. Phyllis explained that there was a nice coffee shop in the next small town, Muldirrie, and as we'd all had an early start, a coffee or tea and muffin might be just the thing to break the journey.

We pulled over onto the next side road, then drove over the freeway, which now by-passed the town, and found ourselves in an old style main street. The coffee shop was in an old (any building in Australia built over 80 years ago is said to be 'old' I was told) converted timber house. There were several rooms off a central passageway, which each held about four small tables,
surrounded by some chairs. New prints of old black and white photos of the district and its people adorned the walls.

A cheerful grey-haired woman appeared, and directed us to one of these rooms where another couple was already seated. We ordered the coffee and muffins, and I wandered around while we waited for our refreshments to be brought to us. One room was filled with handmade articles that were for sale. They included wooden toys, pottery dishes, knitted and embroidered articles and hand-made cards and envelopes that featured dried pressed native flowers. They were all made by local people who used the shop to sell these crafts.

I would've bought one of these cards to send to you, if that had been possible. Sending one to Steve would've been a waste. Pity, they were really nice.

When the coffee arrived, it smelt good. It was hot, and with the muffin, tasted delicious. Definitely a nice change from the aeroplane food of the previous 24 hours.

As we walked back to the car, I noticed that the town had a neglected air to it, as if life was passing it by. Which of course it was, literally, now that the Hume Highway no longer brought thousands of cars through its main street every day. This was now a freeway, 2 km to the east of Muldirrie.

With McDonalds restaurants and other fast food outlets combined with petrol and car service stations on the freeway about every 100km, these small towns are slowly dying. Although these new places provide part-time employment for some young people, there needs to be some other businesses as well to keep these small places viable. I thought of BallyK, and Kevin O'Kelly and his friends having to move on from BallyK for further education and work. It's the same the world over now.

We continued on south, by-passing the small provincial city of Goulburn; 'Australia's first inland city'. A few kilometres further south, we left the famous Hume Highway to continue on its way for another 750 km to Melbourne, and we turned onto the Federal Highway for the last 80km towards Canberra.

The highway took us past Lake George on the left. It's a large shallow lake that has no outlet. To our right was an escarpment that traps the water from flowing south as it used to thousands of years ago. John explained that the road works were to make the whole Federal highway duplicated by the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000. I wonder what I'll be doing then????

Once we left the lake behind, the surrounding land was gently undulating, and lightly treed. About 15km before Canberra, we turned off the main road onto a side road. We were now only about 4km from home I was told.

As we came over a rise, I could see the house nestled amongst some large trees on the side of a small hill, about a kilometre away. We drove up to some large metal gates, set between two brick pillars. Welcome to "Elouera" Phyllis said, as she got out of the car to open the gates.

"Sorry" I apologised as I realised too late what she was doing. "I should've done that for you."
"You can do it next time," she said with a laugh. We drove through, and Phyllis climbed back in after closing the gates behind us.

John explained that they didn't usually have the front gates closed, but while they were away, they used the opportunity for Donna the horse and Jenny, their pet donkey to eat the grass down in the long driveway. There was also a small flock of six coloured sheep helping them.

We drove about 100 metres up the tree-lined drive to a large long brick house. It had a wide veranda along the whole length of the front, and a similar, more open structure along the back, which faces due north.

As we got out of the car, we were greeted by two very excited dogs; and I was introduced to Jess, a black and white border collie, and Timmy, a brown kelpie cross. John explained that a neighbour had actually stayed in their house for the three days they'd been away, and that she was probably just out at present. This was confirmed by a phone call an hour later, when the
girl rang to check to see that we'd arrived home safely.

As we went inside, they explained to me how they'd built this house out here about 10 years ago, when both their children, Andrew and Sarah were still living at home, and John and Phyllis were still working. It's been designed as 'solar passive' they explained, and this meant that everything was designed to take maximum energy from the sun, to keep the house warm in the
cold winter, using a minimum amount of energy, but was orientated so that with the large shade trees and other features, it would remain as cool as possible, without air conditioning in the hot summers. It sounds very interesting, and I want to find out more about this.

While I went into my room to unpack, Phyllis started to prepare a simple lunch, and John said he'd just do a quick check on the other animals and garden, to make sure everything was OK after being away.

Lunch consisted of some delicious homemade pumpkin soup that Phyllis had quickly defrosted, and some fresh crunchy bread that we'd picked up in Muldirrie. If today is anything to go by, I'll regain the weight I lost during my trekking very quickly. Then I might even have to be careful I don't put on any extra. When after lunch I yawned, Phyllis told me that whenever they travelled back from Europe to Australia, they found they had far less trouble with jetlag, if they stayed up all day, even if they were tired, then went to bed about 8 o'clock in the evening, and had a good night's sleep. They said they usually had more trouble with jetlag when they traveled the other way, because they'd wake up in the early hours of the morning, alert and unable to get back to sleep.

When we'd finished eating, Phyllis insisted on doing the dishes while John gave me a tour of where I'd be living for the next few weeks.

The house is certainly very comfortable and roomy. It has four large bedrooms and a separate study. There's a formal lounge room, as well as a very large family room adjoining the kitchen and eating area. This seems to be the main living area of the house.

The house is built of a brick that has a number of different brown shades in it, and looks very attractive. The roof is of colour-bond iron in a pale brown shade that is designed to reflect the sun. On the roof there is also a solar panel that collects the sun's heat to heat all the hot water when the sun is out.

The floors inside are mostly slate, except in the bedrooms where there's thick carpet. The slate tiles are not only easy to keep clean, they actually absorb heat from the sun's rays that strike them, and later release this heat back into the room in the evening.

All the living areas are to the back of the house, which faces north (the direction the sun comes from in the southern hemisphere). All these rooms have large floor to ceiling windows, through which the sun streams, in winter, so heating up these rooms during the day. When I asked about what happens in summer, John pointed to the timber structure he called a 'pergola' which at present is bare. In summer the grape vine that grows on it has leaves, and this not only shades the house, but also produces enough fruit to allow them to dry some for use in winter, as well as give a lot away. Last year they even made some of their own wine John said.

In the living areas John pointed out two large brick feature walls that I could see had sunlight shining on them at present. These too absorb the heat, and release it back slowly at night. John said that their climate was ideal for a solar passive house, because in winter, although the daily maximum temperature may only reach 10oC, generally these days were clear and sunny after a frosty night. In fact it was not unusual to sit in the living room in the sun, in a light short-sleeved shirt, while the frost was still
visible in the shady parts of the garden, and it was less than 6oC outside.

There were also a large number of deciduous trees planted outside, so that in summer they shade the house from the hot sun. The house garden was completely fenced off from the rest of the property. On one side there was an orchard of about twelve different fruit and nut trees. Next to it was a large vegetable garden. A small shed with an attached hen run (called 'chooks' here), divided the area further. Under the fruit trees, some of which were just starting to open with white or pink blossom, was another of John's hobbies, bees, and bee-hives.

Behind the house there were two separate paddocks. The left one contained three alpacas, one of which had a little baby at foot. The other paddock was empty, except for a small shed in one corner. It had a roof, and was closed in on three sides. This paddock usually contained Donna the horse, Jenny the donkey and the sheep.

John had brought two lead ropes with him, and also a large bucket of feed. So he had no trouble in persuading Donna and Jenny to follow us back to their paddock where he emptied the bucket into two low drums that were in one corner of the paddock near the shed. We went back, and with a little help from the dogs, the sheep were also delivered back to their paddock, and fed some sheep pellets as a  treat. John asked me to go back and open the front gate, because Sarah and David
(her fiancée) were going to come over this afternoon (to check me out I expect) and stay for dinner. Meanwhile John went into the vegetable garden to see what Phyllis wanted picked.

We dug up half a dozen potatoes, and a similar number of carrots. The asparagus were just starting to come up, but we managed to cut just enough stalks for tonight. We also found exactly five nice artichoke heads, which Phyllis said would be ideal stuffed as an entrée.

Phyllis explained that she was going to roast a leg of lamb with the vegetables for dinner because most of it could be put into the oven and left to cook, while she had time to do other things. I offered to help; not that I'd describe myself as much of a cook, but I said that I was happy to follow instructions if they were simple enough.

So I was given a small bucket and asked if I'd mind picking some of the berries that were just starting to ripen. I was shown two long rows of strawberry plants along the edge of the vegetable patch. Along another side there were wires stretched between two large wooden posts on which there were raspberries, boysenberries, loganberries and thornless blackberries.
These vines separated the vegetables from the orchard.

In half an hour I'd picked a small bucketful; and that didn't include all the berries that I'd eaten. I took them inside, and soon there was a nicely arranged bowl of washed and drained mixed berries that would be served with cream and ice cream for dessert. I was told that they were just starting, and that by Christmas I'd probably be sick of them. I doubt this; berries and cream is a favourite of mine.

Phyllis was busy preparing the artichokes. They'd already been boiled and had their leaves trimmed and choke removed, and now Phyllis was stuffing them with a tomato, onion and mushroom filling. It was obvious that I wasn't going to starve here; in fact I don't think I've ever lived so well food wise.

David and Sarah arrived just as the roast, with potatoes, carrots, parsnips and pumpkin was safely in the oven. The artichoke entrée was ready, and so was the dessert. The asparagus stalks were washed and cut into manageable lengths, and only needed to be steamed and the hollandaise sauce prepared Phyllis said; so we could relax.

Sarah looks a lot like her mother, with a round friendly face, big blue eyes and reddish blonde curly hair. We're the same age (I'm actually 2 months older) and David's only about a year older than us, so that's nice. Sarah studied Political Science at university, and now works at Parliament House as a researcher for one of the parliamentarians. It means she gets to travel a lot throughout Australia. She offered to show me around one day next week if I was interested in seeing how the country is run. I said that I'd love to, so we arranged for Phyllis to take me on Tuesday.

"And you've left the priesthood?" she asked. I didn't know how much she knew. I'd only told John and Phyllis some of why I'd left Ireland and the priesthood while driving from Sydney.
"Yes, for the moment I have." I replied. "I'm not really sure if I'll ever go back, or look for something else permanently. I'll just see what comes up for the moment."
"So you haven't any definite plans for the future then? she asked, not seeing the warning sign from her mother that I saw.
"Well I'm not really sure what I want to do." I replied. "When Mum died, I realised that I needed a break, and being a priest sort of takes up your whole life. I felt I needed to get back out into the real world, at least for a while. Your parent's invitation, and my small inheritance, opened up the opportunity to come here; so here I am."

I asked about her work. She explained how when the senators she was assigned to needed information about some subject, it was her job to find it; and it's nearly always in very limited time. However, she assured me that she loved it. She found it exciting being part of a team where opposition parties were always trying to catch you out, and your party was always trying to be one step ahead. She and David have only just announced their engagement, and they've organised a party here next Saturday. They thought it was good timing, because I'd be able to meet their neighbours and many of their friends. Also Sarah's brother Andrew, and his wife Maree, would be coming from Sydney.

By eight o'clock I was starting to yawn; I couldn't help myself. They all laughed. Sarah said that they had to leave anyway, because they wanted to call in on David's parents on their way home, to arrange a few things for the party. I felt like a small child being sent to bed, but I didn't put up a fight when I realised how tired I was.
 

Sat. 22 August

After I'd had a lazy breakfast, Phyllis announced that she had to do some shopping in Canberra. She asked if I'd like to come along, and offered to show me the around at the same time.

When we left their property, we turned left out of the gate, away from the highway, towards Bundarra. This is a small village, only about 3 kilometres away. It has a general store with petrol station, a primary school, a fire station and adjoining village hall. There are also two churches (one Roman Catholic the other Protestant), a country pub and about two dozen houses.

Like many villages; Bundarra sprang up where two roads met and crossed a creek. This of course provided water for the original settlers, and a pub was usually the first permanent building, providing accommodation for both horses and people. Although Bundarra has many old buildings including the pub, the original one was burnt down, and this one was built in 1885, which is still considered old in Australia.

Bundarra's first white inhabitants were gold fossickers who panned for gold in the nearby creek. Gold had been found not far away, so many hopeful goldminers followed the water downstream and found the area that is now Bundarra. They thought it a likely place where alluvial gold may have collected. Some fossickers were lucky, but most weren't. In fact the people who did best out of the gold rush, were the landlords and traders who sold the hopeful goldminers tools or other of life's necessities.

Most goldminers lived in tents which they took when they left, but evidence of the larger town Bundarra once was, can be seen in the size of the pub and the half a dozen empty shops that are still standing boarded up in the main street.

We drove into Bundarra past the Primary school and some houses, coming to a 'T' intersection, with the two story pub on our left. The general store was straight in front of us. We turned right, and drove past the small Protestant church and some tennis courts on our right. The fire station was on the left, beside the creek. As we crossed the bridge I could see a well-maintained picnic area beside the creek. Phyllis explained that there was a very safe swimming hole there, which was very popular with  local families in summer.

This road took us straight into Canberra about 12 kilometres further on. Although it's the same distance as going via the highway, this way is less busy, and took us in to where we needed to go. In 15 minutes we were in the centre of Canberra. It's a beautiful, planned city of about 300,000 people. Phyllis drove me to a lookout at the top of Mt. Ainslie, so I could see over
the main centre of Canberra.

She pointed out that this hill was one of the features the American architect, Walter Burley Griffin used in his plan for the city. We were directly above the Australian War Memorial, the large grey domed building I could see below us. In front of it was a large open area consisting of wide middle strip with the road along each side. This was called 'Anzac Parade', and extended to a fountain beyond which was the lake (Lake Burley Griffin). Over the other side of the lake, in the same line is the old  Parliament House, and above it on Capital Hill, is the new Parliament House that has been used since 1988, and is where Sarah works. I was very impressed with what I could see, and asked Phyllis to tell me more about the design of Canberra. She said she'd take me to Regatta point, and pointed out a round building on the lake shore. She said it had an excellent display, telling how Canberra came about. She said she'd also find the internet site where I could find out more information at home. This was
on www.nationalcapital.gov.au, and after dinner I found it, and learnt more about how Canberra was planned and built.

From Mt. Ainslie I could see two major roads symmetrically directed over the lake towards the Parliament House. The land between these two roads and the lake is referred to as the Parliamentary Triangle and contains most of the buildings of national significance. Phyllis said she'd drive me past some of the more interesting embassies on the way home.

At Regatta Point we decided to have a coffee first, then Phyllis left me to look around while she did the shopping. This worked out well. While we sat in a sunny spot behind the large windows we had an excellent view of the water jet that I'd seen from Mt. Ainslie. It's an exact copy of the one in Geneva. We watched some young people in pedal boats trying to get close to the jet, and laughing as they were getting wet from the spray.

Around the lake is a bicycle path that many people were making use of. Phyllis suggested that Sarah and David might like to take me one afternoon, as she was a bit past cycling herself. That was OK by me. She pointed out the National Library, High Court and National Art Gallery that we could see clearly on the other side of the lake. Also further on the right, was a peninsula that juts into the lake. Phyllis explained that this was the site of the old Canberra Hospital, and is where the new National Museum is now being built.

I had a very enjoyable hour, watching the short video, then reading the information on the displays. It made me appreciate how different this place is, to anywhere else I've ever been to before. When Phyllis had finished shopping, she found me near the end, so we left and we drove around some of the streets where most of the international embassies are located.

I was particularly intrigued by the Papua New Guinea High Commission (they're called High Commissions not embassies, if they belong to the British Commonwealth), which is designed like a native long house. The Greek Embassy was also built in classic Greek style, with tall while columns. The Chinese Embassy was very large, and like the Thai one, had a traditional style curved roof etc. The United states Embassy is also very big, and is in a very prominent position close to the new Parliament House. It's built of red brick in the same style found in New England I was told.

In comparison, the British High Commission, although in a very significant location on one of the major roads, was very disappointing in its ordinary style. Phyllis said that many of the European Embassies were very plain, and it was more the Asian and some of the South American countries that had gone in for building in their own traditional and very unique styles.

I'm being kept so busy here, that I don't seem to have a lot of time to dwell on the past. Assumpta is still my first thought and now as I go to bed, my last. But during the day, unless something particularly reminds me of my time in Ireland, I find I'm often too busy thinking about the present, to keep wishing I was back in the past.

I still haven't any clue as to what God wants me to do in the future either, but I'm content to wait until He tells me. Meanwhile, I'm going to enjoy being here. It's such a beautiful country, and everyone I've come in contact with today has been amazingly friendly and helpful. When I answered at Regatta Point that I was from England, they wanted to know what part I was from, and how I found Australia so far. It seems many people here have been to England and speak fondly of it.

I was given lots of information of what there is to see. There seems to be so much, I don't think I'll get bored while I'm here. I'm looking forward to it, but I can't helping wishing that Assumpta was here to share it with me.
 

Sun. 23 August

My pain must be healing a little, because when I think of Assumpta and what might have been, I still feel sad and regretful, but I no longer have that feeling that I'm facing an endless, empty future that has to be endured. I'm actually waking up looking forward to whatever might in store for me that day. I no longer dread living.

This afternoon, because the weather was fine and sunny, John decided to open up his bee-hives to check them. He explained that over winter, when the temperature remains below 16oC, the hives can't be opened, as the bees have to work hard to keep the hive temperature at about 30oC.

However, now coming out of winter, as the temperatures rise, and spring flowers are starting to emerge, the hive activity increases, and there's always the danger of a hive starting to think about swarming. This isn't good, because it results in the hive owner losing about half his bees, as well as his old queen. On top of that, any neighbours, especially in the suburbs, get a bit paranoid if a swarm lands in their garden. So it's something every apiarist tries to avoid.

Being a fairly warm day, John opened his hive for the first time since early May (late autumn), and checked the health of his hives, as well as making sure that there were no queen bee cells; an indication that the hive is preparing to split. They do this by the old queen leaving with about half the worker bees, a few days before the new queen is due to hatch. The new queen then stays in the old hive, with the remaining workers and starts to build it up again.

In about December, John expects that they'll have produced enough honey, for him to extract it from the frames. Then in about March he'd do it again, leaving the bees several months to collect enough nectar and pollen to see them through the winter.

John explained how the queen bee is the mother of all the bees in the hive. All the other bees work to protect her and care for the eggs she produces. They feed the lavae, clean out the hive and guard its entrance from any robber bees. Only when they are mature at about six weeks, do they go out to collect nectar, and then they only live for a few more weeks before they die
of old age. It all seems very interesting to me. Next time John opens the hives, he's going to lend me a spare bee-suit (complete coverall with a veil), and let me see inside a hive.
 

Fri. 28 August

On Tuesday Phyllis took me to Parliament House, and after doing the public guided tour, we rang Sarah, who took us 'backstage' into the working areas that are not open to the public. Sarah showed us her office, that adjoins that of the senator she works for.

It's a simply amazing building; there's nothing in Great Britain I can compare it to. There are about 1000 rooms, and when Parliament is sitting, over 3000 people work there. On one floor there are about 23 km of passageways I was told, and there are three floors and a basement.

On a number of occasions either Sarah or Phyllis pointed out a significant member of Parliament, or well known media personality, but it meant nothing to me. What amazed me was how easy it was to be signed in, and then just walk along these corridors of power. I've never thought about it when I was in London, but I can't imagine it being this easy to wander around the offices where the laws of the land are being debated and created.

We stayed and had lunch with Sarah, then returned to the public balconies and watched Question Time. This is when all the Parliamentarians are on the floor. Sarah gave me a web site I could chase up if I was interested. It was all about the building, as well as how Parliament works, on www.aph.gov.au. I found it very interesting. Having so much free time at the moment, I'm
enjoying learning to surf the internet. It's just amazing what's on it.

Yesterday I visited where David works. He offered to show me around the Catholic Girls School where he teaches Science, when I expressed an interest at the weekend. I've been wondering if teaching might be where God wants me to go, so I've been trying to find out more about what goes on in schools these days.

I arrived at 'recess', a 20 minute morning tea break. I found the other teachers who share the staff room very friendly; that is until the bell rang. Suddenly there was a mad scramble to hurriedly empty cups, collect books and get to the next classes on time. David reassured me that he had a free lesson, so would show me around.

The school has over 1000 girls aged from about 12 to 18 years. To me it seemed very similar to England. The girls generally looked smart in a uniform consisting of a tartan winter skirt, plain blouse and a woollen jumper. When I asked about the different colour of the blouse and jumper, David said that it was the difference between the juniors (Years 7 - 10) and the seniors (Years 11 & 12).

The class rooms too were similar to what I remember in England. However their access to videos and computers has changed the way lessons are presented. David said that information was more up to date, and schools were expected to expose their students to the new technology, and teach them how to use it. I could see how students who were from families where they had a lot of the latest technology, had an advantage over those who could only access it at school. I suppose that type of inequality has existed since time began; this difference between the haves and have nots. But it makes me feel helpless not being able to help them.

As I drove back home I thought about this problem. I've been wondering if there was some way in which those children who come from disadvantaged home backgrounds can be helped, so that they don't get further and further behind. They're the first people to miss out when there are more people than jobs.

Although I'm enjoying myself immensely, I feel guilty that I'm not really doing anything useful. I'm not used to being idle. Tonight I prayed, asking God to use me, or to show me what he wants me to do. Afterwards I had the thought placed in my head that I was being impatient. I think I was being told that I'll know when I need to know; all in God's good time, and not in mine. So I finished my prayer, again reminding Him that I'm ready to do whatever He wanted me to do.
 

Sat. 29 August

John had organised a second gas barbecue, so I was happy to help cook the meat. There were small steaks, shasliks on skewers, hamburgers and of course plenty of sausages for those who were really hungry. Phyllis and Sarah had spent the morning making lots of salads, and these were arranged on the tables with plates, cutlery and serviettes, for people to help themselves.

This morning I'd helped John and David to put up some decorations, set out tables and chairs, and move the sound system from the lounge room to an adjoining room, so that the music could be clearly heard on the large paved area at the back of the house where the party was held. Andrew, Sarah's brother, arrived at about lunchtime with his wife Maree. They live in Sydney where Andrew is a doctor, and Maree is a nursing sister in the same hospital. They also helped during the afternoon. Other early arrivals were very good friends and close neighbours, Geoff and Lorraine Gibson and their three offspring. Michael, the eldest is a computer programmer; Alison (Sarah's best friend and chief bridesmaid-to-be), is a teacher. She teaches at the same school as David, and it's through Alison, that Sarah and David met. The youngest is Ben, who's in his final year at school, and hopes to study Engineering at University next year.

With all the extra labour, everything was soon ready, and we were able to sit around for a few minutes rest and sample the food and drinks. It gave me the opportunity to sit back and watch these Aussies a bit. It appears that the two families have been close friends for many years. They've shared numerous holidays together, including a three month trip around Australia
about ten years ago.

Every year in January they did something different. One year they enjoyed a week on a houseboat on the Murray River. Other years there were camping holidays in both tents and later caravans, trying out beaches in different parts of Australia, and bush walks in many of the country's National Parks. I think they enjoyed reminiscing as much as I did hearing about their exploits. It was obvious that those holidays provided many happy memories for both generations.

Unfortunately, the relaxation didn't last long. The door bell rang and the first guests started to arrive. The rest of the evening was a bit of a blur. I was introduced to a lot of people, most of whom I know I won't recognise again if I should meet them in the street. I think I cooked hundreds of sausages and hamburger patties. There was no shortage of food.

For drinks there was a range of local beers, that I enjoyed trying out, as well as all sorts of wines that many people had brought with them, and a large bowl of fruit punch that catered for those who didn't want anything alcoholic.

There was a similar choice of desserts. There was one I was particularly taken with. I was told it was called a 'pavlova'. It consists of a firm meringue base, which was soft inside, and topped with lots of cream and fruit. Other desserts included a cheesecake, trifle, fruit salad and a mousse. I think you would've enjoyed being here, Mum. There were so many different foods served in different ways to what we're used to.

After dessert Sarah and David opened the presents they'd been given. Then John welcomed everybody, especially those people who'd travelled long distances to get there. I was amazed that one uncle and aunt had driven nearly 700 km from Melbourne to be here. I was introduced as a cousin who'd come all the way from England, so I suppose I'd travelled the furthest. John and David's father then both said a few words about Sarah and David.

Before David could respond, Alison got up and asked to speak. She told everyone how she'd introduced David, a colleague, to Sarah her best friend. She confessed that she'd thought that they'd be suited, so when she had a party at her house, she organised it so that David and Sarah would end up together as partners in a treasure hunt. Only their clues were different to
everyone else's, and the two of them had ended up traipsing all over the farm on a wild goose chase. It wasn't until about a year later that they realised they'd been set up, but by then Sarah and David were very happy together, so they forgave Alison, but they've threatened to get her back at some stage.

Alison then reached for her guitar, and said that she'd like to sing a song for the happy couple. She'd chosen the song "You're my World" by Cilla Black

Alison's voice suddenly reminded me of Aisling, the girl who sang 'Love is teasin' in the Pub Tournament in Fitzgerald's, just after Assumpta had married Leo. She had a most beautiful voice like Alison. I felt a lump in my throat as I listened to the words, 'You're my world, you're every prayer I pray' . I thought of how Assumpta had virtually been my whole world for
three years, 'my night and day', and how her death had meant 'the end of my world for me', for so long. I had a lump in my throat, and needed all my self-control not to break down and cry. I tried to think of something mundane, and sat very quietly listening to Alison singing of love for Sarah and David. When Alison had finished there were cries for more, but Alison
indicated it was now over to David and Sarah.

They thanked everyone warmly for their gifts, and for coming to help them celebrate their engagement. They then cut a large cake that'd been baked in the shape of a heart, and decorated with flowers, rings and ribbons by a family friend.

As the evening was starting to feel cool, everyone was invited inside for tea or coffee to have with some of the cake if they wished. The music was turned back on and a few people started to dance now that there was more room on the patio. I felt a bit shy when a little while later Sarah asked me to dance with her. Luckily, dancing is a bit like riding a bike, you never really forget how it's done, so I soon relaxed and found myself enjoying the exercise. I tried to think how long it'd been since I danced. Probably not since I was at university.

A little while later, David who'd been dancing with Alison, asked if he could have his fiancée back. So we swapped partners, and I found Alison was now my partner. I told her I'd enjoyed her singing, and asked if she sang professionally. She admitted that she'd sung with a band for a few years while she was at Uni. but she was generally too busy now. I thought that it was a shame, as she has a beautiful voice.

Gradually the guests started to leave, until it was only the younger Gibsons and all the Taylors left. When we'd covered the last dishes of food, and put them in the fridge, and the last items that could fit, were in the dishwasher, we decided to have a hot chocolate and debrief on the success of the evening.

Everyone agreed unanimously that the party had been a great success, and that all the guests seemed to have had a good time. There'd been plenty of food, with enough left over to finish off tomorrow. Sarah and David had another look over the presents, and had a bit of a giggle over a vase that had been sent by Great-Auntie Muriel.

Alison said that she'd a great idea after all the reminiscing of family holidays before the party. She explained that with Andrew now married, and Michael planning to go overseas for a few years soon, now was probably the last opportunity for the two families to have one last holiday together.

She suggested the long weekend at the beginning of October, before John and Phyllis left for Europe. She added that she knew of a great park on the coast at Sapphire Beach that had some cabins that were very nice. There was a range of sizes, so each family could choose what they needed. Everyone was enthusiastic. John and Phyllis didn't have any objections, and agreed it
seemed a good idea. They insisted that I was part of the family, and was naturally included. It sounded very exciting. Alison said she'd check with her parents first, and she'd get the information from the people who ran the park.

While all this discussion was going, on I was amused to see how in both families the eldest son was quiet and more serious than their younger siblings. Alison was by far the most outgoing; even bossy at times. She seemed to be the main organiser of what the rest should do. From the stories I'd heard earlier, I expect she was the main culprit when it came to getting the group into mischief. I wonder if it comes from being a girl between two boys in a family?

Ben is the youngest in his family by a number of years, but he seemed to join in the discussions happily, and was included by the older ones. He took it on himself to explain to me a few expressions, when I'd looked puzzled about what they'd been talking about.

It's been a great day. I've really enjoyed being part of this happy family. I'm really sorry Mum that you never were able to come over. I know you would've loved it here.
 

Wed. 2 Sept.

After trying for about 10 minutes, I realised that in the dark that I wasn't going to be able to get this strange jack in the right place, and then use it to lift the wheel off the ground. It was too far to walk to the Taylor's house, and I didn't know anyone around whom I could ask to use their phone.

So I was rather relieved when I saw some headlights coming my way, and even more so when the car pulled to a stop and the driver got out.
"You having some trouble?" asked a familiar voice.
"Yeah, you wouldn't have a torch would you?" I asked Alison with a sheepish smile.
"You've sure done a good job of that tyre," she commented, looking at the mangled tyre.
"Yeah, and I'm having trouble getting this strange jack to work," I tried to explain.
"Here, hold this," she ordered as she thrust her torch into my hands. Then with a few deft movements, she had the jack assembled and was putting it under the car.
"You did put the hand brake on, didn't you?" she asked, pausing as she started to raise the car.
"Of course I did." I replied. "I might be stupid enough to wreck a tyre, but I'm not that stupid."
"Yeah, OK, but it's best to ask," she said as she finished raising the car.
"Right, now to get the nuts undone". She tried to turn the wheel brace but the nuts wouldn't budge.
"Drat, they've been done up mechanically, and probably haven't been touched for years."
I offered to try, and using all my strength was slowly able to loosen the first one.
"Well there's still something men have over women", I said to her with a smile.
She looked at me, flashing her large green eyes.
"Just beginner's luck", she replied with a grin. "Now try the others".

With a lot of effort I was able to loosen all five nuts and take them off. When I'd finished, I grinned at her and noticed how attractive she looked in her smart pants suit. Most of her long blonde hair had come loose from the stretch band that had held it back, and she had a black smudge on her face.

"See, nothing to it when you have a torch and are familiar with the jack." I said, as I went to lift the spare tyre out of the boot. My relief in getting the flat tyre off, was replaced by dismay as I realised that the spare tyre had almost no air in it.

"Lock up the car, and get in mine", she offered. "I'll take you home to the Taylor's. They should have a pump there to pump up the spare tyre, at least enough to get you home."

"You're getting home rather late tonight?" I commented once we were in her car.
"Yeah, I had a staff meeting, then some other work I wanted to finish. I wanted to exercise Tornado tonight too, but now it's too late."
"You ride then?" I asked.
"Yeah. I also breed them, school them in dressage, show them, and eventually sell them to a good home.
"So how many have you got?" I asked.
"At present five. There's my stallion Edward, my mare Ebony, and her daughter Amber that I'm going to put Edward to next year. Then there Tornado who's out of Ebony by Edward, and Zac, Ebony's foal from last year."
"Wow, that's a lot of work then." I said.
"Yeah, it keeps me busy. I usually try to come home from school in the light so I can exercise them, then I do my school prep and marking after tea. I often think I should give it away. It costs more in feed, let alone the time I put into schooling the horses, than I mostly get for them. But it's a hobby, and I like them.

John was home when I got there. He found the pump, and we managed to get enough air into the spare tyre to drive the car home. He said that he'd take both the tyres into Canberra tomorrow and get it all fixed. He admitted he'd have to be more careful checking that there was air in the spare in future.

Over tea I told John and Phyllis about Alison's help, and our discussion on riding. It appears that as young girls, both Alison and Sarah had been crazy about horses, and both had joined the local Pony Club in Bundarra. It was the girls who'd put the most pressure on their parents to move out of town, on to a few acres so that they could keep their ponies outside their back
door, rather than having to drive down to the paddocks on the outskirts of Canberra where their ponies had been previously aggisted.

Gradually both girls had grown out of their ponies, and moved up into bigger horses. They'd also started to compete in gymkanas and horse-shows. Their parents had taken it in turn to hire a horse float and take both girls to where ever they were competing.

When they entered their senior secondary years, Sarah lost interest in competing, but fortunately for Alison, Ben was showing an interest, so the Gibsons bought their own horse-float and continued to taken their children. Sometimes Sarah went with them to help, but more often the Gibsons went alone.

Alison did rather well, so later when she went to university, she gave riding lessons to young children, to help finance herself through her studies.