Australia Day, 2010

Who would have thought on Australia Day 2010, I'd be here. Union Island, St Vincent.

We woke up in Clifton this morning and tonight we're going to sleep at Chatam Bay - perhaps one of the most perfect bays yet.

And, in between, we managed to do some school, sail, swim, go on a wonderful hike and eat a Caribbean BBQ. (I even had a lovely little nap this afternoon - very much an Aussie tradition!)

The view during the hike was magnificent. I'm thinking it would be quite easy to look at this every day. Building a house on this hill is being added to my list of future aspirations.

After the hike, we waited on the beach for the BBQ to be cooked. The chef tonight went by the name 'Shark Attack.' Not sure of any connotations.

To celebrate Australia Day, of course, there were beers on the beach and a game or two of Tag with the girls. No cricket, though. I can't play a one-man, one-team game, and, as the only Australian, this was looking to be the likely scenario.

Finally, after quite a few, "Only a few more minutes,' 'In a little Whiles,' and 'Not too much longers,' we had a BBQ feast of Tuna and Lobster. Well done, Shark Attack.
(Yes Dad, I'm quite enjoying Lobster - you should be proud).

But, the best was yet to come. After dinner came a heartfelt song from the Swiss fam in support of Australia and her birthday today. "Kookaburra sits in the Old Gum Tree.'
I'm thinking of writing to the Australian Government to ask them to change our National Anthem.

So, here's to a wonderful Australia Day - spent at the beach with a BBQ - just as it should have been. Except, I also got to add some non-Australians - an adventurous Swiss family and French skipper (who was introduced to the Kookaburra Song tonight) and some Caribbean sunshine and the boat, Libellule.

Cheers!

12 australian nights

there is something really good about cleaning up and clearing out.
today i posted off 5 packages of items sold or given away etc.
5 packages of stuff outta my life.
yay for me.

lovely sister j dyed my hair for me, so now i'm a brown eyed and brown haired girl.

finished reading 'no ordinary view' and it was excellent. i highly recommend it, and it predecessor, 'my seventh monsoon.'

it's been really sad to hear of all the loss of life from the victoria fires. i think the count is up to 173. i hate all the media-ness of it all, but its all been very sobering and sad for australia.

and, in other news, i bought a pair of colorados from ebay - to replace my favourite pair that finally wore out last month after 7 years.

12 more sleeps until i leave aussie land. eek.

NZ: 100% ours for the taking

Dad, Kt, T, J, E & Jo went to the cricket in Syd today and left Mum and I to our own devices.
And we sat on the lounge.
All day.
Partly watched the cricket, internet etc

And I half read a really great book which I will attempt to finish demolishing tonight.

"No Ordinary View' by Naomi Reed. Aussie missionary in Nepal. She's very honest and interesting in her account of their time over there and in learning to see God in the everyday.

'He talked gently about the things that we know...we know that [knowledge and truth of Jesus]. we rely on that. we cling to it. and it's only because of that knowledge that we don't lose heart. it's only because of that knowledge that we are renewed day by day...
and i realised once again that the demands of the visible monsoon were blinding me to the unseen. most days, it seemed that i could hardly even catch a glimpse of the unseen, let alone fix my eyes on it.'

She also thought a lot about the prayer,
'Lord, when I'm most distressed, help me to bring glory to you.'

Will keep you updated on the rest of the book.

And, in case you were interested, we won the cricket.
Beat the kiwis.
Hence the link at the top. I share it whenever I get the chance. :)

(If you click on the title of this blog, you're in for a laugh - at the kiwi's expense)

australia day

there seems to have been a lot more hoohaa about australia day this year than previous years. perhaps i'm just more aware of it.
i've always thought it sad that we don't celebrate our country's day with as much fanfare as say, july 4th, in the usa.
but glad for the fanfare today, for the public holiday :) and for the beautiful sunny day it is here in canowindra. i really love canowindra - the name of which means home. i think i could live here a long time. shame i'm moving in a week!
but in honour of australia day i'll post a photo from our recent holiday on the south coast - of my sisters and i with some friends at 'australia rock.'
happy australia day!