Last weekend here

Another Saturday, and another chance to attend my parent's church. A chance to help out too, in setting out the tables and decor for communion.

We had a bit of a rough night, so it was a rush to get to church when we finally got up. My son is sleeping on an Ikea bunkbed and any movement not only squeeks the bed, but attempts to throw things off the shelf and desk below, or bank the entire contraption against these hollow wood Aussie walls (no decent solid brick in sight, except on the exterior!). So we tossed and turned and woke each other up throughout the night. Needless to say, bunkbeds have been scratched from any future shopping lists...

Well, off to church and this week I made sure I got to their expensive coffee machine for a cuppa. While some attended morning cell groups, I hung out with a couple of cool ladies on the balcony, and ironed table cloths, and helped set up. Church was good - it's a relaxed atmosphere that even the oldies enjoy and the worship team was excellent as always.

Lunch followed - a weekly tradition that gives time to get to know folk. And I finally got to meet the man who has been campaigning relentlessly for our entry to Australia, a wonderful "elderly" (old but full of life) gentleman and his wife, who have lived fascinating lives and can weave a mean tale.

This afternoon while mom slept, dad took the brothers and one wife to the train station. They're spending the night and most of tomorrow with friends in Sydney. He came back to collect J and I, and we headed off for a walk in Galston gorge. On the way there, plans changed. We did indeed stop in the gorge briefly, but then had the experience of crossing Berowra Waters by car-ferry! It was a narrow, winding road both down to it and back up again. We got home at the same time (just after sunset) and via the same road (Pacific Freeway) that we'd been travelling precisely 24 hours earlier.

This evening was a Talent Night at church, and it was a ball! The acts went from a kid on the piano, to a guy on the saw, to a skit where the boys left the stage in boxer shorts, to some singing, some awesome guitar work, a rendition of "Sweet Child of Mine" that had us wondering who should throw the first bra - and ended with a homemade DVD, a spoof on one of those Karate films with English subtitles, done by some of the local youth and leaving us in tears of laughter.

I got to chat to a few more folk, make some more connections - but no, I have not yet found that single Aussie male that everyone keeps telling me to look out for. I've met a lot of single Aussie males, but just not That One! :)

So now it's nearing bedtime, and the cold is seeping up from the forest below. Another day in Australia at an end. Another good one.

(Other than a REALLY bad sore throat, beginnings of a chesty cough and the likelihood that I will not be all that well for the next week or so)