Mr Mo

Before the month of Movember had officially started, Peter had already registered for the Men's Health fundraising initiative involving growing a moustache from the start of the month to its end. So far it has been a very determined effort on the part of Peter in order to cope with the continual 'pricks' about the upper lip. Barb is not so impressed either about that. It is for a good cause though so we will endure it till the end of the month... then it's off! Peter has also noted that there is an alarming percentage of white bristles! If you would like to financially contribute to the cause, Donate here.

Weekend Rhythms

For the long weekend (Melbourne Cup) we both went our different ways. Peter to Menergy and Barb to Tasmania. 

Menergy Rhythms included 37 very special men sitting with their drums sharing a common beat. The ages went up from 20 to the oldest man there at 90. The drums were not the only thing that happened. This was a time of great healing and inspiration to do life better.

Menergy Connecting

A true and wonderful gift is to listen generously to another.  

When we do that, we encourage him to find meaning and hope

and help him to know that he matters.  

When we travel with another and share joys and sorrows,

our hearts will touch and find fire in the centre.

Let us try to do this as naturally as breathing.  

No matter how our own journey has transpired,

we have the power to... collaborate... with life in this way.  

If tears are falling, we add to them. 

When another is happy and celebrating, we celebrate too,

and congratulate him. 

We listen generously and by doing so we heal.  

The discovery for doing this, the motivation behind this,

is that our response reflects back... on us. 

If we judge, we judge ourselves. 

If we encourage, we encourage ourselves,

and the happiness reaches out and touches us.  

This attitude has the power to raise us

to a new level of consciousness,  

that we may be able to more easily escape

those negative feelings that await.  

We can dream creatively and help others that way,

when we invite wonder and possibility.  

Strengthening life connects our puzzle pieces

and blesses the life in us.

Peter Ackland - school chaplain 

The labyrinth was carefully cleaned up and repaired by a devoted number of men and Peter walked it twice on the last day.

The dining room had beautiful living Australian bush vistas, each window a new pictorial experience.

The chapel was home for many of the workshops and served as the venue for Peter's daily reflection group. They were a special group of guys.

While that was happening, Barb linked up with her sister in Tazzi and they did a bit of natural dying of old woolen blankets. Parts of particular Australian plants, such as some types of gum nuts and leaves have the potential to leave a lasting stain in greens and many earth colours, provided you do it right. Barb and Donna had a very creative weekend.

October Birthdays

This was a memorable double birthday occasion. Barb had decided on Federation Square at the edge of the city precincts near the river. We found a spot and settled there for a nice time. It was late afternoon and very pleasant. The Funks were there, Simon and Daniel also, and friends Jesse and Bec graced us with their presence. There was an assortment of food and plenty of beer. And the Funks brought the cake. The following pictures don't need any further explanation as to what happened with the traditional celebration except maybe the last one, taken after Barb had blown out all candles except one, and Dan, the other birthday person, trying to suck that last flame into his mouth instead of doing the normal thing!

Sand Towers

Creating things in the sand, especially wet sand, has always intrigued Peter, so it was always going to be fun. Barb caught all the action on her phone. Two strong towers were being built, one for anybody really and the other smaller one carefully managed by Jet. It was a nice and fine day for it. While we did these sorts of things in the back yard, Gord was being industrious inside the house making gourmet pizzas. Yum.

Atherton Visit

As planned for some time, Peter flew up to Cairns these past school holidays and was picked up and driven to Atherton my his brother John. The days that followed were mostly devoted to sorting out a lot of their Mum's stuff: her books, paintings, photos, sewing cabinet and the piano. The three working days they had to make it happen was blessed. Everything came together so smoothly that it felt like it was a God event.

Phillip joined them on the Friday and the remainder of the books were worked through and the photos distributed. It was a smoothly done. This allowed the three brothers to fit in happy times together, like making pizzas for lunch and playing a Wii game (golf). Phil won, John second and Peter a distant last.

They joined with Phil and Shellie to have a barbecue with a neighbour (on AFL grand final afternoon). A bit of football watching was balanced by playing with infants. Phil and Shellie love the young ones.

This is the wall which had Mum's piano for 17 years. Once it was moved ready for transportation south, John and Peter dismantled the upstairs bookshelves and fixed them to this wall. Now it looks like the shelves had always been there. They look like they were designed for the lounge and that wall.

This is just one of the seven boxes that Peter packed, this one with many of the paintings, each individually wrapped. John had a year's supply of newspapers so there was no shortage in that area.
Below is Harley, now working at Woolworths after leaving IGA.

Cousin's Visit

Peter's cousin Robyn and her husband David went touring from Gosford and we were the first port of call for a few nights. It was really good to see them again after what seems like it could be ten years since the last time. When Peter was a boy he spent many a weekend outing from boarding school with Robyn's family. They are great memories.

Barb's Spring Visit

We are trying to catch up on a few blogs now. Before the end of last month, Barb took her opportunity on a day off to visit our family at Gembrook. She had a precious time with the grandkids which included an excursion to the skate park and a treat at a cafe. And there was always the trampoline play.