January Funks

Part of the reason for driving to Gembrook is to be with family. It is a fun time for everyone at once and that even goes for how many are allowed on the trampoline. We adults have to make sure that we bounce at just the right pitch so heads don't bang together. The trampoline was fun and we both played there with our grandkids for quite a time. It seems to be better than a swimming pool if you weigh it against the amount of upkeep a pool requires as opposed to a trampoline.

Bec or Gord must have made the large foam sausage that Piper and Jasper attached to. They looked like they were riding a bouncing torpedo. Piper may have considered that this was good horse riding practice.

Jethro enjoyed the bouncing about too. He certainly likes being involved in the same sort of games as his older siblings.

The pictures below were of the late afternoon story time. It was bed time for the kids but because of daylight saving it was hard to believe it. Piper is enjoying her more serious story. It is a special time for Bec too and she read the story with plenty of imaginative expression. Gord read to Jasper, or just turned the pages as Jasper directed. We couldn't help noticing that Jaz has grown and is looking and acting older. Jethro was just happy to stroll about with the occasional excursion into Peter's pockets for what to find there. He really is a sweet kid.

Gembrook Retreat

Last Saturday the Gembrook Retreat had its monthly working-bee. We were able to be involved in different ways. Barb walked about with the kids and watched them. Peter joined Gord and put up a wall to make two rooms in the compost toilet building. One day the project will be finished and visitors down in the valley will be able to shower at one end and relieve themselves at the other. These projects have to be paced in terms of years.

There was a nice community lunch shared with all who came along to help. And there were quite a few children too.

Roast Chook

We have recently been roasting chickens on a regular basis. It is more probably because Simon is with us and we are three. They are super meals and Barb is behind the drive to raise the bar. It is a nice place to share our space.

Yes, we still have that Norwegian Grey. That rabbit that is probably going to live a long life much to Peter's dismay, what with all the quality food she is getting. This picture was taken on a roast eating night and she got a bit of our salad.

Chaplaincy Orientation

The next step for Peter in the chaplaincy position process was to attend two orientation days at ACCESS Ministry head office. Each new chaplain was required to bring in a symbol that reflected chaplaincy for them personally. In the days prior to the training days, Peter saw leaf patterns on the foam of Barb's flat white and the idea developed from there. Peter's gum leaves came from a tree which had survived the drought through some level of spot watering provided by the city council. Peter never saw this water truck, so for him the watering had been done in secret. In many ways the nurturing of the school community through the chaplaincy service is a little like that. It might not be seen but be assured the nurture is there.

Bec's Thirty-First

This was an unusual birthday in many respects. Bec caught up with Gord earlier in the day down where Gord's office was. In the evening, she joined us and that is where our blog comes in. It is unusual also because Piper, Jasper and Jethro were not there as well. We had Bec to ourselves.

Bec loves the junk mail we get. She is strange that way. Maybe the junk mail people don't walk the streets of Gembrook. Anyway, the birthday girl was allowed to take as much as she wanted of that stuff.

We did come together as the original family of old - Peter, Barb, Bec, Simon and Dan (in a sense). We celebrated at Shuga where Dan was working. That way he was there to greet Bec and we could see him whenever we looked into the kitchen. It was really nice of Bec to go out of her way to come over during a time of the month when it was really hard to find convenient overlaps.

Australia Day Thought

Australia Day is upon us again and this year the Australian of the Year was a 55 year old guy called Simon McKeon who is Executive Chairman of Macquarie Group’s Melbourne office. At his interview he publically supported calls for a new national flag. Hear-hear to that. Many prominent Australians (even past prime ministers such as Malcolm Fraser, Bob Hawke and Paul Keating, are showing their interest for taking a real step towards a new and refreshing way we Australians can see ourselves.

Peter is interested in a change in the "up front" visual display of the change, in particular our flag. The one we are using is an antique from the early twentieth century. Other areas of change may require intensive debate but the flag issue ought to be clear cut. Throw out that stupid design done by some 1901 public servant and let us have something we can be proud of. The design above is Peter’s suggestion. It eats the pants off what exists at present. It is the Southern Cross constellation in the night sky over a red earth which has a line of yellow sunset. Simple, and simple is best.

Chaplaincy Position

This is a short news break! Peter's application to become a chaplain at Whittlesea Primary School has been accepted. This is a super-encouraging outcome, appreciated by all who have walked closely with Peter. We are both super-encouraged. The township of Whittlesea is just outside of Melbourne, half an hour's drive north of us, a community minded town. Peter is looking forward to serving the school community well and making positive and productive connections with everybody there. It is a special time ahead for us both, a time of considerable change.