August 2008 Archives

On our mantlepiece two framed photographs stand, the first one of my mother and Aussie Lass and Pink Ukulele. The other includes my mother, and my aunt, D, my Dad's oldest sister. The occasion: my grandmother's 100th birthday, held in Geelong in 1993.

In this snapshot of a moment in time, D's radiant smile lights up her whole face, amd my mum smiled too, as usual, happy to be in the company of her favourite sister-in-law.

This morning, we received a phone call: at 11 yesterday evening, D's brave and loving heart stopped beating at the age of 86. She is mourned by her loving family: 7 children, and many grandchildren and great grand children.

Shared memories of a kindred spirit: love of family, passion for Australian Rules Football, in her case, the Geelong Cats,  a love of reading and chatting and a welcoming home.

Memories of an afternoon on the farm in the Wimmera, when the Cats were playing the Saints, and the game was so close that neither of us could bear to be in the room where the radio was, so to relieve the tension, we walked down to the creek, and talked, sheer enjoyment for both of us. Later on, having mastered the technology of the video recorder, she would record the Cats games, and only watch the close games after she found out the result.

Before the age of the Internet, to read one of her letters to my parents was like hearing her talk, a rapidly written stream of thoughts, which made you feel she was in the room with you. She will be sadly missed by her wide circle of family and friends.

Be still my soul, the hour is hastening on

When we shall be forever with the Lord

When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,

Sorrow forgotten, love's pure joy restored

Be still my soul, when change and tears are past

All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Catharina AD von Schiegel

Looking for an activity to fill in some time on Saturday, we headed off to Yarraville to the Sun Theatre, to see Persepolis, an animated film, mainly because of the timing of the showing.

I knew virtually nothing of the story, other than it was the story of a young girl in revolutionary and war torn Iran, and the horror of the story told was not diminished in any way by the fact that it was animated. Instead the starkness of the black and white drawings, the humanity of the characterisation shocked me into tears for the terrible waste of lives.

And, then, the realisation that even in what we think of these enlightened times, people can do terrible things to their own compatriots, while we live our lives in ingnorance.

If you get a chance to see it, go...the time is definitely worth it.

An exciting weekend for Pink Ukulele and Y, who moved into their new home on Friday. It is so much fun to see their excitement and pride in their new abode, and to hear their plans for the future. Chickens, fruit trees, garden beds. But first, some small maintenance tasks to make the place more comfortable. And anticipation of many family gatherings in the future.

Once upon a time there was a princess of royal lineage who in the spirit of dynamic and modern woman, accepted a role far from the country of her birth in the land of the long white cloud. At her new home in the Great Southland there were many adventures to be had, people to meet and places to go, and a house to furnish.

As all modern princesses do, in search of a bargain, this princess enjoyed the use of eBay, that modern electronic market place of many, many temptations.

One day the princess bid on an item of furniture for her new palace, was pleased to be the successful bidder at auction, after carefully noting that the location of the item was indeed the same state in which she was residing, and the abbreviated location name was not too far from her place of employment.

A telephone call to the vendor apprised our brave princess of one of the realities of life in the great southland: distance.

The location was not a shortened form of a city suburb, as she had initially thought, when she read the name. Notting Hill, shortened NHill,  though a pleasant enough suburb of Melbourne is a long way from Nhill in the NW of Victoria some 400km away...

Chance remarks can lead to interesting conversations... A phrase in French, referred to in this Blog, leads to new readers. And then I had to explain myself. Two smallish French/ NZ visitors  taught me this new phrase, so the next question? What was it?

Rather than offend you my dear readers, let me just say: in English "Shut up" was once considered a very rude way of telling someone to be quiet. There is a much ruder phrase in French, which I hope never to have a reason to use in "real" life. But, I now could, if I had to.

Reading other people's blogs where they are enjoying holidays in Northern Hemisphere summer weather is making me itchy to go somewhere, even if it is not hot.

I might have to have a weekend in Queensland, that might help, but saving up leave for a holiday in colder climates at Christmas still gets me just a wee bit excited, even four months out...

Well, let me tell you what I am thinking about, as a little does of anticipation just makes the whole experience a better one:

• Buying a crêpe with lemon and sugar from one of the tiny crepe vendors in Paris. (Yes alright, I can buy one that tastes almost exactly the same here, but it's just not Paris)
• Ambling around village streets and markets of France
• Enjoying sharing meals with the family
• Tasting boutique cheeses
• Preparing and eating a fresh baguette with goose or duck rillettes, mâche and tomato
• Practising my improving French language skills
• Catching up with old friends and new

Aaah....roll on December..

Can you get a more sport focussed town than Melbourne? This week the newspapers  are alternating between stories from Beijing (just a few) and a tawdry drunk driving incident (page after page in both newspapers) involving 2 AFL players from the most popular and most disliked team in Melbourne, lies, being caught out in lying in a very public manner (read maximum embarrassment to their club)

This latest incident will mean that two Collingwood (Magpies) stars will not be available to play for the rest of the season. And many football followers will ponder the difference in penalty imposed for drunk driving on the one hand, and lying to the club and team mates on the other.

My beloved Saints have not been immune to messy incidents either, but they have the misfortune of coming up against the Pies this weekend. Who knows what the effect of losing two key players will be, sometimes, to confound rational and logical thought, a team who has gone through a disaster will win their next game despite all the odds.

And Robert Harvey, the Saints' dual Brownlow Medallist has now announced he will be retiring at the end of the season. At least the positive reminiscences on a sterling career will turn people's attention away from the irresponsible behaviour of others towards unselfish and team spirited behaviour, from a player who has always been an ornament to the game.

"Once you get to 25 you realise there isn't long left - especially when you started at 16. Your body gets such a hammering each week. You wonder how long it can hold up." - Robert Harvey 1997

A weekend of sporting events, in the main viewed from the comfort of our living room, after a week fighting off a cold virus which was generously passed on to me, with some very satisfying results in tipping- a rare 8/8. An afternoon nap yesterday, then a disappointing showing by the Wallabies in Auckland means that any thought of sending clever SMSs is largely to be avoided..., this weekend, anyway, for the Wallabies only looked good in the first couple of minutes.

Today, the inconsistent Saints have kept their finals hopes alive with a stirring come from behind victory over Port Adelaide.

And finally, making for dinner tonight: an old favourite of mine, smoked cod with a cheese sauce, mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables. I can just hear Aussie Lass and Pink Ukulele groaning, a throw back to years gone by when smoked cod was a traditional dish on Good Friday. But I also know that Muffin Man and Yaya will sit down to any meal that their mother-in-law cooks in a very appreciative manner...oh, sweet revenge...