So time to catch up my time here in Sydney.
It’s been a pretty hectic time since leaving Kat and Tom’s early Christmas morning after a late night of picnic’s at Glebe and Christmas Eve services. It was great to go to Glebe church and catch up with the crew there. Also, great to see the new minister in action after all the hard nominating work and he seems to be going very well. Everyone there seems pretty happy. I have to say it all felt like another world to me though.
Christmas day was good fun. We had a picnic with the Frenches, Castles, Hayes-Hidalgos plus some other lovelies. It wasn’t really the right weather for a picnic but we made it work in the end. It was good to be on the Harbour and to eat good food and to be with a group of people who feel like family. Then it was off to my grandmother’s. She put on her usual amazing spread of food and wine and it was a lovely evening of eating, present giving and catching up.
We spent the night there with the hope of the hitting the beach the next day but alas the weather was still not great so after breakfast we headed back to Eastwood where we spent the night with John who was a wonderful host to us. The next day I went to Newtown with Gem to buy a dress. We caught up with Jem as well and she showed us her new home. In the evening we saw Avatar at Hornsby and I have already wrote about that. We left John’s the next day (now the 28th) to pick up Jo, Victor and the five other Guatemalans. It was very exciting to see them. We drove back to Jane’s for a welcome lunch and then dinner.
The 29th was Peats Ridge time. After having an afternoon tea with David and Andreana, Jem and I headed down on the bus at three. We walked down into Glenworth Valley where the festival was and sat around and drank Chai til the others (Keith, Ryan, Gem and my mum ) arrived. My friend from Alice, Joy, was also there so she joined us for Chai. The next three days were filled with music and swimming in the river and more chai. It was a beautiful venue and we heard some great music and had a lot of fun but it was pretty intense for me. It was all very loud and the weather wasn’t the best and I was feeling pretty tired so I found it all a bit full on. Coming home on the 1st was a relief and having a cleansing shower and sleep. We spent the night at Janet’s who was another gracious host. Jem, Gem, Janet and I had dinner and movie with Jo before her Australian wedding.
The Australian wedding or Happy Party the next day was truly a very happy party. I had a great time catching up with people and dancing and most importantly celebrating Jo and Victor and marriage. The weather was not perhaps what the hosts were hoping for but it was phenomenal none the less. We spent the night with Jess in Wollongong and headed back to the party venue for breakfast with the crew in the morning.
From there it was on to Tamworth. A long drive from Wollongong and I was not feeling the best most of the day. It was great to get there and see my dad and my grandparents. My dad’s done some more great things with his house. I was able to have a much needed quiet day on the 4th. I was still sick and pretty tired from all the events so I just slept and read all day. It was my father’s 50th party that evening. Another great event with lots of catching up with special people. My grandma and aunts and Gemma said some pretty moving but very honest things about my dad. It was very him I think. We spent the next day in Tamworth as well. We went swimming in the river and had Thai food for dinner. Tamworth actually has a decent Thai restaurant these days which was exciting. We drove back to Sydney the next day and stayed with Janet that night.
I was still sick the next day and today so I have just been resting at Jane’s feeling sorry for myself and complaining to anyone who will listen. It’s not a bad place for that either as there are lots of people coming and going from this place at the moment. I was pleased though that Martin and I had the place to ourselves last night so were able to enjoy a romantic dinner and a movie before everyone came home again.
Now I have to prepare to head to Manly for dinner with an old school friend and then staying at my grandmother’s. I am praying my health and the weather will allow me to hit the beach this weekend as I have been desperate to for the whole trip but haven’t managed to.