Wednesday, March 21st .....

Today is Harmony Day and someone in authority thought it would be a good idea to have a Citizenship Ceremony at the Launceston Town Hall. Our unofficially adopted daughter, Siaren, was on the list to receive her certificate so we went along to cheer her on. It was great, about 40 people of all ages and from eleven countries, took the oath and were welcomed to their new country. The best bit for Siaren was lining up to receive a heap of presents: from the Government, local Rotary Club, CWA, etc. She got a hand-knitted coat-hanger from you-who-know and a teddy bear from someone else, and so on.

Morning tea was lovely with delicate little sandwiches, and sweet little cakes with flags stuck in them. I bet the CWA had nothing to do with it; if they had, I know there would have been sausage rolls and scones with jam and cream. Maybe they should have served a more traditional morning tea for the poor unsuspecting new citizens, just to give them a taste of what being an Australian really means. It’s not all beer and skittles being an Aussie!

I’m writing this as I watch Kitchen Cabinet and enjoy a glass of Penfolds Bluestone Port. I haven’t drunk port for a long time but it’s a bleak night and the port is hitting the spot. Annabell Crabb is rabbiting on about ginger nut biscuits, claiming that each state has a different recipe. NSW has the hardest ones. Can this be true? Research needed.

Talking about bleak weather – autumn is certainly upon us. Yesterday and today have been windy, wet and cold. The presenter on ABC Radio suggested it’s to do with the equinox and people who called in agreed with her. Jamie said the kids at Giant Steps were off today as well. There’s clearly some supernatural force at work here that I don’t understand.

We had the Craft Fair meeting tonight. It started at 7 o’clock and my expectation is that it will be finished by 8.30 – 90 minutes and no more. The agenda was longer than normal because a couple of issues came up at the last minute but at 8.25 I had finished the last item and asked, politely, if anyone had any general business, knowing full well that everybody could tell the time and would realise that it was time to go. However, one recalcitrant member raised an issue which sparked enthusiastic discussion and I wasn’t brave enough to pull it up. We ran on until 9 o’clock, without resolving anything and it is now the first item of business for our meeting next month. Can’t wait!