It was a hot, sunny Australian day which I spent cruising on the Murray River on a steam boat with the elderly people of the parish!! I came back feeling totally exhausted, but it was worth the while. It's as though I stepped into history for a day.
I had a good, relaxing day yesterday!! Woke up late and then chilled out catching up with little nothings. Today... Responded to some urgent emails and then attended a funeral of a 99 and 1/2 year old man. The parishioners were impressed to see me in my cassock (pic). After that I attended a few long meetings... one at the Catholic College, and the other was a finance meeting here at the parish. It's amazing how organized and professional these guys are!
This was a good day. A very good day!! I played a song (Only By Grace) at a few masses in the bush (Countryside) and then played at a meal for a group of 60 people. After that I prepared the last few things for the youth meeting and at 4:45pm the youth started arriving to our pre-meeting jamming session. We were 13 in all - thank God... a few more than the last week! The meeting went really well!
Today saw the unofficial launch of my CD Closer here in Australia. I think I make the same mistake over and over. I sing a song that is not on the CD (I Surrender) during a public 'performance' and that is the song that people want!!! What to do? I think I will get the song they want out as a single. I have so much to learn about performance and CD marketing!!
Another jam-packed day! Meetings, a lovely Chinese meal in a beautiful country house and more meetings... then a workout at the gym, and another meeting after that. The last meeting was interesting - a group of 8 people meet with me every 5 weeks to give me feedback, making sure I am living up to he Papal document Pastores Dabo Vobis on my work here and support wherever I need.
I was a bit under the whether today... one of those days when you wake up tired... and with a bit of a cold. The day was busy nonetheless!! I began my day with my daily prayer time, went to the city centre to meet my Aussy spiritual director/confessor, then off to visit the Poor Clares (Klarissi) nuns, whose monastery is close by. Some administrative work after that (Youth meeting e-mails and planning), and then I rested and went cycling. I was temporarily re-united with my bicycle for some exercise. Going to have some supper now and then off for an early night!!!!!
Monday... a relaxing day for me. I spent most of this day in my room writing and recording a song for next weeks Y4J H2O weekend. I used a new midi Keyboard console I just bought to add some orchestration to the song. After resting in the afternoon I went to the gym and then went out to a pub for supper with some of the local priests - I was the driver for the evening! After supper we had some coffee and watched 2 episodes of Fawlty Towers. I'm now off to sleep... a busy week ahead!
What an intense 2 days! Meetings, masses, meals, driving around! I loved it... The youth meeting went great... 9 people turned up which is great!! We sang, ate and discussed. Thank God... the nerves I had before and during this meeting were enough to kill me, but as usual, I can now see that it was just unnecessary tension. God sent two angels (Ronda and Marcia) to help out! The bishop called on my mobile during the meeting... that was cool!
My eyes need a rest! I have spent the last 2 days in front of the computer... designing a website and experimenting with some computer music recording stuff! The highlight of my day was doing communion rounds for the sick! I also went for a short walk to the shopping mall to see if my sunglasses are ready yet... they should be in my hands tonight!! I'm now off to meet with some priests top didcuss ideas for Sunday's homily! There are a few conferences on healing, youth and other subjects in the Bendigo area which I am looking forward to soon!!
I was supposed to spend today and the next few days in Melbourne, but there was a sudden change in plans. My day was spent designing a web page for the Sandhurst Diocese World Youth Day. I found out that the car I am driving is a Holden, just like the one in the pic... but not as new-looking and grey in colour.
3 weeks have passed since I got to Australia... and today I was given (or rather lent) a car. It' s huge V6 or V8 automatic engine car! I don't even know what make it is (Toyota I think) ... I'll check that tomorrow. So this afternoon I drove to the city and then to the gym. The morning was spent in the parish office preparing for this Sunday's first youth meeting. I pray and hope that some teens will turn up!
Monday is a good day... it is my official day of relaxation after a busy weekend and week! I woke up a bit later than usual this morning and had a good time of prayer. Then I went cycling to the city and bought some gym shoes and the new Nickleback CD. After lunch I rested and cycled to the gym where I did a good workout! Now Im going to relax with a few friends by the TV and eat my fish and chips!!
I just came back from a long trip. It took us four hours driving to the place where bishop Joe was to give a one-hour talk. After the talk we had lunch and drove 4 hours back to Bendigo. I drove part of the way back. My driving went very well until I had to stop to change drivers. We were going 120km/hour and then I forgot there was no clutch so I really braked hard and nearly gave the sleeping bishop a heart-attack! The joke is I could not figure out what I was doing wrong! Yet another embarrassing event!! Oh well!! I saw an interesting looking pub along the way... take a look at the building in the pic.
Had a fantastic 3 days in Melbourne city. I met some Maltese priests, had lunch with a Maltese family and I just got back after having supper at the bishops house. I spent this morning in the city and had two embarrassing incidents. First I went to a coffee shop... I had a few dollars in my pocket so I got the smallest coffee I could find. I calculated that I had just enough to buy a small biscuit with it. As I went to pay I realized I did not have enough for the biscuit... I had to return my 90 cent biscuit!! Then... I went to the seminary in Melbourne and when I left they opened the electric gate for me. It opened and closed with a fancy green button, and as it was opening I could not resist... I pressed the button... and the gate jammed! I broke the blooming gate!! M'hemmx taghmel!
I woke up later than usual this morning as I was up kinda' late last night watching a DVD - Failure to Launch - not a very good film! I lazed around for a while, wrote a long article for the religious newspaper here and then went to the city centre with my newly aquired means of transoport - a bicycle. I bought some flashy lights for it and a plastic-looking helmet... so embarrassing;) Its ok here I guess! I went to the city to buy an international calling card! So guys and girls... stay close to your phone... the next person I call just might be you!!!!!
I was invited to the birthday party of a Filipino woman. It was a nice evening in the country-side. There was enough food to feed a regiment... and a whole pig to eat too!! Please note... that is not blood on the pig but some BBQ sauce or something!!
Today proved to be my busiest day since I've arrived here in Australia. I began my day with mass, then went to visit some of the elderly and sick at their homes. I love doing that!! After that we had a big meal here at home (11 people) after which I went to buy a bicycle. The roads here are fantastic for cycling! Everywhere is flat. I went to a second-hand shop to buy it... Unbelievable... I bought a mountain-bike for $5 (Lm1.50). Now I have to get a safety hat (helmet). Ok... Then I came home, discussed some plans with the bishop, spent some time composing a song and then I went to the gym(right)!! I hope to go to the gym 3 to 4 times a week... issa naraw!!
