Trish supervising in our church kitchen News from the Middle East is not all that good right now as Hamas and Israel hammer at each other again. But we’re in the business of celebrating small candles that light the way in the darkness. Nazareth Hospital is one such candle – a Christian place of healingContinue reading “Trish travels to Nazareth in the name of peace”
Category Archives: Personal
The colossal carbon trading rip-off
Been quietly seething about the damp squib of a carbon trading scheme offered by our PM this week – 5% reduction by 2020 is a flea-kick. Then there’s a transparently deceptive attempt to get us all to put our shoulder behind the wheel to reduce it further. Scott Vawser spells it out here. *sigh* –Continue reading “The colossal carbon trading rip-off”
Christmas breaks in…
… see what I mean? There’s kind of a Mexican stand-off between Advent and Christmas observance. We had our annual community Christmas party last night – barbecue followed by games and carol-singing. I used the epilogue to tell a story about “the angel in a gum tree”, sneaking in a flog for the ChristmasContinue reading “Christmas breaks in…”
‘Tis the Season to be Fasting…
… fa lalala la, lala la la! I usually feel like King Canute at this time of the year – raising my arms, seeking to hold back the relentless tide of Christmas festivities washing tsunami like over the beaches of Advent – the “little Lent” – the season of preparation, reflection and fasting. MyContinue reading “‘Tis the Season to be Fasting…”
“Australia” the Movie – Kitsch or Epic?
No doubt about it – this reviewer has mixed reactions to Australia, the movie. The characters and plot devices are exaggerated caricatures of all that has been classic in cinematography and depictions of this land. At one level it comes across as a kind of “Gone with the Wind Down Under” – and in the meantimeContinue reading ““Australia” the Movie – Kitsch or Epic?”
Demolition begins – what of the future?
A strange silence has descended on this once thriving street. Once it was busy with cars and delivery trucks as well as pedestrian traffic – neighbours walking dogs, skateboarders, children buying after school snacks, “golden girls” meeting for coffee – now there’s nobody. Even an advocate of silence, like myself, finds the silence is tooContinue reading “Demolition begins – what of the future?”
A community laments, remembers and hopes
Photos courtesy Brian Hills [click each to enlarge] About 400 people gathered this afternoon to share in a process of community affirmation and support following the loss of the Wembley Downs Shopping Centre by fire seven days ago. A short simple ceremony invited each person to hold a rock and to imagine it absorbing sorrowContinue reading “A community laments, remembers and hopes”
From the ashes the phoenix…
The community is beginning to rally. There have been very positive expressions to the proposal outlined below and which is being distributed, as I write, throughout the district. Compassion for one another – neighbour for neighbour, customer for trader, trader for customer has been working it’s way through the community. The annual District Fair tomorrow willContinue reading “From the ashes the phoenix…”
Fire aftermath
LAMENT HOPE These two signs hang on the fence surrounding the charred remains of our local shopping centre. One expresses the deep sorrow of the community, the other is a pointer to the community spirit that will carry us on. Both lament and hope need to find expression and it is my desire that weContinue reading “Fire aftermath”
Local shops destroyed by fire
Our local shops have been very handy to us – just across the road from where we live. More than that, however, they were the hub of the Wembley Downs community. As I write, the street is full of emergency vehicles while the ashes are hosed down. The crowds have dwindled now and the heartbreakingContinue reading “Local shops destroyed by fire”
Wondering Pilgrim 