Anyway. Our daughter (still weird saying/writing it) was Christened yesterday in Ashgrove - St Finbars Church. It's OK, nobody was struck down by lightning during the short half hour ceremony - though we had a first timer priest for the occasion. I just kept picturing Rowan Atkinson in Four Weddings as this chappie stumbled his way through the book in his hands.
I reckon the markers were in all the wrong places coz we had many many "reflective" pauses. He could have been reading from the Koran for all we knew - couldn't understand a word he was saying at times. Adam claimed he couldn't hear him but maybe he just wanted to avoid saying "I do" too often in case it might be catching. Sinead's stand-in Godmother role was played admirably by Bec. There was actually another Christening at the same time as ours - and to put it mildly we were like chalk and cheese on the altar. They were traditional with their net-curtain bedecked and hooded child, suits and specially engraved/prepared candle for the occasion. We had funky dressed baby, cocktail shirts and a swiftly pilfered cheapie candle. I could have been a pick-pocket in another existence. Some in the audience thought I was far too adept at appropriating it for me not to have had any practice. I am an accountant by trade after all.A small affair it was, though back in the gaf it appeared like we had invited half a football stadium as kids appeared out of everywhere. If there was a gap to be found, the kids were in it and as bedlam reigned inside, the "adults" escaped outside to start into the limited but concentrated time there was for drinking. All in all, it was a lovely day - of course I missed my Irish side being there so much, but those that were there made a big effort. And a successful pre-Christening web cam hook-up with the family so the star of the show could display her wares helped ease that pain a little, though there is just a massive gap where her aunt Marian should be.
By the way, thanks to Shelley for especially making the trip from Melbourne and representing the Irish/Australian contingent.
As some have noted, we have "descended" into the Winter period. Temperatures have dipped as low as 4-6 degrees at night (which is actually BLOODY cold when the houses are set-up to allow the breeze to blow through). And daytime temperatures have dropped to a shivering average of about 24.
Lots of "footy" still on the TV, and having travelled to Melbourne and Sydney regularly recently, the following are further language tips when speaking of football;
- Queensland "football" = Rugby Union
- New South Wales (Sydney) "football" = Rugby League
- Victoria (Melbourne) "football" = Aussie Rules
- South Australia "football" = zzzzzzzzzzzzz, sorry what?
- Western Australia "football" = Doesn't matter - too far for any other Aussies to be bothered
- Northern Territories "football" = Are ye bloody mad? Too hot. And there could be snakes.
3 weeks tomorrow we'll be heading off to the old sod. I reckon the place must be due a heatwave at this stage so we'll just expect and dress accordingly. No room for woolly jumpers now that we're gonna have bags full of baby stuff. Ah yes, another new travel adventure.
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