We're Back Home!

We're really, truly back in Australia, and back home in Warrnambool.  Most of our transfers and connections went well, despite being stressful at times. We're loving our flannelette sheets, familiar pillows and regular blankets when sleeping. The home toilet and shower are still the best in the world....

I won't be posting diary refelections of each and every thing we did - it just becomes too onerous and burdensome, but I will post notes and observations from time to time, in no particular order, as they come to mind. 

I'm taking up the reins of church matters once again, and now travel is well and truly behind us, I'm already thinking about what I want my life to look like for the next 2years, 5years, 10years. Hopefully, not too different to what's gone before. The school crossing gear has been packed in the car, ready for tomorrow's start. That's not going to change anytime soon.

A photo from our first day in Europe - at the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark.

A photo from our last day in Europe - medieval building and bridges in Bamburg, Germany.

All Set

Church tasks are all completed; and I've handed over everything I normally do each Sunday to others... We had our first Live Stream service this morning, and it was really good. Our singing was enthusiastic when combined with the singing from the audio, and the presentation from Holy Trinity at Horsham was particularly professional. 

We had a proper packing ceremony yesterday morning, so we're all set to head off on Tuesday. Bins, keys and cars will be sorted tomorrow or first thing on Tuesday. 

That's about all the news.  I won't be posting here again until the 7th October, all being well. The case just closes with its extender zip open!!!

Appointments Before and After

We're both in and out this week with appointments - hairdresser, podiatrist and doctors last week. The same appointments have been booked for the week we get back from our trip. I've finished at the crossing now for 6 weeks. Tomorrow, we're down and back to Geelong for a dental appointment and the car is booked in for a service on Friday. And it's booked in for its regular detail, the day before I go back to the crossing. Anything to do with the car has to be done in holidays, while the gear is out of it. So, we're working through the list of things we need to do before we get away. 

My case has now made it from under a desk to the top of a desk - and is mostly packed - I'll still be needing to wear a few packed items on Sunday - I'm pretty sure I'll get everything in...

I've tried to set up Family Sharing on the phone - Jim can find me and my phone, but I can't find him!! Will need to go to the tech shop on Friday for help; it's something to do with his password...

This Sunday

Today, we had a quietly celebratory morning tea with members from both congregations attending after the worship service. It was a sad occasion in some respects, marking the end of the parish as an entity, but with relief from some of us that another level of administration in our church life is now over. Sue was acknowledged as a long term Secretary for over 20 years, and who lead us through 3 Call processes with colourcoded spreadsheets. Jim was acknowledged as a long term Treasurer for 40 years, happy to use his accounting expertise in the service of the parish. 

 

Last Visit

We had our last visit with the travel agent yesterday; picked up all our tickets, paperwork and finalised itinerary details.  There weren't too many outstanding questions, thank heavens - everything's been organised down to the minute/hour, just the way I like it. I've spent odd bits of time last night and today getting everything squirreled away in the travel journals, in date order, so we're almost all set. Only 12 days to go...

This and That for This Sunday

We had a little outing to Cobden Miniature Railway today. It was a beautiful clear, mild afternoon, just right for riding trains. We thought we'd get lunch at the cafeteria, but luncheon food was all sold out. It wasn't far to travel into Cobden for lunch elsewhere, and then back for another ride.

I'm gradually working through the old Messengers; should have a reasonable display of archival material ready for next Sunday.  I'll be needing to make some notes for speeches... After next Sunday, I'll have to get the troops lined up to do some of my roles there for when we're away. 

 

A Bit Late

I'm a day late with posting. I started a little project yesterday, which I shouldn't have - I couldn't put it down or put it aside... It was a major update to the theme and layout of the Trinity Blog.  I was going to wait till after our trip, but yesterday, I couldn't help myself, but make a start. I've been gradually tidying it up and deleting a lot of old stuff, about once a week when I'd update the service times; the old theme was getting to me. It was very polished, complicated and dark, with white text, and I just couldn't come to grips with how it looked and behaved. 

Of course, it's years since I've given my own blog a makeover, so the whys and wherefores were difficult to work out.  It's not finished yet, but better than it was.

Today, city council workers had a Child Safe training session to attend.  Two hours, so a major disruption to the day. Jim's out at Rotary, so I can do some catching up.... 

Best Thing

One of the next best things since sliced bread is a stationery shop open on Sundays. "Hello Officeworks"!  What would we do without a little trip there on a Sunday afternoon... The current project, apart from worrying about our trip, is the morning tea coming up in a couple of Sundays to recognise 80 years of the Parish. As the parish structure is dissolving at the end of the month. Yesterday, I found a box of old "Messengers" (church newsletters)in the church's archive cupboard; brought it home, and now I hope to find some key articles, going back decades, that describe the work of the parish. I found a couple of empty folders in a drawer, and just needed the plastic pockets to get started. I'll photocopy one or two articles from varying years, put them in the folder, ready for display at the upcoming morning tea. The originals can then go straight back into their storage packets, and I don't need to be double handling. That's the plan, anyway. 

A Little Outing

I forgot to mention in Sunday's post that we'd had a little outing to Timboon on Saturday, just for a short change of scenery. The weather was cool, but completely still along the walking trail. We parked near the trestle bridge, had a wander along there, and then about 10 minutes in the other direction. Then we drove round to the Icecreamery for an ice-cream, and then it was back home.

Posting these photos reminds me that I now have the Sandisk app on my phone to manage the storage and saving of travel photos, using a tiny Sandisk USB. I think I'll be able to manage. The travel agent says we have to have the WhatsApp on the phone as well, as that's how all the tourist operators in Europe get in touch. I've downloaded it, but it's only half set up.  She's going to do all that for us....

  

This and That for this Sunday

It was soup Sunday today, after the church service. Pastor Colin led the service with Holy Communion and a Baptism - the 2nd baptism in two weeks. So, the service was a blessing to Kai and his parents, and to us the congregation.  Then it was warm fellowship blessings at a hot soup lunch.  Raelene's Lamb Shank and Vege soup was delish. Of course I had to have a little meeting with three others about a matter coming up at the end of the month. 

We had a second to last meeting with our travel agent during week, to iron out the last few bits and pieces; the last catch up will be in a couple of weeks, to pick up tickets and other relevent information. Any day that's not a travel day on the escorted tour section, seems to have free time in the afternoon, so I've been doing a bit of research for places to see and visit, at each of the main cities where we're staying. I think they'll require a taxi to get to, and back again, as not enough time to work out train routes, or they have long walking routes before arriving, and then walking around at the place of interest. 

I've finally worked out how to administer the church's blog from home (so I don't have to spend time at the church office on this task). I can give 10-15 minutes every now and again to tidy it up, and then find a workable way forward to post, when to post, and what to post about.  We'll see how that goes.