Mid-Week Late Night Fireblaze

Date: February 8, 2012
Time: 10pm
Place: Glenfield Rd

"Some little pricks just dumped and set fire to a car right in front of our home. Grrrrr" ~ from a familiar voice

As rain continued for the last whole week, yesterday of a Friday, the weather showered us with clemency and the sun came out for a change. The air was warmer and I lost my mobile phone to what I believed I dropped where I stood while waiting for the bus, close to my daughter's home.

Last Wednesday night, I witnessed a late night drama happening on that same street where I stood by and where I lost my phone.

I was already in bed reading books and magazine and scribbling notes, when suddenly I smelt a rotten and pungent odour of a burning tire, so strong I thought there must be a fire somewhere. I did not move and went on reading when my daughter hurriedly opened the door and told me to shut my window. There was a fire! I jumped out of bed and did as I was told.

She asked me to mind the sleeping baby - so unfazed and unperturbed in her sleep amidst commotion and noises from the outside. There was a fire blaze from a car parked right in front of their home. A leathery burnt smell was wafting around the neighbourhood and a thick black smoke kept whooshing on the air. It looked like a turbulent spout of a tornado!

I stood motionless watching the poor mini blue car swallowed by a raging fire and the scary part was - what if it exploded and hit the nearby Eucalyptus tree. Eucalyptus trees are volatile and once the fire hits them, there's no doubt the whole shebang would be in a colourful blast of red conflagration of that late night.

The fire brigade instructed everybody to stay in their place and that no one must come out of their homes and no one was allowed to get near the burning car, so I heard. Garbage bins were standing in line along that road and many were in the position parallel to the burning car. I thought someone must pulled them away least they melted.

As the fire rapidly consumed the car, we patiently waited for the firetruck to arrive. I was frozen to death, unable to move, didn't think of taking a photo, I was just there standing behind the glass door watching helplessly and worried that the hissing tongue of fire would reach the heated trunk of the Eucalyptus tree and cause a possible bigger fire to break out. Such a freaky night!

The firetruck came and the firemen were steady, calm and collected as I watched them do their work and soon the fire was put under control. The traffic was halted and it was getting longer on both sides going east and west.

When the blaze was finally squashed, the firemen opened the boot with the use of a long iron bar and more smoke came out, same when they broke the front glass shield and the engine compartment.

It was my second time time to witness such a terrible vehicular fiery scene, only this one happened on a night and near the new houses.

That was the most tiring night I had having experienced insomnia and yet, the next day, I miraculously sustained some strength to mind the growing baby whose bank of energy seems endless to be able to cope with her.

Thankfully, she had been so wonderfully perfect that she let me do few things around the house, so I was able to clean up: the fridge, the stove, the pantry and even get to wash her clothes by the hands.

The couple came home late and the two of us (baby and I) were sitting quietly on the lounge watching a DVD Dora, the Explorer. She was really really extra good. I thought I would send her to bed early but it did not work because she started crying. Guessed, she must have had missed the mom and dad. So we went downstairs again and played her Dora the Explorer to quieten her.

 She watched it again and again and again!

When I left them yesterday, she was half-crying. But the DVD as always makes a tear quencher. Then as I was standing by the pole waiting for the bus, I noticed Au rang me but missed it. So I sent her a text that I was at Noemi and that I was on the way home. That's where I lost my cell phone.

It took me an hour to travel from there to Blacktown (I had to go to the bank to deposit the cheque) and then dropped in at the Information Centre to grab some historical postcards of Blacktown.

 Earl, the Receptionist of the day by permission.

From there, I stopped at the Fruit and Vegie market to buy fresh Gala Apples which is affordable at a price of A$1.50 a kilo, grabbed a tub of Alfalfa and a couple of truss tomato in a vine and finally headed home.

 The owner/operator himself in action by permission.

Soon as I got home I rang my daughter about my lost phone. Because I moved to another Bus Stop further down where there was a shade, it was there that I had accidentally dropped my little gadget. As they are coming later tonight, I will then get reconciled with my lost little boo peep.

I could not sleep, so I thought I would get up and check  messages. Earlier, I worked on my postcard album. This time, I painstakingly added captions which I copied from the back of the postcard for descriptions.

Anyway, later today, it will be my Flower Roster for the Sabbath. So I hope I will still hold that same stamina as I had while minding my little girl with all her contagious energy that helped me keep going for the day!

Coming down the steps oozing with confidence!

She is really growing so active and happy and am having fun with her, playing with her. She loves books and numbers. She is starting to warble words that I haven't experienced with mine. The girls never did any baby talk at all. Both talked a straight sentence the moment they opened their mouth. So strange! No wonder, they were referred to as little persons especially my Lily.

Since Lilibeth and Selima are both April babies, I can see similarities of the two. Selima is pretty sharp in her age to think she is still under two. Very matured in her ways, and surprise, surprise, she walked down and up the stairs all by herself .... without aid. Very confident!

But the sum of it all was that awful mid-week late night scenario that still haunts my imagination!

Aftermath of a fire blaze before this car was towed away the following morning.

Just a Few - Year 2011 in Review

“True happiness is the full use of your powers along lines of excellence in a life affording scope.” ~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Let's check these scopes via cheapy Facebook Pictorial Entries with some amusing captions from my favourite girls.

"The birthday girl asleep on the infamous rock." ~Lily Dancel

The drama behind the scene between two sisters. Warning, this contains coarse language. Though these girls very much knew the rule of speech at home, for a time, I let them be themselves.

Daughter 2: Mum made you take that didn't she? Then I bet she tried to get one of you on it. Then she probably got a picture of the rock. lol. She's so cute with all her Asianess

Daughter 1: Actually the rock is an old friend of Coralie, Hayley and I if you should peruse some of my older photos... We decided to relive past memories involving the rock. Sigh. Good times

Mum: This rock was actually very warm! I didn't feel like getting up!

Mum: ‎Noemi - it was the girls' idea that I should pose on this rock. They were re-living memories on this sensational rocky platform where Simba was confirmed to the world by The Lioness Mother.

Daughter 2: What the hell did you do to Mum Lily!

Daughter 1: I didn't make any special brownies if that's what you mean...

Daughter 1: Coralie and Hayley. And of course, Rocky still open to suggested nicknames for the rock... (I like Dwayne Johnson personally)

The above scenario is just a breaker. Something to break the monotonous Year 2011 with lots of inedible fretbulls of life, metaphorically speaking. 

But Melodie Beattie  has me going to

Go on, try it ...let go!

Letting go doesn’t mean we don’t care.

Letting go doesn’t mean we shut down.

Letting go means we stop trying to force outcomes and make people behave.

It means we give up resistance to the way things are, for the moment.

It means we stop trying to do the impossible – controlling that which we cannot – 

and instead, focus on what is possible–which usually means taking care of ourselves.

And we do this in gentleness, kindness, and love, as much as possible. " ~Melody Beattie.

"I call this one "Bird... In tree" ~Lily

Kirsti: You should call it Bird... In tree....and cloud.

Ken: Noisy Miner. :)

Ash: ‎..and the cloud looks a bit like the outline of another bird.

Lily: I'll rename it, "bird... In tree... And cloud that sort of looks like another bird"

Hayley: It DOES look like another bird! Creepy

How can nature mimic what's sitting on the tree? It's almost like a Mirror Image of the bird as reflected by the cloud in the sky! Good work, Lily! Good on you!

["Just as the bird has to find the courage to let go of the branch in order to fly, so we also must let go of our branches if we are to know the exhilaration of soaring to the highest potential of our life. The branches we hold to are our inner attachments - our beliefs, ideas and memories. And then there are the outer attachments - people, possessions, positions and privileges are a few. But as long as we hold on to them we will live in fear (of letting go and loss) and we will never be free. And just watch those birds, by letting go of one branch they are able to spend the rest of their life alighting on a million other branches, and they enjoy the view from each. Are you flying and soaring in your life, or are you stuck on one branch, cursing others as they fly past. Go on, try it ...let go!" ~Innerspace]

"Some random person just stacked some rocks. Now that's emotional art. If you're out the random rock stacker... Why do you stack rocks?" ~Lily

Lola: That's Rock Art! Imaginary sculpture!

This looks more like one of those lanterns, if not, a gate pillar column I saw at Cowra Japanese Garden in Central Tablelands. Very creative!

["Listen to the inner wisdom of your soul . . . and not the random opinions of others.

Be kind . . . and remember that sometimes the person you need to be kindest to is yourself.

Live by choice . . . not chance.

Pursue excellence . . . excel, but not compete.

Have integrity . . . keep your word and your commitments.

Make corrections and changes . . . not make excuses.

Be fair and treat all people with respect, and understand their point of view… even if you don’t agree with it.

Accept yourself with a depth of kindness even when you act less-than-noble.

All bad behavior comes from fear or ignorance and when you judge anyone (including yourself) for acting badly or imperfectly, you lose the ability to influence that being.

When you accept your imperfections—and still are willing to brush yourself off and start again—you can make changes . . ." ~Positive Thoughts]

"Me being touristy at Mt. Canobolas, you can't even tell I've been there 50 million times! It's the Asian thing" ~Lily

Hayley: THAT... is the cutest photo.

All these Asianic catch phrases! We'd been indoctrinated by this finger sign by Aki, our former Japanese Exchange Student progeny in Orange!

["Imagine having the life that you have always wanted. Then feel inside those feelings that you would have if you were already experiencing all that you desire. Combine that with these feelings of gratitude now for what you do have.


Focus on the positive things in your life. Release the negative thoughts, feeling, and actions. Release those feelings, the people and the things that bring you down or affect you negatively in anyway or at least set boundaries for yourself.


Live your life as if you already have the things that you desire. How? By believing and expressing yourself as if you had them or are living your dreams.


Be grateful for all that you have, for the life you have been given, for your family and friends, your job, and your home. Be thankful and give thanks for the abundance and prosperity that the Universe blesses upon you each and every day.


Feel the appreciation, happiness, and gratefulness for all that surrounds you and all that is within you." ~Positive Thoughts]

And that's what Lily exactly did! Thank you dear Lily. I am so proud of you!

For the icing on the cake...

"The incredibly epic Australia Day cake." ~Lily

Thank you Australia ...May you have many more birthdays to come - not long from now!

"When you open your eyes in the morning, sit for a moment and appreciate the gift of a new day, create a peaceful thought and enjoy some moments of silence throughout the whole day." ~ from the Positive Thoughts

Getting Closer as Time Draws Me Nearer Home

“The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved -- loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves.” ~Victor Hugo

Last May 28, 2011, I blogged about My Journey Home. Four months and four days on today, that day is almost here. Soon I'll be under the mercy of four wings and prayers. This time, there will be no curious child to sneak out into the cockpit for a piece of cake! It's definitely going to be a solo sojourn; to the woods, mountains, sea and the city and back! Back to my old customary retreat! My shoebox I called home!

After some unexpected and exhaustive activities in the past, I managed to get everything in order. There were meeting up with friends, dinner here and lunch there. Shopping, packing and clearing up. There were running around, walking about, and traveling far out to the country and out of town and even beyond! At home, there's the everyday woman's job that never ends: washing, cooking, cleaning not to mention computing if I can squeeze a time. I am merely referring to Facebooking!

In adjunct to walking about and social outings, there's photography. Then blogging, poetry and grandchild minding. Occasionally, there's malingering and febrile excuses coming in between. There's health concern and I refuse to take it as health issue as I thought it was in the beginning. As it turned out, everything was a myth and not medically founded so I was told. Even the GP's diagnose was contradicted and questioned. That can happen between medical professionals. Medicine is not a science but an art. Hence, where there is doubt, a second opinion is sought.

The truth is, I am still  having pain in my wrist. All the doctor could tell me was he can't do nothing about it. So I am trying very hard to forget it. Forget that it's there when it gets painful. When it does, I just drop everything down and rest. As simple as that! Yeah, as simple as that! What else can I do?

Many hours ago, I was contemplating to write this long overdue blog. There were far too many chances of putting this off, being laid on the table for obvious oblivious reason.

However, I seemed to be in my writing mood this morning. My imagination hovered like the wasps on the wall outside, perched by a nagging enthusiasm. That alone has stimulated my mental activity atrophied in time due to uninspiring events that eventuated between now and then. Kindled by that imagination I started brainstorming in front of a bowl of cereal. Bowl of cereal? And why bowl of cereal? What has it got to do with my going home? My trip? My journey in flying away home to a far away land? To another world, once my world?

As I held the box of cereal in my hand I read the health information thoroughly. The main cover says: Be Natural! Of course, that's just the label or brand of the cereal I am having. It has a picture of a seed surrounded by plants and flowers and people creatively formed as in a drawing using the five whole grain flakes mixed with cashew, almond, hazelnut and coconut with linseed, pepita and amaranth clusters. Below that, there's a spoon lying filled with grain flakes and nuts. No artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. And I am not paid to plug this advertisement via my blog. I am just reading. Oh well, I can let them know what I am doing to their product. Maybe they will send me eternal supply until I die? What a wishful thinking! Take note Be Natural!

Staring at this box in front of me while eating my breakfast cereal, here I began my imaginary journey home. Yes, it's getting closer as the time draws me nearer to my country of birth. How much the long years of patient waiting have fortified my deep longings for my country and family coupled with curiosity wondering what's going on in there? Twenty-three years of long absence no doubt have paved the way to mammoth changes in terms of infrastructures, economy, geography, the people and culture among the many things.

In front of this cereal box, I pondered in nostalgia how my life has changed over the years! From eating corn grits, the poor man's rice to rice itself as our staple food; here I am in another world eating different kinds of staple foods that include wheat, barley, rye, oats, triticale and all kinds of nuts which many of them I have had never encountered before. Take the case of Triticale.  According to the information, Triticale is a cross between wheat and rye that is commonly used in bread, cereals and pasta. There you go! I love Rye bread due to its distinct earthy flavor. Its aroma is sweet and tempting that it makes you want to sniff even you're a hundred miles away from it.

At the back of the box, I read short cliches such as "Be happy, be real, be relaxed and be yourself!" Now that's what I need! To be happy, real, relaxed and be myself!

Though this cereal box already contained linseed and almond, I still supplemented it with a spoonful of ground linseed, almond and sunflower seeds under another brand called Natural and is marketed by macro wholefoods market, a trademark brand of Woolies Australia. Though I'm generally frugal in my ways, I am beginning to seriously consider my well-being as am now ripening towards the sunset.

After a near heart attack scare, heart pain, palpitations and high cholesterol level in the past, I step back to analyze my diet which is not really tragically toxic as my meals are quite simple. Probably it's just the age catching up with me along with worries of things unimaginable. So from a diet course to exercise .. is all it takes to consider my health and my soggy emotion that I learn to sponge out. Excitement, overwhelmed feelings and others are now completely banned from my system. Since I am good at self-hypnotizing, that's how probably it works well with me.

The barnacles of health worries are cleared and now I am happy to be back to my old self, my self- confidence and positivity intact that I once had have. I let the others worry for me. Freedom from getting too emotional and getting too excited is much enjoyed than before after I learned to understand my own self better. When temptation tends to incline to be strong and overridden with excitement, I simply have to just stay cool and collected. It's not that easy but with practiced discipline it can be achieved without drama. Think about this:

Thought for Today

"Wellness isn't about deprivation, and it's not about perfection. It is about pointing yourself in the direction of growth, training yourself to get comfortable with your highest potential, and then taking small steps to support that shift. It's about showing up for yourself, day by day, and then one day finding that you've undergone a transformation." ~Kathy Freston

And isn't that true? I found this supplementary quote just then when I opened my subscription page from Oprah dot com Spirit Newsletter. So timely it couldn't come in the right moment.

As I have done the things I needed to do, it's time to say, "now I can put my feet up!" After that long absence away from home, my longing to set sail and fly away truly deserves a break of a lifetime. It's travel time again! Home, here I come!

"The soul of a journey is liberty, perfect liberty, to think, feel, do just as one pleases." ~William Hazlitt

So fitting indeed!

Woodrow Wilson's words might also fix a semblance of achieving my goal in going home.

"I have had the accomplishment of something like this at heart ever since I was a boy.... So I feel tonight like the man who is lodging happily in the inn which lies half way along the journey and that in time, with a fresh impulse, we shall go the rest of the journey and sleep at the journey's end like men with a quiet conscience." ~Woodrow Wilson 

"And this is what I have accomplished: my plane ticket and my passport!

"The LORD went in front of them in a pillar of cloud by day, to lead them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light, so that they might travel by day and by night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people." ~ Unknown Author

Closer to Thee my Father draw me

I long for Thine embrace

Closer within Thine arms enfold me

I seek a resting place

Closer with the cords of love

Draw me, to Thyself above

Closer, draw me,

To Thyself above. 

Gallery: The Famous Maria Cristina Falls

Photocopyright to my cousin Editha Sabando-Arabe (Nang Diday), FB

Sing my way home at the close of the day
Sing my way home drive the shadows away
Smile every smile wherever I go
It will lighten my load
It will brighten my road
If I sing my way home!

 

The Wings, Prayer and a Curious Child

Kindness in Time of Adversity Series 3

The story erstwhile - the Yugoslav Airline cabin crew had seated us in our rightful place... and our life's journey resumed ...

"Forget yesterday's defeats and ignore the problems of tomorrow. This is it. Doomsday. All you have. Make it the best day of your year. The saddest words you can ever utter are, ''If I had my life to live over again.'' Take the baton, now. Run with it! This is your day!"

Og Mandino's words above echoed in my subconscious mind like ghostly voices coming from empty dumb bells as my frayed nerves started to settle down when all was quiet on the plane. Yes, that day up on the air  was our day! My children and I. A day of freedom! Freedom from woes. Up there on the air, flying ... aimlessly high ... but to Germany. A long, long way ... away from home! Home?

As I travelled with children, Robert Benchley was spot on when he mentioned and I quote, "...there are two classes of travel - first class, and with children."  It's pertinently obvious which class I belonged, not that I mind.

Feeling relaxed, I re-focused my mind to our new adventure while in my arms was a baby comfortably snuggling and sleeping most of the time. That gave me a feeling of serenity and satisfaction as I held her tight close to my breast and endlessly kissed her. At the same time, I also gave equal attention to my little oldest baby girl in her two who was sitting beside me behaving like she was an adult of 20.

A baby she was or appropriately a dolly little girl and active, she begun to feel at home on the plane full of passengers who quickly took fancy of her. She was a very friendly and attentive little girl her age and a good communicator. A child with an adult mind. She spoke no nonsense. Pretty much a straight-laced little fella she was!

The Curiosity of a Child:

Now, now, boredom had started to unsettle her. She undid her seat belt to my wonderment and with a frown on my brow I asked her what she was up to. She said, "I'll just go there". She vanished like a lightning flash but I was helpless having a baby getting heavy in my arms that I froze on my seat and just watched where she was going.

"I think, at a child's birth, if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow it with the most useful gift, that gift should be curiosity." ~Eleanor Roosevelt

I wonder if Mrs Roosevelt knew she was a prophet of her kind. But curiosity has been always a part of any child's wardrobe of character. Even a cat is curious. And to think it's not even a child. Back to my girl ... ah yes ... there she was!

She went towards the cockpit but as I found out, she stopped at the Mess Compartment  whatever it was called, where food was prepared for serving. She talked to one flight attendant, who quickly noticed her, that she wanted a piece of cake. She asked with a please. The attendant obliged and instructed her to go back to her seat with a promise she would follow her with a plate of cake.

By the time my girl finished click-clacking her seat belt back on and as I was about to interrogate her adventure, the stewardess approached us with a smile. In her hand was a dessert-plate of a chocolate cake. Or was it?

She bent down to the little passenger beside me and apologetically explained that they didn't have a cake but only chocolate mousse. She spooned a sample to the girl to see if she liked it. My little diplomat approved with a nod and said, "Yum, yum!" She thanked the lady steward with pleasure and the poor kind lady smiled and endorsed the plate to her with further instruction to let Mommy helped her.

The moment the lady steward turned her back, the diplomat pushed the plate towards me and said, "Mom, you can have it because am not having it." Much as I wanted to laugh with amusement, I decided to be firmed with my tone and told her gently, "well, you asked for it, so you must eat it." I was tempted to eat the yummy chocolate mousse myself, but I restrained for I wanted to give my adult kid a lesson. It was her first lesson in life. Of course, she has no memory of that scenario, but it was retold at a later time when they're big enough to understand and both my girls laughed.

On that flight, I did not remember if I ever visited the comfort room for any personal necessity. I don't think I did! My body was in full control and discomfort was out of the way. What with a baby in my arms that kept me occupied all the time. Motherhood especially if you are on your own makes a mother selfless. Your mind, heart, soul and life as a whole is nothing but for the children. This rule is not applicable to every mother though, especially if she belongs to a well-privileged family.

My children were generally quiet on board, until ... a new day was born that we spied in the sky from across the window of the left isle. The white clouds were rolling faster and they looked like cotton balls. The golden ball of that beautiful morning sent its warm rays and they didn't go unnoticed even if we were seating in the middle isle.

When breakfast was served by the most efficient crew who offered us very generous serving, drinks included, my little adventurer was on her prowling mode again. This time, she asked my permission if she could go outside to play as she was looking at the tempting clouds the plane had passed through. She thought it was a beautiful day and here she was inside doing nothing but sit down and shut up! Oh, she got books to skim and scum, papers and colored crayons to scribble and draw. She just wanted to do something different.

She got up from her seat and asked me, "Mom, can I hop outside, please?" You know that innocent and truthful matter of factly look in a child's eyes as she would look at you with pleading. I asked her back, "what are you going to do outside? Dance in the clouds?" She must be thinking that we were riding on the bus.

But the passenger across the isle who sat by the window heard her plea, so he offered his help to show her what's outside the plane. With my nod, she went to satisfy her curiosity and the man was too kind to explain as he pointed to her the beautiful white clouds and what's down below. She stood by the window and watched and fell silent. When her curiosity was satisfied, she thanked the kind man and took her seat. The beauty of the angel rested on her as she dozed off to sleep. I thanked the man with a smile. He nodded back.

Beginning today, treat everyone you meet, friend or foe, loved one or stranger, as if they were going to be dead at midnight. Extend to each person, no matter how trivial the contact, all the care and kindness and understanding and love that you can muster, and do it with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again." ~Og Mandino

Yes, we must not think of any reward once we dispensed kindness, love and understanding. Give and forget. Take and remember. (“Blessed are those who can give without remembering, and take without forgetting.” ~Elizabeth Asquith Bibesco)

Finally, my mind was completely at rest. I closed my eyes - said a prayer for our safety. Above all - gratefulness.



And today, my baby turns 21! Happy Birthday Palangga (means Sweetheart)

To be continued .... more kindnesses ... never ending kindnesses ....

Kindness in Time of Adversity Series 2

To my Readers: I'll be away, when I come back, I'll catch up with all of you. Thank You.

Continuation - the story so far - trip was organized and things at home were arranged after some thoughts of what "the future holds"...

"Friends show their love - in times of trouble, not in happiness" ~Euripides

Ate Amy and Uncle Allan

Before I gave up the unit, Ate Amy, a friend and a former work colleague back home in Manila, rang me to offer us a place to stay in Sydney prior to our flight. She is a very considerate and thoughtful person knowing that it takes four hours to travel from Orange to the airport by any means of land transportation. She did not know how my little girls and I would travel down to the city and to the airport from the country in just one day.

With luggage, hand-carry bag, and two little tots to tag along, she clearly pictured that it would be difficult for me to manage everything all at once for such a long flight to tackle on my own.

Though Ate Amy and I worked together in Manila, I really did not know her well there being I was new in the big city and having had come fresh from a remote province of Mindanao, a large main island of southern Philippines. It was another kind of work environment with different adjustment to deal with people and all. I was very lucky to get a clerical job in an office through friend's connection in the person of Lia Gupana. Even that too was at the time, I needed most help. And Lia did not let me down. Her help came in the least expected moment. Thank you too Lia.

(Lia, wherever you are, I hope you will bump into this blog and please know that I still remember you. Hope to get reconnected with you too for old times sake.)

Until I came to Australia, that was the time when I knew the real Ate Amy as a person in person. My ex-husband and I were newly married then and we collided into her at the Australian Consular Office in Sydney on the day I submitted my personal papers  as required by the Embassy.

I introduced my ex-husband to Ate Amy and she invited us to her place straightaway after we finished our business at the Embassy. There in her home sweet home, we met Uncle Alan, her most supportive, generous, kind-loving and cheerful husband. He's one of a kind and a very uncomplicated man I've ever met. Then on, our friendship flourish up to this day.

When Ate Amy experienced her down moments as we all have, especially at the time when Uncle Alan met inevitable work accidents, we saw to it that distance was not a reason for us not to give her support. We always made special long trips for her and offered our moral support by visiting Uncle Alan in the hospital.

Today, Uncle Alan in spite of his old age is still very strong and determined. He always springs back after a lot of falls. He is a painter by profession.

The vision of Ate Amy about us taking a respite in their place before flying to Germany made sense. I did not expect that for the last hour, the ex would drive us down to Sydney to drop us off to Ate Amy's place. But I overlooked the fact that there was something else in the other person's mind why he wanted to drive us down when my girls and I could have had taken a bus transport. I was thankful for the offer with the condition that his daughter, Judy, would be coming with us which was not a problem with me at all. I was only thinking of our hosts. Gratefully, my hosts were obliging, and they let us all in for a night.

The little girls were very excited of their coming plane ride and they were innocently and happily blabbing that they kept on chanting, "we're going to Germany" with that cute exclamatory inflection to the amusement of Ate Amy and Uncle Alan.

Our very generous hosts took us in their festive mood, preparing us food like there was going to be a family feast, and sent us to bed early for a good night's rest. The following day, we were up early, dressed up for a long flight, and our breakfast was ready on the table. Before long, we said our thank you and good bye and Ate Amy and Uncle Alan lovingly kissed us and hugged us with their blessings.

At the airport, I checked in our luggage and there was time for a cuppa so we sat down in one of those cafe near the pre-departure area. There was no word for each other between me and the ex so the wind bid its time coming in to fill the silence. My step-daughter could not say a thing either, so it was kind of a fancy mute or dumb mimicry for us adults.

Until the last hour, I was hoping that someone in that little crowd of ours would at least show his last mercy by offering kind help towards the children who were traveling with a penniless traveler. But as the Bible told in the story of Moses in the book of Exodus, God hardened the heart of Pharaoh.

I couldn't recall if there was a goodbye said or did I see a nod or fathomed something like "have a safe flight" or the two little innocent living bloods were given hugs and kisses from a bloody father, I don't know.

Boarding time was announced, the girls were in a leash with my eldest attached to my waist while the little one was in my arms, for safety measures. We were dutifully attended by the cabin crew and were seated down to our respective places right in the middle isle. I took a deep breath and enjoyed the relaxing atmosphere on the plane void of any apprehensions.

My Prayerful Thanks

(a grateful tribute to Ate Amy and Uncle Alan)

People in our lives may come and go

And life in time will cease to grow

But your loving kindness brings a glow

To my broken spirit you come to know.

When times hit hard you honored me

With love and friendship kind and true

Without condition and without fail

You give them all without a flaw.

For every goodness you've accorded me

To you with blessings returned tenfold more

And abundant life and good health implored

With prayerful wish I hail Long live!

Life will always be without travails

And our friendship grow from strength to strength

Thank you dear kind sweet folks I say:

To my grave your kindness with me will lay.

@Leah Dancel, australia

9 June 2011

continuation ... the kindness aboard and while in transit ....

PS As my friend Lia was mentioned in this blog, I decided to search for her at facebook, and lo, she is there. We are now reconnected and have a few word exchange via our photos. Isn't life wonderful? Kindness in time of adversity ... what a fitting title for this blog ... more in tribute to my helpful friends. More coming..."gratitude for gratitude sake" ~Susan Deborah

This blog is also dedicated to one Special Friend and you know who you are. I even call you King! Thank you for your patience and forbearance.

Kindness in Time of Adversity

Warning: My story may not be suitable for your readership, and whoever is concerned of, I am not giving my grief to anyone. Please take note. Read at your own risk. This is my personal life and has nothing to do with any of yours. If I were you, mind your own business.

Series 1

"A good marriage would be between a blind wife and a deaf husband." ~Michel de Montaigne

Circa 1991.

It was November, having had just started life afresh from a marriage breakdown, my youngest sister proposed a holiday for me and my two little children. They were barely two and one year old  respectively. Then, I was due to be operated. I suffered a set-back caused by life's strains and stresses and lost my hearing. It was quickly diagnosed after an initial complaint that I could not hear. Three or four emergency visits to my GP, audiologist, back to the GP and finally the Specialist confirmed that something went wrong with my ears.

It was on that bumpy ride of my married life when my little sister asked me if I would like to visit them in Germany. At that time my sense of humour got caught up in a quagmire of a very personal circumstance. I told my sister in that point of time, I didn't need a joke, only something tangible and real. So she and her hubby went ahead with their proposal. I suggested a pre-paid plane ticket to be quick in as far as I knew,  having worked in a travel-related job before. But they were advised against it by their Travel Agent as it would cost them higher to send us ticket from their port of origin. Instead, they sent me money to buy the ticket here.

There was no computer in those days. I did not employ the local travel agencies. I painstakingly canvassed a cheap rate ticket from daily newspapers both local and national. All plane fare quotations were checked including those in fine print advertisements. I found one in Marickville. I rang, inquired and booked for the flight.

I opted Yugoslav Airlines that offered the cheapest though my kindhearted  brother-in-law recommended Northwest Airlines which could fly us direct to  Frankfurt from Sydney. I could have chosen it too but I felt conscience-strickened to learn that it would cost them a fortune and that it was a luxury I could do without. Having been asked to go visit them at their expense alone had already given me a burden, what more if it meant an exuberance spill out from their pocket. What was important, I would get there sooner than later.

Apart from the cheap airfare, the airline would allow me to see other countries even in parts like Singapore, Dubai and Belgrade, now a city of Serbia after reclaiming its independence from Yugoslavia in 2006. I did not realize that in doing so, it was not an ideal choice to make when you travel with small children.

Before I committed myself to finalizing our flight arrangement, I went to speak to my Specialist requesting for his permission to travel since the schedule of my operation was deferred in March of the following year due to the unavailability of bed space in the hospital. He gave me a nod and my GP also issued me a Letter of Recommendation to the Authority that I was still fit to travel with my small children considering of my medical circumstance.

The "'bend in the road' of my life was not meant to be 'the end of the road'" for me - when my ex-husband had 'failed to take a safety turn' and was trapped in his car by a road accident that led him to sign the papers thereby allowing me to take my children with me to Germany. In his shaky hands, he affixed his signature on  the Authorization papers then I quickly took it to the court where I was given a clearance to travel with my two angels.

I believed the road mishap was designed by our gracious heaven as a gift to my ex-husband for giving me a hard time, big time. Upon knowing my plan of going away to Germany, he instructed the court through his Lawyer that I could go but not with my precious children. I contested via my Lawyer that the reason I was invited to visit Germany was for my sisters to see my children and to give me a break as well. He conceded in the beginning but changed his mind. Then that change of mind was thwarted in the guise of the accident. He made a lucky escape after making three tumblings and hitting cars along the road at TAFE College after he left the unit where my little girls and I lived. So far he came out well and alive except feeling nervous and sporting only a little bruise on his back and arm. Gee, bad people when hit with bad luck can become a meek lamb, you know.

He was released from the emergency department in a nearby public hospital which added to his luck because the Ambulance apparently didn't need to run a ten mile long trip to take him there.

When he came to visit us the following day, he was as cool as a cucumber to break the news to me that he met an accident by the roadside near the school. My first question was, who saved his life because he was a man who only believed in himself. In answer to my question, he pointed his finger upward and I knew whom he meant. Years later when things settled down, I asked him again who saved him, this time, he pointed his finger to himself. That was the real McCoy of him.

Okay - now, the unit where we lived had to be given up after all the hassles of cleaning and repainting it myself. Day and night; and night and day. Scrub, brush, hot water, disinfectant and all those stuff ... the unit was damped, filthy, dark, gloomy ... a place less  but more decent than a slum, if not an asylum. Unfortunately, that was the only place available on that emergency time, so I was left in a very precarious situation to make a decision against my will. Take it or leave it. I took it!

Just as we were starting to enjoy the blissful peace in our life, the trip going to Germany meant a lot to me and I desperately wanted to take a plight. But slowly, patiently and surely, everything was arranged and organized accordingly in such a calm fashion amidst the storm.

Furnitures were sold, and other stuff were left to my ex-husband's place as a security that we were coming back. Bugger that kind of life, but it was as it was!

Storms

By Margie DeMerell

There will be storms, child

There will be storms

And with each tempest

You will seem to stand alone

Against cruel winds

But with time, the rage and fury

Shall subside And when the sky clears

You will find yourself

Clinging to someone

You would have never known

But for storms.

Now the trip - and before that - on the real time .... to be continued.

A Journey Home

"Homecoming means coming home to what is in your heart." ~Anon

NSC - the main road going south to our former place.

Not long ago, I have expressed my thoughts about visiting my homeland. It has been 23 years since I arrived and lived in my adopted country I now called home and I have never been home yet to my own native land. Neither for a peek nor for a sneak.

This year, I will finally be able to let that reality happen for the first time. I pray that God will bless my coming trip and that He will give me His protection as always with good weather permitting.

Twenty three long years of absence is quite a stretch of disciplined patience. My suppressed homesickness are just tuck into soporific segment of each nightfall when it comes. Mastering positive thinking of making impossible possible, I managed to organize my trip home via Taiwan. It's only four months away to go yet, but time does swiftly fly and before long, I'll be at the airport excitedly queuing for my seat on the plane.Will there be anyone to send me off like I sent off my friends back home each time anyone of them left the country? I don't know yet at this stage.

With my friend, Au's help and support, booking was finalized, paid in full and confirmed. In that time, my spirit was already floating ahead home that I could hardly hear and let alone answer the Travel Agent's questions. So Au filled up my vacant mind.

In that length of time living in this country called Down Under, I never lost sight of my beginning, my childhood, my adulthood and over-all, my identity. I never lost sight of where I came from, my family, my friends, classmates, everyone and everything that were mentioned in my latest blog Connecting dots at Facebook.

Naturally, this will be my most anticipated event to look forward to. On the list apart from seeing my long missed family and kins whom I have never seen or meet before - are foods that I am yearning to eat in years. And I will personally do the cooking myself and serve whoever sits on the table,  instead of me waiting to be served. Even our humble food I still know how to cook. I bet my family and friends will be surprised by my ability to retain that expertise I did not dare part from my past culinary lessons I learned both from my late mother and that from school. And those that I learned from friends.

For sure, there will be many things to do once I'll be in my country. There's the visiting of old folks who are still around, the remnants who managed to pull through the test of times. One old Auntie, who is now 80 or 81 years old, the wife of our Uncle, then an only surviving brother of my mother and her sisters from the first wife of our late Grandfather, still remembers me and thought I am living in the province.

Though I met her only a few times, she had been very very kind to me when I visited them in their home. She's a very industrious woman who worked nonstop and I never heard her complain about getting tired. Our Uncle, her husband passed away later than our mother. I must pay tribute to her to say thank you for being kind to me. I still hold our cultural values like keeping an attitude of "debt of gratitude" though not so eloquently expressed to those who are concerned. I keep it deeply in my heart where no one can hear that inner voice.

On our father side, there is one old patriarch who is turning 100 in two months time. His faculty is still as clear as the blue sky,  undiminished by seniority syndrome that hit most of our age-ing citizenry. Deserving much of our respect, we will also pay him a visit. He and his late wife, whom I call Nanay and Tatay (Mom and Dad in English term), had been instrumental for my being a Veterans Educational Benefit Scholar weaved to me by my late father.

Then there are many cousins, in-laws, distant relatives,  nephews and nieces to say hello to!  We are quite a clan; only, we are scattered all over the islands. I expect there would be many handshakes, hugs and kisses; tears and laughter; screaming, jumping, feasting; all those mixture of excitements to deal with. So along with my sister, we will be hoping from island to island to meet up those who are close to us and whom we miss so much.

Of course, we are not discounting our friends and neighbours. Friends who stood for and with us during the hour of our sore trials especially when our parents died one year after the other. We might not be able to find them all, but I'll try my very best to endeavor in looking out for those who are still around, knowing that we only have limited time set in staying there.

Then there are classmates, schoolmates, former employers and their family to consider. I'd like to make a special mention to Maguid Maruhom who had been a family friend to us from our Karomatan days. He is the best friend of our late eldest brother. We fondly regard him as a brother, and one who still holds kind respect and good memories of our parents. We are looking forward to re-acquainting with his family: wife and adult children. That would be the most interesting part because we knew Maguid since we were in our Elementary years.

In my personal agenda, I'd like to revisit interesting sites where our family had been before, like Maria Cristina Falls which is not far from Overton, our last place of residence. It was there where we held our family reunion right after our military father had officially retired from the service.

Maria Cristina Falls by Imelda Piansay

And by how much time and health allow, it would also be nice to see places that I haven't been to yet such as Davao, Bohol and our parents' home births, to name a few. There's plenty to do actually.

Most importantly,  the highlight of my visit would be to step foot one more time for the last time on a hill once owned by our late mother where our late Grandfather built a Nipa Hut (cottage made of bamboo). It's on that Nipa Hut on top of the hill where my dear, kind, patient, and soft spoken Grandfather and StepGrandmother would take me each time they picked me up from our family home and took me back with them to their own dwelling. I would jump for joy whenever our mother would let me go with them.

I can't remember anymore what I was doing there, but the sight of the lush green and sighing or humming cornfields by the hillsides being blown by the northerly wind is still very much in my memory. And of course,  the smiling face of a one-armed Grandfather, who was a shark attacked survivor during one of his fishing rendezvous back in the old province of Masbate, where his second wife, our step-grandmother, came from. I called my Grandparents  Itay and Inay just as what our parents, step-uncles and step-aunties addressed them.

To continue on with the story, that  property went into the hands of the former National Steel Corporation (NASCO). From NASCO, it was changed to NSC after it was sold to a multinational company. It's my conjecture that NSC is possibly placed on  its third receivership at the present time. I'll find that out once I'll get there.

This desire of mine to revisit the memory of my childhood was sparked by a homegrown nostalgia upon learning of our loss of that precious place, the fruit of our mother's long and hard toil, of her sweat, sleepless and tireless labour, day and night, sewing clothes to be able to accumulate the means to purchase and to own that property from her own effort.  A spark which was intensified the moment I saw the photos of the company posted at Facebook by a friend and former high schoolmate, Frank Manga.

Like looking for those people whom we owe lots of debt of gratitude for helping us bury our parents in time of our impecuniosity, I'll also endeavor to seek permission from the present company to allow us to do a family pilgrimage to that piece of land on a hilltop just for sentimental reason with only one thing in mind: to relive the memory of my childhood through our beloved Grandfather and Mother. I pray, that our petition will not be denied so to make my homecoming special and complete and that, it would be my ultimate achievement in life if I'll be able to accomplish my simple dream in my own homeland.

"What we remember from childhood we remember forever - permanent ghosts, stamped, inked, imprinted, eternally seen." ~Cynthia Ozick

I know there will be many astonishing changes ready to be discovered when I come home. If a change can happen in a matter of seconds, how much more for 23 long years? And I'm not going to let that thought worry me because I know many will take good care of me, of us, my sister and I; and perhaps, if my daughters will make it to the schedule and decide to travel to my home country, that would be wonderful! We shall have an excellent Family Reunion!!

In God, nothing is impossible. May we have His guidance and blessings for always.

"How beautiful a day can be
When kindness touches it!"
~George Elliston

Quotation courtesy by Rosidah. Thank you dear kind Rosidah.

The above quotation is also dedicated to my good and kindhearted friend Au, my birthmate. My very best to you Au!!!

Photos compliments of Frank Manga as posted at Facebook. The pictures that sparked my longing for home.

"Nostalgia is like a grammar lesson:  you find the present tense, but the past perfect!" ~Owens Lee Pomeroy

NSC Administration Building 

(The New Owner)

Grandfather's place in one of those hills overlooking this steel plant.

As I'll be turning 61 this year, this will be my surprise Birthday present to myself though we do not actually celebrate birthdays but only for thankfulness sake. The Lord is full of wonders! And to my sailing friend, this is for you too, the King of Poetry, HRM - King Lemieux. In your own words, I find inspiration in our friendship. And I am very proud to share that to the whole world!

Coming Home

Coming home to peace and quiet.
Coming home to feelings warm.
Coming home where there's a fullness,
where love in me is born.
Coming home's a simple journey,
takes no movement on my part.
Instead of listening to my thoughts.
I listen with my heart.

by Sue Pettit (with thanks to Karina of Positive Thoughts)

Connecting Dots at Facebook

Mark Zuckerberg, the creator of Facebook, is young and enterprising who made it to the Richest Persons List. He turns big time just by getting people together via his social network website where friends, families, classmates, strangers, friends of friends converge. He started it with his friends at school. From there, the rest is history whipped with controversy. And,



When I decided to explore further beyond my original number 15 set of friends, I was not prepared to be overwhelmed by the multitude of people I met and knew in the past: family, classmates, teachers, employers, friends, friends of friends, relatives whom I never got the chance to meet and know in life including those whom I have abandoned under circumstantial reason, family of my parents, contemporaries, townmates, landlords, workmates, churchmates and the list goes on.

Adventure, time and distance or life itself have separated us through the years (from one year to fifty years,) where we all lost track from one another as the mode of communications then were not much to our convenience and liking. Letter writing was the only option, and, that itself is now replaced by email.

Still nothing can beat the joy and pleasure when there is something to pull out from the humble mailbox which is now more overloaded with junk such as commercial catalogues than warm letters. Better still there's nothing pleasurable than receiving a personal letter full of news, good or bad, residing inside the envelope with stamps on it straight from the hands of a friendly Postman who dutifully comes knocking on your door, if not yelling out your name on the street attracting nosy neigbhours who come running without invitation and fuss about your mail harvest.

In those days, sometimes letters can be a nest of unexpected blessings. And nobody was corrupt. Nowadays, nothing is safe in the mail anymore especially in some parts of the world. Mail pilferage are becoming rampant. Even personal secrets are possible wiki-juice if landed in the wrong hands.

I must admit, I have had been skeptical about social networking since Myspace but eventually relented after some persuasion from my family. I let go of my negativity and went ahead to conduct my own heuristic exploration and the outcome is just incredible!

Instead of looking forward into the future, I am looking backward to the past to relive happy memories occurring since childhood; especially because the people I get reconnected with are the people of whom I have had association in my life that contributed to the person I become today. The air is electrifying when you learned that they too still hold memories of me and speak with candid remembrance.

It's exciting to be taken back to the hub of early life's thrills and excitements of growing up when things started to register on your mind about your existence. And sad to be taken back to the wheel of life and reminisce those recollections you would rather leave untouched let alone mention. You don't want the storm when you can have the rain, sunshine and rainbow.

Then there are those new people you hardly knew at all, yet, you share common ideals and principles, sharing hopes, aspirations and interests and those also with like-mind whom you met in other cyber places like the blog world, photography and poetry as examples. People that you get acquainted with during your travels as well as new neighbours and family friends. Facebook created this phenomenon of connecting the dots of friendship throughout the world. As nothing is permanent but change, you lost them for awhile and found them again because of Facebook.

So facebook here, I come! What offers thee for me to pray?

"Many a witty inspiration is like the surprising reunion of befriended thoughts after a long separation." ~Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel

Humbling before an Elderly

The autumn day promised of a bland, velvety and temperate weather the minute I stepped out of my shelter. It was an ideal time to get out for a walk to breathe some fresh air in the open space.

It was my day to fulfill my promise to collect the book I laid aside last week at Vinnies Op Shop in Macquarie Fields. It was held on account of trust and confidence by the staff who didn't even know me but my name only which I wrote on a piece of paper. It's a book of Mother Teresa's Private Writings (Come Be My Light) before she entered a very special calling which made her renown around the world through her charitable work, the Charity of Sisters Missionary.

Soon, I will glean some of her wisdom from this book that perhaps you and I haven't heard of yet, other than those that were already published.

That mission of keeping my promise was fulfilled along with tolerable extravagance in purchasing collectible junk and a pair of brand new shoes which I was lucky to spy on. The fitting is perfect for my size, comfortable, and have a decent design just the one I liked. Not everything in the op shop is hand-me-downs, used or second hand. Some are new if you are lucky to get there at the right timing just like the book mentioned above. It's brand new and in pristine condition. It's barcode tagged at US$22.95 which I only bought for A$2.00. Didn't I count my blessing? Sure, I did!

You may wonder why for such a minimal cost, I still had to put it on hold! Well, last week, I had spent all the money I had in my purse before that book was presented to me. The left over coins I had were not enough to meet the asking price. So I bargained favour with them if they could hold it for me, then I would come back to get it. They took me for my word especially after I bought some old books including Helen Steiner Rice poetry book. I spoke to the staff that I have been looking for Francis Gay's inspirational books called The Friendship Book.

One staff went to the storage cubicle and came out instead with Mother Teresa's book. Now I have it. Honest negotiation worked aided with integrity.

Today's story however is covered by Mahatma Gandhi's quotation which aptly applies to the scene I witnessed on the train on my way to Macquarie Fields via Ingleburn.

“I claim to be a simple individual liable to err like any other fellow mortal. I own, however, that I have humility enough to confess my errors and to retrace my steps.”

For what I saw and heard had truly touched my compassionate heart. There was displeasure in the beginning more in regards to the initial behaviour of the person concerned. I even prepared my camera in case of any untoward eventuality. I kept on listening and waited to see what happens next though I felt awfully scared inside but seemly appeared nonchalant and unscathed.

The train I was on was bound for Campbelltown from Granville. When it stopped at Warwick Farm station, a man in his late 20's or early 30's came aboard with cigarette in his hand still smoking. By law, he was not allowed to smoke on a covered platform as in the case of that particular station let alone take a lighted cigarette inside the train or any public transport for that matter.

He was partly abrupt and the smoke wafted through the confine of the train car that one old man behind me was constrained to move out and find another place to sit on. I was nailed to my seat and could not move, so I decided to stay put but privately vigilant to the man in question.

The man three seats behind me reprimanded the young man of the smoke. He complained in his authoritative voice that the young man was not supposed to smoke inside the train per regulation by law.

The young man talked back and told the man behind me to mind his own business to the extent of swearing at him. He did crash his lighted cigarette on the floor which was so disgusting. The talk back session went on for sometime until the man with the cigarette finally looked back to whom he was backchatting to and then he realised he was talking to the elderly after he was reprimanded of his awful language.

He apologised and as if it was not enough, he stood up and offered his hand for a handshake which was taken by the old man and his apology accepted. Then the young man sat opposite to the old man's seat and he started behaving civilly and chatting with him. His tone changed into mild, friendly and respectful way. And the old man had softened his stance too.

During the course of their discussion, I looked at the old man with a sympathetic nod as a sign of my support to his courageous dare in chastising the young man. Having done it, I think my sympathy of support gave him the courage to deal with the young man. He never relented in correcting him. In the end he won.

Looking at the personality of the young man  though partly scrubby, he actually has a gentle face with a pair of mellow eyes. So I was very pleased that he decided to change his tone when he realised that there was a quiet lady in the background listening to their repartee.

I thought that the scenario would end up to something disgraceful and I would be a likely witness as it was just the three of us alone in that particular train car.

With so many incidents of violence involving verbal abuse going around in the news department with young versus old, one cannot just know what's a day is like out there - especially on long distance train with not many passengers on it.

It was a relief that my day was not smeared. That I came home safe and pleased with my purchase of the day.

Lachlan's Old Government House

This was my second time to come and dine in this well-known historical restaurant in Western Sydney at Parramatta close to the CBD or Commercial Business District.

Lachlan is an Old Government House - Australia's oldest public building, is tucked away within the peaceful grounds of historic Parramatta Park. Constructed by First Fleet convicts on the orders of Governor Phillip.

A view of the old government house taken from the verandah of the Garrison building.

On 26 January 1788 Governor Phillip landed at Farm Cove in Sydney to establish the colony of New South Wales. His crops of wheat and corn soon failed having been planted in the heat of summer and in the sandy salty soil of the cove.

In April of that same year Governor Phillip rowed up what is now the Parramatta river and selected this site for his farms and his Government House. The soil was good and the hard Australian Eucalypt trees grew naturally far enough apart so the First Fleeters did not have to cut too many trees down with their poor English axes. The oldest part of Old Government House still standing is Governor Hunters house which is the front of the two storied section in the middle part of the house. When Governor Macquarie arrived in 1809 after the rum rebellion he found the house almost uninhabitable and carried out renovations and extensions which were completed in November 1816. The house as you see it today is largely as completed in November 1816. The house as you see it today is largely as completed by Governor Macquarie. The restaurant is located in the Garrison building was completed at the same time and housed the officers of the day. The Governors living quarters were located at the river end of the main house and the kitchen and servant areas at the opposite end. All the early Governors lived and worked here including Phillip, Hunter, King, Bligh, Macquarie, Brisbane, Darling, Bourke, Gipps, and Fitzroy. Fitzroy was the last Governor to live here leaving the colony in 1855.

If you were arriving to visit the Governor back in 1815 you would most probably have rowed up the river if you were coming from Sydney Town. On arriving in Parramatta, you would have walked the length of George Street. This street runs in a straight line form the Governors portico to the old river wharf. You most likely would have been shown into the Governors waiting room to await.

So when you sit here on the Garrison verandah, or by one of the officers fireplaces in winter enjoy the history that surrounds us and remember that you will also become a part of the history of Old Government House, of Parramatta and of Australia.

Source: Lachlan's Restaurant Menu Historical Info Sheet

Just a tip of history of Lachlan's Old Government House in Parrammatta. Lachlan is Sydney's restaurant open for functions, corporate events, wedding receptions, parties and other ceremonies. This is where we held our Nights to be Much Observed in keeping to the Passover Holy Day.

The night was graced by a beautiful full moonlight.

In summer dine on the old Garrison verandah under the grape vines and in winter dine in one of the small officer's rooms by the open fireplace. Walk around the grounds and imagine the times of Governor Phillip and his first buildings and farms here. Around 1815 Governor Macquarie built the Garrison building where we dine today. - Menu Sheet

Gallery:

The photographic quality is not good, but this is the view of the Garrison Building taken from the courtyard.

Garrison Building: Lisa (below) and Me (above)

Baked Ocean Trout Fillet on brocollini with a citrus sauce. I forgot to take photo of my equally sumptuous entree which was Chicken Caesar Salad with anchovies and shaved parmesan.

Baked vegies of carrots, pumpkin, potatoes and green beans.

Australian Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon Red Wine

Bon appetit.