Daily Notes and News
The Month of December 1999
Wednesday, 1st
With the Morning Teas this morning we were busy but thankfully we were basically finished before it got too hot - there were fewer than usual but that wasn't too bad. There is one for tomorrow morning so we'll end up with about 90 all told.
I went to town and dropped some Morning Teas off at the Church Office and Graham Family and got home in time to drop off one more morning tea to a business in the town before celebrating Mass. Whilst I was away the ladies had wrapped the remaining big puddings as well as some of the smaller 150 gm puddings that we will deliver to the Friends of Community Health on Friday.
I was due at a meeting in the Council Chambers at 4.00 p.m. but got caught up with some work and didn't manage to get there - I did manage to get most of the work done for the newsletter as well as printing the financial statement for November for our bookkeeper.
I've just finished seeing a couple for marriage preparation and now I'm heading for bed - thank God it's a little cooler now than earlier in the day.
Thursday, 2nd
Today was hot but not as hot as yesterday - so having to work inside this morning to prepare our only morning tea for the day and then the Christian Leaders Association meeting meant that I was outside for only a few minutes. There were a number of issues that took up our time today and even though we allowed an extra half an hour we used it all. I was asked to write to the Derwent Valley Council (and also fax a copy of letter to the Anglican Parish Council) regarding the Christian Cafe that is being proposed to clarify some issues that have arisen and which needed to be resolved.
After Mass at Midday some of the team came to help get things ready for the Pudding cookup tomorrow - everything went well and as soon as they left I made the sponges for the cake stall tomorrow and I managed to get the oven right again - twice in one week!!
I dropped them off on the way to Sandy Bay (the Parish of my Baptism) after concelebrating the Ordination to the Diaconate of Michael Tate, a former Justice Minister in the Federal Government and former Ambassador to the Holy See and the Netherlands. It was a big night and a great celebration. It was also good to see people whom I have known for years and to share in some of the memories.
Now for bed.
Friday, 3rd
We were able to get a good start to our last main making and cooking day today even though we were two people short on our team and we managed to get it all completed before I was off to Corumbene to celebrate Mass at 10.00 am. I came home after Mass and did a couple of jobs before Mass at Midday and then off to lunch with some friends. It was a pleasant lunch but not that nice so we headed home to get the puddings out of the boilers for the next batch to start.
That's when the day turned bad. The bags we used had a fault in the bottom seam and we lost 28 to major water damage - one completely disappeared into the bottom of the boiler and came out as bits of fruit only. By the time we had got everything out and cleaned out the boilers and refilled them with water we needed a coffee so we sat down and I pondered what I would have to do to save the next batch.
After my friends had left as they had another appointment I set to double bagging all the remaining puddings which meant that instead of them going into the water at about 1.45 p.m. it was 4.45 p.m..
I've just got back from the School Appreciation Night and Beryl and Matthew were waiting to help get the second batch out - all without a problem so that at least works. I'll have to wait until the morning to see if any of the water damaged ones can be saved but now I'm heading for bed.
Saturday, 4th
After the problems with the puddings yesterday I started today slowly - so slowly in fact that I felt lethargic all day and struggled to do very much at all.
I organised the orders for the various Parishes that were outstanding and took them with me to lunch and passed them to the appropriate priests.
I called to see Kati, Linda and Isabel but Isabel was asleep so I missed seeing her. I hadn't managed to see them for some time so it was good to catch up with them again.
I then called to the hospital but only Frank Williams was still there so I'll have to catch Ted Healey at home tomorrow or Monday. I then call out to Claremont on the way home to see Mum and Dad, whom I hadn't seen for a week or two.
I still hadn't finished the newsletter so I worked on both editions of that when I got home and, thankfully, neither took too long to complete so now I'm heading upstairs to watch the Bill and then I'm off to bed.
Sunday, 5th
This morning at the 9am Mass we celebrated the Reception into Full Communion with the Catholic Church of Janette Readman - a lovely lady who has been really helpful in inputting Baptismal data into the Grapevine Parish Management Program. Regularly after our Sunday monring Mass Janette has stayed behind for an hour or so and worked away at recording the books from the past into the program. We had a little celebration in the Parish House with some of the Sunday Morning regulars.
I then headed for Ouse for the Country Mass - it was strange going to a Mass in the country without Rory. There was a family day at Hayes today and he has been instrumental in arranging it so it was important for him to be there. There weren't that many people at either Mass but it wasn't that bad either.
I then had to come back to New Norfolk fairly quickly after Mass to get to the R&SLA for the end of year function where I represented the Naval Support Officer, Tas. I was there in good time - in fact I managed to arrive before the function was due to start. At the table I was sitting next to one of the Rats of Tubrok so it was an interesting time listenng to some of his stories.
I did a little bit of work to prepare for the second boiling of some puddings tomorrow morning and then sat down to have a bit of a break before the evening Mass - dangerous because I immediately started dozing which meant that I was 'dopier' than usual when it came time for Mass.
After Mass I decided to give vacuuming the air from the pudding bags myself, rather than wait for Debbie to arrive, and managed to do the job easily so I rang her to say she didn't need to come if she didn't want to. She didn't go home to get the message so she called in but I was already finished, so she'll be back with the team in the morning.
Everything is in readiness so I'm heading for bed for a 4.00 am rise to start the boilers off for an 8.00am puddings splitting for the mini puds.
Monday, 6th
Today started early with the boilers going on a 4am so that the puddings could go in about 6.00am so that everything was ready at 8.00am when the team to arrived to break the puddings down into 100 & 150 puddings. Everything went well and there were no problems as we also managed to wrap all the 900 gm puddings - now all we have to do is deliver the final product. An addition to the morning was the presence of a reporter from the Mercury Newspaper with photographer to take some photos and get a story about our pudding team - we'll have to wait and see what they do with it - whenever.
Just as they had left I got a phone call asking me if I might be down at school a few minutes early (I had forgotten I was supposed to be there) for a meeting with the manager of the school canteen and the chair of the School Board. We are looking at outsourcing the Canteen in 2000 and there were some details that needed to be finalised. It was an amicable meeting but there are still some issues to resolve. Then it was back home for Mass at midday.
I had a phone call last night from my mother who had managed to readjust the TV settings and neither she nor dad had been able to get it back together again so I called to see them after lunch and saw my sister and her son as well so that was good.
Today has ended with two couples coming to see me regarding marriage preparation - the second couple have just left and now I'm heading for bed.
Tuesday, 7th
I now have space in the freezer for the large turkey I will collect for the Parish Dinner on Sat 18th because I woke in time to throw out some food that had been given to us (and which was out of date). I had to put it out early for collection by the refuse people - I didn't like leaving it out overnight because of the local dogs and cats getting at it and making an awful mess..
I managed to attend the first part of the Council of Priests meeting before I had to go to make an appearance at the Supreme Court about midday. There has been an ongoing difficulty within the Parish Community which was before the court today - it has not been very pleasant at all. The jury will probably hand down a verdict today and that is going to be hard for a whole lot of people because both parties in the dispute were parishioners here at the time of the alleged incidents.
I returned to the Council of Priests meeting before calling to see a couple of people for a coffee before heading down to school this evening for the Grade 6 leavers meal. I stayed for the meal but didn't really feel in the mood to spend too much time there and came home as soon as I felt I was able. The young people, however, really enjoyed themselves.
When I got home there was a note to say that, accidentally, the door to the pudding room had locked and no-one could find a key. I've searched everywhere I can think off and can't find it so I'm heading for bed and will look again tomorrow.
Wednesday, 8th
After the Mass at New Norfolk I did a little bit of work before heading for the Cathedral to concelebrate Mass at the Cathedral for the reburial of the late Archbishop Tweedy. He died many years ago but the Monastery where he, and members of a religious order, had been buried in Victoria has been sold and all the bodies needed to be exhumed and reburied. There was a god number of priests there and a sizable congregation for a mid week Mass and after the Mass we processed to an area at the rear of the Cathedral where a plot beside the late Archbishop Guilford Young had been prepared and the two now lie in rest together.
After the Mass I headed for Sandy Bay to collect the large turkey for the Clergy Dinner on Saturday as well as trying to collect the pager for my turn as the Defence Chaplain on call - the pager wasn't available so I will have to go to town in the morning to collect it.
I've just come back from celebrating the End of Year Mass for St Brigid's School at the Royal Derwent Theatre - it was a good celebration although it was very hot and muggy which made life a little difficult.
It was also difficult in that I had heard just a short time before that the court case had ended and that the verdict was that the defendant had been found guilty of two charges of sexual assault. This has some rather difficult ramifications for the Parish as both parties are well known people in the Parish and there might be some anger from supporters of both sides about the result and the consequences.
For me going to bed sounds like the best way to end today.
Thursday, 9th
With the photo of the Pudding Room on the front page of the local paper yesterday started a steady stream of phone calls from people wanting to buy a pudding - unfortunately we didn't have any left otherwise we could almost have sold everything in stock. At least people know we are there for next year. I also managed to get interviewed by Cook & Moore on radio about the puddings and almost had an interview for ABC Radio regarding another article about the Church and the Internet but, thankfully, they managed to get the phone number of Fr Michael Kelly in Sydney who was been able to follow it through with complete details.
I did some work on the newsletter and spent time talking with a number of people about the court case which reached a verdict yesterday and which will have long term implications for the Parish - there are many people who are really angry about what has happened and a lot of healing has to be done.
After midday Mass I headed for town to collect the East Timor pager before dropping off some puddings at various places - I will be delivering more tomorrow afternoon as well.
Some more people called in to talk about the court case as well as some people who walked in off the street trying to buy some puddings - I found two that hadn't been ordered so I was able to help them out but there are no more left.
I've just returned from the Jane Franklin College Council meeting - held in Lebrena, the property purchased to give the College a frontage onto Davey Street and a better address for people looking to find the College. It was a good meeting but also the final meeting for Mrs Humes, the Bursar who has done a sterling job these past few years.
Now for bed.
Friday, 10th
There is still quite a deal of concern about what has happened in the life of the community during this past week resulting from the court case - there has been a one month custodial sentence imposed which will mean some concern about what will happen into the future if there are further charges to be brought. There is much work to be done into the future to allow a healing process to begin.
I did a little bit of work on the newsletter before heading off to the cemetery for the graveside service for the late Tony Moir. There were only a few of the staff of Mill Brook Rise there to farewell him but they were people who cared about him and not just people who had cared for him.
I then spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon delivering Christmas Puddings to various places around the district and then took some with me as I headed for town to attend the end of year function for the Catholic Development Fund. It was a good night and I'm pleased to say that everything went well along the way as I managed to deliver quite a number of puddings to people.
Tomorrow will be a long day so I'm heading for bed to get some sleep before I wake early (as usual) to start the day.
Saturday, 11th
It was an early start to the day and by this evening I am really bushed. The preparation for lunch went well and everything happened in about the right order without too much difficulty although there were times when I wondered about it al coming together. The only real problem was that there seems to be an intermittent fault in the boiler which meant that instead of being able to use the two large puddings as I had intended I had to use 24 individual ones and let them heat in the water rather than boiling the big puddings.
The rest of today was spent either getting ready or clearing up and now I'm bushed and ready for bed.
Sunday, 12th
After the muckup with the puddings yesterday I started today by moulding the 2 x 1.8 kg puddings into 24 x150 gm puddings so that I had some available for collection by parishioners after Mass this morning.
After the country Mass (at Maydena) Lorraine and I took Rory off for lunch as today was the last time he is with us as he returns to the mainland on Thursday. It will be different going to Mass in the country by myself after having a passenger for the past 9 months.
Some friends from Glenorchy arrived almost as soon as I had arrived home for Maydena and as we were having a cuppa I got a phone call from Laura, the daughter of Jenny who works for Graham Family. Laura was rowing at New Norfolk but Jenny was on call for the firm this week so Laura rang and asked if she could come over to stay until her mother returned so we sat and watched TV until Jenny arrived. I only had a very short time before the evening Mass to relax so I put my feet up and promptly fell asleep.
After Mass I headed over to the Combined Churches Carol Service at St Matthew's Anglican Church but left as soon as it finished to come home to head for bed and an early night.
Monday, 13th
There is a certain tension around the house at the moment as a result of the events of last week and I'm not certain what I should do/can do about easing these feelings at the moment so the next couple of days will be a bit difficult.
It meant that I was feeling really flat when I got to Sacred Heart for their End of Year Mass this morning which meant that I didn't feel as if I was really open to Hear God speak through the liturgy - the staff and parents felt that everything went OK but I simply felt flat.
I immediately came home and joined the pudding team at the Bush Inn for lunch - that had a better feel to the event but I still didn't feel right. I then went off and paid some bills before coming home and doing a little bit of work on the Reconciliation service for tomorrow night - there is more to do tomorrow but at least I've started.
After making some phone calls I then headed down to the local Carols by Candlelight service at Turriff Lodge where the local community gathered in good numbers to enter into the Christmas Spirit.
Now I'm heading for bed.
Tuesday, 14th
Today has been a long day. I woke early and managed to get some more of the rubbish around the house out in time for the refuse people to collect - I hate leaving things out overnight as the local cats and dogs get into the bags and make a real mess.
After Mass this morning I set to work to complete the Reconciliation service for tonight and about to head out when I had a visit from a parishioner and we talked for some time about what is happening around the place at this time. I didn't get to school but will be able to do that tomorrow.
I then headed off to town to drop off some puddings at my parents for members of the family ; I called into Sacred Heart because I thought that I had short changed them on Friday when I had dropped off their small puddings before travelling down to St Canice to collect the turkey for the Parish Dinner on Saturday night. I went to Bellerive to drop off Linda's pudding before calling to see John Williams at Lindisfarne to discuss a couple of things with him before coming home.
Beryl had called in and had started to print the Vine - the Parish quarterly newsletter but the photocopier wasn't working properly so she had left a note - a service call was needed. Before I headed down to school to print the Reconciliation Service I rang the copier people and by the time I got back Alex was there (well a bit later than that) because he was at the Paper Mill and managed to fit us in at the end. Everything is now working well and the Vine will be printed tomorrow.
I've just finished the Reconciliation Service (35 people there) and now I am heading for bed - I'm so tired that I will tape the Bill and watch it some other time.
This morning I started the photocopying of the Vine so it is running in the background as I prepare today's Daily Notes and News.
Wednesday, 15th
The photocopying of the Christmas edition of the Vine is finished and now Beryl, when she drops in, has all the material for putting it together - takes a bit of pressure off her.
Some people dropped in to see me before lunch so that stopped me going down to school at morning tea time but I managed to get there before the end of classes for the day - I'll try again tomorrow to call into all the classrooms before they finish for the year.
The local paper - the Derwent Valley Gazette - had a photo on the front cover of the pudding team; I'm pleased that everyone who was part of the process got a mention - everyone that is except Beryl who ducked off up the street to avoid getting her photo taken.
This afternoon I worked on a little service for the Memorial tomorrow evening - just in case anyone turns up. I think that it should go well but I have a little bit of work to do on it tomorrow so that I have all the names of people who have died during this past year.
I've just returned from two functions. The first was to deliver a Christmas Message at the Claremont Rotary end of year meeting and the second was to partake in the celebrations for the Rev Bob Faser of his 20th anniversary of ordination. Both were enjoyable events but now I'm ready for bed.
Thursday, 16th
Today was along day with the little bit of work that I had to do to prepare the dining room for the Christian Leaders Association end of year lunch. This year we decided to have a meal here and put the money we would have spent towards the Christmas Bowl appeal. After getting everything ready I headed up to the High School for their end of year assembly. Each year we arrange a Christian musician/entertainer to bring a message to the students before they commence their long vacation. Peter Shurley did a really good job and we were well pleased.
We then came back here for our final leaders meeting for the year before I went over to celebrate Mass at midday. I then returned for the final preparations for the meal which everyone seemed to enjoy and in a relaxed atmosphere it all went very well.
I did some tidying up and then got down to finishing the final parts of the Memorial Liturgy for deceased relatives and friends which we celebrated tonight in the Church. There were only a few people there but it was a reflective and peace filled time - hopefully next year it will be able to be arranged with a bit more notice for the families involved.
I've just returned from the Staff end of Year dinner for St Brigid's - we had a really wonderful night but it is now very late and I'm heading for bed.
Friday, 17th
After Mass this morning I headed for the local hospital to tyke communion to one of our elderly parishioners before heading down to St Virgil's College to celebrate an end of year Mass for the staff. It is the first thing I have been able to do for the College all year so I was pleased to have been asked to help.
I then called down to St Brigid's for the final time to be with the staff before they finished for the year. They were busy cleaning and moving but we had time to have a meal together before I headed back home for a marriage appointment and they got back to work.
I visited (or at least tried to visit) some parishioners during the afternoon but managed not to find any of the people I wanted to see at home so I will have to try again during the weekend.
Another couple came tonight for marriage preparation. They didn't stay that long as we were signing papers and looking at the Liturgy for their celebration and so they left after about 45 minutes.
I am now free so I am heading for bed.
Saturday, 18th
I managed to do some work on preparing the Dining Room for the meal tonight before heading off to the Uniting Church for the monthly Prayer Breakfast - there were fewer than normal there but it was still a good time for prayer and support.
From there I headed for Hayes to drop off the puddings for their Christmas and New Years Day meals - I spent some time this morning checking all of the puddings to ensure that they were OK before bagging them into large bags of a dozen each so that they could be easily boiled with less danger of water spoilage. No one was there for Mass and because I can't remember the names of the two fellows I'll have to check with the Superintendent sometime before the next 3rd Saturday.
I started cooking the turkey early so that I could turn the temp down before going to visit Mum and Dad on the way to the Graham Family end of year function. It was good to get to Graham's and there was a good atmosphere there and people seemed to be enjoying themselves.
After lunch I completed the cooking of the turkey and got everything else ready so that as things were needed it all got completed on time and just as I was preparing the entree Debbie, Charlotte and Ken arrived and helped me finish it all off. As the others arrived we gradually settled in to a great night which went really easily without any fuss and with everyone pitching in a little finished up very enjoyably thank you very much and with very little to be done in the morning to complete the tidying up.
Sunday, 19th
Today has been a relatively quiet day with slightly less than usual numbers at Mass - it's amazing how in a small community one family not being at Mass makes the numbers go down dramatically.
The country Mass was at Hamilton and it was unusual driving past Hayes without stopping for Rory but he is better off back on the mainland with his family. I dropped some puddings off at a farm just out of Hamilton before coming back for a Baptism for one of Nancy Shepherd's great grand children. Nancy has been (is) a stalwart of the Parish and the family are down from Queensland for a short time before Christmas so everything has been done.
After Mass this evening I joined Maura and Karen, two of my Dominican Sisters, for a meal at the home they are vacating on Thursday. We hadn't seen too much of each other this year but we managed to enjoy each others company none the less and it was a good night but I'm a little bit later getting home than I planned so I'm off the bed.
Monday, 20th
As usual there was the normal tidying up after the weekend - the checking of the Thanksgiving envelopes, the entering of Baptismal details as well as checking through the final details of the puddings taken during the weekend. All of these took a little longer than planned so I was a little bit late for the start of the rehearsal at the Chapel for the Family Mass but managed to be there for most of it.
When I got back from there I had collected the extra mail with Christmas Cards etc. I managed to set up the Christmas Tree which is still to be decorated but it is close to finishing so I will do that tomorrow morning. I also had to check all the lights for the Parish Christmas tree which will be lit from tomorrow - the electricity supplier is coming to string the lights in the morning. I needed to get another 30 globes to make it all happen again this year.
I've just returned from Bellerive where I had supper with the Gang - another quiet enjoyable night with a great group of friends who have been friends for over 20 years. Now for bed.
Tuesday, 21st
The Christmas lights are finally on the big tree in front of the Church - I thought that there was a problem because I couldn't find the ring to hold all the wires at the top of the tree but they were too clever for me last year when it came down - they left the ring in place so that they could reach it easily. It looks good.
After Mass I finally did all my Christmas cards and posted them off (my sister reminded me of one later this afternoon so I will do that in the morning). I've also managed to get all the presents bar two which I will pick up today so that means that I am heading in the right direction there as well.
However, that took most of the afternoon to do so I was a little bit bushed by the time I arrived to go out for a meal with a friend at Kelley's Restaurant - it was a lovely meal and we managed to finish early enough so that I have got home and I'm ready for bed and it is only just 10.00pm.
Wednesday, 22nd
Today has been mainly a fixing up day with little jobs getting done - like the booklet for the Family Christmas Mass (extra copies); making sure that everything was available for the electrician for getting ready for the security system; delivering some material to one of the shops and collecting the mail.
I also spent time with a family who are struggling with a family relationship where there are very different expectations about the place of Christmas and the impact that is having on members of the family.
I also managed to get a haircut and finalised all of my Christmas shopping before going out to tea with Ann Graham, her daughter Mary and son Mark, who had just flown in from Sydney. Ann, and the staff of Graham's, had worked together to get the photo that had been on the front page of the Mercury framed and the story of the puddings included in the picture which is now hanging on the kitchen wall - it will be interesting to see what happens when Ruby arrives tomorrow.
Now it is time for bed.
Thursday, 23rd
This morning was taken up with the final setting up of the Chapel and rehearsal for the Family Mass - everything seems to be going well and looking good. Pat Murray and I managed to get the chairs from school to the chapel in time for the children to help set the chapel up which worked out well.
This afternoon was spent working at a newsletter for Christmas Day as well as one for Sunday, the Feast of the Holy Family. I also managed to get the food for the Christmas lunch with my family as well as be at the draw for the Parish Christmas Raffle.
Graham Family rang and asked if I would be available to assist at the funeral of the late Mark Wilson who died tragically in a house fire on yesterday. I spent time with the family and hadn't been home long when (Mons) Phil Green rang to say that he and Michael Tate both knew Mark and had helped him on his faith journey in recent times. This was something his children didn't really know about so he will do the funeral on Wednesday - I'll get my information to him and look at setting up the leaflet for him today.
Now for bed - I've finished putting the newsletter, the Christmas Bowl envelope and the January Calendar together for Christmas so I can sleep easily.
Christmas Eve
It's just 1.45am and the end of a long and busy Christmas Eve.
This morning I managed to get to take Holy Communion to Eileen at the hospital before heading to town to drop off the photo of Mark Wilson to be put onto disc for the funeral booklet. After hearing that (Mons) Phil Green knew Mark it looked as if Sandy Bay Parish would be looking after his funeral - it now seems that the family still want me to be involved so I will be there on Wednesday for the funeral.
I managed to get the final things for Christmas presents before coming home to do the final preparations for the Family Mass at the Royal Derwent Chapel. Lorraine dropped off the large ham and bacon from her freezer and I managed to get the wine to the 3rd prize winner. Ray McNaughton, the winner of the ham, was quite happy to come and collect it himself so that made life a little easier.
The Masses tonight were well attended and we celebrated well. There was a very good response for the Family Mass and also a good crowd at Hamilton with people from the other two communities which didn't have a Christmas Mass attending our ceremony there.
The Midnight Mass was comfortable and a small number of people came over to the house for supper - they have just left so now I am heading for bed.
I hope that you and your families have a happy, holy and safe Christmas day and that you all enjoy the friendship and company of the people who are close to you at this time.
Christmas Day
I slept later than I have for a long time but it was still only 6am when I woke. I got the turkey ready and made most of the other preparations for lunch before getting ready for the morning Mass - thankfully it was the only one for today.
After Mass I headed off to Claremont to collect mum and dad and bring them here for Christmas Dinner. My brother Sean and his wife Rowena and their daughters Caitlyn and Erin arrived and help me fix up the final details for the meal before Martin, Wendy and Sam arrived for lunch. Wendy's son Ben and his partner Louise arrived but only for a visit before going off to lunch with some of her relatives.
We opened some presents before Martin and Wendy had to leave and the rest when Michele and John, Sam & Callum arrived. It was good fun and a great time was had by all.
I took Mum and Dad home before calling in for tea with some friends and now I'm home and heading for bed - I'm not certain when this will be posted - it will probably be some time tomorrow afternoon.
Sunday, 26th
The numbers at all three Masses today were a little down on usual but I suspect that there were lot's of people away visiting relatives and friends over the weekend.
I arrived back from Ellendale and headed for bed for awhile because I was so tired. I managed a short sleep before the front door bell went and I then sat down and did a little bit of work getting this weekend's newsletter ready for the internet - it will be posted first thing tomorrow because I've just about had it and I'm heading for bed for an early night.
Monday, 27th
Today went almost as planned. I managed to complete the leaflet for Mark Wilson's funeral on Wednesday as well as compete the draft leaflet for Sophie's baptism tomorrow - I made one mistake which I've corrected and will print off the leaflet in the morning.
We had an enjoyable lunch at the Kay's - a day later and we would have been able to see the yachts in the Sydney-Hobart race coming up the river as it looks as if they will break the race record by some time.
I stopped off at Lenah Valley for a coffee on the way home and after a chat have arrived home to do some little fiddling but now I'm heading for bed and a good nights sleep.
Tuesday, 28th
I was visited by some Police investigators this morning checking if I had any written material that might be able to be used to confirm the writing of a suspect in an investigation. Talking to them, even just for a few minutes almost made me late for Isabel Sophie's Baptism - I had made a mistake with the leaflet by printing them all giving her name as Sophie instead of Isabel.
After having a bite to eat with the family I headed over to Graham's to drop off the leaflet for the funeral tomorrow before coming home for a rest before heading out to have a meal with the Spicer's, friends from my Glenorchy days.
I've just got home from there and have had a great night and now I am heading for bed.
Wednesday, 29th
After Mass this morning I headed to the Funeral Chapel to celebrate the funeral of the late Mark Wilson who died in a house fire last week. It was only a small group of family and friends who gathered - which was sad that after a lifetime there were no work mates there were so few people to say their farewells.
This afternoon Brent and Kay came to see me about their wedding booklet - I got into the mode of booklets however and managed to also do most of the printing for Allyson and Michael's booklet, finished Allison and Jason's booklet and put it onto disc for Allison to work at; finished June and Shane's booklet ready for printing and did most of the work for the New Year's Eve Ecumenical Prayer Service which will be held here at St Peter's on Friday at 9pm.
Now I'm heading for bed.
Thursday, 30th
Pat Murray and I collected all the chairs and remaining school equipment from the Royal Derwent Chapel this morning and returned them all to school - hopefully back into the correct classrooms. I did a little bit of work before Mass at midday and then continued to print the front cover for the marriage booklet for Allyson and Mick's wedding on Sunday.
I then headed for Glenorchy to collect a couple of things I needed for the weekend and which weren't available here in New Norfolk before returning for the wedding rehearsal and my couple completing their marriage preparation.
Now it is time for bed - I'll start backing-up all the data on the computer as soon as I save this to the web.
Saturday, 31st
I'm a little bit late posting this to the web today because I've spent all morning changing discs to ensure that I have everything backed up - just in case. All my programs as well as the computer is supposed to be Y2K compliant but being safe was never a fault.
I finished the work on Allyson & Mick's booklet - I put the pages together using a curling tape which took longer to do than stapling.
After the back-up was complete I worked on the Ecumenical Prayer Service Leaflet - sadly there was only 11 of us there to pray out the old year and prepare for the New Year but that's OK.
After the service I headed off to Glenorchy to spend the remainder of New Year's Eve with some close friends and enjoyed a really good night - I hope your end of 1999 function was a great night.
Farewell 1999
To make any comments or suggestions please contact the Catholic Parish of New Norfolk.
