Most of what needs to be done is now completed although there are still a couple of things that need collecting tomorrow but that will be ok.
Went to town this afternoon to collect the elements for the boilers as well as the aprons for people to wear and purchased some more of the freezer bags for the large puddings - we will be making 500 over the next few days so that will keep us out of mischief.
I've just finished talking to a couple about their marriage preparation and have a few things to fix for them before I'm off to bed but it won't be long.
Then called to see Mum and got her to sign off on the letter she was sending to the Jag Club after they changed the name of one of their trophies to the The Trevor Delaney Memorial Trophy - we were a little bit stoked so that was good.
Back home before heading down to school to work with the Parents and Children preparing for First Eucharist. It was a good meeting and very well attended.
Now, however, it is time for bed.
Ruby was making a coffee at 8.30am when she arrived and I asked what was happening because Mass was at 9am but she told me the weekly Mass times in the newsletter said we were (mistakenly) having Mass at midday. Anyway, by 8.55am everyone who is normally here for Mass had arrived so we celebrated Mass then and, thankfully, no-one arrived for Mass at midday.
Finished off the preparations for the pudding making - sterilised all the bowls and packed the car - using the checklist that we had made over the past few days- and printed off all the labels for the puddings. After checking I think that I will need another ream of red for the small puddings and another ream of yellow for the larger ones but I can do that later.
There were 6 of us at the RSL for the pre-mixing and we got it all done in less than an hour so that was ok and before they left I asked them to see if the check list was complete for tomorrow - a couple of things were missing so they will be added to the list before tomorrow for future reference.
Came home in time for the marriage preparation which went well so the next step in their process is to look at the remainder of the FOCCUS Material and then finalise some of the paperwork and look at the ceremony for next year.
Now bed - tomorrow is going to be a long day.
There was a really good roll up of helpers - a number of new people who took a little bit of time to get sorted but in the end none of the puddings burst and there were only three out of the 34 we cooked today which had any water inside the outer bag so that was good. Hopefully the 101 we will be cooking tomorrow will have the same sort of average.
When we'd finished making todays 135 we got the mixtures ready for Monday and then cleaned up the kitchen, finishing by 12.30pm so we came home, scrubbed the tarpaulins and had a bite of lunch.
I then got to work on the newsletter (will print that off in the morning) before getting the puddings out just after 5pm. Then it was into the shower to get ready to go to the Brereton's for tea.
Collected Sandy and got to Glenorchy via K-Mart where I purchased another little vacuum cleaner that will, hopefully, make it a little easier to vacuum the air out of the bags - done very hygienically and nothing like how you might think.
Almost 11pm and I'm home from a very pleasant meal but I'm heading for bed - another early rise to get the water on to boil for the puddings tomorrow.
Cooked lunch and the scones for the Fundraising event at Hamilton but have been realy tired all day and I'm heading for bed early as tomorrow is the start of daylight saving and I'll be up at the same time as usual except it will be an hour later. That is - I woke at 5.30am this morning but my body clock said that it was 4.30am sunlight time.
After the 9am Mas and the enrollment of the remaining 4 children for our First Eucharist Program I headed off to Ouse for the 11am Mass. Today I travelled via Ellendale to collect Sr Monica as Lorraine was involved at the Ellendale Market and was not able to get away for Ouse. Luckily Monica came because there was only tow women and a child there besides her so it was a really small congregation.
Came back here for a bite to eat before my couple for Marriage Preparation arrived. The session went really well and I'm looking forward to their marriage early next year.
After they had left I got my act together and headed for Kempton. Hadn't gone very far when I realised that I'd left my glasses behind so had to head back and was close to being late starting Mass. There was a good crowd and we were able to solve the dilemma of the Confirmation Mass night and the Mass for that weekend because some of the Bothwell people were there as well.
Home and had some tea, watched the early news and now I'm heading for bed and it is not yet 7.30pm - wish me luck.
The making went easily and we were finished and cleaned up and home by 12 noon so if we can keep doing that we will have the support of the people for the next few days.
We only boiled 35 today - that is the end of the 170 we need to make into little pudd's - the remainder of the ones we made today will be boiled tomorrow and will become the first of our 2kg puddings for sale.
I've now also got some weights to check the scales as there is some considerable difference between the various sets - hopefully it will mean that we can get things right.
I've just finished with a couple for marriage preparation and now I'm heading for bed - it is getting harder and harder to stay asleep in the mornings so, hopefully, I can get some sleep at the first part of the night.
Cooked another 99 puddings today so that is the first lot of 2 kg puddings that we have for sale. We also moved all 170 that are going to be made into 150 gm puddings into the dining room so that we have space in the back room to store the 2 kg puddings.
After the first lot came out of the boilers I was just sitting down for lunch when the phone rang and I headed off to Compton Downs to pray with the family of the late Myra Walsh - Michael Tate was out and they didn't contact him on his mobile. I have a feeling that I really should know the family but there are no bells ringing at the moment.
Just finished a PPC Meeting that went well and was mercifully short but then had to re-orientate the table with all of the puddings 90 degrees so that another frame might be erected at the end of the room for other puddings.
Now bed - it has been a long day and there are more puddings to make in the morning.
As soon as we'd finished headed off to get some extra butter - somehow or other there had been a bit of an error in the weighing yesterday and we were 500 gms short so I sorted that before the rest of the morning began.
Setup the room and got most things done before the whole crew arrived. Had a good session making the puddings with a few less than usual so that was good. Managed to get everything cleaned up because there is to be a wedding reception there on Saturday night so we had to get everything out of the kitchen - left the big mixer but otherwise all clear.
Celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation with Grade 3 and then headed back to get the first 55 puddings out and replaced them with a second batch. stopped for a few minutes but then needed to work on the GST statement but can't finish it as there is still one Centre to send their details for last month.
Just arrived home from a meeting with the parents and children of Grade 2 who are preparing for the Sacrament of Reconciliation which we will celebrate in a few weeks time. It was a good meeting with everyone there so that was good.
Pulled the final batch of puddings for the day and everything seems to be working out ok and now it is time for bed.
Water for the puddings went on after I'd written up Today's Notes and News. There were only 24 puddings to cook so it wasn't too bad. They went into the water at 7.30am and came out at 12.30 so that they would have a full four hours cooking.
Mass at School at 9.15am followed by a chat with Sandy re the First Reconciliation Ceremony and some planing for the future, including the possibility of getting stoles made for Baptism that might then be used for the other Sacraments of Initiation. We thought about how we could get iron-on transfers that could be given to the family as the child prepares for the next stage of their journey and all it would need would be for the transfer to be added and the stole would be further enhanced - we'll see how people respond.
Then back home to do some work on the GST but got involved in a conversation that suggests that there is still along way to go before people in the whole of the Parish understand what is happening about the finances. Later this afternoon when I was entering some details I had reason to ring the Church Office and the new cheque system arrives next week which should solve most of the problems!!!
I also cleared the Insurances issue by a phone call to Melbourne so that is now OK and the recommendations have now been accepted.
I've just arrived home from a meeting of the Jane Council which went a little longer than I thought it might but there was some interesting discussion and some exciting challenges for future development.
On the way to the meeting I had called to see a couple and dropped off the booklets for their wedding in a few weeks time and completed all the paperwork so that is good.
Now bed.
After Mass I finished the newsletter and followed up some more of the GST details but still did not manage to get the info to the Church Office so will need to do that on Monday morning, or at least email it sometime over the weekend if I get a chance.
I went on my short Communion Round and tried to arrange a Bank Account for Sr Lorraine but needed to work it out with the CDF and have most of the material completed but need her to sign it all off before the whole things starts. Also heard that the 'final' stages of the amalgamation of the banking accounts is almost upon us - but I'll wait to see that.
Just arrived home after having a meal with the Gang to celebrate Aileen's birthday. It was a pleasant night with good banter and chatter and a great atmosphere and a very pleasant meal.
Now bed as I am bushed.
The meeting went well - I actually met a couple of people whom I hadn't met before in the three + years I've been on the Commission. There is still some work that needs to be done re the Christmas Bowl but it is heading in the right direction.
I got home and had to clean the boilers and tarps after last weeks pudding making - I'd only changed the water and not realy cleaned them out thoroughly so that all took some time. Thankfully there was very little wind which made the cleaning of the tarps a little easier.
Then I set to printing the letters asking parishioners to pray for one of the young people preparing to receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist in November - that took a little time but it is all done. I also printed off the Order forms for the Christmas Puddings and stapled them to the newsletter - it all took time but it now done.
Everything else is prepared for tomorrow so I'm heading for bed - I'll watch the Bill some other time.
Mass this morning at New Norfolk was well attended and then I was off to Maydena - it started raining as Mass ended and then continued for much of the day - and at times it was good soaking rain, and heavy as well.
After Maydena I came back to the house to open the Church for a parishioner who had left his glasses behind before heading off to the RSL to work with Margie in setting up the kitchen for the pudding making tomorrow. We got the tarps down and then added the lemon to the fruit mixture and brought everything back from the store room so we will be able to get under way quickly in the morning.
Then it was off to New Town and a family gathering. My niece Emma and her partner Andrew were down from Sydney for an engagement party last night and so we all got together at Mums for afternoon tea.
Unfortunately I could only stay for a short time as I then headed off to Bothwell for the evening Mass. On the way it rained heavily again so that made life interesting on the road.
Got home and rang a friend in Queensland who has family in Bali to check to see if they were OK after the terrorist attack there last night. Thankfully they are OK but the deaths and injuries will have a lasting impact on a fragile economy and she mentioned that there might be even more trouble tonight so will be reading the papers in the morning with interest.
Now bed - it has been a long day and I'm still waking early so need to be in bed early to compensate!
The making went well and we were finished in good time - and so far we haven't lost a pudding which is really great - the bags have held and the tying off has stopped any water getting into any of the bags so everything is A OK.
This afternoon I finished off the GST Statement and took it with me to town. Thought that I'd also taken with me some forms for Pudding Orders but had made a mistake with the copies I'd taken so that was a bit silly so will have to get them to town on Wednesday, the next day I go.
Just arrived home from a meeting of Valley Vision, a community group looking at the long term viability of the Derwent Valley. An interesting meeting and one I hope to be able to attend regularly. Also just taken out the last of the 2 kg puddings for today - there are just 24 more to cook and then we will have finished all of them for a total of 368 - not bad when we budgeted for 330 - it all helps.
Now bed as I'm sure to wake early again tomorrow.
After the morning making I did some work on the labels before taking the first lot of puddings out. Then after having another shower I worked on the newsletter (briefly) as well as answered some calls and dealt with some of the letters that have come across the desk in recent times and sent off a few emails.
Had a meal at the Bush Inn, pulled the puddings and found that two boilers were out (as above) and tried to stay awake and do some work until it was time to get them out. The work has not been particularly productive but I got a few things done so that is helpful.
As soon as I get the puddings in I'll be heading for bed in a hurry.
After the 9am Mass I headed for New Town and Sacred Heart College where I celebrated a Family Mass for the Primary Campus. It was well attended by family and friends so that was good. There is always a good atmosphere there and things seem to work really well.
Then it was home to pull the first group of puddings before heading down to St Brigid's for a Reconciliation Service with Gr.4. Then home to get the late puddings out of the boiler after spending a short time chatting to some of the parents waiting to collect their children after school.
Did some work on the newsletter then some work on labels for the puddings and then had a bite to eat for a very late lunch/tea before heading down to school s meeting of the School Board.
Now it is time for bed and, hopefully, a good nights sleep.
This morning was spent working on the calico for the Christmas puddings and sending out some forms to various places so that they could order puddings. While it almost seems like being busy about nothing it makes life easier for others as we are still a long way behind in getting things done.
After Mass at midday I headed down to school for a session on Vocations with the Grade 6's. Some interesting questions but an enjoyable time.
Then I was back here via the Post Office and ran into a parishioner who wanted to chat for some time. I had hoped to get ready for a couple I was going to meet at the Moonah Presbytery for Marriage Preparation - I said that I would have something done for them but almost ran out of time as a number of phone calls came in and made my dash later than I had hoped.
As I headed for town I was caught in the late afternoon buildup at Granton so instead of being able to get through the intersection it took some time. I arrived at the CDF Office just as it was closing and managed to get the cheque and deposit books I needed for the new parish account - I will be able to take them to the meeting tomorrow.
I saw my couple - not in the Parish House but in the convent because of a mix up but that worked out ok.
Then it was off to Spirituality in the Pub in Moonah which was well attended and a good night so that was good. I managed to see some people whom I hadn't seen for some time.
Now home & heading for bed and hopefully another good nights sleep.
After Mass I went on my short Communion Round before getting back into the car with Lorraine and heading off to Oatlands for the Monthly Team Meeting. It was another good meeting with some explanation of the financials and the current situation. It was decided that I should contact all of the Treasurers and have a teleconference with them at some stage in the next week or so.
Back to New Norfolk as the community were gathering to prepare the Church for the Oatlands Flower Show, held this weekend in conjunction with the Oatlands Open Day on Sunday. When we got back to New Norfolk Lorraine headed off home via school whilst I headed off to Millbrook Rise to see one of the patients.
At the conclusion I headed off to Ellendale to make the ice creams for the Fair on Sunday and assisted Lorraine in shifting a few things around in the hall whilst I was there.
After making the ice creams I came back home and did a few things in preparation for the pudding moulding tomorrow. But now it is time for bed - I don't even have the energy to watch any TV.
Got back and finished setting up and by the time we finished about 1pm there had been 14 people there helping which was really good. We managed to mould 699 x 150 gram puddings so it was a good start but there is still a long way to go as we have something like 2,200 to make.
When people left I did some work on the newsletter - like finishing it and then did the web version as well before heading upstairs and finishing my homily for World Mission Sunday and the National Day of Mourning for the Victims of the Bali Bombing. - not an easy task and it took some time & I'm still not sure that I've got it right.
Heading for bed - I'm really bushed.
Preaching was a chore today - I think I am tired and I felt that I had not really been as well prepared as I might have hoped.I don't often feel that way but today was one of those days.
After Mass at New Norfolk a few guys came in and helped set up the second pudding rack for this weeks puddings - I hope there is sufficient room to hold all of them.
Mass at Hamilton was light on because of the Fair at Ellendale so after Mass I headed over there and managed to arrive just on midday - the moment when the nation stopped for a minutes silence for the victims of the Bali Bombing. There was a good atmosphere at the fair so that was good and it seemed to go well.
Got home and cut up some calico for the puddings before heading off to Kempton for the evening Mass. There were a few less that usual tonight but still a good group of people so that was OK. Lorraine arrived very tired after working at the Fair since 7am this morning and under difficult conditions. There were some really strong winds during the night and the power went off a few times but it all seemed to work well in the end. She said that she will unload the car in the morning as she was going home to bed - which probably means that she went home and made heaps of phone calls.
Back home and I cleaned the boilers and washed the tarps for tomorrow before heading off to the Cathedral for the Official Tasmanian Service of Mourning for the Victims of the Bali Bombing. It was an inter-faith gathering with members of the Buddhist, Muslim, Bahai and Jewish Traditions as well as leaders of the Christian Churches with people from all over. The cathedral was packed so that was good.
Home and ready for bed - there is still some work to be done first thing in the morning for the puddings so will need to be up early again.
There were two less in the team today and one had to leave early but we got through everything reasonably well with a new team member arriving and immediately fitting in and doing a great job.
Bit of a problem at the end of the day. I hadn't checked the invoice thoroughly and missed that they had only sent 700kg of fruit and not 800 so had to go to town this afternoon to take back a bag of sugar and collect the extra fruit and three extra bags of bread crumbs - must have miscounted the amount needed. Anyway it is now right and things should work out OK.
Missed the TasDec meeting as I needed to see a family about an issue that had arisen so by the time we had emptied the puddings out and reloaded, I'd been to the collect the extra ingredients, been to the Church Office to drop of a pudding and collect the new deposit books it was well after 5.30pm and the meeting would have been well underway so I headed home and straight to the RSL to fix the last batch of fruit and put the ingredients away.
Then home just in time to get the second batch of puddings for the day out and now I'm heading for bed - another tiring day and, again, I'm bushed.
After all the cleaning up and clearing away I had a bite to eat and then came home and slowed down for the early part of the afternoon before getting the puddings out and then having a shower and heading for town. I needed to see Mum whom I hadn't caught up with for 10 days or so as well as getting a couple of things for the house.
I then continued on to see a couple re the baptism of their children. That was interesting and will need some working through with them but hopefully it can work.
Then back home for the last of todays puddings, something to eat and some cutting of labels for the puddings and now bed. What a wonderful thought.
The boilers went on early for the last 90 x 150gm puddings - and we managed to get them out at 12.30pm, immediately after Mass had finished, so that worked out well.
After lunch I had to cancel one appointment because I had a visitor who wanted to talk and that was important so I stayed with him for some time.
I did a little bit of work on the BEACON for next month - it needs to be out this weekend and there is still a lot more to do so I will need to spend some time on it again tomorrow and probably Friday as well.
This evening we had the First Reconciliation Ceremony for the Children of the Parish - it all went off really well. There was good support from the parents and all the children participated well and seemed well prepared. They have the day off tomorrow for Show Day and Friday is a pupil free day so they were quite lively without being any trouble.
Now bed as tomorrow is a public holiday and a chance to have a early night and a good sleep.
Headed out for lunch and a walk along Seven Mile Beach this afternoon. The meal was pleasant and the walk was good but has reminded me how tired I am.
Cut some calico when I came home and worked on the BEACON for a time and decided, after I got a call asking if a parishioner could come and clean the Church to keep working until he arrived and now I'm heading for bed and an early night - there is nothing on TV worth watching or taping so a good chance to get some extra sleep.
Started with prayers and then two Masses - one here in the house and the other at Corumbene before I headed off on my Communion Round.
Then back home and people were wrapping the 150gm puddings - I'd already cut up enough calico to wrap what we'd done and now they are all finished - until we make the next lot next Saturday (2nd).
Early this afternoon I finished off the BEACON and emailed it off - got a call later to say that I'd forgotten to change the Month on the back page so hopefully people will do that before they print the pages off. I'll need to email a Christmas Puddings Order form when I load this as I forgot to include it with the material already sent.
Just arrived home after having had a meal with friends in Glenorchy and spending all night chatting about Ireland and what fun we all had at various times of our stay. It was a good night but I'm ready for bed.
Today started with Mass at Hayes at 8.30am - with both guys still there and likely to be there for the next few weeks. Then back home and finishing the Newsletter (not the web edition yet) and the BEACON and time during the day to get that all stapled together and ready for distribution this weekend.
Lunch was at Moonah and that was pleasant and then I came home and cut more calico and have finished the 30cm pieces and have done some work on the 45cm pieces for the 1kg puddings. Sandy came and collected some sheets for the 45cm size and has taken them home and will return them soon.
Now it is time for bed - I'll do the web edition of the BEACON tomorrow morning if I wake early enough.
Both the morning Masses went well this morning with good numbers and the weather was reasonable although chilly. Came back to the house and grabbed some things before heading off to the RSL to get the kitchen set up for tomorrow - our last day of mixing puddings.
Then back here for a marriage preparation session and because the couple were a little later than I had expected I was able to cut up some more calico so that was helpful.
Then it was off to Bothwell for Mas and there were a few extra people there because two of the young people who had been to Toronto for the World Youth Day came and spoke to the community at 2.30pm - before Mass.
Then back to Bridgewater to meet with the family of the late Rhonda Rodgers and do some work on her funeral for Tuesday before continuing onto the Royal Hobart Hospital to see a fellow who is in the HDU after falling ill and having complications.
Now home, time for bed and hopefully an early night.
The team did a great job today - we got the puddings made and we were out of the RSL - all cleaned and tidied - by midday so that was really good.
A few stayed behind for a short time to cut up some calico and that has made life a little easier. We had a thought about how to make the 150 gm puddings a little easier so got some extra ingredients and have made some extra's (about 14) and will cook them tomorrow as well as breaking down one of the puddings we already had made but not cooked and, using the same method, will see how they cook. Might make life a lot easier although slightly slow down the making process at the beginning.
Just finished with a couple for Marriage Preparation and then went upstairs to watch Saturday nights episode of the Bill and found that something had happened and it hadn't taped - started, and then stopped after a few minutes and nothing else. Will need to phone a friend in the morning to see if she got it.
Now bed - have a catering event in the morning and the last lot of puddings to put in and I still haven't finished the funeral booklet and everything else for the funeral tomorrow so that should keep me busy in the morning.
Made scones first thing and helped Ruby make the sandwiches for the catering but had to leave for the funeral before the team took the food to the Business Enterprise Centre. I went back at 4pm and collected everything which made life a little easier for people.
When I got back from the funeral we found that one of the experiments for moulding the 150gm puddings hadn't worked whilst the second trial had so we look into that a little further for 2003.
Whilst I was at the funeral there was a group of people wrapping puddings and they managed to do 285 which wasn't a bad effort - in fact it was brilliant.Hopefully some of them will be back tomorrow to do some more.
I've just returned from visiting the family of the late John Sclater who died this morning - his funeral isn't to be celebrated until Monday but some members of the family are going to be away for a few days so I needed to see them tonight.
Now bed.
Celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation with Gr 6 at St Brigid's just after 9am and then returned to the Parish House to help the people wrapping 1 kg puddings. By the time we'd finished there are well over half completed so that is great and takes a load off my mind.
An added bonus was the fact that some friends arrived late in the afternoon and offered to help for a time and we managed to do 150 x 2kg puddings which means that there is only 200 of those left to wrap and they will probably be finished tomorrow.
Early in the afternoon I went to the Hobart Private Hospital to see a lady who was dying on Monday but who has recovered well and looks pretty good at the moment but looks are deceiving so will visit her on the weekend.
Since the day started quite some time ago I'm heading for bed, hoping to be there before 9pm, to have a good nights sleep.
Later this afternoon (well early evening) another friend called in and we managed to do 100 x 1kg puddings so that will make life easier for the people who come in tomorrow to wrap some more of them.
The rest of today has been just doing things and visiting the family of the late John Sclater with a draft of his funeral booklet.
As for now it is time for bed - it will be an early rise tomorrow whether I want to get up or not.
