Magic

Well, having survived the big MC-ing event, I have some words of wisdom to share among you would-be MCs out there.

Word number one – never include a 140-year-old magician in the line-up. He went on forever and, while the kids might have enjoyed a couple of his moments, he was probably a contributor to some people leaving at intermission. The upside was he really increased the confidence of the next performer.

Word number two – no matter how funny it is, check your lighting bloke isn’t going to make clearly audible comments such as “it’s propaganda – get on with it” during the inspiring Christmas performance of the local Catholic school. Free speech is great, but I was standing next to the school’s staff, who gasped in horror and the very thought.

Word number three – don’t run around trying to recruit tired young performers for a sing-along finale if you haven’t already organised it in detail. It was a nice idea, but really needed a rehearsal to work properly.

All in all, it was an enjoyable evening, and there were quite a few laughs along the way. There were some lovely positive comments as well, but the true measure will be whether they ask me to do it again next year. Perhaps I’ll be on the full-time speaking circuit by then anyway!

Must go……off to enjoy some corporate hospitality at the Cricket today.

MC

Tonight I will once again fulfill the role of an MC. I know this stands for Master of Ceremonies, but for now let’s call it My Crisis. I have a bit of MCing experience, having done it at a school anniversary gala, and advertising awards night and several childrens parties (this last might not actually be true, but I needed another item). I am doing tonight’s job (MC of the Redland Bay Residents Association Christmas season community concert) for the best of reasons – because somebody asked me to. At the time that I said yes it seemed so distant. Now it seems 20 minutes away.

I’ll let you know how it goes.

Nanna’s eulogy

Hi all. Below I have pasted my Nanna’s eulogy, pretty much as read out by me at her funeral at St Mary’s church, Young, on Tuesday. 

 

Maisie Lowe was born at Lowe’s Crossing Murringo on 18^th March 1917, was the tenth child of 12 born to Joseph and Rose Ann, having 6 brothers and 5 sisters. Jean and Eric survive her.  Maisie went to school there as well as having several years of correspondence schooling whilst the family lived at Condobolin, and finished school at Maimuru at around age 15. Maisie apparently worked as a domestic help earning about 10 shillings per week whilst enjoying dancing and sporting events in her spare time. 

Maisie married George Goodman at Young on February 20^th 1937.  Six children were born to Maisie and George – Ron, Laurie, Peter, Jenny, John and Tony.   Work was very short, so the family moved to Wyalong, Condobolin and Temora in the early years and finally returned to Maimuru and Young where they remained. 

40 Campbell Street

has been the family home since 1951.   Maisie also worked for many years at the

Young
High School and the Primary School across the road, where we can always remember helping her with the cleaning there. 

Over the 30 years that we attended school in Young Mum spent countless hours working to assist with fundraising. She was a team leader for the tuck shop for some 20 years and organized the canteens for numerous school sports carnivals. Cooking and craft for the Church Bazaars in the Southern Cross Hall and the big day out at Tipperary were also things she was very involved in.  Many a weekend was devoted to catering for weddings and other functions too.  Tony still has memories of carrying a huge bunch of flowers each week to deliver to Miss Watt at the Christian Brothers Monastery where many volunteer hours were spent. 

The garden at

40 Campbell Street

was a huge part of Maisie’s life for over 50 years and provided her with much pleasure.  Things had to be planted at the right time, sweet peas on St Patrick’s Day was a must.  In recent years she spent much time propagating plants and cuttings of all sorts,  most of which were to be given away or found their way to the trading table on special bowls days. 

Mum took up lawn bowls in 1975 and spent many happy times bowling, she was fiercely competitive on the green and was particularly proud of her two club singles championships among many others. Mum served the Young Women’s Bowling Club in a number of roles and served 3 years as president in the mid 1990s.  She was honoured with life membership in 2002 and both she and Dad were very proud of that.  The women’s Cherry Festival tournament is on today and many of Maisie’s propagated plants were on the trading table, as she would have wished.  Unfortunately some of the bowlers are playing today but will join us later at refreshments. 

In 2004 Tony took Maisie to the Gold Coast where she enjoyed 3 days of international bowls at the Tweed Heads Club.  She even appeared on the TV coverage and provided a commentary for those around her as play progressed; she also made sure everyone at home knew she was to be on the coverage in the following weeks! During this trip she enjoyed great excitement in winning a jackpot on the pokies. 

 

 

 

Maisie was well known for her cooking too, her apple pies, peanut biscuits and jams were always freely offered and gladly accepted by many. There are also many who have received a cake for Christmas as well.    The apricot jam always had to be finished on Boxing Day in time for the cricket test in
Melbourne to start. 

Maisie enjoyed a flutter on the pokies and was always trying to get the five things to line up.  They rarely did so but she had her bit of fun.   She reminded Tony not to forget to put her in the cup sweeps last week, well he did and she bloody well won.  Tony intends to invest these winnings in an appropriate manner at some time. 

 

Maisie was always concerned for others rather than her self.  One was never sure what she liked but we knew what she didn’t like.  

Nana was a very loyal person, very strong willed and most of all determined and fiercely independent – She lived for those she loved and they will always love and remember her. She will be sadly missed.As many of you know my father, Ron, was not able to be here today because he is in South America. He has sent along some words for me to say on his behalf, although I’m sure there are quite a few others here who would share the same sentiments.

I am far away  –but I am with you.

My thoughts are with you all at this time, and hope that you will accept my words for my presence.

In recent times I have spoken to Mum on a regular basis ..I cannot any more.

         I will miss that.

Mum loved her bowls .. either playing or watching, We often talked about bowls

         I will miss that.

I cannot remember a year, and there have been many, that I did not receive a card from Mum for my birthday.

         I will miss that.

I cannot recall a time I visited Mum at Young that there was not a pot of curried mince waiting for me.

         I will miss that.

There was always a huge corned silverside waiting to be sliced for a sandwich, and Mum kept a jar of Hot English Mustard for me.

         I will miss that.

and those jars of jam, and pickles, and relish  –

and apple pies, and peanut biscuits  –

          I will miss that.

We only get one Mother  –  and we only get her once..

I loved you Mum ..  and you loved us..

                                I WILL MISS THAT ..

Fondon’t

Oh, what a night……mid-November back in ……… OK, that’s about as close to hearing me sing that you really want to get.

My beloved sister (see link at the right) bought us a fondue set for Christmas. We were excited. Sadly, we had never used it (just never found the right moment) until last night. All was going really well for an excellent brandy chocolate fondue (we were going to dip fruit and marshmallows in it) until we completed the fondue, poured it in to the fondue set and we poured the fuel in the burner and lit it. I was carrying the whole thing (already lit) from the kitchen to the new patio (where the guests were waiting for dessert) when the burning fuel started to leak across the bottom of the fondue set. I knew this was bad – watching blueflames trickle towards your hands is never good.

Needless to say, my right hand caught fire – not a development I was particularly fond of or excited about (not in a good way anyway). I did the ony heroic thing possible – I dropped the burning fondue set on the rug in the lounge, where it proceded to spill and continue burning. A mate grabbed a small cusion off the couch and attempted to smother the flames, but probably hit it a bit hard and it just further disturbed the fuel in the fuel dish.

Result – the fire immediately doubled in size.

At this point I was not really feeling any pain – too much going on. I rushed to the pantry, grabbed the fire blanket that has been hanging on a hook on the inside of the pantry door for the best part of three years ripped it out of its packet and popped it down on the fire. Previously mentioned mate then dribbled water on the already reducing flames and finished the job.

The short version is that I spent the rest of a very enjoyable patio party – with great company – with my right hand in various packets of frozen vegetables to reduce the stinging sensation.

This morning all is well – I have a long thin blister on the back of my ring finger on my right hand, a clean and healthy fondue set and a burnt rug. Worth every bit – if for nothing other than the story to tell.

PS……heading to Young for Nanna’s funeral on Tuesday. I have been asked to read the eulogy which I am, of course, more than happy to do. Dad has sent me a little something to read on his behalf as well – a nice little something actually – so between that and what the rest of the family are writing it should be all good.

All those members of the G family in one place – will be really good to catch up, and of course I feel I’m representing my branch of the family to some extent. That’s something else I’m more than happy, and proud, to do. I’ll leave Monday and probably get to Dubbo, then drive on to Young Tuesday morning. I must remember to take it fairly easy on Tuesday night (won’t be easy) because I’ll have to be on the road Wednesday, home Thursday and back to work Friday.

Smiles to all my readers – yep, both of them.

Nanna

My Nanna died this morning. She was 89. I don’t want to talk about it right now. Will see how I feel tomorrow.

And also……

Two posts in one day. I’ll most likely never meet that standard again, but it was ridiculously early when I made my first post (like, before 6-ish) and it sure feels like a long time ago.

Mrs Scoop is out, so I am home with a houseful (my two kids and a visiting friend) and should be doing the housework. No doubt tht’s why I’m messing around on the computer instead.

It might be time to consider something profound. Too bad if it is, because I can’t think of anything. This morning I had my karate class, which was nice, but every other student is streaking past me and I’m just staying at the same skill level – no doubt because I have no other time to devote to it other than the one hour lesson on Saturdays. Copped an accidental punch in the chin today. Well, the punch was deliberate, but I was supposed to block it and missed. No damage done – just surprise. I went to the VP shopping centre for a haircut but they said I had to wait more than an hour so I gave it a miss – another week with a bad hairstyle. For some reason I also bought a lottery ticket. I haven’t done so for ages, but I did today. Also bought a scratchie, which won enough to buy two scratchies, which won enough to buy one scratchie, which won nothing. Should have seen that coming (like the punch I guess).

Tonight will be quiet (although visiting friend is staying over, and there is a game of *shudder* rugby league on TV. Maybe the rest will do me good, as work will be full on this week.

Ta ta!

Wonders will never cease!

Two amazing things have happened in the last 24 hours:

1. I have worked out how to change my blog theme!

2. My sister has a blog!