and Australian relatives. The Aussies lived up to their reputation for throwing a good one when they gave us a great Golden Wedding Party
As many will know from her site, HHnB constructs mosaics and her present to us was a beautiful bird bath made with her own fair hands and showing Golden Wattle (Australia's national emblem) for a Golden Wedding . Fortunately business class air travel allowed for weightier baggage, since the bowl is of very substantial earthenware measuring some 30cm across by 8cm deep!
Now safely installed on a pedestal on our lawn, the birds are already making use of it.
And our presents to each other? They had to reflect our celebration in Australia, so Mrs Avus received an opal pendant set in white gold, chosen in the Fremantle Opal shop and I, naturally, chose an Akubra "Snowy River" hat.
As to our Australian experiences? I can do no better than quote from her national poet (who wrote "Waltzing Matilda"):
"And the bush has friends to meet him,and their kindly voices greet him
In the murmur of the breezes and the river on its bars,
And he sees the vision splendid of the sunlit plains extended
And at night the wondrous glory of the everlasting stars"
In the murmur of the breezes and the river on its bars,
And he sees the vision splendid of the sunlit plains extended
And at night the wondrous glory of the everlasting stars"
9 comments:
And the only thing I have against Australians is they didn't adopt WM as their national anthem. But then who are we to talk, with one of the wretchedest, most lugubrious anthems on the planet. I have Edith Piaf (among other versions) doing Marseillaise like a riveting machine and it makes me think we paid by not having a revolution.
Delighted to discover you're independently wealthy. One of my threnodies has been the iniquitousness of economy air travel which has caused us, reluctantly, to retire thoughts of future long-distance travel. We did flirt with the idea of business class but we could have had a fortnight in a French villa for the difference.
Alas you are denied wearing the Snowy River on the Bimmer but it represents a very desirable flash of panache when next you take out the Rudge.
Oh, and welcome back.
Thanks, BB.
I can agree about national anthems. It is indicative of our German royal family's ancestry that the tune is also sung to "Gott erhalte Franz der Kaiser".
I would like something suitable to the tune of "The British Grenadiers"
As to the business class air fare - a one-off I'm afraid - we had a goodly windfall which enabled us to really splash out on the holiday. To fly "cattle truck" for 24 hours would certainly have taken the gilt off the Golden Wedding.
Yes- I thought the Snowy River would suit the Rudge too - it will feature on the next ride out of the Veteran-cycle Club.
Oh, my, I wish I were up to that long flight to Perth! Both The Famous Niece from Memphis and her sister, The Other Niece from Memphis, are flying over in June to visit their Dad (my brother). Sounds as though you had an absolutely grand time. That's good!
Hey you over there!
Love from Her over here xx
That's such a great photo. It captures the joy loved ones feel when they're together again, though they live on opposite sides of the earth.
Ah! Families ... and travel ... good times. All sounds wonderful. And home just before air travel has become a little more complicated with the swine flu outbreak fear - unwarranted or warranted, I imagine it has made air travel a little unpleasant. Well done!
Welcome home, what a lovely bird-bath!
Did you hear Billy Connolly doing his thing on the national anthem, it's really hilarious.
Granny:
Sorry you cannot make the flight to Perth to see your loved ones. I can understand - for us it is one heck of a journey - 22 hours. However, when you consider that the original settlers from England had to endure 4 MONTHS by sailing ship we cannot complain.
HHnB:
Constant love from us, too, Duchess.
Vita:
Yes it was a wonderful party and I felt that that particular photo captured the joy - glad you thought so too.
Kay:
I am old enough (too old?) to think "what is swine flu that it deserves such panic?" Ordinary flu kills off hundreds of people each year here - give it a fancy name and media hype and away we go!
Lucy:
Billy Connolly on the national anthem - absolutely wonderful. I actually thought of that when I saw BB's comment above.
I'm glad you enjoyed your trip over here. It really was lovely to meet you both.
PS: What's the secret to staying with the same person for all those years? Congratulations on that!
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