Friday

Today I had my office Christmas Party.  It was fun - as much as they are.  A nice menu, colleagues enjoying themselves.  Then I left to come home.  On the way I stopped to buy Nicholas a stationery caddy for his new desk.  On Thursday and Friday night David brought home Nicholas' furniture and put it together.  Nicholas was SO excited.  It was really sweet to see him putting paper and pencils on his desk (hence the need for somewhere to keep it all).  One lucky boy.  And one very gifted dad! :)

Today is also the day this boy went missing, nine years ago, and now the day his parents were finally able to put his remains to rest.  I cannot imagine the anguish they must be feeling, or have felt over the years. When watching the news report of his memorial service, this song was played.  A beautiful song I have always loved, from Les Miserables.  I think I also sang it when taking singing lessons years ago.  I seemed to have sung a lot of Andrew Lloyd Weber then!

My singing teacher tragically died from a fall down the stairs of his home.  I took my lessons there, across the road from The Lodge.  Anyway, not long ago I said I couldn't wait for the movie Les Miserables.  I think I'll be in tears the whole time watching it!  This gives me goosbumps and brings tears to my eyes.



I've lots to blog about here - home, Christmas, craft, faith... but feel a bit overwhelmed with it all at the moment....

Friday

Another news item from my family history.  It is a pleasure to get glimpses into a random day in the lives of my ancestors.  This time it is the recollection of a celebration of the Chinese New Year in 1859.  To know what they ate, how the table was set and to imagine the excitement of early settlers when the Chinese crackers were let off gives thrills the historian in me...

Thomas Fennell, R.N was my greatx4 grandfather and he and his wife emigrated to Australia with their children in 1839. 

Thomas was in the Royal Navy, and as it turns out was a playwright as well!  He wrote to the papers and the following letter to the editor describes eloquently being invited to celebrate the Chinese New Year with some Chinese immigrants.


THE CHINESE NEAR BRISBANE WATER  

To the Editor of the Sydney Morning Herald

Sir,- Since the great influx of immigrants from China to Sydney there have been various opinions among the good people of this colony as to the propriety of allowing this species of immigration to continue. By many the Chinese are regarded as little better than savages. They have been condemned, too, as men who only resorted to this colony in the hope of reaping a plentiful golden harvest with which to return to their own country.

I am well aware that a large portion of the Chinese immigrants are really and truly open to the latter objection, but it is not so with all. There are many who have become permanent settlers, and have shown themselves both zealous and persevering in the various branches of industry to which they have resorted. Some even have so exerted themselves as to open up new branches of trade of the most valuable description, both in this colony and in Victoria. I allude more particularly to the catching, curing, and exportation of fish from various parts of our coast.  

Very gratifying feelings of friendship and good-fellowship are beginning to manifest themselves between the European settlers on the borders of the beautiful coast lakes to the northward of Sydney, and the Chinese who have located themselves, for the purpose already mentioned, in the same quarter. A most pleas- ing evidence of this good feeling I am about to relate.  

A good many people, both Europeans and Chinese, have latterly settled on the banks of Lake Macquarie and of Tuggerah Beach Lake. The latter is a very extensive and beautiful sheet of water, swarming with all kinds of fish known in Australian waters; with many kinds, indeed, which are unknown in Sydney. The largest   and most lucrative trade arising from the capture of these . . . tribes is carried on at a settlement upon the estate of E. H. Hargrave, Esq , J.P., of Bungari's Nora.  

For some days, towards the close of January, the Chinese at this settlement were observed to be intent upon important     business of their own, or what they evidently regarded as such.   They erected a large tent and surrounded it with green bowers,   but as to the nature of the preparations going on within this enclosure the white settlers were not informed. On Friday, the 2nd instant, however, a deputation from the Celestials waited upon the good people at Mr. Hargrave's station, and informed them that   the following day would be, according to Chinese chronology, the   commencement of the new year. They earnestly invited their   Anglo-Saxon fellow-settlers, of both sexes, to join them in a friendly celebration of this festival, and for this purpose to honour them with their company at dinner, within the mysterious bower already mentioned.  

The invitation was accepted ; and, on entering within the enclosure, all were struck with surprise at the magnitude and ex- cellence of the preparations which had been made. The large bush table was covered with a cloth as white as mountain snow, with clean shining plates and bright knives and forks for each guest. The collection of edibles was such as would have satisfied the veriest epicure. Geese, ducks, sucking-pig, pork, ham, tongue, corned beef, and, although last named, not least in importance, a splendid sirloin of the "roast beef of old England," with a plum   pudding to match. Plenty of good ale and porter was also pro- vided to wash these good things down. For the dessert there were not only all the fruits then in season, but a number of excellent con- fections prepared by the Chinese themselves. The Celestials waited most attentively throughout upon their white guests, and all was harmony. After the removal of the cloth, wines and other liquors were placed upon the table, and the health of her Majesty the Queen was drunk with three times three, a royal salute being at the same time fired by the Chinese - not with cannon, but with their largest sized crackers. These, however, produced a most stunning report. A variety of other toasts were also drunk, and there was a good deal of excellent singing. Among those present was a professional, who had sung with great applause at some of the Royal Theatres, and such melody   as was heard on this occasion has perhaps never before floated through an Australian forest. The party was also highly amused by the execution of the " kangaroo dance," by an old black woman and her son.

The best order, as well as the best feeling, prevailed throughout, and the guests when they separated and returned to their own homes, were highly delighted with their afternoon's treat.

THOMAS FENNELL, late R.N.,  

Bungari's Nore, Brisbane Water  

Tuesday

I can feel the last weeks of 2012 will begin to pass quickly.  The calendar fills and we share in celebrations of all kinds.

Our first celebration of Thanksgiving, and an opportunity to stop and really think about the things for which we are grateful.

Nicholas had a wonderful day at his first Joey Jaunt, with David.

and today, Audrey's preschool concert. :)

 

 

Saturday

If I can't afford Collette Dinnigan for myself, I'll buy it for Audrey.  :)  I love the flower detail.

Ready for ballet this morning.

 

Tuesday

Day one, back at work.  All was good.  Truth be known, I felt a little anxious the night before.  I always do when it is the night before an event - before I travel, first day of school (for my kids)...

My Section had a lunch that day which helped make day #1 extra pleasant.  And now I am home again!

I was really tired yesterday afternoon though.  I actually fell asleep in bed last night with my current read, a few briefing papers from work and listening to this interview.  It seems Kate Morton has another book out and was in Canberra last week doing a reading and book signing.  I am annoyed I keep missing these things...  I went to a previous book signing and we chatted easily.  Her reading tastes are similar to mine.  Kate's new book seems to follow the formula of her other books, but if it works, why not?  Here is another interview (I love her haircut, although I wouldn't do it myself!)

 

I have another book on my wish list which seems similar to The Secret Keeper. Maybe I'll give both a go.

Tonight David has his final presentation at work and then the university semester is over!  I think a cake to celebrate is in order.  The semester becomes quite a taxing time for us all, which makes me worried about how we'll go if I throw myself into the text books again for another year.  We'll see...

Last weekend we went to the coast for a quick one night getaway.  We camped at the beach at a very comfortable caravan park only two hours away.  What I loved (aside form the kids thoroughly enjoying themselves) was a lovely Sunday market, with excuisate fruit and vegetables and a fantastic coffee van.  We'll have to go again.  :)

 

 ...and fruit mince is made for Christmas tarts!  I really need to start thinking about Christmas this year...

Friday

Thursday

Apparently on 13 November the Northern Lights were seen throughout the sky in the Northern hemisphere.

When I hear mention of the Northern Lights somewhere in the world it always brings one thing to my mind.  On the night my great- 8 uncle was executed, the Northern Lights filled the sky in the North of England, where he had lived.  It was seen as a sign by those who were superstitious.

James Radcliffe was the Third Earl of Derwentwater.  Quite an exciting story - ballads, stories and legends written about him. 

Years ago when visiting friends living in England we travelled to Scotland.  On the way home we stopped at Corbridge, Northumbria.  A town not far from where I knew their estate had been before the family was stripped of its title and property (and heads!)






You can imagine my excitement as we drove around the land nearby and came across the ruins.  :) If I find the photograph of it I'll scan it in here...

James' younger brother Charles (my Great x 8 grandfather)continued in the battle for the recognition of Charles, the Pretender,as King of England.  He was to die thirty years later, also beheaded.

About 20 years ago I spent weeks, months of my life reading about the Radcliffe family.  Hours spent in the microfiche room of the National Library where I was able to access letters, written by Charles.

Of course I expect to one day discover we aren't descended from them at all, but I have great-uncles even now who carry the middle name Radcliffe, so I guess it is family lore, regardless.  :)