On a global note Obama is on everyone's lips. Tradition was followed only in the way the inauguration was carried out. Many in the world rejoice in the changing of tradition. This is not a white man in the latter stages of his middle age, and of conservative thinking, but a man of black origins in the prime of his life with a modern outlook. He shows he is a real person in the small things such as by the way he admires his wife, for all the world to see. He is a family man, a person who came from humble beginnings and knows what it is like to be rejected, to be raised by someone other than his birth mother. His wife, Michelle (must be the name!!) is intelligent and a style icon. America has their royalty! I wish them well and hope the pressure is not too much for this man to make a difference in the lives of so many.
Tradition : Honeymoons
On a personal note my newly married daughter Krystal and husband Luke have gone on holidays from work and are going to ' have the time of their lives' to quote my grand daughter, Jasmine. Yes, they are on their honeymoon. They are currently in Hamilton island, off the coast of Queensland and will be staying there for some days before spending some time in Brisbane and then heading back home. Last night Krystal and Luke joined us for dinner, along with our middle child Peter, his fiancee Kathryn and their dog, Chloe. Chloe is a purebred golden lab. She was thrilled to be visiting Angus and Kali! Krystal and Luke stayed over as we were taking them to the airport early this morning. Weather was warm and neither Kim nor I slept very much before the alarm went off at 4.30am. We spent most of the time after the airport drop off watching the inauguration of Obama in Washington. Note to myself: Add Pennsylvania Drive to my bucket list as must walk it and visit Washington one day!
Tradition Three: Weddings
My eldest girl has every second Wednesday off from work at the moment. Mel and I, along with her daughter Jasmine went to Brookfield Vineyard for lunch and to meet the owner/manager to organise the menus and other arrangements for Melanie's wedding to Aidan, who is her fiancee and father of her two daughters. Brookfield has a rustic country feel and I quite liked it. It is laid back and casual so perhaps not everone's cup of tea for a wedding but for many ,it would be an enjoyable experience. Melanie hopes to be married out the back in the garden/vineyard area and inside for the reception.It has a comfortable at home feeling and is very welcoming. Lunch today, Mel and I both chose brunch style meals which are available all day. Krystal was married in the catholic church but as Mel has had children before marriage this would pose a problem so therefore has decided to have the ceremony and reception at the one place, which of course will be very convenient. Krystal's reception was at Newlands House, an entirely different style of setting, yet both are lovely places and ones in which I certainly can enjoy myself and feel right at home in! The traditional wedding has long since been replaced to be what a bride wants it to be, yet the tradition of wanting to be married , to celebrate it with family and friends and to let the world know you love this person have remained the same. Both of my girls have wanted the tradition that equates to Mr and Mrs. One has had children beforehand , making sure that marriage to this young man was what she really wanted over a considerable length of time. The younger one, met someone, fell in love, became engaged some months later and after fourteen months was married in a church as this is the way she had wanted to be married. Either way, they have taken, or in Melanie's case will take part in a tradition that has been happening in society for many centuries. As for me, ..big anniversary in October this year so I will wait to tell the story then, or will I? maybe next blog perhaps,,,,I will see :)
Traditions : Gifts
On my birthday, November 12Th, Melanie and family gave me a voucher for a pedicure at Lustre Hair and Beauty in South Hobart I finally made an appointment and went yesterday afternoon. I certainly am like a kid and love gifts. It is very relaxing to receive something at a beauty salon and I love having my feet feel so good and look good too! Nail polish colour I got was coral which matched the top I was wearing. Naomi who did the pedicure is lovely and I have known her for quite some time. Receiving gifts for one's birthday is , I feel , an acknowledgement that I am special to someone, or have contributed in some special way to the life of another. Gifts at Christmas seem to be done because it is a tradition to give gifts but should we be doing so? Krystal has suggested that this year we all put the names in the hat , names being of myself, Kim , our three children and their three partners. We draw one out and buy for that person only, with a limit to cut back on the commercialism and as well as personal cost at Christmas time. It is supposed to be the celebration of the birth of Jesus, so perhaps we should be doing acts of kindness for one another, rather than buying gifts. On the other hand, as gift, as i said for a birthday, is supposed to signify a bond or special something between the gift giver and the gift receiver. What do others think? We are going to try this for Christmas 2009. The children, Jasmine and Lily will receive gifts from all of us though perhaps rather than lots of things we could all put in for something like the cost of a cubby with Kim building it as he is so good at that kind of thing.
As I am trying to increase my fitness levels I parked my car right at the end of the street (well a fair way down) in order to walk back to the beauty salon. After which I enjoyed wandering along, looking at the beautiful flowers in the window of the florist called Magnolias,buying alfalfa seeds at LiveLife health Shop browsing the shop called Flourish and introducing myself to the owner, Tracy. I bought a gorgeous frame there with a cute pic in it to hang in my chandelier room plus sunflower seeds. Sth Hobart has some lovely old terraces and cottages, as well as larger homes. I enjoy checking out the little gardens, or lack thereof, and I just had to take a picture of this dear front garden. The sunflowers took my breath away, talk about stunning!! Flourish had the seeds for sale, by the young daughter of a local. I cant wait to have sunflowers in bloom at my place. Sometimes it is the simple things that give so much pleasure and yesterday for me it was sunflowers and just enjoying some special time out 'just for me to smell the roses'!
Footnote: On Monday Krystal began her holidays and took me for lunch at Sails, Waterfront Hotel She had said she would take me to lunch as a Mother's Day gift. I had actually forgotten till she reminded me. The meal was very nice and the outlook us always pleasant there. We had a walk and back home for chat and coffee so very pleasant indeed. Nice to see Krystal relaxed as she was rather stressed before the wedding took place.
Ciao
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