Here's some photos for youse all. A few weeks back we took a picnic dinner into the Doman for Tropfest film festival. Just on the quiet, I think he likes me. 

Hello Easter. Brother [in law] Brad came up from Melbourne to implement the packed itinerary I had prepared for my pleasure!! Saturday morning at Manly Beach for Breakfast. Eggs Benedict anyone?  

Easter Sunday Lamb rolls on the lawn next to the Opera House. We tried to get everyone in but at there's other photos of Michael if you're interested in him. 

The boys and three sisters. Here's us on Easter monday in the Blue Mountains. 

We went camping 'down south' a few weeks ago - on the beach but in a caravan park. I didn't grumble once while we pitched at tent at 1am.  

Picnic time on the Shoalhaven river at Arthur Boyd's property. He painted this scene a gizillion times.  

How's the blue bottles washed up on the beach here. The place was covered with them. 

Crazy Critters 

The Big Issue

I love my rituals. One of them is to seek our my regular The Big Issue vendor on a street corner in Sydney CBD and hand over my $4 (or more if I'm cashed up). It's a current affairs mag which helps my mate stay out of long term unemployment and off the streets. A few weeks back the ear2ground quote was 'allegedly' from a footballer (wouldn't be AFL) commenting "It's not rocket surgery".

Easter

We had such a fun time. Brother Brad came up from Melbourne and my Easter Itinerary did us proud. After church on Friday we hit Bondi Beach with a picnic. Although it was a little bit blustery the ham sandwiches proved satisfying as can be. I love the architecture around Bondi....Art Deco heaven without being too prissy.

We dawdled home the long way and cranked up the oven ready for a Friday Night roast with the other Barrs - Steve, Megan, Jack, Joshie and princess Maya. If ever there was a model family for the world to take notes from...this is them. The evening was finished off with some sticky date pudding and syrup. Mmm.

Saturday saw the three amigos down at Manly for breakfast. We sipped our cappuccinos by the beach hosting mid-morning joggers and tai chi-ers. It came over a little wintry so we headed home and brewed some coffee to sip during our inaugral game of Settlers. Now we're hooked. Chuck in a couple of easter eggs and a bit of Missy Higgins and life was very beautiful. Saturday night we supported the gang at Telstra Stadium as Australia beat Iraq in the soccer. My first game and a great experience. I have to admit, when buyin tickets for the game and decided which area to sit in, I was interested to see what "Iraq Fanatics" look like. They did their country proud and I wished they'd won but...they weren't that good.

Sunday is church day and then made a lunchbox of lamb rolls to take and eat by the Opera House on the most glorious day this year. Swung by the Jorn Ortzon exhibition and saw the hows and whys of his Opera House design. What a guy. Darling Harbour entertained us with some street theatre and a beer and then it was down to the caravan at Wooloomooloo for a pie floater and coke. We went to see my friend Fraser's play that night.

Monday was Katoomba day. Beautiful little place and a bit of a walk made the drive worthwhile. Bumped into an ex-student from Perth in the women's toilets of all places. After crawling home with all the other Blue Mountains tourists we cooked up some dinner and watched Manchurian Candidate.

All is well.

Supersize Me

I watched a bit of the documentary Supersize Me a few weeks ago. There is one scene that has stayed with me. Jared of Subway fame was meeting the people after a speaking engagement. One particular teenage girl - a little on the larger side of life - was lamenting the fact it was so unfair that for average people like her, it was impossible to afford to lose weight. She didn't have the money to buy Subway regularly so she could lose weight effectively.

On our recent church search, I had the impression that a lot of Australian churches have this Subway Magic mentality. They see something happening really effectively in some other congregation and believe that there is some type of magic within the activity that they need to buy at any cost. So many small community churches are buying into the styles of mega churches with some kind of anticipation that the style will bring a life of its own. It doesn't work for me. It becomes an ill-fitting garment hanging conspicuously off a gawky frame and its embarrassing to look at. I'm a firm believer that there is nothing more attractive than unprentious expression. And that's all I have to say on that.

Good news

Last weekend we went to a camp for intellectually challenged adults. The Saturday night concert was worth the year of waiting for all present. You've never seen or heard Brittney like this before. We had items of poetry, singing, lasooing, chocolate eating, and piano playing (well, just a five note scale - up and down and up and down and up and down).

The camp was run by Evonne (bless 'er heart) who has given her life to care for and minister to this gang of people. She's amazing, even at 75ish.

There was a speaker who shared aspects of Christ throughout the weekend and I couldn't help but think that unless the 'good news' is communicable at this 3 year old level, to these Downs Syndrome microphone lovers, then it's not good. If they can't grasp the message of Jesus and live life abundantly then the gospel isn't for everyone.

It does make you think about how many churches get split and friendships get broken and denominations get defensive over 'fringe issue gospel'.