Prime Timers Jan 2017
Dear Ann,
I think all of Prime Timers were looking forward to a return to normal for the New Year. It so happened that our first meeting back was to celebrate Australia Day, held annually on the 26th January.
This special day marks the anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet of British ships which landed at Port Jackson in New South Wales & the raising of the flag of Great Britain at Sydney Cove by Governor Arthur Philip, our first Governor.
On the day itself the names of several noted Australians are announced for their services in many walks of life & given the appropriate award. So far my name has not been announced!
However, I take pleasure in viewing those who receive these honours at a special ceremony, which is televised. I find it very interesting to see them receiving their awards & can only imagine how proud they feel at being on this list.
Many of them give an oration of the work they do. As an Australian, I feel very proud of them too as they come from all walks of life. It is especially nice to see some of the original inhabitants of our country, the Aborigines, who rise to fame for their life long dedicated service. Each & every one can be very proud of their achievements
So as we all trooped into the hall for our get together, we can’t help but feel proud when we see all our tables decorated with lovely yellow cloths & our native flowers decorating each table. There was a great hum going on as we all lined up for our morning coffee & biscuit, as it was so good to see each other again after all the excitement of Christmas.
I had a very nice surprise too, as one of the ladies, Valda, who sits at the table I am at, had a little gift for me. She had made me a very lovely kitchen hand towel, quite a lot larger than the normal ones that has a little loop to button over a drawer handle where I have had it hanging ever since I received it.
Valda is a very quiet person & doesn’t talk much at all. She said she made it for me because I do so much for others. I think she must have been referring to the relish I take, among other things, for the trade table & probably because I do the Christmas puddings for the whole group. Anyway I found the gesture very touching & her gift very special, particuarly as it was so unexpected.
We could not have had anyone more appropriate than Bill who came along to sing for us with his partner. He is such a lay back chap just what Aussie men are depicted to be & sang some good old Aussie songs for us along with his partner.
I am not sure if it was his wife or whether she is just his singing partner, but they sang well together. Sometimes, I suppose because it was our old Aussie songs, we joined in too & had a singalong. It was really nice, very homely & definitely the right theme for the day.
Lunch was also given a lot of thought as the menfolk had an Aussie Barbeque all ready for us, with tasty snags (sausages), buttered bread & good old fashioned Tomato Sauce!
And for sweets? What else but the age old Lamington, a square sponge cake covered in chocolate icing & dipped into cocoanut. There is nothing more Aussie than that!
Joan, our leader, left us with a special message for the NewYear which is sung to an old tune but I think it is worth while sharing with you…
Telephone to glory, oh what joy divine,
I can feel the current moving on the line.
Made by God the Father for His very own,
You may talk to Jesus on this royal telephone.
Central’s never busy, always on the line,
You can hear from heaven almost any time.
‘Tis a royal service, built for one & all,
When you get in trouble give this royal line a call.
There will be no charges, telephone is free,
It is built for service just for you & me.
There will be no waiting on this royal line,
Telephone to glory always answers on time.
God Bless you, love you heaps. Dawn X O X O