Miss Monification

My work

2010-08-08T19:06:00.000+01:00

As many of you know I have been here working on the restoration of St Patrick's in Soho. In April the work finally started after much blood, sweat, tears and VERY heavy lifting!

Everything moved out and preperation for digging commences.

Superfulous walls knocked out

Digging commences!

Massive hole almost dug!


Steel beams put in for the new floor.

It's all just a bit exciting really!

Some recent happenings

2010-08-08T14:57:00.000+01:00

SO much has happened in the last six months and I at first had issues with my internet and then had fallen out of habit again with keeping this blog up. So, I thought I would do a brief back track with recent things that I managed to take pictures of, starting with:

Rome:

I did finish that pile of work on my desk and I did end up going to Rome.


I neever get sick of this photo!

Or him!

Caught up with some clerical type friends

and a VERY cute boy - and his parents.

Seventy-Five

2010-08-07T18:48:00.000+01:00

It is seventy-five days until I leave my home here in London and go back to Australia. It's funny, but I do see London as home right now. I just love it so much. Yes, it is very noisy. Yes, it is very crowded in parts. However, when I was walking through the streets to my local main post office (right next to St Martin's in the Fields) I realised how much I am going to miss it. It is the most fascinating place in the world and I got to live in the heart of it. Not in "Greater London" not even inner-suburban London. For two and a half years I have lived smack bang in the middle of the action. Yes. I have had a W1 address. I was - and for now am still- a proper Londoner and London is incredible.

2010-02-25T17:38:00.000Z

ROMA!
Well, if I actually live through the night and get my massive pile of work that is on my desk done, I will be up in the air very soon :) Can't wait. Haven't been to Rome since September and now there is a glorious amount of love people living there. SO exciting. Anyway, I had better get back to this pile of never ending paper. Not. Fun.

2010-02-23T16:15:00.001Z

Amazing shoes and a fun night out.

I love sales. Especially sales where Ted Baker is cheap... ish. I bought these most fabulous shoes for £40 recently. Amazing. THEN that night I went out to the lovely Katie and dashing Graham's birthday to road test them. They took me all the way to Greenwich and I didn't fall over once. I count that as shoe success.

Ahhhh the shoeage.

Picture of Hannah and Monica NOT taken by themselves....

Picture of Hannah and Monica doing their normal selfie.

Homage to Hannah's shoes.

2010-02-23T15:45:00.000Z

I do totally miss this lady.

2010-02-20T13:20:00.001Z

Rome if you want to...
So very exciting. I am off to Rome next Friday after work for a long weekend. I love Rome, even though car accidents are frequent and the people are insane. I'll be meeting up with the Spes group on their last day in Rome and then Hannah and I shall have a most fabulous time wandering around ... and seeing amazing people like Jackie ( AH! I just remembered that I haven't written to you yet!Shall rectify that now!) and all those other amazing Rome dwellers.

Also, I cannot believe that it is nearly March. Crazy.

2010-02-20T13:14:00.003Z

Back track # 5
Fun times with fruity beers

And Julia and Suzanne

2010-02-20T13:06:00.002Z

Count Down #5
84 sleeps.

2010-02-17T21:05:00.001Z

Backtrack #4

White Knights Ball
Honestly one of the best nights out in the year. The Knights of Malta have a ball every year to raise money to take disabled children to Lourdes. Great venue, great food, amazing music and even better company made it a fabulous night as per usual. So much fun... means... low camera usage... so... here's SOME photos... although, not so many

Me... very excited.

I love a beautifully laid table... and a full champagne glass....

The most excellent Fr Peter

Packed dance floor

Heads and tails

c'est moi

2010-02-17T20:46:00.000Z

Hot Ribena.

Do it.

2010-02-16T22:53:00.000Z

I love this.

A lot.

2010-02-09T22:01:00.000Z

Backtrack #3
Newcastle, Durham, Hexham and that cute little town I can't remember the name in with the awesome pub....

After a lovely time in Penrith with the family Steven I went and visited the family Macgregor in Newcastle and once again had the most lovely time hanging around with a fantastic family. I cannot believe I forgot to get my camera out for most of the time, very annoying, but Maria and I had a lovely couple of days driving around to different parts of Northumbria. The only time i did take out the camera was when I went to Durham, where my battery died and no more photos were to be had, even if I wanted to. (Kat, Mark, Ant, which-who-when?)

Here are said photos of a Durham in snow:

2010-02-06T21:47:00.021Z

Backtrack #2

A Night In The Wilds Of Penrith

The Stevens plus one (moi) head out into the night life of Penrith. I was holding on for deal life, mainly to Will, because the ice was treacherous, even for those who don't are are not vertically challenged, imagine what it was like for me... in heels... Feel sorry for the poor boy!

Before we all head out

Cat and I

Pretty coloured drinks

Pretty ladies sitting on a couch.

And the beautiful lady held court!

Cat and Alex

2010-02-06T21:41:00.000Z

Count Down The Second #1
52 Sleeps.

2010-02-06T21:39:00.001Z

Count Down #4
98 Sleeps

2010-02-06T21:36:00.002Z

Backtrack #1

Christmas
Christmas. Was. Amazing.
I went up to Penrith ("no, not Sydney" she said in a bored voice at the hundredth time someone thought that they would make a "joke") up in Cumbria and spent it with the lovely Steven Family who have been most gracious and adopted me since I have moved to the UK. This has been my third Christmas with them and as per usual they were just what a girl needs when her family are a thousand or so miles away.

Herewith are photos of fun and festivities of the day!

Cat and Eddie after sorting out all things presentish.

Christmas dinner

The house Christmas morning...White Christmas!

Flic and I very excited to be going out sledging. (NO! Not that kind of sledging!)

Just gorgeous

Climbing up the steep sledging track

Ummm... where did the carpark go?

2010-02-06T20:02:00.000Z

Backtracking
Ok. So my camera is finally back up stairs, my computer is fixed and I have some time. The massive update begins!!

2010-01-26T08:48:00.002Z

Count Down #3
109 Sleeps.

2010-01-10T16:35:00.000Z

Am back!
So my laptop died... and that makes blogging difficult! I'll catch up on all things cold and England as soon as I can!

2009-12-22T13:09:00.000Z

Three Nights Before Christmas

But I wish I wasn't still at work! How is one meant to work when the rest of the world is on holidays?! THis year, as I do every year I am in ye olde England, I am spending Christmas with the most wonderful Steven Family in Penrith, Cumbria. Tis a beautiful part of the world with beautiful people in it... so I would like to be able to get there sooner rather than later!

Oh and say a prayer for my friend Gen who is staying with me at the moment... she is meant to be getting to France on the Eurostar... yes... that broken train line.... pray that she can catch a train tomorrow morning!

2009-12-20T20:05:00.001Z

Laurence goes to the Pub

2009-12-20T18:10:00.002Z

Ice Ice Baby
Friday night Jane, Donna, their friend Marcin and I went ice skating at the Tower of London. Crazy lighting so my photos are that brilliants but you get the picture.

2009-12-18T01:07:00.001Z

Note to Self #3
It doesn't matter if you are helping Laurence see his first snow, you still need to put shoes on when you go on the roof and there is even a thin layer of snow.

2009-12-18T01:05:00.003Z

Laurence's First Adventure.
So Laurence had his first adventure today. It wasn't a very long one... but he seemed to have a good time. I hope he appreciated it because I nearly got frost bitten feet in my efforts to give him a fulfilling life as a plastic green frog.

Can you see him???

Oooookaaaayyyy

What about now?

He's on the roof hanging out with some snow.

This frog has now seen something that some humans haven't even seen. I am the best frog guardian ever. Ahh... Tess... Hannah... want to have a go now?

2009-12-18T00:59:00.000Z

Snow #3
( I know... I skipped #2 because I didn't take a picture and you don't want to see pretty much the same post as #1 for #2)
Still snowing... but not really sticking.

This was a picture of the snow falling just outside my office window. It's kind of hard to take pictures of snow!

Here is a snow flake on my jumper.

This is a picture of the snow baby I made last February when it snowed BUCKET loads.

2009-12-18T00:45:00.000Z

Complete Excitement
Today I got an email from my most beautiful Julie who told us that she was engaged and getting married in the Summer (Northern Hemisphere Summer). I screamed... and then I called her after dinner. She lives in the States now and I miss her so very much and I am so happy for her that I HAD to say something about it! Oh ... and yes... John, I vote for a London honeymoon. London is the best.

2009-12-18T00:38:00.001Z

Christmas #1
There is a lot of Christmas cheer going around and tonight was the St Patrick's Christmas dinner for those of us who live and work there. It was a traditional English Christmas feast with a couple of American twists thanks to the lovely Deanna.

We started off with drinks et al

We then moved up to a very festive Parish Room where we ate extremely well. Fr said a few thank yous and a merry time was had by all.

Look! Christmas pudding... oh how I love the fruity, on fire goodness! Deanna liked it too...

The Students ... and Vincent

The Students, Vincent, Pauline, Fr Alexander AND the most important member of the Parish, Ambrose.

2009-12-16T17:59:00.000Z

Snow Sighting #1
Yes, I say #1 ... I am being optimistic. It snowed today. SO exciting even though it didn't stick. Sadly I have no photos... my camera battery was flat but since I am so optimistic, there will be another time.

2009-12-16T17:53:00.017Z

World, Meet Laurence

Last night Tess, Hannah and I went out for dinner in China Town. We came home for tea and found a left over Christmas cracker from the Open House Christmas party on Monday night. We couldn't leave it there and so we cracked it... and Laurence was inside. After fighting over who had to keep the boring prize we realised his full potential.You will now see him in various strange places over the next year as he gets taken on amazing adventures by various people (ie Tess, Hannah, me anyone else we can force him on).

He isn't having a very amazing adventure at the moment... he is just sitting on a pile of my books... but they are good books so he's happy enough waiting.

2009-12-16T08:03:00.000Z

Cold.
It's -2. It had better snow!

2009-12-14T15:41:00.000Z

Count down #2
152 sleeps

2009-12-14T11:23:00.001Z

The Life of the Cultured Part the Second

Well last afternoon after a relaxed morning Liv and I hit the town. We started with a roam about the very crowded Covent Garden.

Saw some raindeers

Took a shot of the sun going down, as you do.

Then we went to St Paul's Cathedral for a Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten.
A-MAzing.... He set music to pieces of poetry including Robert Southwell. It's very strange to hear his poetry in one of the most important Anglican Churches in England. We thought we weren't supposed to take pictures but after the performance EVERYone was so we thought we'd take advantage of this!

Because who knows when we would be allowed to do it again!

Then we walked to the other side of the river, taking pictures as we went.

Artist at work...

Then our night of culture continued with a performance of Othello in the remains of The Rose theater, where Shakespeare and Marlowe etc performed. It was a contemporary setting and a really good performance.

Then we walked home ... and nearly died of cold. And yes, we took pictures on the way!

You know, London is pretty damn awesome sometimes.

2009-12-13T01:35:00.000Z

The Night... Two Weeks Or So ....Before Christmas
Thursday night the lovely Miss Liv and myself set out for a night full of Christmas cheer.

We hung around very Christmassie posh department stores and ate amazing free mince pies. Sadly I have no pictures of the mince pies, they didn't stay in my hand long enough to take a picture.

Liv made a new friend.

We met a singing moose.

Went on a ride

(We were a bit apprehensive)

And just generally hung out.

All in all it was a fun night!

2009-12-08T18:10:00.000Z

Visitor!
I love visitors. I really do and my first one for AGES is coming tonight.... in about an hour to be exact. Liv is staying with me for a week or so. She is even lucky enough to get her own room! Never happens... usually guests sleep on my floor. Lucky lady! Anyway, I am looking forward to having someone from home floating around and showing her what i can of this ol' town.

2009-12-08T17:55:00.001Z

A big hit in a stress filled office.

2009-12-07T06:59:00.002Z

Count Down #1
159 sleeps.

2009-12-06T17:49:00.002Z

Note to self #2
If you don't send your Christmas Cards this week people won't get them in time. For heaven's sake finish them.

2009-12-06T17:46:00.001Z

I do love Westminster Cathedral
Perhaps this is just because I go there to confession a lot and it just gets the kudos of that post confession glow but I do think it a rather impressive place.

2009-12-06T17:37:00.001Z

For Bron
Bron I saw this and thought of you today:

2009-12-06T14:57:00.001Z

A Post for Meg

This morning I had coffee with Meg. Wait a minute... said someone (probably Jackie since she and Meg are the only two people who actually read this thing) Meg is in Melbourne!

I know. But ... I had coffee whilst I spoke to Meg and I thought I would take a picture of my coffee to show Meg what I drank whilst I spoke to her.

Oh and I also took this picture for her...

2009-12-06T12:27:00.002Z

Record Braking Moment
I would just like to note that in the history of Miss Monification, there has never been so many posts in the space of 2 weeks. So. Proud.

2009-12-05T21:42:00.001Z

Artistic Monification Moments
After the sale the lovely Suzanne and I went for a glass of well deserved wine at a spot on the busy Shaftesbury Avenue which is just around the corner.

2009-12-05T21:28:00.000Z

It's the weirdest feeling...

To have this:

at 4:30 in the afternoon. I mean, it's still the day!

Also, take a look at how many people are in this shot, Oxford Street was closed to traffic today so that people could rule the roads. Rule they did.

2009-12-05T21:23:00.000Z

Jumble Jumble Everywhere.
Well today was Jumble day here at St Patrick's and did we have mountians of it. Clothes, books, shoes, bags, a golf buggy, glasses .... I could go on.

Della the Amazing - yes, she is called that, well, I call her that - was here at St Patrick's at 6am organising things for both the jumble sale AND the huge Christmas dinner that's happening for the homeless on the 14th of December.

The dedicated team of volunteers set up at 10am in the square, dragging everything down from the lofty heights of the Parish Room.

Then the sale began

Then... at around 3pm the weather threw a London on us and started to rain so we packed everything up in a hurry and went back inside. Something in the vicinity of £850 was made so a good effort by all!

2009-12-02T13:50:00.001Z

Thats Good that's Bad game...
So today I have spent most of the day in bed with a cold. I was bored and decided to look up my birthday in Wikipedia just for kicks.

The people who stood out of the list with the same birthday as me:

Elizabeth Gaskell and Greer Garson - That's good!

Silvio Berlusconi - That's not so good.

Julia Gillard - BAD!

Other things...

1650 – Henry Robinson opens his Office of Addresses and Encounters – the first historically documented dating service – in Threadneedle Street, London.

1850 – The Roman Catholic hierarchy is re-established in England and Wales by Pope Pius IX.

2008 – Following the bankruptcies of Lehman Brothers and Washington Mutual, The Dow Jones Industrial Average falls 777.68 points, the largest single-day point loss in its history.

Ohhhh the things you do when you can't do anything else.

2009-12-02T13:16:00.000Z

Question to the void #1
How many times can you sneeze before you might do yourself some kind of brain injury?

2009-12-01T22:59:00.002Z

Oh the Life of the Cultured.

I have just come home from a staging (yes staging) of Messiah at the ENO with the most wonderful Hannah. It was a very contemporary production, and I am not used to watching AND listening to Messiah but it was really very good and the bass was aMAzing.

There was a most annoying man sitting next to me who thought that chewing on his gum with his mouth open would edify those around him. It did not. I wanted to punch him. However by the second act he lost the gum and then felt that he had the upper hand and turned around and asked the girl behind him whether or not she had cough drops because she needed them.

Seriously. PEOPLE!

Hannah was sitting next to the most delightful old couple who came for the wife's birthday treat. They treated us to macaroons.

Then I walked (ran) with Hannah to Charing Cross and wandered back through the streets of London home. I suddenly realised I was STARVING and had the total of £1 pound with me... Ahhhhhh Cheese Burger. Thank you. (Sorry Aaron)

2009-11-30T20:49:00.000Z

Note to self #1
Know which way is high and low on the heater in your room. If you turn it the wrong way your room will be like a sauna. Nice for 5 minutes Horrific for 30.

2009-11-30T18:21:00.001Z

C-c-c-c FREEZING

So right this very second it is 6 degrees outside. I forgot that 6 degrees is cold. Am heading on out into that coldness for dinner with the lovely Jane and Donna to go to our favourite Indonessian place. Yes... we have a favourite Indonesian place. Here is us when we were last there.

2009-11-29T14:18:00.000Z

New Personal Motto....

2009-11-28T19:55:00.001Z

Winter Wonderland

There are many facets to the world of St Patrick's Soho. One of the more pleasant ones for myself is the presence of the St Patrick's School of Evangelisation (Look them up, think about doing it yourself! I highly recommend it.). The best bit about the school for me, is that I get to meet a group of fantastic young people from across the world who are here to learn what God wants of them in their lives and make a difference to the lives of others, including my own. It's purely selfish on my part really!

Today was community day and the students got to be taken out for the day by their kind benevolent Aunties and Uncles, also known as Tess, Anthony, Marcus and me! (Yes, we are particularly proud of this most fantastic picture of us in all our benevolence)

The day started, as most days start here at St Patrick's, in the front hall waiting for someone. Often when everyone has turned up one finds that someone else has left in the meantime and so the waiting begins again. Tis something of a process.

THEN we were finally on our way, winding our way through the streets of London.

Stopping every now and again to do things like:

Smell trees

Check out the best toy store in the world

Take pictures of ourselves in a statue of mirrored balls (just trust me... we are in there!)

Then we got to the markets and had a lovely time drinking mulled wine, eating our packed lunch (ahhhhh Arnold sandwiches) wondering around and going on a ride or two. My camera died just at the rides part of our day but as you can see we had a pretty good day.

So endith the day.

2009-11-28T19:04:00.000Z

Week One Down
PHEW!
What a week.
Hit the desk Monday morning and just read and read and read. So much goes on when you are away for a month. So much paper is generated! It's taken me a week to feel like I have even remotely caught up.

I was trying to leverage my jet lag so that I got into a habit of getting up at 6am and I am happy to say that I managed this every single day. So proud. I did struggle at the other end of the day however when falling asleep sounded like a better option than my filing but I struggled through and I think I can safely say that jet lag has been defeated. Whether or not I am in the habit of working 9-5 I cannot say.

2009-11-21T11:20:00.008Z

Day 1

I arrived at 4:30 in the morning after that hell that is the 13 hours long Singapore flight. All went smoothly at immigration as was to be expected and then my bag was one of the first out. That never happens to me. I think God decided to help my poor migraine inflicted self. Loaded up with a million bags which weighed a ton I made my way via train and taxi back home. There is nothing, I repeat, there is not one single thing better than a well placed shower and, my friends, that is what I had when I managed to climb the million stairs to my dwelling.

After a nap I decided to go for a wander to find that most essential ingredient to my life, coffee. A huge bowl of it.

Then I had a look around the place at what London had done this year for Christmas. The only thing that makes the London public on mass smile - apart from the sun - is Christmas and the lead up to it.

This year the Oxford Street lights theme is "A Christmas Carol"

A shot of Oxford street which shows why I avoid it like the plague - or, to be more contemporary, swine flu.

Carnaby Street is looking like its outrageous self!

After the wondering bug left me I went home and started the world of unpacking. This is a scary process which I just know is going to take me days. Suddenly it was time to go out for dinner with the ever charming Suzanne and Julia. This time on the Adventures of the International Trio, we were checking out an Ethiopian place called The Nile in Vauxhall and Suzanne's mother was with us. It was really great food and it only cost us £17 for the four of us. Yes. We were very happy with it and the fact that it was very colourful!

On my way home I took a shot of Oxford street a night for the whole lights effect since it's not so impressive during the day.

So that was my first day back. Who knows what the following days - however many there end up being - hold for this Miss.

2009-11-21T00:16:00.009Z

Moving to London... Part the second.

Right. So. Today I moved to London for the second time. Strange I know. It's a long story, not very exciting story and a story I can't be bothered to tell. However,to alleviate any curiosity that my reader may have I shall give you the basic facts:

1. New visa system in the UK.

2. Need to stay longer in UK.

3. Had to go home to Australia to get new visa.

4. Therefore, have moved to London again.

There you have it. My long boring story set out in four sentences of no more than ten words. Amazing that something which dragged on for so long can be summed up in such a short space, but apparently this can be done often, I am just not very good at it - just ask my long suffering father.

Because I feel like I have had a somewhat new beginning - new visa = new person kind of deal - I am going to see if I can keep this up a little better for my own good, as well as yours. So with a new profile picture of me on my 2nd first day in London and a sudden surge of after midnight enthusiasm I take up my laptop and enthrall you with London and the life of one in the midst of the chaos on which this city thrives.

2008-10-20T20:31:00.003+01:00

I am still here!

I am trying to be good at posting even when I don't have time to post properly! I would like to post all about Rome, and I will... and I would also like to post about my weekend with the beautiful Maria Macgregor and the visit of the Hills, and I will... and I would like to post about my work and how I would love it if you could help me, and I will... and I would like to post about the fact that I am going to have about a million visitors over the next few months, and I will and I would like to post about EVERYTHING, and I will.... BUT I AM SWAMPED for the time being and this post will have to serve as a teaser for you and a list for me!

Meanwhile it is 8:30pm and I still have a mountain of work to complete before I take off my shoes (a sign that I am no longer at work) and head on up home. Oh... you know... sometimes that's just the way it is.

THANK HEAVENS Hannah had the brilliant foresight to give me the soundtrack to "Miss Potter" for my birthday. It is beautiful. It, along with Jeanine, Hannah, Teresa, Edna, Anna, Maria, Dan and Jane have kept me sane this past week!

Well there you go I have just written a longer post than I mean to. All about nothing! Trust me, it takes skill.

2008-10-13T17:22:00.002+01:00

I. Love. Rome.

Ok so I have just spent 4 glorious days in Rome. I had never been before... yes, I am awear that this is almost a crime, but I have now remedied the situation! It was jammed packed with everything including a facinating look at the temperament of the Italians when one's taxi is sideswiped by a bus (yes I was in it at the time) Interestingly enough... the way to deal with this is to scream at the bus driver and then put your taxi IN FRONT OF IT with your customer inside. Loved it! Ok so I don't have time for more and i want to put up pics which I cannot do from this computer. Shall update with more soon!

2008-09-30T21:15:00.015+01:00

26 London Style

Well I was 26 yesterday and I made it through the day... nice!

It was a tad weird. I may be somewhat sheltered ... but I have never been away from home on my birthday before. It was different. There was no Tim to jump on me in the morning. There was no family do... it's a little bit of a shock to ones system I think.

HOWEVER... the most lovely people who I live and work with (some of whom I am lucky enough to do both!) were just so lovely and did everything they could to make it a really really lovely day. It started the night before (yes I held a vigil of my birth) with the beautiful Jovina who was visiting me (ok she wasn't visiting ME she was visiting her sister... but you know... I am here too!) and who took me out to a most lovely Mexican restaurant and the we went to the Haugen Dass (I don't think that's how you spell it... but you know... the super fantabulous ice-cream?) cafe and had a most lovely night! (Jov... I cannot BELIEVE we have NO pictures of us in London AT.ALL!)

Then I got home and the lovely Jeanine was there and she gave me a most lovely present of slippers (she doesn't really approve of my bare-feetedness) and a CD of the brilliant and Ella Fitzgerald.

Jeanine also welcomed me into my birthday by giving me a beautiful rendition of Happy Birthday through the door at 6:30 in the morning... gotta love her!

Then I got to Mass (whooohooo for having a birthday this is also got such a cool title like Michaelmas!) and had my obligatory coffee. At work we had a most lovely cake in the form of a GIANT french fancy... Hannah... you are amazing! Work was of course busy... we've got a marrrrrhusive week this week and there is NO time for slacking off even on one's birthday.

Then after work Hannah, Edna, two of my Anna's, Barbara, Vincent and Marcus came out for dinner on Charlotte Street (love that street... and that name!) where a most exuberant and hilarious time was had by all. The most lovely people at the restaurant gave me a birthday cake with super cool candles on it. It was a really nice night.

So. All in all ... I had a really really lovely birthday. Thanks to all those who sent me messages via phone, email, facebook, post, ect. I really really really REALLY appreciated it! Thanks also to everyone here for making my birthday here so really very special. xxxx

Hmmm I'll just wack up some photos from the night at the bottom here! (Yes Hannah... I stole them off you. x)

Hannah and me!
Edna and Anna (one of them!) Cute (and tasty) cake with very cool candles M&S how awesome are YOU!

Lovely friends!
Me the poser.

2008-09-27T18:23:00.007+01:00

Quiet Weekend

Well I am in the middle of a nice a quiet weekend. I've had a stack of filing to do at work so I've kind of hung around the office today trying to catch up on all things work.

I chatted to the family this morning. My youngest brother Tim is really happy about the Hawks finally being a team of which he can be proud! I am very proud that he stuck with his team through all the rubbish years (which have lasted pretty much his entire life) and didn't fall to the usual temptation of childhood swapping to a team who is actully doing well! Well done!!!

Here's a pic of him... just becuase i miss him! xxxxx

We had a little bit of a scare this morning because the Centre of the World, who I mentioned in my last post, went missing for a little while... Fr was doing a baptism and Ambrose escaped while Fr wasn't looking and ran out into the street. Now... Soho... isn't a place for a little dog... so we were SCOURING the place for the little red dog! Somehow he managed to get himself down to Tottenham Court Road Tube Station and found a rubbish bin... one of his favouite things. Well he was found and was VERY sorry. So... we all forgave him. Here's some picture of the cute little thing to perhaps try and convey his cuteness and help you to understand why we all bow down and do what he wills!

See... how much is he so cute!?

2008-09-26T17:07:00.002+01:00

Busy Week
Well... I've had a busy week and I wish I had more time to write but I really just don't... I am up to my eyeballs with work and am in the processes of restructuring the whole thing so that I can work properly... am going to go for a walk now and come back later tonight to finish some stuff up. Hmmmm I might take Ambrose out with me... Ambrose is the Parish dog and also know as "the centre of the world" ...because... well.... he is!

2008-09-16T19:04:00.008+01:00

Miss M goes to Newcastle part II

Whoo hooo! There is growth! I said I would tell you about Newcastle AND I AM!!! David will be so happy with me.

SO I had a BALL in Newcastle. Seriously loved it. I got up some ungodly hour and got ready and made my way down to my nearest Tube station which is Tottenham Court Road. Scary at 5:30am let me tell you! ANYWAY it wasn't open as yet (1st train is 5:45) and so we had to wait outside for a little while. Seriously. There are CREEPY people in this world. Shiver.

Got To Liverpool Street Station and hoped on a Stanstead Express.... to Stanstead which was quite a nice ride. About 45mins with two stops... which kind of deafeats the purpose of an EXPRESS if you ask me... but it's not a bad trip.

THEN I got to the airport which is actully a nice little one... SOOOOO much better than Heathrow. I HATE Heathrow. A lot.

We had a slight delay, but all things were good (Easy Jet you are great even though you have that horrible orange which makes me gag) and I got into Newcastle at about oooooo 9:45ish and was met by the lovely Maria.

Had a really lovely time with her and her beautiful family who just made me feel right at home! Was really just nice to feel at home when you live so far from it! Maria then spend the day showing me and another friend Liz around the town which I loved. Seriously can you believe this. The council (or what ever they call the council of the town .... not up with local politics here!) have decided that most of the buildings which were built in the 60s and 70s were ugly and so are now systematically going through a knocking them all down! Man... I have never HEARD of such sense coming out of a bureaucracy!

Across the river is a bizarrely familiar sight... I looked at one of the bridges and thought... hmmmm... familiar... where have I seen that....

Yep... from what I can gather... this was kind of the proto type for Sydney Harbour Bridge... it's pretty much exactly the same... but... titchy! Even the lamps are the same. Apparently you can climb this bridge too and it doesn't cost a mint.

We had a great time wondering the streets checking out the Art Gallery which had some interesting stuff... as well as this installation which was... in effect a massive dark room with mirrors. We had NO idea what we were meant to do once we got inside. So after clinging to each other.... we edged our way to the light of the door and came out rather confused. Weeeeeeird.

We had a great lunch which between the three of us came to £11... £11 FOR THREE of us.... I'm not sure you understand how amazed I was .... but I'll leave it at that.

We then had to rush home and get dressed for Mass and a poshy dinner which was marking the 40th Anniversary of Humane Vitae and we had a really nice night. Great people, great food a BEAUTIFUL surroundings. It was a the Assembly Rooms which kind of made me think of Pride and Prejudice. I can't find a pic of the inside so this one will have to do!

The next morning we got up and Pat, Maria's lovely mother made us all breakfast. We hoped over to the Cathedral for Mass which was really lovely (Mass and the Cathedral!) It's a Pugin church and it's BEAUTIFUL! Here's the link to some photos of it. I don't have any :( my camera had run out of battery and I forgot to take my charger up. Seriously beautiful... scroll through til you get one from the nave of the altar. The ceiling is just brilliant.

Anyway we had a nice time just hanging around. Then it was time to go again and I flew back into Standstead at about 10ish and got into bed around 1pm... sooooo tired the next day but it was worth it of course!

2008-09-12T22:19:00.002+01:00

WHAT!!!

Ok... I just realised that I am going to have to get up at 4:30 in the morning tomorrow... man... why I do these things to myself I have NO idea!

2008-09-12T21:46:00.002+01:00

Miss M goes to Newcastle Part 1

Am heading up to Newcastle EARLY tomorrow morning ... Standstead... oh the joys of cheap airlines.... Actually I should complain... it actually takes me a shorter amount of time to get there than it would if I was taking public transport from home in Melbourne anyway!

Am going up for the weekend. I am LOVING weekends! I think that they are truly sent by God and a glimpse of heaven. Ok... so I am exaggerating... but it's my blog and I can exaggerate if I want to! I have been away alot recently... Cambridge, Dublin, back to Australia for WYD, going to Rome next month, doing other random trips where ever! LOVE IT!

I do hate packing for weekends though... it seems such a waste of time! A little bit of this and that... pah... boring. SO boring that I would rather POST then pack... Says a lot yeah?

So anyway... I should do something about it all! (and try not to be disterbed about the strange noises outside my window... someone is TRYING to sing and it makes my ears bleed!)

2008-09-12T21:31:00.002+01:00

Yes... I'm back again!

Greetings from London Town... although I am assuming that by now you have all left in disgust believing that I would never return. Well... in true Monification style I have returned... but who knows for how long!

MEANWHILE.... I'm having a ball over here!

Working... meeting people... going places... seeing new things. Learning a BUCKET load about myself... including a nice heathy dose of humility. Nothing like knowing nothing! Does wonders for the soul!

2008-05-08T22:15:00.002+01:00

Bit amusing!

I was googling the website for the Archdiocese of Westminster today (as I now have a need for it!) and I just typed in Westminster, then thought ... well that was stupid... Westminster is rather broad topic. Then, to my surprise it was fourth on the list AHEAD of Westminster Abby... just thought it was surprising!

2008-05-06T22:09:00.002+01:00

Wow...
So those 10 points go to Jackie! With her very quick hand on the buzzer! Don't worry Jackie I'll keep score... and you'll end up winning SOMETHING I'm sure!

Hmmm I'm very bored without pictures on here... I'll try and put some up soon.

2008-05-06T14:40:00.002+01:00

Steps

David has asked howmany steps exactly there are in the building... Well from my office in the basement to my room in the house there are 67 steps, but to the top of the house there are 87 steps but then that doesn't count the tower steps ...which I haven't even been up yet... so, there's probably something like 100...but I'll give you an update when I go up there!

2008-05-05T17:59:00.002+01:00

Hay Fever

Is truly, highly over-rated... Ah ah ah Choooooooooo!!!!!!!!!! Snif snif snnnnnnnnnnnnif! Am in the most beautiful countryside for my long weekend... but my gosh... rapeseed (Canola in Aussie terms) is KILLING me!!!! Mum, Dad, don't you remember how it used to knock you out for weeks?????

2008-05-04T22:44:00.005+01:00

Books

Books are heavy. Did you know that? I couldn't take a SINGLE book with me to England... :( was heartbreaking. HOWEVER I was telling this to Hannah, the most lovely girl who works across the desk from me..... and SHE told me that there was a Borders around the corner. So this little Monification took her little self down the street and low and behold there it was shinning in all its bright neon glory. OK so as a rule I'm a "cute little bookshop around the corner" (ten points for the movie reference - Meg you can't play, it's not fair to everyone else) kind of girl. But people. Desperate times call for desperate measures. I raided the place good and proper. I bought North and South, Tale of Two Cities, Picture of Dorian Gray (or i it Gray??) , Jesus of Nazareth and Shakespeare, by Bill Bryson. I know that it's kind of a bit of an English theme apart from the Benedict book but it doesn't matter where I am I STILL would have bought those books! Am now very excited. I have reading material!!! And I really don't want to convert all those pounds into dollars... it might make me weep!!! Time for sleep.

Night!

2008-05-04T14:53:00.002+01:00

Monica Arrives in London...Pt1 (I think!)

Well so I sat in the airport lounge at Melbourne airport on the 25th of April....yes ANZAC day (which I felt was quite apt) trying to psych myself up for the super long flight I was about to get onto. I was also pinching myself trying to work out if this was really happening or if it was all part of some bizarre dream. But it was true... crazy , but true. While I was trying to carry all my stuff onto the plane I kept on getting calls (THANKS guys...) which caused me to drop just about everything I was carrying on more than one occasion! I felt like it was some kind of bad omen! Lucky for me I don't believe in omens so I just got on with it!

First part of the flight was about 8 hours and I was so happy that I was able to sleep though a good proportion of it! My lead up to leaving was so intense and crazy that I was completely exhausted! AND my most wonderful youngest brother Tim let me take his really great pillow with me which made all the difference in the world! You never understand how far away your head is from you shoulder until you have to sleep sitting up without a pillow!

So we arrived at about 6am into Hong Kong and spent about an hour and a half in the airport. It was SO good to be able to stretch out properly. Things were all running very smoothly so we got back on board and started the longer stretch which was about twelve and a half hours. It was really fascinating to fly over China (yes James you're right, it's even interesting from the sky!) and Russia, Germany.

Just at the point where I thought I would never be able to watch another movie ever again we started to fly across England. It was super busy at Heathrow (for a change) and we had to circle for a bit first, even when we did touch down there were no gates free so we had to get out onto the tarmac and catch a bus to the terminal. It too FOREVER!

THEN we had to get through Immigration which just seemed like it would never end. Poor Jeanine who was waiting for me outside was beginning to think she had missed me coming out! But, yes of course, I did finally come out! We then made our trek on the tube with my massive suitcase... we made a couple of strategic plans " just in case" one of us get held behind because of the massive proportions of this suitcase of mine. But luckily people in the tightly packed tube carriage somehow managed to let us squeeze past.

I kept on having that weird feeling of "am I really here" going through my head over and over. But we finally got to St Patrick's in Soho where we climbed the stairs (lots of stairs) to my room! Al I really wanted to do was curl up in a ball and go to sleep. But (and it was a good plan) the girls wouldn't let me and i was shown around the place, and then taken out to dinner. It was a really lovely and absolutely hilarious dinner. But I was beginning to fade rather badly so as son as we got home I climbed (I'm serious... there are a LOT of stairs) up to my room and just fell into bed!

Ok .... stay tuned for part 2!!!!!

2008-05-01T11:06:00.001+01:00

Ahhhh!

The "@" key is in the wrong place on the keyboard! Really quite annoying! You just don't realise how many times you use it until it's not where you want it to be!

2008-05-01T11:03:00.002+01:00

I'm here!

Ok so I am now in London but things are so crazy that I hardly have time to write anything decent here just yet! Give me a couple more days and a few more nights of solid sleep and I'll be much better!

2008-04-20T09:19:00.003+01:00

Photos from my party.

Ok So I had a farewell at the beginning of the month. I've been meaning to put up some photos but have only just got the time to do it now. It was themed "all things British" and I had a ball!!!! Not so sure if everyone appreciated that I had made them get dressed up but I thought it was great!

Here's a few from the night! For some unknown reason they are coming up tiny.... will fix that another day!

2008-04-20T08:53:00.006+01:00

5 Sleeps To Go!

Who would have thought! Works finished...pretty much, my last weekend is nearly over and I have only a couple more days to sort my life out into three piles... taking, leaving and piffing.

I'm not really sure what I think of this whole business... I actaully feel exhausted but I don't feel like I am leaving! Really bizarre really.

Yesterday I began my "rounds", as Nick called them, in earnest. I met up with Frank for Breakfast, Greg and Richard for Lunch, Nick for Coffee and had dinner at Alex and Helen's place with Jackie, Connor and Connor's brother Nathan and finished up the night playing poker. Which I was appalling at because I had faboulous hands with atrocious kickers!

Today I went to my favourite Breakfast place... Richmond Hill Cafe and Larder.... Otherwise known as "Stephanie's". Then I went to work for four hours clearing everything out and pulling down all my "girls" on the wall. I love my girls. They will certainly be coming with me! If you've ever been into my office you'll know what I'm talking about!

Then I went to the Seminary for the Family and Friends day. I will really miss those boys a lot! I love them heaps and am so proud of them (most of the time!). They really do inspire me a lot and keep me grounded. Sometimes the try and ground me too much... but hey, I guess I need it!

Then I caught up with my beautiful Bernadette for a coffee which was just lovely.

NOW I am heading off to Mass and THEN I have to take all of my stuff back to Mum and Dad's place. PHEW! What a weekend!

That's just the beginning... The next week is INSANE. I fly out on Friday night and I am almost frightened about how much I have to do in the next week. Well... enough for now!

2008-04-14T08:58:00.001+01:00

Woooohooooo!

I don't have heaps of time but I just thought I'd say that today I got word that my visa was accepted and I will be leaving on the 25th of April! ANZAC day....hmmmm interesting!

2008-04-01T01:31:00.007+01:00

Little Matt
I haven't yet posted about my new little nephew Matthew. He was born onthe 10th of Jan and he's the cutest little thing! Look!

Thanks for the photo Meg. Yes. You're the best.

2008-04-01T00:02:00.006+01:00

Good point!

Alice, although rudely making fun of my visa issues and my very much Australian-ness, has a good point. I haven't actually explained WHY I am going to London.

When I went overseas over Christmas I just loved London. Paris was the most beautiful city...but London was the most interesting. And as we all know it is interesting that I like the most! (Yes Meg, interesting things and exclamation marks.) I have never seen so many fabulous things jammed together in one spot.

So anyway I came away from London thinking that "Yes, I could live here for a while". But I didn't think that it would actually happen.

To be honest, I love my life here in Melbourne. I really do. I really wouldn't have actually thought about leaving had not a great opportunity come up to work with the Parish of Soho in London. I will be taking over their fundraising campaign to help restore the Church there and to renovate the basement under the church for a Parish Centre.

SO. CRAZY. I can tell you right now. God works in bizarre ways. He's good. But bizarre.

Oh and yes... I took that photo at Christmas time.

2008-03-25T21:41:00.002Z

So much to do.

You know when you have so much to do and ZERO time to do in? So much that the very THOUGHT of it all makes you want to crawl into a hole in the ground and weep? That's me. Right now. My Dad calls me Optus girl. (A telecommunications company who's catch phrase is "Yes".) If someone comes up to me and asks me a favour, I will usually say "Sure why not!" Seriously need to stop this. It's beginning to mess with my brain. (Shut up Shannon. I know you would comment about that.)

OK .... things on my list to do.

World Youth Day is coming up and I have a most faboulous group of young people that I'm taking. (Yes, I am coming back from London for WYD and taking the group up with the help of a group of stella leaders!) I love them a lot BUT it's driving me insane at the moment.

There are about 55 people in this group and collecting money from that many people is like trying to make me go to a navel gazing meditation service where you worship fat candles and bolts of chiffon... very hard...

Plus we have a get together this Thursday we have a weekend away helping out at a Parish Mission in three weeks AND I have to work out how the whole this is going to be run whilst I'm in London... which means a LOT of delegation and I am one bad delegator!

So that's just WYD.

Meanwhile I have to do all my normal things at work PLUS get it all ready to hand over which is crazy... and you should SEE the state of my desk. It's APPALLING!

Then I'm trying to work on my visa. Can't even explain that to you or I'll break out in a sweat.

FINALLY I am trying to pack up my life into a managable, suitcase, amount of things. Praise God I don't have to worry about taking sheets, towels and all that! They take up WAY too much room. Biggest dilemma... which books do I take????

Ok. Enough with the whining. I'll just get on with it!

2008-03-17T01:22:00.002Z

New Profile Pic!

So the first thing to do is change my profile pic to the one that is my favourite because it shows my love of red dresses, posing and lipstick. Enough said.

2008-03-16T23:19:00.002Z

Right... well then...

Hi all! I would like to work out the percentages for this blog. How much are actual posts, how many are pics and then how much are me saying how sorry I am for not posting! I think that the later might be about half!

OK so so much has happened to me in the last few weeks that I have realised that this pretty much dead blogspot needs to come to life again. I am moving to London in about 6 weeks and so thought that I would use this to let everyone know what's happening with it all!

For now I have to clear my desk of work and then I can tell explain the why of London.

2007-07-11T05:20:00.000+01:00

Because they are just so lovely...

I thought I'd put up another photo of Cat and Blair! (Photo by Ryan!)

2007-07-11T00:51:00.000+01:00

AHHHHHH!!!!!
You know when you know you're working hard but the pile on your desk never gets any smaller??? What is the why of this?!

2007-07-10T07:27:00.000+01:00

Another Wedding!!!!

I forgot to mention the wedding that I went to two weeks ago. It was just so beautiful! It was another friend marries friend scenario. My very gorgeous house mate Catherine married my friend and former work colleague Blair. It was so exciting. Cat and her bridesmaids came over to our house to get ready (we have a HUGE room at the front of the house) and we had such a great time! I don't think I have ever cried so much at a wedding before!!!
Here are some pics! Ta to Ange, who came out all the way from California, for the photos!

Ang and I waiting for the bride!

The Vows

The Bridal Party

Me and the Kitten!

2007-07-10T01:05:00.000+01:00

I love…

Waking up with enough time to sit down and have breakfast and a cup of tea!

Going outside in the morning from a warm house in the dead of winter and having the cold air hit you like waves reminding you that yes... you are alive!

Walking (not running!) for the train because you are most certainly not late.

Arriving on the train platform and see that the next train is only 2 minutes away.

Seeing that the train is an express.

Standing on the platform and having the doors of the train stop right in front of you and all you have to do is press the button and step inside!

When the fog is so thick it really does feel like a cloud and almost like its raining…but it’s not!

When you look up at St Patrick’s Cathedral and, because of the before mentioned fog, you can hardly see the tops of the spires.

OK….. so I woke up in a good mood today!!!!

2007-07-09T06:29:00.000+01:00

2028 Congress

Like I said the conference was just AWESOME! I don't have time to write anything myself right this very second BUT I thought I would put up an article by Br Barry Coldrey who went to the conference and his impressions. It's long I know but I think it gives you a good idea what it was like! (Thanks to Daniel Kenny for the Photo!!)

Australian Catholic Students Association (ACSA)
Conference, Canberra, 6-8 July 2007

There are older Catholics concerned at the empty pews

they observe in many churches and the few younger

Catholics who appear to practice their faith. The

'corrosive message of the secular society and the

uncertain - lowest common denominator - focus of much

'Catholic' education have wrought havoc with Catholic

practice.

However, there was no sign of this numbing malaise at

the Abbey Function Centre, Gold Creek, on the edge of

Canberra on the weekend of 6-8 July. Three hundred

young men and women, from all states of Australia,

tertiary students and workers, gathered to pray,

inspire and celebrate their faith. They were cool and

confident, ardent and enthusiastic, untroubled by the

'a la Carte' belief patterns, agnostic prayer,

unorthodox liturgies and sterile, soft-Left political

correctness of so many 'Catholic' meetings and

conferences.

Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver, Colorado, a

Capuchin friar, gave the keynote address: 'I am

neither liberal nor conservative' he said,'I am

Catholic. I teach the life and message of Jesus Christ

and His Church, full and entire.' The audience roared,

stomped and whistled approval. (They are young

people!)

At the Conference dinner in the Great Hall of

Parliament House, Senator Ron Boswell (National Party,

Queensland)represented Prime Minister, John Howard. He

remarked, inter alia, 'You are a minority among your

peers'. True! However, there were 350 young men and

women in the Great Hall, a large, far from cowed

minority.  Bishop Anthony Fisher, O.P. gave a dazzling

address and was given a long standing ovation by those

present.

 It was the vitality, confidence and deep faith of the

young people,bursting with life and talent which

impressed the few 'oldies; present in support. The

young men and women worse jeans and casuals at the

Conference sessions, but they had 'scrubbed up well'

for the dinner! They were like the young people your

Dad always wanted you to be.

The Conference was organised by the ACSA executive

(2006/7) led by the sophisticated and articulate

President, Aaron Russell, a final year Engineering

student at the University of Adelaide. During the

Conference at the AGM, a new seven-person executive

was elected. Camillus O'Kane, a Town Planning student

at the University of New South Wales, is the new

President. He is supported by a strong team:

Vice-President, Nikolai Martinovic, an undergraduate

at Campion College; Secretary, Ruth Russell from South

Australia, Treasurer, Elise Nally, from Queensland, IT

Manager, Patrick Gian, from South Australia; Functions

Manager, Pat Langrelle from Sydney and Victorian

Representative, Claire Anthony who is Public Relations

Officer.

Camillus has a broad vision for his Presidency

focussed on World Youth Day and the chances WYD opens

for the Australian Church. 'Our next Conference will

be held in Sydney, close to World Youth Day. We will

be looking for international 'Superstar' speakers to

fire the event. I want a close relationship with

Bishop Anthony Fisher who is head of the WYD Planning

Team. Overall, I hope to be a humble worker in

Christ's vineyard and a tower of strength to my

awesome team'

Twenty-one-year-old Camillus, has the drive and

intelligence to lead, as a personal Conference memory

might illustrate: on Saturday evening, we arrived in

the underground car park of Parliament House around

the same time. He had dropped off Cardinal Cassidy and

Archbishop Chaput at the front door. Camillus was

hurrying for pre-dinner drinks with the Bishops,

parliamentarians and other dignitaries, but he said:

'You're with me, Brother, and I'm President, stick

with me and no-one will say a word.' So I walked

beside Camillus into the Great Hall and sipped

champagne with the Bishops, parliamentarians and other

VIPs and no-one questioned by presence!

Conference organisation was sound, the AGM went

smoothly and the new ACSA is awesome. However, at the

Conference, prayer and liturgy had come first. The

event opened with Mass at the Changi Memorial Chapel

at the Royal Military College, Duntroon. Archbishop

Max Davis, was principal celebrant. 'I've never had so

many young people in my church', he said.

On the Saturday, Archbishop Wilson of Adelaide led

five other Cardinals and bishops presiding at the

Eucharist in St Christopher's Cathedral, where

Archbishop Chaput preached the homily. Before the

Conference ended Sunday, the whole group was bussed to

John XXIII College Chapel at the National University

for a final Mass celebrated by Cardinal Edward Cassidy

while Bishop Geoff Jarrett of Lismore, preached. It

was a moving occasion.

At the Gold Creek Chapel throughout Friday

evening-Saturday morning, relays of young men and

women maintained constant prayer before the Blessed

Sacrament. When the writer arrived at 7 a.m. to

participate there were eleven young people praying in

silent adoration before their Risen Lord. It was a

good omen for the Conference.

At the working sessions, there was a fine array of

apeakers including Health Minister, Tony Abbott, who

spoke on 'Life and Death in 2028; Archbishop Chaput,

discussed the 'Church and the next Generation'; Rev.

Dr John Fleming, President of Campion College,

explored the 'Liberal Arts and Technical Training

while Archbishop Wilson looked at the media over the

next twenty years.

Sincere Catholic educators, exhausted 'in the

trenches' of the Catholic education system,

marginalised by feral careerists in the schools and

agnostic 'trendies' in the Catholic educational

bureaucracies, might wonder: 'Where did such

dedicated, intelligent, confident young Catholic

emerge? We have never seen them.'

The answer appears to be that they have been formed in

a delightful 'underworld' of vital new movements and

Congregations in the Church. Some are Home-schooled!

Others are attending Campion College. Some attended

Anglican, or other Christian schools and colleges.

Some attended elite Jesuit colleges where family

wealth and high social status gave them the personal

confidence to buck peer group pressure and the toxic,

anti-religious aggro around much of the Catholic

system.There are also the passionate members of Latin

Mass communities.

Family and group associations are common: there are

many family groups: the three O'Kane brothers, for

example, from Yarrawonga; the three Bielecki brothers

from St. Aloysius's Caulfield, Latin Mass community,

Brad and Tristan McLindon from Hamilton, James and

Clair Anthony from Hawthorn in Melbourne.

In addition, some Religious Congregations support

youth ministry. Young men and women from their circles

were present in numbers. Some are associated with

Disciples of Jesus Covenant Communities and the

Missionaries of God's Love; others with Franciscan

Capuching Youth Ministry. Altogether, they provided

the 300+ young men and women who made the 2007 ACSA

Conference so inspiring an experience.

2007-07-09T06:23:00.000+01:00

New Photo!

Since the photo that WAS up on my profile was about 4 years old ... I thought that in might be a good idea to have on that is a touch more recent. :) This was taken at in Canberra whilst at the ACSA conference. Which, by the way was BRILLIANT!

2007-07-04T08:27:00.000+01:00

Rhymes with slap-you

That's what I was told by a very esteemed priest friend of mine when I so clumsily said the name of the Archbishop of Denver, Archbishop Chaput. He told me that it rhymed with slap you and that the man himself had told him so!

ANYWAY, the Archbishop is giving a public address tonight in Melbourne as part of the Australian Confraternity of Catholic Clergy (otherwise known as the ACCC -not to be confused with the OTHER ACCC , the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. VERY different!) Conference being held at the moment.

I'm actually not going. I need a night off! I'm just going to hang around at home and pack for the conference in Canberra (which he will be speaking at anyway). Anyway, I happen to know that tomorrow the transcript of the speech will be up at www.melbourne.catholic.org.au so I can see what he said even if I'm not able to get there myself.

Ok need to go home now!

2007-07-04T08:26:00.000+01:00

Meg!

Aren't you so proud of me??? Two days in a row!!!

2007-07-04T04:47:00.000+01:00

2028 Congress

I'm heading up to Canberra this Thursday night to attend the ACSA conference which has now become a Congress for both students and young adults.

It's focusing on World Youth Day, specifically on the effects of what it can achieve for the future of the Church (hence the 2028 part of the title!)

You can check out what it's all about here:

http://www.towards2008.org.au/

It should be heaps of fun, they've got about 300 people attending which is a record for them.

It's really awesome to see this group grow steadily over the last few years.

I was part of the executive back in 2002/2003 and at that time we were holding onto it for dear life! Seriously there were times were it felt like there was no point and that everything was against us.

Times have changed however, and the leadership over the past six years or so has been just brilliant. They have built on and added to each year so that today we have this fabulous conference which six years ago I wouldn't have dreamed of wishing for!

So three cheers from me guys, I'm very proud of you!

2007-07-02T03:07:00.001+01:00

In Other Exciting News

My sister Kathleen and her Husband Chris are having a baby! First grandchild for both sides so it’s very exciting. Not that if it was her tenth child (just kidding Kat) that it would be any less exciting but it’s all NEW and exciting.

They just had their first ultrasound last week and so it's all feeling so much more real. She's due on the 1st of Jan. Potentially interesting New Year for them!

PS I just love that picture!

2007-07-02T02:34:00.000+01:00

It’s a bit late but…

My beautiful friend Helen got married to Alex (who is also my friend but not beautiful like Helen!) in May.

It was really just beautiful. They had a Solemn Pontifical Mass with the Archbishop Denis Hart in the Classical Roman Rite and it was magnificent. They had it At Our Lady's of Victories Basillica, which is one of the most beautiful churches in Melbourne and it just set the scene perfectly.

I’m not a “Latin Masser” as it were but I really do have a strong appreciation for it and the reverence, rich symbolism and silence which is almost tangible in it. This is not a Latin Mass post but I just thought I’d mention it since it was one of the significant aspects of this particular wedding!

All up I had a ball! There were people all over the place who had come to celebrate this wedding! We’d all waited a long time for this one and I’m just so happy for them! It’s just so cool when two of your friends get married! It does make choosing where to sit a little difficult though.

Here’s some photos from the day Helen sent me

The Bride and Groom!

The view from above

The Vows

The Bride and her lovely assistants!

2007-07-02T02:33:00.000+01:00

Sorry

I’m really sorry. What more can I say? Forgive me?????

2007-04-24T08:04:00.000+01:00

Lou and Me!

OK I don't have time right this very second to write about what I've been up to. HOWEVER I thought that I would post this picture of two very fabulous people in the meantime. I got to see Lou this weekend when I went up to Sydney.We took over this couch at the pub we were at for lunch. She's just such a gun and I don't see her enough!

PS. Thanks James for the pic!

2007-04-24T08:02:00.000+01:00

Something that made me laugh

2007-04-24T07:45:00.000+01:00

Well....

... there’s been a lot happening in my life and I’ve had ZERO time to blog about it. Sorry to all my disappointed fans who have been waiting with bated breath to find out what happens next to Miss Monification. What WOULD help me is if all these people who APPARENTLY visit my blog ACTUALLY left me a message. Then I might actually have some form of motivation to tell you things.

Maybe…

2007-01-23T04:51:00.000Z

More Photos!!

The Fam... Aren't we lovely?

A beautiful Melbourne day!

Kat and Tim... so much of an age gap, yet so much of the same dramatic flare

Now who would have though a bunch of homeschooled girls could turn out so stylish!

Baby Stella! The cutest little bub at the wedding. (The proud mum is in the photo above on the left of the bride)

Well that's all for now... I've gotta run and make sure some stuff makes the post!

2007-01-23T03:44:00.000Z

Ahhhhhhh...

So here are my sister Kathleen (aka Kat) and my new brother-in law Chris. Actually, when my youngest brother (then 7) first heard the phrase "brother-in-law", he miss heard and told Chris he was going to be our Lord Brother. So now Chris goes around telling us that we need to kneel at his feet and be at his beck and call, as befits his station in our family!

Anyway, they are a great couple and we had a BLAST at their wedding at the beginning of December. I’ll post a few more when I have time.

2007-01-19T05:22:00.000Z

Uploading issues

I've got issues at the moment with uploading pictures onto blogger. Such a shame! I was trying to put a picture of my sister Kat and her new husband.... will try again another day. Your loss!

2007-01-19T04:49:00.000Z

No....

I'm not dead. Just in case you were wondering. I have been just so incredibly flat out at work and in life generally, that blogging has simply not been on my to do list! It's not entirely a habit with me, so I don't find it hard to drop. Anyway, just thought I'd let you all know that I'm still around. I'm going to blog on my sisters wedding ASAP. I'm sure you are all waiting with heightened anticipation!

PS did you know that Blogger's own spell checker doesn't let the word "blogging", or "Blogger" for that matter, through? So weird!

2006-11-15T04:39:00.000Z

Thank you God for Rain!

For those of you who don't know, we here in Australia are in the midst of a really dreadful drought. I was up in Rural NSW about a month ago and was just shocked at how bad it really is up there. In my old town where we lived for a time everything looked kind of like this:

Everyone's been praying for rain and we've had a little bit here and there, but today in Melbourne it's been pouring with rain...and hail. It's also been absolutely freezing, and it's meant to be summer in two and a half weeks! Anyway, please God it has got to places that need it.