No cash, No cards, No car

We are a bit at sixes and sevens at the moment. Approximately 2am Friday morning, while we were asleep upstairs, our house was raided. Someone grabbed our ipad and iphone, a tub of pasta off the bench, (true :>) a wallet, car key and garage clicker, and my bag and purse, walked out the laundry door, opened the garage and drove off in our car.

After living here happily for twenty years the result was not only a sense of violation,

• the act of doing something that is not allowed by a law or rule

• : the act of ignoring or interfering with a person’s rights

• : the act of showing disrespect for something

but also a loss of independence,  a shattering of our complacency and on the material side, no cash, no cards and no car. The police arrived and were kind and considerate. We were fortunate that this was what they call a ‘gratuitous burglary’ and no large items, like the TV or computer were taken and nothing was trashed.

Thank goodness our dynamic duo came to our rescue. Our son, Paul came as soon as he heard, handed us cash to tide us over and helped sort out what to do to protect and replace our cards etc. Our daughter-in-law, Marian offered us the loan of their two dogs for comfort and security. She also left us their second car until we get our new credit card in the mail and can hire a car.

There is so much to do and all of it as quickly as possible. We now have new locks on all our doors but it feels as if it’s like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted.

The amazing thing to us is the wonderful support we have received and the kindness shown. Friends have rung and offered to help, neighbours have visited and so many people have been so kind. It restores your faith in human nature. I know there are ‘takers’ in any community but there are also many ‘givers’. These are the people who nourish and support us in times of need. Bless them all.

Tying the Knot

We write to taste life twice. In the moment and in retrospect.

 Anais Nin. 

Who wouldn’t like to write about a special day and relive the memories? Everything was perfect the day Ainslie Sterling married Ty Johnstone. The sun shone on a couple totally in love and celebrating the best day of their lives.

Marybrooke Manor in Sherbrooke in the Dandenong Ranges Victoria Australia  is an old country manor nestling amongst tall trees. They know how to discreetly organise the perfect wedding where everything runs like clockwork; smoothly, quietly ticking along without a hitch.

When I saw Ainslie walk down the aisle she took my breath away. I already knew that she is a beautiful person inside and out and that if she wore a hessian bag for a wedding dress she would still look gorgeous. I was not the only one to have a lump in my throat and wipe away tears. I noticed Ty was also having trouble controlling his emotions as he saw his future wife, on the arm of her father walking towards him.

And how could my nephew, Stuart Sterling be the father of such a grown up young woman? I remembered a young, lanky boy coming to stay for holidays and going with us on outback camping trips to Innaminka. Of days he spent playing in the back  yard with our two boys. My Dad skidding his FJ Holden around a big tree at the top of the street with them screaming, laughing, calling, ‘Do it again Gramps, pleeeeese.’ This ethical, kind man walking his daughter down the aisle and giving her hand in marriage to Ty Johnstone was definitely Stuart,  but where had the years gone?

It seems like only yesterday that Ros and Stuart married and how beautiful it was to see their love for each other as they took their vows. Now the second eldest of their five children was marrying the love of her life. Life has a way of whizzing by until an occasion such as this pulls us up with a jolt and, when we now belong to the older generation, we realize how short it can be. I know for one I intend to live for the moment and enjoy every minute of the rest of this fabulous journey.

How romantic to have a garden wedding and I was delighted when we were told no photos allowed. It meant that we could all relax and enjoy the moment without thinking of videos or jumping up, leaning over, in an attempt to take the perfect photo. There were professional photographers employed to do all that . I settled down and relaxed. The love for these two young people was palpable and I made sure the love-heart good-luck trinket was ready and waiting to later slip on her arm and join the happy horseshoe trinkets from others wishing her well.

  

The newlyweds, four beautiful bridesmaids, four handsome groomsmen all relaxed, laughed, talked and celebrated together on the croquet lawn,

Tradition. It keeps us grounded, gives us a feeling of continuity. Mother, fathers, aunties, uncles, grandparents had all come to wish the young couple joy and happiness.

The reception was time for everyone to have fun. After the bridal waltz,  a fabulous wedding breakfast, Stuart’s great speech about how it takes not only parents but a village to raise a child, the cake was cut and everyone danced the macarena.

  

We stayed at Marybrooke Manor overnight after fare-welling the newlyweds who fled to their accommodation through an archway of well-wishers after first throwing the bouquet. The following morning they boarded a plane to an undisclosed location for their honeymoon.

Who knows what the future holds but everyone at that wedding wished this lovely young couple every happiness and blessings for their life together. As I waved goodbye I saw Ainslie and Ty’s parents and ‘village’ gathering around them and I knew they would be there to support them throughout their lives. Stuart and Ros’s family, Amelia, Bailey, Finley and Isabelle beamed love to their sister and her new husband and cuddled Ros and Stuart. It reminded me of one of my favourite poems. A family is like a circle, the connection never ends, and even if at times it breaks in time it always mends. A family is like a book, the endings never clear, but through the pages of the book love is always near.

We write to taste life twice. In the moment and in retrospect. 

This post has given me the opportunity to do just that: to relive, enjoy and share with you the love, joy and happiness such a day brings.

Thank you Ainslie and Ty Johnstone for sharing with us your special day.