Oh Dear

Evening.

You know I just sat here and read you e-mails and then I sat here and had a cry! Goodness can you imagine if someone came downstairs and saw me? How would I explain it?

Yes I like your mum's gift! I had it on not long ago while I was working away on some stuff. Added a bit to your letter and have everything under control for tomorrow. Oh accept my hat, I have to give that a brush. Damn. Must remember to do that. Point being I just had it on and I really do love it! You wait, it'll be the centre piece in my lounge room when I go home, I'll be so proud of it! Like I said, I think everyone here has seen it now.

Aww I have more candy coming, you treat me so well :-)

I don't know what brought on the nervous/foreboding feelings. I still have them a little but not as much. I believe enough to know that it's not here so I can only assume its something coming from the southern hemisphere. That worries me because my phone still isn't connected. But hey, I guess if its urgent enough they can contact me at Pax Lodge.

The staff meeting. We talked about three things. World Thinking Day (ie this weekend), The 15th Anniversary and the Pax Lodge Team Meeting which is an annual thing involving the Bureau and the Pax Lodge Team (obviously). It would seem that a lot of what's happening this weekend has been left until the last minute. I mean the HAs are still upstairs trying to get their acts together in regards to what it is they are doing. Doreen isn't impressed.

It was while we were talking about the 15th Anniversary that you came up. The topic was things we were going to do and one thing that was mentioned was either vastly improving our puppets show or creating a new one. Saying how we need a good puppeteer and Doreen was like 'Oh well we could always fly Erin Gow back over' and trust me, it took all my will power not to jump up and plead with her to do exactly that! Though Sally saw the smile that crept over my face. She just giggled to herself. See, people here do remember you and your puppeteering! Shame they won't fly you back for it though! We also talked about the vast communication problem in regards to a lot of the anniversary stuff. It was really awkward. But we sorted it.

The team Meeting in April was rather boring stuff, basically I need to sit in on it and the team are able to ask me questions should they wish to. That's kind of scary. I suppose I don't need to do a report so that's something. Oh the other thing about the Anniversary is that I've been asked to read something out. Heather said something similar to what I used to do for sessions, so I'm not entirely sure that means I am reading something already written or I need to write something new. I better clarify that. I can't believe I am spending all that day in the kitchen, I'm going to go mad.

What's the play about on Saturday night? Like is it a previously written show or something independent? Sometimes its nice to see something fresh, as long as it can be pulled off in a good manner. Mind you, the same applies for a previously written show too!

Australia's equivalent to the Grammy's are known as the ARIAs. They have far more class. We were talking about this today because there were a couple of us that watched the BRITs. We were all equally disgusted at them.

Erin's Mum is here at the moment. It's terrible. It's like having twins that laugh and talk and act the same. Its truly scary.

Tomorrow will be a long day. I start at 8am and we have the service at Westminster until 12 noon at which point we make our way back, I need to change, set up for activities, eat and be ready for the groups at about 1:45. This operates like an International Adventure afternoon until 5pm at which point I am to go into the Dining room and co-ordinate dinner and all the HAs to make sure everything is under control. At 6pm the campfire starts. It should finish around 7:30pm and after that we all head back into the dining room to clean up and do dishes. Come Sunday we get up and do it all over again. Minus the service of course.

I am very excited about going to the Service at Westminster Abbey. Its seriously one of those things you have to do but may only ever get the chance to do once and even then it doesn't mean you can go. Like I said before, it's like a pilgrimage. I will wear my uniform with pride and be proud of who I am. I think I should take tissues, I think I may cry. What I do know is that I'll be pretty tired by the end of it all.

For now I am off upstairs to bed. It's after 10:30 and I need to get as much sleep as I can. Good Night and Sweet Dreams.

Rachael :-)