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G'Day, It's Australia Day today!
As usual, I began the morning joining with my Ladies Choir to sing at a joyful Citizenship Ceremony for new arrivals to our fair land.
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It is a delight to see the pleasure on those faces, from many different lands, as they happily take the Oath, and receive their Certificate of Citizenship and all that goes with it.
We sang a selection of appropriate songs, ending of course with the National Anthem, Advance Australia Fair...
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Later today, we will attend a street party outside our house.
The barbeque will sizzle, and we will indulge in some of our favourite Australian fare:
We love our salads in the summer heat:
Lamingtons: named for an early Governor of Queensland..
Somebody always brings a pavlova..
and there could be Tim Tams, our favourite decadent chocolate biscuit treat.
Meantime, in honour of the occasion, a little excitement happened in our garden:
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Snake goes up,
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Snake comes down.
I took these photos with a zoom lens, from an upstairs window.
There is no way I would ever deliberately go this close to a snake.
The snake disappeared into the plumbago hedge below the palm tree.
It is probably a non-venomous tree snake, but as it is the same colour, size, and has the same small head as the deadly Eastern Brown, we keep our distance and never, ever, approach them.
I hope it had a drink and left our property...
Happy Australia Day to my Aussie readers,
and may you have a great day.
XXXX
Happy Australia Day to you also, we also had a BBQ, Pavalova, and Lamintons.
ReplyDeleteOnce a year, it's fun to indulge, isn't it? Hope you enjoyed it too.
DeleteHappy Australia Day - Hope you had a wonderful time. The snake in the garden! there is no way I would go close to that. What are Lamingtons made of?
ReplyDeleteAh, Lamingtons are squares of plain cake such as Madeira cake, dipped into runny chocolate icing then rolled in dessicated coconut. They are very messy to make, and very delicious to eat!
DeleteHappy Australia Day to you, Patricia! Singing at the citizenship ceremony was a wonderful way to start your day! As an immigrant to Canada, when I took my oath I was surprised by how meaningful the ceremony was. Sadly we didn't have a choir, but there was an RCMP officer in his red serge uniform.
ReplyDeleteAs for the snake. Oh my. I am more afraid of snakes than dentists. Which is why I could never live in your beautiful country. :-)
Thanks Kristie, gotta love a Mountie in red! We don't often see snakes in our garden but the heat this year has really brought them out and about. Sadly there have been a couple of deaths from snake bite in Australia this summer.
DeleteI hope that you had a great Australia Day!! I do so love a good pav - well any pav actually! - don't you!! Must make some lamingtons as well, but I need to have someone to share them with as hubby doesn't care for coconut! Oh well. Hope you had a good time though. xx
ReplyDeleteThank you Amy, we had a great day, and indulged in a few treats. Yes, I too love a pav! I see that you live in the UK, but are you Australian? xx
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures!! I'd like to visit Australia!
ReplyDeleteXOXO!
Thank you - I'm sure you'd love Australia!
DeleteHope you enjoyed your Australia Day, your photos are stunning Patricia. I used to make Lamingtons years ago, thank you for prompting my memory - must make some soon.
ReplyDeletePatricia x
Hi Patricia, we had a great street party. Impressed that you used to make Lamingtons; I did too when I had growing children, but not these days. Too many calories! But a nice treat occasionally. xx
DeleteWhat a joy it must have been to sing at the ceremony. A special wencome. I've never heard of Lamingtons, I'll have to look them up.
ReplyDeleteDarla
Singing at the Citizenship ceremony is a great way for our choir to start the year, after our Christmas break. Back into rehearsals this week. Lamingtons are good to eat, but quite messy to make!
DeleteSorry I didn't make it here in time to wish you Happy Australia Day on the actual date. Oh, that pavlova looks scrumptious! Have never had one.I have never visited your country, but it seems such a fascinating place filled with interesting people. I am lately enjoying reading so many Australian authors!
ReplyDeleteThank you Sanda. Australia Day is 26th January, but spilled over to Monday this year which was a public holiday. Mr C played golf with the other guys in our street, an event which is becoming another street tradition. Pavlova is always perfectly scrumptious, light as air meringue teamed with whipped cream and fruit!! :)) I like that you are reading Australian authors - I am currently reading Germaine Greer's latest book.
DeleteHello Patricia.
ReplyDeleteHow sociable the Aussies are. I can just imagine you all enjoying your bbq in the street and singing and happiness all around.
I wish I could have been there.
Hope it was a good day for you.
xxx val
It is great fun partying out in the street - which fortunately is a cul-de-sac! We take folding chairs and tables, and set ourselves up at dusk. It was a lovely party, and wouldn't it have been lovely to have you here too!! thanks Val xxxx
DeleteHappy Australia Day! I have always wanted to visit Australia, it seems like a very interesting country. I'm sure you had a wonderful holiday.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jennifer, the holiday was great as is the timing. At the end of the long summer holidays, just before everybody returns to school and work. Schools return today, and clubs and groups start-up after the holidays. Business as usual!!
DeleteI've come very late to this, Patricia, but I'm glad you had such a happy Australia Day. I love the thought of your choir singing to mark something so significant as a citizenship ceremony. :-)
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing nice article with us . australia Day 2016 | happy Australia Day 2016 | latest upcoming events Australia Day 2016 | Australia Day images 2016
ReplyDelete