Have I Done any Good?

This is a hymn, and I'm not religious or anything but I really like the words.
Very apt for this time in my life..
I found it on another blogsite that I like, which is posted by a couple that have also worked as aid workers in Sri Lanka: http://mondugi.blogspot.com

Have I Done Any Good?, no. 223
1. Have I done any good in the world today?
Have I helped anyone in need?
Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad?
If not, I have failed indeed.
Has anyone’s burden been lighter today
Because I was willing to share?
Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?
When they needed my help was I there?

[Chorus]
Then wake up and do something more
Than dream of your mansion above.
Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure,
A blessing of duty and love.

2. There are chances for work all around just now,
Opportunities right in our way.
Do not let them pass by, saying, “Sometime I’ll try,”
But go and do something today.’
Tis noble of man to work and to give;
Love’s labor has merit alone.
Only he who does something helps others to live.
To God each good work will be known.

Text and music: Will L. Thompson, 1847–1909, alt.

Mum's the Word

I have realised that this government department is where all the generic "mums" work.

I feel like I am working inside some fictional landscape created by Roald Dahl or something.

Everyone here is either pregnant, or a walking "mum" cliche.

Floral shirts with mother of pearl buttons, flat sensible sandal shoes (some with *shriek* skin coloured stockings), ankle length flowy skirts, tuck-shop arms (bat wings), muffin tops galore (in all directions), pot pourri perfume, reddy-orange lipstick, and don't even get me started on the hair.

People bake for morning teas. If you sneeze, someone around you will comment that you should put a jumper on if you are cold. If you ask the admin mum for a spare access pass to the building to go to lunch and you get a look and a "did someone forget their pass this morning??"

Eeeeek!

Just a moment in time..

I am still sitting at my desk in North Sydney, in a generic NSW Government, tapping away at my keyboard and looking out the window to get glimpses of Sydney Harbour. Ahhh, bureaucrats. Pigeon holes of existence.

I am doing my time to get outta here to escape to a world that is jewelled with fascination in my mind.

Time seems to be moving slowly and quickly simultaneuosly.

I can't fathom that I have been working here for almost 3 months. Time has flown in that respect. Day-to-day I wittle away at the minutes, which turn into hours, that have carved themselves out of the fabric of my mind. The mundane conundrum of having no work to do and yet having to look like I am working has, suprisingly, made moments slip into the past.

At the same time, it feels like the moment will never arrive when I step off the plane and breathe in the mysterious, and no doubt heavy, tropical monsoonal air of Sri Lanka. But its only 5 weeks away and the sociable vibe of January will hopefully allow me to connect the dots until I get on that plane. I can't wait.

I have found an interesting commentary on the political saituation in Sri Lanka -

http://srilankapolitics.blogspot.com/

I don't have any idea what I am going to encounter in my future. And I sort of like it that way.

Some Pics from Christmas 2006

Baby Jughead's First Christmas..
















Grandma and Grandpa Lavarack
















Dear Old Dad!! I was trying to take a photo of my beautiful table ornamentation, and he butted in.. But I think the photo is much prettier for it xx.



























My Beautiful Special Little Happy Guy, my nephew Hughie. He's so cute!!

The floating ship/low flying plane (you decide) on Christmas day. Off shore NSW Central Coast. grandpa discovered it, and turns to my Gandma and says.. "Hey Sue, do you want to see an optical illusion?" He has been saying that to her for 60 years, and she always replies "yes". He never ceases to find amazement in the world around him.

Some People Pictures

.

1. Me and Cecial on NYE 2006-07.
2. Esther and Kimmy in Canberra.
3. My Beautiful Special Little Guy, Hugh Daniel Kraus, on his blessing day.
4. Those crazy kids, Chloe and Tommy.

5. Me and Jase on his last day on Oz xx.