Monday, September 26, 2016

JP2 Superstar

Few months ago I saw announcement of the new production of an amateur theatre group Call of Guadalupe...

COG group exists over 10 years. Started with production of a musical Call of Guadalupe and then continued with Saul/Paul, St Francis, Amazing Augustine and now John Paul 2.

I was quite concerned about the latest production. John Paul is very revered in my country, many people know details of his life. How it will be presented in a musical? How it will be performed by amateur actors?
Another point was - how they will present complex issues of Polish history and a place of Catholic Church in it?
Well, the best thing was to come and see. I was quite impressed with performance of the team as whole...


Then the scenes from Polish history came. German occupation - prisoners in the quarry...


Communist Poland - at the entrance to the residence of Polish Cardinal in Cracow...


Ooooops! I and few my Polish friends sitting next to me sighed. Sovier soldiers - this was so untrue.
Yes, we had communism in Poland. Yes, it was forced upon the people. Yes, it was limiting powers of Catholic Church, but they were never, ever Soviet soldiers pushing people in the streets.
Another point - even during hardest communist rule there was a public holiday on Corpus Christi day which is always on Thursday. This involved closing few streets next to city main church, building four temporary altars in the streets and then a massive religious parade lasting few hours.
Any Australian Catholic experienced something like this in his/her country?

Return to the musical - Habemus Papam - we have the Pope!

Very well presented, with real white smoke and very good performance of the whole ensemble.

The first visit in Poland, meeting with Lech Walęsa - future Solidarity leader...

This was of course some stretching of history, they met for the first time much later, but theatrically it was a proper idea. Election of Polish Pope brought to Poland a great confidence and faith, that nothing is impossible and in this way it paved the road to Solidarity.
For me this scene brought an additional pleasure - it was a very credible image of the Polish worker of these times.

Then a series of dramatic scenes of attempted assassination of the Pope and his visit of  imprisoned Mehmet Ali Ağca and a touching scene of forgiveness.

It was followed by a visit of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to Vatican...


In some way it neutralized a negative image of Soviets from the previous scenes of the musical.

It must have come to sad scenes on the deathbed. But then the ray of hope - powerful ending - santo subito (saint immediately)! Do not be afraid.

Thank you very much all people involved in this excellent production.

Friday, July 22, 2016

Multiple choice?

What is plural of foot? Feet.
What is plural of goose? Geese.
What is plural of choose? CHEESE!!!

Friday, July 15, 2016

Nothing saint

Few days ago we (members of St Vincent de Paul Society) visited a person asking for help.
Help was definitely needed - mother and 15 y.o. daughter - kicked from home by their husband/father. They are living in a transitional housing, but will move soon to a home provided by social services.
They were of Vietnamese origin, 4 years in Australia still mother's English was very rudimentary, daughter's was better, but apparently at school they do not talk about household and domestic issues.
We introduced ourselves and explained services and assistance, which can be provided by our Society mentioning few times our Society name.
- Saint Vincent... - mother was puzzled - you mean Salvation Army?
- No, Salvation Army is a different organisation. We are Saint Vincent de Paul Society. Vinnies.
- Vinnies - daughter's face brightened - I saw Vinnies shop in Springvale!

She was right - I came to my senses.
Saint - such term barely exists outside Christian cultural circle.
Salvation Army is in much better position. Each and every culture knows what ARMY means.

Sunday, June 5, 2016

MS Walk 2016 - done

From inside the car it looked sad...


... outside it looked beautiful...

In the assembly area it looked colourful...

There was a distance to walk....


START!


After few steps...

Keep walking...

At the furthest point of the walk...

Way back...

Some homes lost their heads...

In the finish gate...

Most colourful team

Some done it harder way...

... and harder way...

... and then there was peace and quiet...

I collected $747 - thank you my supporters!

Sunday, May 15, 2016

MS Walk - progress report

3 weeks left to the event - 5th Jun;

Here is history of my previous fund-raising efforts:
Year 2011 - $646
Year 2012 - $728
Year 2013 - $825
Year 2014 - there were 2 runs: Colour Run $450, MS Walk $525
----- Total : $975.
Year 2015 - 2 runs again: Color Run $275, MS Walk $495. Total: $770.

So I am far behind previous results, but still hoping for improvement.

Here is my memory from better days - Color Run 2015...

Thursday, May 12, 2016

The Best Day

Two days ago, in the morning, I heard on the radio a weather report:
The weather today, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, will be... yyyy... the worst since yesterday.

This was correct...


But then, yesterday (11th May) the weather was, surprize, surprize - the BEST since yesterday...


How useful such formula can be!
Especially at the current stage of my life when there are not so many good days or events. But it is so easy to improve this balance.

In this way yesterday was my BEST Day (since day before), mainly due to the concert where this piece of music - CLICK - was performed.

Sunday, January 10, 2016

The REAL start of the year

Looking back at the last year I found only one thing for certain - it was a year of making crepes. At least 1,200 of them.
Calculation is simple - 5 grandchildren = 15 crepes for one session.  40 weeks of school x 2 sessions per week x 15 = 1,200.

School holidays are still on, but grandchildren are lurking around the city, so today...

1.5 cup of flour, 1 cup of milk, 1 cup of water, 3 eggs, a pinch of salt, a spoon of oil...


FIRE!!!


Fifteen :)


PS. For more tasty crepes one can use beer instead of water.