Australia Day party

On Australia Day the Fosters invited all the neighbours and most of Wayne's staff to a party at our house. The Australian flag was artistically draped outside to indicate our house - (perhaps not too romantically, it was on a large green bin.) Pictured is Jack and Eleanor as gracious waitpeople in front of a fraction of all the goodies on offer: Australian wines and beer, Vegemite on crusty bread, kangaroo sausages, Tim Tams and lots of other nibbly stuff that was just yummy.

It kicked off about 5:45 as people came in from work. It was quite a crush in the little house, but it was a lot of fun. Some people kindly brought flowers and more wine; and one close neighbour actually looked up a lamington recipe and brought them along. Annie voted them the best lamingtons she had ever had, with real chocolate coating! Wayne and I did not get to taste any, or eat very much, as we were busy chatting and cooking sausages and making sure everyone had something to drink. That's also why we didn't get around to taking any photos of the actual party. I suppose we should have given the camera to Jack or someone, but they were busy themselves, mostly talking to the many children who came along. One mother was very impressed that Jack and Annie kept her very young children entertained so that she could actually socialise a bit!

Mindful of our ambassadorial role, I said a few well-chosen words of what Australia Day was all about. John Howard might have thought it was a bit too 'black arm-band'; my old Dad might have questioned the lack of poetry, or mention of convict carousing when the females came ashore. I hope the overall impression was that we were very glad to be Australian and loved our beautiful country, despite our dodgy beginnings.

So, people drifted off at about 8:45, it being a school night and all. Very nice. No one choked on the Vegemite. Wayne thought that the kangaroo sausages were not, in fact, kangaroo despite their label; but everyone enjoyed them all the same. Happy Australia Day!