The Queen's Birthday Long Weekend

It is long weekends like the one that is drawing to an end that make me give thanks that we are still a Constitutional Monarchy and are thus able to celebrate the Queen's birthday (even though the date of her birthday is in April, but is celebrated in June because the weather is better...or so I was always led to believe)

Whilst I did think about the Queen, albeit briefly, I did take time out to relax and that was wonderful. Mark and I decided to visit one of our favourite places, Port Stephens. We left on Friday evening so we were able to spend three nights relaxing. It was very interesting to leave Sydney and to actually realise how stressed and uptight I was in particular, particularly given that I am so relaxed right now, listening to Media Watch in the background, whilst updating my blog.

I didn't actually think I was really stressed or uptight, but it was very telling, in the sense that I had the worst neck and shoulder pains for a couple of days. Well, I wont go into detail, but after a two hour bushwalk through Tomaree National Park, right up to the Summit (a moderate bushwalk) to see magnificent views, left us feeling most refreshed and exhilarated.

We also took the ferry from Nelson Bay to Tea Gardens and had a delightful lunch. I will upload photos (I promise) once I finish unpacking and find the cable that connects the camera to the laptop!

We ate so many wonderful meals and spent so much time walking, talking and enjoying each others company. This morning we headed home and had breakfast on the foreshore at Newcastle, then took the scenic (or coastal) road to as far as Swansea, when we then joined the freeway.

Catching up with family, over the phone and having dinner with my inlaws was a lovely way to end the evening! It was indeed a wonderful weekend, a time for relaxation, recharging the batteries and letting go of the stresses and tensions of the very busy school term.

Finally, I couldn't finish without telling you about a wonderful homily delivered by this very wise priest. It was all about women of strength and women of faith. He spoke of Mary Ward, foundress of the Loreto Sisters (IBVM) Catherine McAuley (foundress of the Sisters of Mercy) and Mary Mackillop (Foundress of the Josephites and soon to be Australia's first Saint) and how they had to become religious in order to serve the poor. I mention this because looking at the Queen's Birthday Honour Roll, that there were so few women of real note on the list. Makes me wonder why as a society we are so hard on women, so hard on ourselves!

Enjoy the rest of your week!