25th Wedding Anniversary

Today is our 25th wedding anniversary. That's something worth celebrating! Jo and set off yesterday for a night away together. We headed off to Port Arthur and stayed overnight at the Cascades Colonial Accommodation at Koonya on the edge of Norfolk Bay. The place is actually an old convict settlement that has been rebuilt as an accommodation centre. It's a wonderful place full of fascinating old buildings. What made it better still was that we had the whole place to ourselves for the night.

Our room was in the building on the right hand side

It was decked out in antique furniture and came with an open fire, fresh flowers and a bottle of Port.

Breakfast this morning just for two

This was the view we had to put up with

The only neighbors we had to put up with


The property had a walking track which we ventured out on


This morning we took a picnic lunch to Fortescue Bay


Here we ate our anniversary lunch

Again we ventured a little ways down the walking track. It would have taken us all the way to Tasman Island if we followed it for two days!

School Leavers Dinner

Thanksgiving Aussie Style

Yesterday was the 4th Thursday in November, thanksgiving day. It is not real big in Aus yet, but is a major event in the States. Last night Jo and I were invited to a Thanksgiving family dinner at Graeme and Brenda's place. It was wonderful to be invited over and we enjoyed a lavish feast of roast turkey and plenty of trimmings to go with it. It was quite a gathering that included a significant number of Holts and Petrusmas.

Graeme and Brenda had all four girls at home for the occasion which was a special treat

A highlight was getting to catch up with Nat who is home from the States for a short visit with her friend Ka-loon. (forgive my spelling if I have that wrong)

Another highlight of the night was when Graeme invited several people to share with the group the things for which they are thankful.

Thanksgiving is really a marvellous concept and one American idea we would like to see catch on here.

Willicombe girls unite!

We just got back from very quick trip to Melbourne. Jo and I went to over to attend a facilitators workshop for 'The Marriage Course'. It is a program put out by the same church that brought us Alpha. Whilst we were in Mielbourne we took the opportunity of a meal out with two of Jo's sisters, Heather and Ingrid. We went to an all you eat place and did exactly that! It was a lot of fun and great to catch up with some of the Willicombe clan.

Jo and her sister Heather

Jo and Heather again and to the left is Ingrid's husband, Vinnie

Mother and daughter - Ingrid and Rachel

Bruny Alone

I think it was Dietrich Bonhoeffer who said something to the effect of 'Let him who cannot be alone beware of community and him who cannot be in community beware of being alone'. I'm definitely in the first group. I love being with people and solitude is for the birds! All that being said, I have just returned form another trip to Bruny Island. I have been there many times, but this time I went alone. I stayed for two days at Rudie's place. Bruny begins to take on more and more significance for me. It has been the place of various retreats for me - with the Mnistry team, with the eldership and with my pastor's retreat group. This time it was a retreat for just me - although my purpose was to spend some time with the Lord. I have done this several times now, and although I find it hard, each time seems to get a little easier.

I went this time with quite a sense of expectation. Years ago I mixed for a while with some guys from a Catholic renewal community. They would always commence a season of prayer by asking the question, 'What is the grace that I seek?' In other words, during this time of prayer, what is it that I am seeking from the Lord. Everyhting He gives is by grace. It was easy for me to answer. The grace that I seek is to hear the voice of God speaking directly and clearly to me. It doesn't sound much at first, but it can blow you way if you think about it.

I came home knowing that God had indeed spoken to me. There was direction for my ministry and my relationship with Him. There was reassurance about His love for me and my value in His eyes. It was a good time.

Will I go again. Yes, and soon. I think ...


I only took two pictures this time, so I thought I may as well show you both of them!

Drama Queen

Tonight Jo and I were invited by the year 10 drama group at Emily's school to see their drama night. We sat and watched two hours of short skits and dramas performed by the students. Emily was in a drama that she wrote with a couple of freinds and played the part of a Mother. Well done Em!