Sydney

P.1546 played the new organ in St Mary's cathedral and we went to CCSL. Dad insisted on climbing the cathedral steps he could have gone round the back! Liz went to the Sacred Heart conference at Darling Harbour we had attended the cathedral Mass. The zoo!.We enjoyed meals together. The Thomases joined us at Doyles. Liz had to return home via Singapore to go back to school. She was upset. I stayed and we went to Manly p.1547 and I visited the contemporary art gallery. Dennis delivered his first baby! I went on to Christchurch and Los Angeles where I drove to the lovely Huntington gallery and bought a Panama hat in Santa Monica. I was late returning the hire car but the British Airways crew said No problem Sir! I was home by 26 April. At the time it seemed that I might not see Mum and Dad again.

Ayers Rock Uluru 

1988

The annual Epiphany carols at St John's 6 to 8 October 1988 toy seller in La Boheme Harlequin, Redhill conducted by Paul Kelly

On the footplate at the Zig Zag railway we had a barbecue halfway and Liz caught her leg on a nail.

St Luke Mosman

Mark in the front

The year of the Australian bi-centenary. Ann was expecting again. p.279. p.281 David Hill the Australians loved him. We went first to Hong Kong where we stayed with the Sanvicens in a high rise block form which you could clearly see shantytowns. Rosemary took us around and we enjoyed the stay.

p.285 we arrive in Sydney. The rectory was huge and we quickly locked the room with the silver. A big garden with cockatoos and kookaburra. The tragic loss of David Lennox happened just before we arrived. I played at St Luke's Mosman and we enjoyed harbour cruises and of course the Zoo. We were there for Easter and that kept us busy. But it did rain such a lot! We visited various beaches and the kids went to the local school for a couple of days. On Good Friday we went to the service at the North Sydney cathedral and found we could not start the car afterwards. I went back to the church for help and Colemans came to our rescue. A garage was found - I was amazed it was open and the car was back running. The Colemans turned out to be a Godsend as he became a Catenian and we visited them and when Mum and Dad died we stayed at Narrabeen with them. The Easter vigil at St Mary's cathedral was fantastic. p.288 Royal Easter show and Gosford. Blue Gum farm (later destroyed by fire)A nice trip to Canberra and Featherdale farm for BBQ. Best of all the Zigzag railway and on the footplate. Liz hurt her  leg getting off for the BBQ half way.  Liz and Dennis sang Pie Jesu by Lloyd Webber. The Opera house for Gaite Parisienne. Carl Pini and the Sinfonia. We knew him from the Philharmonia. p.292 Canberra and Kuringai.  I had hated the journey home from Tasmania so was determined to have something to look forward to. We flew

to Los Angeles changing at Honolulu. On the second flight we were not sitting together and Liz went ballistic. Eventually people moved and the stewardess said "You would like a whisky, Sir?" I had remained calm throughout.  On the first flight there was loads of room and we could lie across the seats! We were surprised at the warmth of the welcome by immigration and we headed for a motel. Three days at Disneyland were magic although there was an anxious hour when we got separated. Then we headed to San Diego with its fabulous zoo and wild life park, Sea World and a family restaurant at the harbour where my plate would have fed all of us! Another long flight and we were home!

27 July 1988 mass of thanksgiving for Fr Anthony Barrett 3rd anniversary of ordination. He studied at the English college Rome and arranged for me to  play the organ there. He got me back to confession and gave me his little Morning and Evening prayer book. He went to the U.S.A

With Bruce San Diego Zoo