Arrivals and new beginnings

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  Melbourne, Australia
Friday, December 21, 2007

Well Well Well. It's all been quite a whirlwind. Just where do I start.

First off, I am very glad to be here and excited at the prospects ahead of me.
The flight as you know is very long. I hardly slept a wink and for some reason wasn't interested in reading, or anything like that so I spent a lot of time contemplating what was ahead of me and what was behind me. I arrived to the scent of eucalyptus which immediately triggered happy memories of California and Ben Hyder. What a comforting smell it is, apart from that it could easily have been england because it was raining!!!
MY friend Demian was there to greet me at the airport snapping me with his camera as I came out of arrivals. He was looking very dapper as seems to be his style these days. His wardrobe is full of interesting shits and trousers I believe many of which come from Pakistan. We slid out of the airport and onto the country roads heading for Taradale out near Castlemaine. The moon was nearly full and when we got there we wandered through a patch of Eucalyptus and pine forests, the silver shades cast on the ground giving it a beautiful majestic magical feel. Oh yes I was happy. Tired and happy. And so was Demian. Dolly was happy to climb free out of her resting place, she had managed to burrow her way inside my berimbau gourd and using my socks as her pillow had had a snug journey. I went to bed with a big smile and dropped into a deep sleep waking up with the sun.

As I climbed out of bed and towards liquid I met Team Grace's father, he was doing some gentle morning exercises, we shared a bit of space together doing our own thing which I thought was a lovely introduction to Australia....Oh yes I nearly forgot...sleepy eyed me headed for the kitchen for some water to see two creatures hopping in the distance. Oh yes it's true two cute little kangaroos hopping past about 150 feet away. My first thought was Gosh they're tiny. for some reason I had always pictured Kangaroos being my height but there more like 3-4 foot high. And Oh so cute holding their forepaws up in the air. Doing Doing...cutey cute. Later that day I saw about twenty all hopping past. I was chatting to a guy the other day who was from Cambridge and he said he didn't see his first Roo rof at least a year.
By the time I had limbered up Demian and Grace were still in bed so I took a stroll out doors accompanied by the Henderson dog....I've forgotten his name but he was a long legged Jack Russell. The sky was filled with the sound of birds, I remember being able to distinguish four different birds but couldn't catch sight of any to work out which birds were making what sounds, accompanying the birds was the constant sound of cicadas, and they really know how to make a noise. What's more they live high up in the trees. I can't remember ever experiencing such constant sound up above my head. For the first few days this experience made the top of my head tingle. I've been spending a lot of time barefoot which is quite wonderful, saying hello to the land with my feet, such a sensuous treat to feel the range of textures. Taradale is strewn throughout with an abundance of white Quartz. Quire remarkable it glistens in the light as one strolls through the forest. IT was everywhere.
Eventually Demian and Grace and Shahid Demians father were up and moving swiftly into Wedding preparations. Marquees to be set up items to be collected places to beautify, mens camp to be made, outdoor kitchen area etc. Friends started arriving and helping out. We spent a day and a half setting up before it was time for the mens camp, in which we carved a totem pole and Demians best man brought a fine bottle of whisky to share. The nest day we carried our pole some twenty minutes to the wedding site. a soft glen in the foot of a valley tucked away in the forest. White quartz lining the path, the men entered one side and the women the other. It was so beautiful with a circle in the middle Quartz at the centre and small flagged representations of air earth fire and water. Feathers for Air, Sheeps wool for Earth, Ash for Fire and Water for Water. That morning James and I had head up there to give our little offerings to the circle. We burnt some tobacco and resin giving our silent offerings, and then spiralled into the circle my offerings were the ash, the wool and I placed all the crystals I had bought in the centre arouind the large pointed piece of white Quartz stuck in the centre.
So yes the day arrived, spirits were high and the celebration took place. Everybody was in bliss witnessing the beauty of the love shared by Demian and Grace. There were many smiles much laughter, and a few tears of joy to be had by all. As I sat there representing Fire, which was cool cos I got to give them a special blessing and really felt part of it it really hit home that I had come somewhere super cool. And what ever happened afterwards it was worth it for the beauty I was witnessing.

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