Ode to Billie Jean - Our Feline Queen

Billie Jean - our feline queen

sleeps contented - dappled sunlight bathing her amidst the rosella bushes

A ginger tiger, leaping so fine

Purring so proudly, cat friend of mine

Family with Trish since 12 weeks old

The outdoors and garden where she slept and she strode

The age of 19, not good for this cat

Fits, infections, eye popping out, losing all fat

A heart wrenching decision to curtail suffering

Putting her down life’s cruellest ending

The kindly cat clinic receptionist to a vacant room ushered us  through

Our watery tears hidden from public view

“is it time up for this little Lady?”asked dear Alison the vet

We nodded and stroked Billie Jean filled with regret

Billie had a tube inserted into the vein

Alison  placed our loved cat on Trish’s lap numbing the strain

Into the syringe the purple liquid like lava down the tube flows

Billie’s head drops  and sudden death shows

 “she’s gone” Alison caringly remarks after checking her heart

The silence of sadness speaks of no more

Purring, or dribbling, or patting  or leaping into laps

Wrapped in a sheet and placed in a Robins kitchens bag

We brought Billie home  and busied ourselves preparing her place

Burying her under the rosella bushes

Farewell  Billie Jean – our feline queen

sleep forever in your paradise

RIP 10^th May 2012

Couple and Both Sets of Parents Married on Same Day

Michelle and Joe were married two weeks ago (14th April) at Siromet winery. Amazingly Joe's parents( Kim and Petsie) were celebrating their 33rd wedding anniversary that day and Michelle's parents (Greg and Debbie) were celebrating their 28th anniversary. Michelle and Joe had not planned to get married on their parents' wedding anniversaries but when Siromet said they had 4 dates available for weddings in 2012 and one was April 14th how could they resist! The parents have vowed that in future they will not be doing baby sitting on their anniversary!

(Picture above shows from left Kim, Petsie, Joe, Michelle, Debbie and Greg with halos of sun beaming down; no doubt blessing this almighty of coincidences)

Trevor Sings His Vows

The wedding of Jane and Trevor happened in the beautiful front garden of Jane’s parents house at Burbank in Queensland. They live on a five acre property so there was room aplenty and, in fact, several different locations were discussed for the ceremony, including during the week some indoor options if it rained.

They decided not to share their vows with each other beforehand (many couples do). Trevor let me in on a secret – he was going to sing his vows – the only people who knew these were his groomsmen, myself and the guitarist/musician. So, when it came time for the vows I introduced Trevor to say his. To Janes absolute surprise, and probably everyone there, he began singing, accompanied by the guitarist. The words were meaningful but also funny. There was much laughter as Trevor continued singing. I must say he has an excellent voice and thoroughly entertained everyone. The surprising finale came with the singing of the last chorus; the groomsmen reached behind them and grabbed musical instruments, like maracas, shakers etc and enthusiastically joined in with Trevor; singing the playing. There was great applause after the song and Jane just had this beaming smile all over her face. She then said her vows and it started pouring with rain. I told everyone that we would vacate and resume the wedding out the back under cover and 10 minutes later they were able to exchange rings, do their compulsory vows and I was able to pronounce them husband and wife.

As a celebrant, Trevor is the only person that I have witnessed that has sung the vows but I think surprises and something different can make a ceremony special. (In the next blog I will talk about my wedding with Trish).

A Handfasting Ceremony

A handfasting ceremony can be quite beautiful. Originally used in the middle ages where couples would join hand and ribbons were placed over the hands, each representing a different aspect of their relationship. The ceremony can be adapted to meet the needs of couples and, over the years, I have had many versions.

Last Friday, February 10^th, Amanda and Nathan were married in the Broadway Chapel, a lovely, intimate chapel at Woolloongabba. They used 6 different coloured ribbons in total. The first, a green one, and representing family, was draped over by their daughter Chloe. Following were a purple one, representing friendship, red for passion, yellow indicating fun, white spoke of honesty and finally a blue one symbolising their dreams and goals together.

After the ribbon was tied together, as though these qualities were bound within their hands. It is something, no doubt, that will be a wonderful reminder of their wedding and those values they hold dear.

Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward's Wonderful Wedding Words

Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward were married in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 29, 1958. It was one of the most enduring Hollywood marriages, lasting until Paul’s death on September 26^th, 2008.

These beautiful words (written by Wilferd A Peterson in his essay “The Art of Marriage”) were used at their ceremony as part of their vows.

Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens. A good marriage must be created.

In the ‘Art of Marriage’:

The little things are the big things. It is never being too old to hold hands. It is remembering to say 'I love you' at least once a day. It is never going to sleep angry. It is at no time taking the other for granted; the courtship should not end with the honeymoon, it should continue through all the years. It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives. It is standing together facing the world. It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family. It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice, but in the spirit of joy. It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways. It is not expecting the husband to wear a halo or the wife to have wings of an angel. It is not looking for perfection in each other. It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a sense of humor. It is having the capacity to forgive and forget. It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow. It is finding room for the things of the spirit. It is a common search for the good and the beautiful. It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal, dependence is mutual and the obligation is reciprocal. It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner. 

Many couples use these words as part of their ceremony – mostly as a reading. On one occasion a young man had memorised the words. I said to him after “I have heard that reading so many times before and that’s the best I’ve ever heard it recited.” He told me he had practiced it about 40 times. He delivered it in such a heartfelt manner and with such effective eye contact that I think everyone felt it was being delivered to them individually. What a wonderful gift that was to the couple. I’m sure all those at the wedding will remember that as a highlight of the ceremony.

A Cruise Ship Wedding – A Great Idea

 Claude and Christine didn’t want a big family and friends wedding – to which they would have to invite 200 people.  Instead decided to just to invite immediate family – their parents, Christine’s three brothers and partners and a nephew and niece - on a cruise ship wedding. As I am located in Brisbane, where the ship departed, and they are from Melbourne they decided on me as their celebrant (saw me in a site “australiaworstcelebrants.com”). Although I dealt with them over many months, I never met them until 3 hours before the wedding.  Going through customs with people over a period of 2 hours you really get to know folk and I discovered what a brilliant family they are. P & O handled the complicated fact that Claude and Christine didn’t wish to see each other before the wedding with aplomb, forward scouts reporting back that Christine was now out of sight so we could all move through.

The P & O staff were very welcoming on board the Pacific Dawn.  Trish and I scored a free cup of coffee and we chatted with Claude, his Dad and a few other guests in “Charlie’s Bar” while Christine and attendants prepared themselves in their cabin. Finally we were escorted to the Captain’s Lounge - how spectacular was that room - a small, intimate room near the top of the ship, chairs set up , red carpet, wedding arch, a view of the beautiful Brisbane River from windows, about eight crew in attendance (2 videographers, a photographer, someone to handle the music, a cake monitor, champagne pourer, and Nick and Nick two delightfully happy crew members who grooved with the music during the ceremony and were designated to look after us). It was a magical ceremony, during which occurred lots of laughter as well as tears from both sets of parents (tears of joy no doubt). A crew lady handed around the champagne before the ceremony had concluded and we toasted Christine and Claude with a giant family hug ensuring that no champagne was poured down dresses or on suits, after which they cut the cake.

Trish and I were then politely escorted from the ship, while the wedding party were due to attend, in 30 minutes, a safety briefing with thousands of passengers who boarded after us.  For the next seven wonderful days they will sail north cruising the Queensland Coastline – to Cairns, Port Douglas and other such places. What a great idea for a wedding. For Claude and Christine, the new Mr and Mrs Sandor, a very engaging and talented couple -  it was the dawn of a new era, specifically the Pacific Dawn.

Happy New Year to All

Taken at New Year's Eve wedding of Karlie and Adam at Brisbane Polo Club - wonderful hisroric building. Wishing all a double dose of happiness in the coming year

Between the stately staircases