Bright and beautiful

We were in Sydney overnight for the memorial service today for one of Mrs D's cousins, a Salvation Army officer who, despite an often painful debilitating illness, served heart and soul his God, his church and the community for almost 40 years. The Salvo hall overflowed as hundreds of people turned up for a two-hour celebration, led by his widow, who served as an officer with him in Papua New Guinea and Australia, and their daughter and two sons, one of whom has followed in his Dad's footsteps as an officer - that is, a minister. There were tears and much laughter as family, friends and comrades paid tribute to this Godly, giving man's life - and, this being "the Army", rousing songs of praise to the music of a fine brass band. David has, as they say, been Promoted to Glory. You'll be missed, mate.

This is the jacaranda season in our part of the world. A native of the dry plains of Brazil and Argentina, the jacaranda has taken well to the conditions in Australia and can be found in most areas. The north-eastern New South Wales town of Grafton, whose founding fathers lined the streets with hundreds of the lovely trees, holds a Jacaranda Festival every year which attracts visitors from all over the country and overseas. The jacaranda pictured, however, is one we stopped to admire near Berry on our way home to Batemans Bay.