Hilary's Adventures Down Under: HAPPY EASTER!

Happy Easter to you!

It's amazing what this day means you know? Jesus is alive again! He went to hell and paid the price for my sin and your sin. And we're free now...

I woke up today and was going to go to the 7am "under the gum tree" service at the Malvern Uniting Church, but I had a massive headache. A bit too much wine for me yesterday, so I slept a little longer and told myself I'd go to another service. I didn't (I already knew I was going to the 6pm service). I can't really bring myself to go when I know that I won't be singing the "Every Morning is Easter Morning" song. I really like that song and I only get to sing it once a year. So instead I got ready for the beach! I'd been planning to go all week. I don't ever get to spend time at the beach on Easter because Iowa doesn't have a beach! So why not spend it where I normally wouldn't?

I would typically spend Easter with the family, have a listen to the Joshua Tree album by U2 and eat some delicious food. I did have good food today, but no family. Which is a bummer, but I'll be seeing them soon. My brother is becoming Catholic this weekend so the whole family went up to the ceremony this weekend. I hope he doesn't mess up in the ceremony. :)

I got a bus into the city and then caught the tram to Glenelg beach. It was a nice ride except for when the tram had to stop suddenly and this lady's umbrella handle got jammed right into my tailbone. It hurt for a bit, but I was not going to let that stop me so I shrugged it off and went on. I arrived at the beach to find camel rides! I almost got one, but then decided that I really just wanted to get my tan on. I found a spot and camped out for a few hours. I kept putting sunscreen on and enjoyed finding some shells on the shore. The water was so warm today!

I listened to the Joshua Tree album (plus Beautiful Day since it was!), Alli Rogers and finished up with some Genesis. Solid music day for me and I was quite pleased. After a few hours I could feel myself getting burnt so I decided to pack. I watched some man perform tricks and he stated that he owns the copyright to them. Blah, blah, blah. I walked through some of the shops, but there were too many people and I hate crowds. So I caught the tram back to the city. I couldn't find my bus ticket when I got on the tram and I was freaking out. In order to ride you are suppose to put your ticket into the machine and get it "stamped." Only I couldn't find mine. And you can get kicked off the tram, bus or train if you don't get your ticket verified. The ticket man was right beside me the whole ride back and since I was freaking out inside my head, I got off at Greenhill Rd which is somewhat near where I live. I had paid almost $14 for that ticket since it's a multi-trip ticket and it only had 2 punches on it! I was so mad at myself. I ended up walking an hour home, but guess what? I found my ticket right after I got off the tram! Ugh, life is funny like that. Guess God wanted me to "be active" today. (Check out this commercial - http://www.beactive.com.au/TV%20Ads/DRS0031%20Final%20Lift%20TVC.mpg - South Australia has a "Be Active" campaign and this is one of the ads- I find it hilarious!) They also have signs on the bus that say "Get off a stop earlier." No thank you on most days for me.

So I finally arrived home after walking a ways and stopping at the Broadway Fish & Chips shop on Unley. I think I made that man's day by coming in on Easter. I went home and had some free time to watch the news and then got ready to go to church at Malvern. The service was good. The music was good. And I was just excited to be at a service were I was actually getting something out of the message for once since I've been here. I stayed for pancakes (we can eat them now that lent/Easter is over) and a cuppa. I chatted with Eleanor, Estee and Tahnee before heading back to Helen's where we were having tea and pavlova. The lasagna was amazing and the pavlova was delicious! I think I've actually had them before, but it was still good and it's an Australian thing I guess. I watched an Agatha Christie tv show afterwards with Peter (the other two girls were looking at KI photos which I'd already seen) before heading home. I love Agatha Christie's books - I've read all of them when I was young and I think I am going to re-read them over the summer. Yeah!

I hope your Easter was wonderful and filled with blessings. :)