The festival of light

August 21 2016

The warm weather did not last long and cold wet conditions have returned.  Bo was extremely lucky last night because the rain held back and the festival of light that she has been working so hard to organise went beautifully.  A large number of people gathered in the park in Yarra Glen and armed themselves with lanterns. The food vans in the car park seemed to do a roaring trade too. When darkness fell everyone walked round the park in a lantern parade that stopped at intervals for music and dancing events.

The theme was fairyland and many of the youngest girls were adorned with suitable gear and wings. A more mature fairy gathered everyone up and led them around.   Lots of local artists played instruments and put on a show.   The highlight was a large metal structure that had a flame at the top and a troupe of belly dancers at the base.  At intervals the flame burst out in a huge tongue over everyone’s heads causing squeals of delight and surprise from the audience.

The cutest tact was the local children’s choir, where a group of very young kids sang several songs.  A lighting artist had turned the whole park into a light show and the youngest community members could keep warm on the play equipment whilst they waited for the parade to start.   Edd and I met up with all our neighbours and friends and eventually we found Al and Pip with their Great Dane. We all went to Bo’s restaurant for a meal afterwards and met up with other family members.

I had no idea that the event was going to be that large. Last year it was a very small do.   Once again there had been lantern-making workshops in the schools and community so the excitement has been building slowly over the last few weeks.  Obviously the artists had been practicing too but Bo said it was all secret so I knew nothing about that.

Today the rain has returned and I am quite glad to stay indoors and continue with the tiling.  It is slow work but obvious progress is being made.  Edd has fixed the fence with our neighbours on the forest side.  Lots of trees had fallen over it so it was not really functioning at all.  The horses were being very good and staying on our property but the goats stretch all the limits and had been banned from that paddock.

Edd is so much better that he is back at work on the farm all and every day. Yesterday he managed to turn the wheels right round on the exercise bike and he is thrilled to have reduced pain and more movement in his repaired knee. He tells me he is planning to sort out the water system for the house too because we will definitely use much more water when I do get the shower done.