Coats and Jumpers

Sunday 17th:Went to mass in St. Joseph's. Really like the choir. After the recessional hymn when people had started walking out they sang "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Mes. My kind of choir! Again struck by the absence of kneelers in the pews:It's all stand or sit, no kneeling. As I said last week everyone goes up the middle and down the side for communion, but I did notice that there were stewards who went to the top of the side aisle to usher people back down and up the middle. The congregation in the middle waited for the side lot to go first. There was also a baptism but part of the ceremony took place before the First Reading, it was very obvious that this was all part of the community celebration, there was even a 'community' witness as well as the sponsors. Many people had jumpers and coats on as it was 18 degrees and cloudy today. The priests are 'changed' in January and have their annual retreat next week, so it is not just the schools that go from January to January.
I went for a long walk by the beach and got caught in the rain. I was sorry that I did not bring a coat or jumper. Since I came, apart from two days, the heat has not been oppressive. There is a sea breeze most evenings and some days have a nice breeze also. There has been a drought for about ten years in Victoria but Warrnambool has a good bit of rain. At least the flowers (as in a lot of flowers!) are happy. Warrnambool is growing and attracting many new businesses due to the fact that they have plenty of water.