Whenever I go out on Sunday
mornings for my walk in Bowral I invariably get an education, recreation and a
small amount of exercise. This time I passed the new “Home No 9” Thai
restaurant opposite Coles and had memories of the previous night’s excellent
dinner there. I also went to their opening two weeks ago which was
auspicious, noting several ‘colourful local identities’ (you know who you are!)
also enjoying the brilliant and diverse Asian food on offer. It is a
branch of the Bangkok House Restaurant in Mittagong. Highly
recommended.
After then walking through
the aftermath of the tulip festival in Corbett Gardens I found myself in a
crowd of happy, hungry Catholics. The service at St Thomas Aquinas
finishes dead on 10am most Sundays … not surprising when they have had 2000
years practice serving their parishioners and their deity. Having
looped past the bank and shopping arcades I found myself outside the Uniting
Church, dismissing their congregants fully half an hour late. Rev Harry
Herbert had given the guest sermon on Reformation Sunday (don’t tell the
Catholics, please). He told me outside that this week is the 500th
anniversary of Martin Luther’s famous thesis questioning Papal indulgences and
starting the Protestant movement across northern Europe (and quite a lot of
mischief since). For once St Mary’s in Sydney has a service commemorating
the event, something I find somewhat bizarre. I am totally secular but
respect people of all faiths and rather enjoy joining them, largely for the
music, children, food and humour (and I include synagogues and mosques in my
‘rounds’).
St Thomas Aquinas church and Mount Gibraltar.
For those into opera (and
other things) the Bowral Empire Cinema complex has a round of excellent movies
including the MetOpera HD broadcasts. This time it was the season opening
Norma by Bellini, my all time favourite opera with a dream cast including
Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja. Our friends just saw a disaster movie
called Geostorm. Good luck! The trailer is shocking enough for
me! Galactic tsunamis!
I feel very happy that we
have good produce, shopping, restaurants, professional services and even
culture in the Southern Highlands. Although I take the Xplorer train each
week for part-time work in Sydney I do nearly all my commerce here in the
Highlands.
Best wishes from Burradoo, Andrew
Byrne ..
