How do you celebrate your national day, and do you really know what and why you are celebrating?

It’s a bit sad when you have to resort to Google to confirm what the origin of the day is all about, but that’s what I did. For the record, Australia Day is celebrated on the 26^th of January each year and marks the anniversary of the 1788 arrival of the first fleet of British ships at Port Jackson, New South Wales, and raising of the flag of Great Britain at that site by Governor Arthur Phillip. (Thanks Wikipedia)

Whilst that’s the historic significance, today I’d suggest that most Australian’s use the day to celebrate our freedom, wealth and safety, the diversity of our community, and the spirit of “mateship”, all attributes that allow us to call Australia “The Lucky Country”. That’s how we spent the day.

Whilst we don’t get hung up on tradition, we always seem to find ourselves spending the day with close friends, sharing the good weather, great food, chilled wine, stories from the year just past, and our plans ahead. Always with plenty of laughter. Where would we be without others to share

the good times, and comfort us during the bad? For our friends, I give thanks!

Today was one of those special days. We were only a gathering of six, but that’s all it needed. We are lucky that living in Brisbane, provides us with easy access to the water – a River, the beach or Moreton Bay. Having friends with a rather large and lovely boat, and a very inclusive nature is even better – a match made in heaven. So, today was spent on that large and lovely boat out on Moreton Bay, anchored off a white sandy beach in the picturesque and protected bay of Peel Island. We all contributed food for the table and wine for the cooler. Not every day do we feast on lobster and mango salad or freshly cooked prawns, but these were the feature ingredients on today’s spread.

The sun was shining and the sea inviting, with so much of the day spent immersed in the calm waters off the beach. There’s something very special about diving from the back of the boat, keeping yourself cool in between the conversations, the eating, and the drinking. The truth be told…the conversations didn’t stop just because we were immersed.

Perhaps Australia Day was just a good excuse to get together. I know we will continue to find reasons to catch up with friends and family, but we won’t be waiting another twelve months. Next weekend is our last before Anne and I actually run away, so I think we’ll make the effort and find time to see them again.

I hope you are finding time for those who are important in your life.