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Looking back over 2009

In 2010, I plan to do more of the things that make life wonderful and on January 26 I have organised a little Australia Day gathering at work. I shall attempt to make a pavlova - think I only did one once before ... but possibly never before. I will make Anzacs and if I really get enthusiastic Lamingtons plus a good old damper. And I wonder if there is any chance of finding some bush tea somewhere. Vegemite is easy but with a small jar costing CHF8.50 I think we can do without it or I will make a few sandwiches at home with Vegemite from the little jar that sits in the frig for special occasions.

I have invited all the Australians I know at work plus our whole Marketing and Communications team to a little celebration of diversity at 1pm. A really nice Swiss chap - Daniel - from one of our suppliers is coming along with his pictures from a recent three-month trip around Australia. If we sing, it will be Waltzing Matilda because I think some of our non Aussie team might recognise it - they won't know Advance Australia Fair - I can barely remember the words these days.

Why am I doing this? Well in our team it was decided that we did not value cultural diversity so our Swiss colleagues organised a similar event for Swiss National Day which is on August 1. And that was where diversity seemed to begin and end. I don't know if people realise just how much cultural diversity there is in Australia until they get there. Daniel commented to me that in parts of Australia he felt like he was in Asia. And he also said just how friendly and happy he found Australians. So hopefully on January 26 we can bring a bit of good Aussie mateship and happiness into our office and show them what sunshine and wide open spaces and blue skies and emerald green seas and rich red earth etc etc etc can do to keep people happy and friendly. And we'll all feel a little homesick but as with everywhere I travel it's not the places I will really be missing but the wonderful friends back home. And above all 2009 was a year of really really missing our good friends. A bientot. Bis bald. I still call Australia home.

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