Arrived at the Wallsend Masonic Centre at 1845hrs and gave introductions to all present. Considering that it is a Regional Meeting, it would be fair to say that I have not met half of the Brethren, correction make that 75%. Yet that makes no difference as they welcome you as part of the furniture. That never ceases to amaze me and it is a great feeling.

The Brethren involved with the meeting have come from far and wide. Lodge St. James, Lodge City of Newcastle, Lodge Lake Macquarie, Lodge Port Stephens, Lodge Brotherhood of Maitland, Lodge United St Andrew Singleton, Lodge Benjamin Pryor, Lodge Hunter Hiram, Lodge Forster, Lodge Scone. I have said it before and I will say it again, it is indeed an honour to be involved with this Regional Meeting.

Took our respective stations and opened the Lodge. i have always enjoyed visiting and apart from the Fellowship you receive, you get to see subtle differences from the Officers, when performing their respective duties. These differences, albeit slight, are things that you notice and makes you sit up and take notice. I enjoy it, but then again My Mother Lodge was a Scottish Lodge in Queensland, Lodge Auchenflower No. 224, unfortunately no longer in existience and our Due Guard sign has been compared to holding a wee little dog. I still cop shite becasue I occassionally use this sign.  I would stilll prefer to use My Sign, however, I am in NSW and when in Rome do as the Romans do. I will continue to attempt to educate them, yet I feel my cause is a lost one.

Where was I, oh yes, the subtle differences in signs. We then rehearsed the work of the evening. It reminds me of the old joke of a guy that walks into a Pet Shop because he has heard that he sells Masonic Parrots which will help in reciting charges. 

The 1st parrot he sees costs $20 000 and is named JW but he is reluctant to spend that much money, although the pet shop guy guarantees that the bird will prompt you with all charges including the Installation Charges. The guy declines and asks if he has something cheaper and the pet shop guy shows him e bird called JD and it costs $10 000. This parrot can recite all charges in all degress except the Installation charges and that is why it is half the price. The guy is impressed, yet still reluctant to spend that much money and asks if he has something a bit cheaper still. The pet guy goes into the back of the shop and brings out a magnificent parrot, garter blue in colour with gold trim and his name is PDGIW and this parrot can recite every charge from every Order, including Installations and prompt from any sentence. The guy asks how much for such a magnificent parrot. The pet guy says it is worth $100.00 and the other guy says I will take it.

The next morning he takes it back to the pet shop and demands a refund. The pet guy is taken back and asks why and the guy says that yes the parrot knows evrything, all charges and yet when I am reciting my charges all he says is Oh My God, Oh My God and shakes his head.

Back to the task at hand, the practice went well and we have another practice scheduled for 2 weeks time. The Lodge was closed and I said my farewells. As so often happens when you meet a new brother, the course of the conversation turns to visits etc and the Brotherhood of Maitland is meeting this Staurday and I will visit. It is there Installation, so what better time to attend.