Goodwill

Christmas Eve is a night when most people either stay home or keep it local in preparation for today. And many young people who would normally be out late preceding a public holiday make do with a quiet night at their local hotel. Except the Irish tourists who are always up for a big night out.

Early in the evening I worked the eastern suburbs doing a bunch of local radio jobs for those out socialising at friends houses. Passengers were relaxed and friendly with each journey ending in exchanges of goodwill and the infectious vibe was certainly invigorating after recent weeks of Christmas madness.

At midnight two young Irish fellas in their twenties breathlessly requested I get them to St Mary’s Cathedral post-haste. They’d been at the pub dancing and raging with friends and left their run late for the midnight Christmas service and carols.

Upon dropping them three young Irish women climbed in and requested Scruffy Murphys, a notorious late night Irish pub at Haymarket. ‘What about church ?’, I asked. ‘It’s too crowded’, they replied. ‘We couldn’t even get in the door’. Over a hundred worshippers congregated outside the Cathedral during the hour long service.

After it finished I carried two fares home to the inner City, passengers I wouldn’t normally associate with church attendance. One young woman related how the majority of worshippers were under forty years of age. ‘It was surprising the amount of young people there’, she said. ‘I thought interest in the Church was dying’. Not at Christmas.

Her fare was $10.30. ‘Just make it ten bucks’, I said, not wanting to muck around with coins for change. Handing me a twenty dollar note she said, ‘No, no, make it fifteen’. ‘Aw mate, you’re an angel’, I told her. ‘I ought to be’, she laughed, ‘after just spending an hour in church’. I departed planning how to target more church services in future.

The other fare from the church also tipped generously with the fella coming to the driver’s window and patting my shoulder. ‘Driver, you have a lovely Christmas’, he said. It was that sort of night at a special time of year. Happy Christmas folks.

Comments

[Krupo]

Ah, C&E Christians. We love them all. :)

Merry Christmas!

[Lee]

Merry Christmas to you and yours, too, Adrian. Have a great time. :)

[Peter]

All the best for the season Adrian. Thanks for all the time you spend on your blog. Last night I spent a few hours driving around Wingham and Taree looking at the Xmas lights. What an amazing vibe around the place, people in their front yards having parties, Santa giving out lollies to the kids, Children standing on the footpath singing happy Xmas to people driving by.
Stopped at the roadside memorial to the "girls" on the way home today, very moving. Thanks again Peter.

[Ian]

Warmest wishes, ol' son; have a good one!

[Steph]

Merry Christmas Adrian. xx

[Rosanna]

I caught two cabs - and one was to church in the city! I am a true saint.

I hope you had a wonderful day.

[Carl]

Be warm of heart and juiced of spirit, hope your Chrissy was easy, related, and fullof the good Karma you deserve for your tireles blogging