OK, not sure how Oscar could get any cuter. He's really melting me this week - he understands soooooooo much!
I'll give a run down of the rally, now that I've got some thinking time:
Got into Canberra airport later than scheduled cos there was a knock-on effect of delayed flights, and my friend Mel (doulamelanie here on BB) collected my GF, her DD and I. She tells me she met someone I knew in the foyer of the hotel...it was Kazbah! We get into the hotel, crash through the doors and I headed to the mini-bar for a packet of chips. We all cooed over GF's DD, who had only just turned 1 the week before. I was sent into the bathroom to have a luxurious bath with a hot chocky and some handmade truffles we'd ordered as room service (we thought 'what the hell?") and then settled in for a great night's sleep with no DP stinking out the room or Oscar coming in during the night....bliss!
Woke up in teh morning and it was grey and drizzly. No matter, we were pumped and sms'ing and calling other people we knew who were around. I missed my pool session to watch the stupid Sunrise session - what a wasted opportunity! We all went down to brekky and I thought I might get a swim in for later, so I didn't do my hair. As we're at the buffet, we see Tracy Bartram come in and Mel talks birthy stuff with her briefly...I raid the Coco Pops dispenser with the glee of a madwoman. Mel did an interview with the smallest doco maker team present that day, then they ask if I want to say something...argh! My hair!! I figure I'm not going to miss my opportunity for a few offending follicles (shut up, I know, I have way more than just a few follicles...).
We realised the time had marched on and I wasn't going to get my swim and I had enough time to dash into the shower and get dressed to make it in time to the Tent Embassy to meet with our local MP. Well, we did and he was really on board with what we had to say (and has been since last year, way before the Bills were introduced) and so supportive - he's there in a piccy with us on the steps of Old Parliament House in about two or three local papers (he did a press release).
From the Tent Embassy we walked up to Federation Mall and walking up that hill was amazing - the amount of people spread before us was very inspiring, despite the rain and cold. We ran into Cookiemonster and her family (I was with Kaz as well) on the way up and just kept running into people I knew for the rest of the rally! I saw Kelly and her fella, loads of Homebirth in the Hills people, my midwives (very comforting to know they were there!), as well as some people I know through ABA circles. It was interesting to hear myself explaining to Jason Wood (our MP) that we all know each other through various, sometimes intersecting networks - isn't that just the way the Mummy Network operates? School, sport, boobs, birth? It's our strength and can also be our 'weakness', given that our lack of formal collectivity has allowed the fragmentation of our rights, and our interconnectedness has brought us together for important things. Anyhow, I digress.
We got wet, but we were also excited to be acknowledged by so many pollies who are actually on our side with real facts, instead of one-liners practised to ensure votes. Inspired by the women's stories we heard, too. Dr Sarah Buckley spoke and I spoke with her briefly afterwards (we've been in contact before through Facebook). Tracy Bartram was just perfect as the MC.
We broke off and my small group went for a big lunch and back for a look-see at Parliament House. The flight home was like a charter flight for all the Vic supporters...yet knowing it was only one flight back home amongst many planes carrying people who felt strongly enough to lend a face and voice (or who weren't so far advanced in pregnancy!). Again, heartening to know my middies were on that flight, too!
So, there you have it, my Canberra experience. Informed and inspired by so many women from BB and from my local networks
Bath - hope the night isn't too cold at the G!
Better go, DP has nearly finished filling the birth pool for the trial run...