When I lived in Edinburgh my "commute" consisted of a 10 minute walk through the lovely Meadows parkland to get from my apartment to the Informatics Forum. Sometimes I'd have to cross the dreaded North Bridge or the crowded Nicolson street, and I would always find myself feeling overwhelmed and stressed. But, the walk through the Meadows was always healing — or, failing that, it never added to my stress.

When I moved to Canbera, I first lived in Braddon. Like at Edinburgh, or indeed my time at UNSW Sydney, my commute was just a 10–15 minute walk. Yet, unlike at Edinburgh, I would often find the walk stress-inducing.

Since I've moved to Dickson, my commutes have gotten much longer — a 40–45 minute walk from my home along a bike path through the Lyneham wetlands and other beautiful natural parkland. Similarly, the walk from my home to my church is slightly longer, but significantly quieter, following bike paths and sleepy suburban streets. This walk is significantly more mentally healing to me than the shorter commute I had before, and helps me to relieve stress rather than accumulate it.

The main difference is simple: The walk this time passes through mostly parkland, and, for the most part, is not along a road. The noisy cars and, annoyingly common in Canberra, roaring motorbikes of the city traffic are distant, usually inaudible, and in their place I have some stunning natural landscapes and many colourful parrots to greet on my walk to work.

I think car-centric cities are one of the worst mistakes humanity has made in terms of societal engineering. I hate cars. Please get rid of all the cars.

In nómine Dómini omne genu flectátur, cæléstium, terréstrium et infernórum: quia Dóminus factus obédiens usque ad mortem, mortem autem crucis: ídeo Dóminus Iesus Christus in glória est Dei Patris.

Omnia quæ fecísti nobis, Dómine, in vero iudício fecísti, quia peccávimus tibi, et mandátis tuis non obedívimus: sed da glóriam nómini tuo, et fac nobíscum secúndum multitúdinem misericórdiæ tuæ.

I filled in as director of our choir at All Saints Ainslie today for our performance of Dubois' Ave Maria. I am getting more comfortable conducting us. I will be conducting again for next week's service as well.

Ave María, gratia plena, Dóminus tecum.	Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Benedícta tu in muliéribus et benedíctus fructus ventris tui, Jesus.	Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Sancta María, mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatóribus,	Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners,
Nunc et in hora mortis nostræ. Amen.	Now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

I think this week's service went really well. Congratulations to all involved!

I'm no longer attending Evensongs at St. Paul's or St. John's because it's now too far from my home in Dickson. Hopefully we can start some more frequent Evensong services at All Saints.