Canberra

I went to Canberra for a job last week - 2 intense days of strategic planning and a Board meeting.  I got to sit and listen to it all and take notes and now will produce a record for them and Minutes.  It was amazing stuff and I learnt so much and they were lovely AND we had good food LOL!!
I took the assignment because it was a good reason to see Mum.  I also caught up with a friend for dinner at Manuka.  I like the Manuka Village logo

 

I was surprised at all the gollies in the window

I only had my phone camera, so couldn't do justice to the changing leaves

or the insanely yummy Moroccan risotto with lamb, pine nuts, pumpkin, spinach, parmesan and LOTS of spiciness.

 

I'm coming back next time for the homemade tiramisu!!!

Mary Street

 The above was jutting out of a building.  Below - from down the street -

 and across the street

rhythm and pattern - 

Kangaroo Point

I was signed up to do a photography class starting at 7am.  Of course, I was waiting in the wrong place (but on the plus side, I WAS early - lol).  Then again, is there ever really a "wrong" place to be?  The following caught my eye...
The number of digits in the phone number will date this sign - sometime in the 1980s I think?  Between 1994-98 numbers went from 7 digits to the current 8, so it was definitely before then...

In contrast, along the street is a very new very nicely designed apartment building, complemented by modern soft furnishings

and a contemporary reception desk

Looking up I spotted what seem to be oversized chess pieces.

Day Trip to Kakadu

I was picked up at 6.30 by this bus - doesn't it look like an insect?

After breakfast at the Bark Hut, we headed towards Kakadu.  The Nourlangie area had some amazing rock art -

We also did a cruise on a few billabongs, connected due to the wet.  This is a car park in the dry.

A few of us went for a flight in a small 8 seater.

NOTHING captures the grandeur and beauty we saw from the air, but the magnificence of the falls (we saw quite a few) were breathtaking

 and the escarpment and rock formations incredible.

Sydney - Sights

Thong vending machine

Kinokuniya Bookshop

[Where do I find the time for not reading so many books]

Drown your thirst

[ship shaped ice cube trays]

Sandstone

Chocolate making

I'll Take the Long Road...

...and you'll DEFINITELY be in Scotland afore me..

I'm a byway-taker, that's for sure.  My drive to Boonah is probably about 1/2 hour longer than it has to be, and that's without stops.  But I take pleasure in the route I travel, and it's part of the weekend.  I start to unwind and enjoy myself.  This trip I was serenaded by the golden notes of this critter

and I've finally had the chance to take pics of the poles in Beaudesert (2 of many).

 

Further along I saw a perfectly shaped hill covered in vibrant grass dotted with Fred Williams trees, just like this.

NAB Ceiling

I had some bank business in town and saw this ceiling in the NAB on Queen Street.

Nest

Sinuous Southbank Seating

Look Again

The bow of a ship?

no - art

A fancy building support?

no - art

The side of a building?

no - art.

Mary Street

The awning

 reflected as a shadow...

New

I wanted to start the year seeing the sun rise so I drove to Wellington Point.  The blush of the sky gave the first indication of the beginning of the day

 Here it comes..

 a bit more...

 like a fire on the horizon

 it's definitely going to happen

 watched by other like-minded people...

New Year's Eve - Southbank

Christmas Day 2011

Wild weather on the Gold Coast

didn't deter me from a drive there to watch the sun rise.  And the weather did not put off the swimmers and the surfers...

I couldn't get a shot of the actual sunrise, because it was overcast - oh yes, and because the beach was not oriented to the east - oops!  But we did have a nice BBQ breakfast

and saw some intrepid runners decked out in festive headgear