Visiting the Australian War Memorial

We have been many times to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra but went again today to see a new exhibition, Centenary of the First World War. It was lovely to see so many visitors, especially young people taking an interest in the exhibit. As with many of these exhibitions, it was confronting and very hard to imagine the conditions that our soldiers endured.

My Grandad was one of them, he fought in France and to my knowledge never spoke of the horrors that he went through. Although, he did go AWOL once in England and that's where he met my Grandma who was working in a shop in Bristol. He went on to marry her and bring her to Australia as a war bride taking her at first to live in a very small outback Queensland town that would have extremely hot and uncomfortable in the summer. Even though she lived for many years in Australia, Grandma was always, always, very English!

The Australian War Memorial is a grand building with beautiful grounds surrounding it.

                      

Standing out the front of the building, you look down Anzac Parade to the Australian Parliament House in the distance. As you can see, a beautiful day.

                       

Thank you to all my readers who joined me on my blog journey this year, I have enjoyed it and will continue on next year. We have some adventures planned but when opportunities come up, we jump at them and the best adventures are unplanned!

I would like to wish all my readers a wonderful, happy and healthy 2015!

Black Mountain Canberra

Today we took the grandchildren to visit two places in Canberra, Black Mountain and the National Carillon. A landmark in Canberra is the tower on the top of Black Mountain and you can go up to the viewing decks for a small fee. Personally, I think it is a rather unattractive looking tower but you can certainly get good views from it.

                                             

This is the view of the Canberra CBD and part of Lake Burley Griffin.

                              

The National Carillon was given to the people of Australia from the British Government and is situated on a small island in Lake Burley Griffin. It has 55 bells, chimes every quarter hour and plays music on the hour, we were lucky to be there today to hear 12 o'clock chime. 

                                                

We saw some swans and ducks today and also a tree that had fallen down. My granddaughter was most concerned about the tree and wanted to know 'when the man was going to fix it?'

                             

                             

We had a lovely day with them and so enjoy their company but it is nice to come home to our housesit home for a quiet night!

Canberra Housesit

This is our second housesit for this young couple, we were here 12 months ago and have been asked back again to care for Oyster the cat and look after the house and garden. The house is in a leafy green area of Canberra and we know the area quite well from last year.

                          

The owners are very good gardeners and have quite a big vegetable garden and also some fruit trees. This year there are blackberries growing and we have already had some with cream. Yummy!

                          

                                            

They grow all sorts of vegetables and last year we really enjoyed the beetroot. This year there are zucchinis and tomatoes.

                          

These pink lady apples aren't ready to eat yet but they look lovely growing.

                          

We like housesits in Canberra as it is a good chance to see the grandchildren regularly but allows the chance to escape 'home' for the night!

Christmas is Coming

I had such a busy time down in Canberra helping with the grandchildren and therefore haven't had much time for myself. So when I arrived back in Brisbane 6 days ago it was time to have a haircut, a visit to the dentist, a blood test, attend a Xmas party, visit my Mum at her new nursing home, take my husband out for his birthday and take some guests from Iran (here for the Asia Pacific Screen Awards) on a greet plus all the other mundane day to day jobs. All had to be attended to as we are off to Canberra again in 5 days and we have 3 more Xmas parties to attend before we leave!

It's that time of year, Xmas craziness! I have been into the city a few times, there are some decorations up but nothing really spectacular.

                            

                            

                                            

Brisbane is always so hot at this time of year and it's also the storm season, so almost every afternoon we have had a storm. There was a really bad one 2 weeks ago (which I missed) but all over the city are boarded up windows that were broken by the hail. 

I grew up in Brisbane, so am used to the hot weather at Xmas time but my favourite Xmas was 5 years ago when we spent 4 weeks in Europe with a week in Switzerland during the festive season. I wanted to experience a white Xmas and my research led me to Switzerland where I was assured there would be snow at that time of year. And there was, plenty of it, at a little town called Lauterbrunnen. On Xmas day, we went for a walk to Murren where we had spectacular views, it was a truly magical time.

                          

The chalet in Lauterbrunnen where we stayed.

                  

                         

As a child growing up watching all the old television Xmas movies including White Christmas and Miracle on 34th Street with people going on sleigh rides etc, a white Xmas seemed very special. In Australia, the tradition of a day at the beach, is not for me. 

I'm not sure exactly what we will be doing on Xmas Day this year but we are having a few days with the family before our next housesit in Canberra starts. As we housesat for this young couple last Xmas, we know the area well and will also enjoy caring for Oyster, the cat again.

Sandwich Generation

Busy times at the moment, so not much time for blogging. Firstly my 92 year old Mum was admitted to hospital and is now waiting to go into a nursing home.

                         

                        

The day after I visited my Mum, I had to fly to Canberra as my daughter is unwell and I am needed to help with the grandchildren. The unexpected trip to Canberra means that I am here for my grandson's first birthday today.

                         

Apparently, we are the 'sandwich generation'.

Traditional - those sandwiched between aging parents who need care and/or help and their own children.

Club Sandwich - those in their 50s or 60s sandwiched between aging parents, adult children and grandchildren, or those in their 30s and 40s, with young children, aging parents and grandparents.

Open Faced - anyone else involved in elder care.

I know that my Mum is being well cared for and for now I am happy to help look after these gorgeous grandchildren.

                          

Sculptures

There is so much happening in Brisbane at the moment as part of the G20 Cultural Celebrations. Today we visited an exhibition called Expressions in Sculpture and I believe all the exhibits are by Brisbane Sculptors. There were 64 pieces of work with some artists exhibiting more than one piece. Some were uniquely Australian like this sandstone koala and these platypuses.

                          

                          

This bronze lady caught my eye, she was called Wrapped in Blue. I could easily have taken her home, I have the perfect place for her......then I saw the price tag! Ummmm, no, not today thank you.

                         

                    

The Dancing Queen was made from an old Moreton Bay Fig tree that fell down in New Farm Park during the drought of 2008. It was estimated that the tree was about 138 years old when it fell down.

                        

Some were quirky, the first photo showing Hybrid Runabout 2 made from bits and pieces. The second photo shows Books, Books And More Books. I love these little guys!

                       

                       

And some were very cute!

                       

                       

On the walk home through the city, we found this sculpture called Dialogue and the second photo is one of the sculptures outside the Queensland Art Gallery.

                       

                        

                       

A most enjoyable day.

 

Brisbane Colour

Brisbane is soon to host the G20 Leaders Summit, a meeting of leaders from all around the world. In the two weeks leading up to the big event, we are being entertained by the G20 Cultural Celebrations with an explosion of colour and sound and free events all around the city. Last night we walked into the city to see what it was all about. First we were entertained by the Opera Queensland Chorus who had lined the balconies of the Treasury Hotel to perform for us. The hotel was beautifully lit up with projected images.

                            

In this photo you can see the singers on the balconies.

                           

Nearby was the old State Library Building (constructed 1879) and it also had projected images.

                            

                            

                            

One of the hotels in the city.

                            

                            

And finally, the Brisbane sign at South Bank Parklands. The next few weeks are going to be a very interesting time in our city.

                            

  

Odd Photos

Just a few odd photos from our holiday. A view of the Auckland Sky Tower from the base. You can go for a skywalk around the top on the glass ledge or if you are more daring, have a skyjump from the top. Maybe next time!

                              

I hope these are secure, spotted at Albert Park Auckland.

                              

Old carved banking desk on view at the Otago Settlers Museum in Dunedin. You don't see these in banks anymore.

                              

A little cutie in Tauranga watching me very closely.

                                                 

 

No explanation needed on this photo!

                             

Fiordland NZ

Our last day in New Zealand was spent sailing through fiordland, in the south western corner of the South Island. We visited several fiords (also called sounds). Milford Sound is probably the most famous, although Doubtful Sound is larger. It wasn't a nice day weatherwise as it was raining and quite cold up on the deck but the rain made the area look particularly beautiful and mysterious.

                            

                            

We were last in this area four years ago when we went on a day trip including a boat ride. Once again, a cold day but very different skies.

                            

                            

                            

   

   

    

Home Again

We arrived home yesterday from our New Zealand cruise. We had a great time and were well looked after by the crew of the Sea Princess. The highlight for me was Akaroa on the South Island, one of the first European settlements in New Zealand. Our ship anchored in the beautiful harbour and the tender boats took us into the little town which still has a French influence. This was my third visit to Akaroa and hopefully not my last, it really is my favourite place in New Zealand.

                            

                            

                            

                            

As mentioned in my last post, during our visit to Tauranga, we hiked up Mt Maunganui and even though the top was covered by cloud, the views on the climb were spectacular.

                             

                            

                            

More photos tomorrow including the famous Milford Sound.