Weekend Fare

Taking advantage of summer’s bounty. Fresh strawberries for breakfast…

Oasis

Jackson Pollock’s Blue Poles: Number 11, 1952 hangs in the National Gallery of Australia, courtesy of one of Australia’s most controversial Prime Ministers, Gough Whitlam.

It is breathtaking in real life.

And being able to wander down at any time into the NGA, and contemplate it, with none of the usual hustle and bustle that accompanies renowned paintings in the galleries of Europe or North America is a real privilege.

In a small town given over to the business of nation running (and the political sideshow which goes along with that) and which, architecturally, wants to preserve its status as a city/monument, life can be a little austere and cynical. It has been a slow, not altogether successful, process finding touchstones of culture, warmth and authenticity in this city. But the NGA, and Pollock’s gorgeous Blue Pols, is one.

Fuel

As a salon du thé, it has been rather paltry in the drinks department of late.  Here are some photos to make up for it.

From my recent excursion to the Big Smoke (aka Sydney).

My first coffee, in reassuringly urban, laid-back Glebe.

Hot cider (and cloves), also in Glebe.

A berry cocktail of some kind, Newtown.

A Good Egg

Isn’t it lovely when you catch up with someone you haven’t seen in years and it doesn’t seem like any time has passed at all? You just pick up where you left off, even if it is four long years ago, and find – unexpectedly – that the things you’ve been thinking about, reflecting on and enjoying, well, this kindred spirit is right there with you.

A sand, sun and surf-filled afternoon on Balmoral Beach and Kirribilli – probably the Sydney most people think about when you mention the city.

Looking for whales (unsuccessful).

Waxing lyrical about kings and cabbages, music (the National), television (Mad Men, 30 Rock), books (D.H. Lawrence, Ian McEwan), politics, hipsters, vampires, Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and London, life, love and everything in between.

I even got a little sunburnt.

A Respite

Busy-ness, so alien to me for a year or so, has raised her frantic head once.

Without doubt, work has been the main culprit, swallowing up huge swathes of my time of late. As has a new motivation to improve my fitness levels in the form of pilates and cycling. Long, extended hours at work and in a fitness studio have been compounded by a couple of interstate trips (one for business, one for pleasure).

I’ve been fighting the grey fog of exhaustion and lack of sleep for weeks now. It seems like years since I’ve had all the time in the world to read, draw, sleep in, reflect and dream.

But this weekend, I managed to do just a little of that.

 

Saturday a.m.

Calm. Quiet.

The coffee maker (from Sorrento, Italy) burbling merrily on the stove.

The occasional call of the bellbird.

An intermittent passing car.

The smell of mushrooms, topped with blue cheese and butter, under the grill.

Baked beans heating on the stove.

And the scent of fresh lilies.

Of Gardens and Teacups

Little lovely things from the gardens of friends and family. To wish me well on my move and to, eventually, christen my new home.

Thanks Mads for the ickle garden in a teacup!

Rainy Weekend

The steady pitter patter of rain on the roof, a little Nina Simone, a dash of Jacques Brel, some homemade apple and rhubarb crumble, and, of course, a cup of tea…

Perfect Day

Oh it’s such a perfect day
I’m glad I spent it with you
-Lou Reed

Probably not Mr Reed’s cup of tea but mine is taking advantage of Melbourne’s architectural gems, quaint streets and lo-fi laid-back bars…

…a film in art deco surroundings here.

…a wander, brunch and a cuppa along here.

…and then later, a few drinks with friends here with munchies from here. (Mmm, sweet potato gyoza!)

A girl couldn’t ask for more, really!

Happy weekend, all.

A Harvest-Time Easter

A day out to this laid-back, gentle, gentrifying, creative ‘burb during my first topsy-turvey autumnal Easter for many years.  The sun was blazing but harvest-time was in the air.  Nary a hot cross bun or a chocolate bunny was to be found, but there were googly-eyed gingerbread palominos, red berries, orange gourds and porcelain bunnies a-plenty.  And a yummy, eggy brunch and a cuppa, of course.