Melbourne

Hmm, I seem to be having these long, long blog sabbaticals. I've lost the groove at the moment. Perhaps it's the downward spiral as we travel past the autumn equinox and head towards winter solstice, or maybe it's just the busyness of my everyday life and the lack of creativity.

Whatever it is, I miss the connection with my blogging friends and the soothing process of writing. Most of all, I'm missing the creativeness that's NOT happening in real life or on my blog.

There has also been a little hiccup with my camera lens which has kind of stifled taking any photos in recent times. Thankfully I have a new lens now and although the light levels are dwindling indoors, outside pics may still be an option..... be prepared for all manner of bits photographed on the lawn or in a tree or draped over rocks!! 

On the weekend though, we had a glorious 4 days away from home. For Christmas, our oldest son gifted Stuy and I an airfare for a long weekend in Melbourne..... and last weekend was the one!! I decided not to take my camera (silly me) and missed it everyday - the weather was glorious, the city has some amazing parks, buildings and art installations, and all of it was worth recording. Oh well! I managed to snap a few reasonable pics on Stuy's iPhone. 

We had lunch in this park full of deciduous trees and crunchy leaves. We munched fresh bread and cheese, olives and mascarpone stuffed honeyed figs and pretended we were in Greece! If you go to Melbourne you must visit the Queen Victoria markets - oh how I love all that food, especially the deli section with the delicious smells redolent of Europe.

Can you believe that I have never been to an art exhibition before? Me neither. So when we saw, by chance, that there was a Monet exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria, just a short walk from Flinders Street station, I was delighted. 

There were a few interesting pieces in the foyer, including this blue pool which was completely  mesmerising. The bowls moved gently down the centre and back around the sides, only to be driven down the centre again (by a little pump) and each time they 'bumped' into each other they made the most beautiful tinkling sound. Like wind chimes but with the added effect of being visually inspiring as well. We all could have sat there for hours. 

I also went along to my first ever football match - Hawthorn Hawks v Sydney Swans - but will refrain from showing you a photo of me getting into the spirit of things... ahem - and ended the weekend with a trip to the coast near Geelong. 

A big thank you to my delightful future daughter-in-love and her adoring young man for showing us the sights and sounds of the "big smoke"!