Canberra: Toulouse-Lautrec exhibition

Friday 22  February

Saturday 23 February

 

This morning we decided to go to

Canberra to see the Toulouse-Laudrec exhibition

 

We stopped in Berry for a coffee but it was

SO hot that we decided on a cold light beer instead.

 

We stayed at the Crown Plaza

 

 

We had dinner at their restaurant and

then went for a walk

 



 

view from our window

 

We packed our suitcase after breakfast.

We have not decided what we will do tonight.

We left the car at the hotel car park and

walk to the National art gallery.

 

I was not allowed to take photos inside.

 

This is the first major retrospective exhibition

in Australia of the art

of renowned French 19th century artist

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.

Featuring more than100paintings, drawings,

 posters and prints

 

We spent the morning viewing,we had

two more rooms to do but went

out to join a guided tour.

Then we went for lunch

(a nice shoulder of lamb salad)

and then re enter to finish

the last 2 rooms.

I did not know he has done so

much in such a short life.

He died at 37y.

 

Walking back

Captain Cook Memorial water jet

 

 

Carillion

 

Black Mountain Tower

 

The war memorial

 

 

Capital Hill

 

( they were getting ready for a wedding)

 

 

The water jet was going right across the

bridge and we had to walk through it.

 

During our walk we decided to leave Canberra

 and go spend the night and Sunday in Berima.

 

But we hit very bad weather.

We could hardly see through the windscreen.

I was feeling sick.

We decided to go home.

 

 



Physical culture

Wednesday 20 February

 

 

Jo ask me to look after the children while she went

to an important meeting.

 

Today is Amelia first day at physical culture.

So Jo loss is my gain, but I took photos for her.

 

 

 

I picked up Amelia from kindy and

we change her clothes at the gym.

Joshua woke up late so I pack up his lunch and

he is having it there.

 



Amelia and 2 of her friends

 



 

3 very excited little girls.

It is their first day at physical culture.

 

 

 

 

 

how gorgeous!!!



Chinese New year The year of the Snake

Sunday 17 February

 

The year of the Snake

 

 

We went to China Town expecting to see "something"

But the parade was in the evening.

So we went to visit the Chinese garden.

It is a very long time since we went to see it.

 

Initiated by the local Chinese community

to celebrate Australia's 1988 Bicentenary

The Chinese garden is the result of a close

friendship and cooperation between the

sister cities of Sydney and Guangzhou in

Guangdong Province, China

 

 

you could have your Chinese star sign painted.

I was born in the year of the dog

Claude was born in the year of the monkey

 

 

Lenient jade pavilion

 

 

decorated pebbles path

 

Lenient jade pavilion

 



 

The dragon wall

A gift from Guangdong.

It features two coloured dragons:

The gold brown represents Guangdong and the blue

represents NSW.

The pearl of prosperity, carried by a wave between the dragons,

symbolises the bond between the two states.

 

 

me

 

We went to the Tea house for lunch

We had quiche and salad with

a glass of wine, and coffee.

I told Claude next time I want

something Chinese!

 

Claude relaxing with his coffee before

continuing with our exploring

of the garden.

 

It is made entirely of jade, incredibly beautiful

 

 

In a display cabinet we saw a  display

similar to something we bought in Hong Kong

over 40 years ago.

We did not know what it was for. It is to drink wine

 

This is ours. We bought it because we liked it

as a decoration.

That was BC (before children)

over 40 years ago when I was working for

Qantas and we used to go over to Hong Kong

just for the week end.

We used to leave after work on Friday with

empty suitcases and come back straight to

work on Monday morning with full suitcases.

 

 

 

 Imperial costume were for hire.

I was surprised how many people were dressing up

and had their photos taken

 

that was not dress up it was a real wedding

 

 

sleeping boy Buddha

 

I loved all their unique archways and windows

 

Main entrance

Guarding the entrance to the garden are two

Foo-dog (Chinese lions), which have been

carved from rare Chinese granite. Always in

pairs, the female with her cub guards to the left,

while the male, with a ball of chi ( energy),

guards the right. A hybrid of dog, lion and

dragon, they represent loyalty, strength,

and prosperity

 

 

 

 

 



Alexander the great

Sunday 10 February

 

 

We got up early to go and queue at the

Australian Museum to see an exhibition

from Russia about Alexander the great.

 



me seating at the door.

 

unfortunately we were not allowed to take photos.

 

It was very educational. I enjoyed it.

Very tiring, we spent 4 hours looking at everything.

It was incredible, mind boggling.

 

 

Then we walk to king cross looking for a

place to have lunch. We found a pub with

a deck and a nice menu.

 

 

the pub

 

 

King Cross fountain

 



 

 

Having a  coffee