NOVEMBER 2020 : SYDNEY : Birthday weekend

A lovely weekend in Sydney with Nick and co for my 68th birthday.

The weekend included swimming lessons, ballet, Nippers at Bilgola beach and free surf time.

On my birthday we had breakfast at a Greek beachside cafe at Sydney’s Balmoral Beach

The highlight was the Arthur Streeton (1867-1943) exhibition. My favourite Australian artist from the Heidelberg School.

The works included spectacular landscapes, seascapes, scenes from European travel, war zones, mythical interpretations and still lifes.

I particularly love his delicate strokes. They are like exquisite calligraphy.

A four hour drive home to Canberra to take Mum out for dinner at Molto at the Foreshore near home.

A special few days

M&M

NOVEMBER 2020 : SNOWY MOUNTAINS, NSW : Charlotte Pass - Blue Lake Circuit Walk : 10 kms : 5 hours with lunch

We arranged to meet our friend, Julie, at her cabin on Braemar Cove on Lake Eucumbene.

It is in sheep and cattle country south of Cooma.

Early Tuesday morning we set off south to the Snowy Mountains, destination Charlotte Pass, gateway to Mount Koscuiszko, Australia’s highest mountain, albeit only 2,228 m above sea level.

A beautifully clear spring day - max 20o - as we arrive at Charlotte Pass

Our choice today was the Blue Lake circuit moderate walk. About 10kms. It’s also possible to link this to the Mount Koscuiszko loop. We did that section in May 2019.

From the lookout you can see the wide, direct path, heading to the right.. To the left in the distance is Mount Koscuiszko.

The first section is through a snow gum forest.

As we head down the steep path, our first adventure is rock hopping across two river crossings. The only colour is in the bunches of alpine buttercups.

Fabulous rock formations provide the only shade.

As we head towards the Main Range Track we encounter some snow, which provided a spectacular contrast as we travelled up the pass.

Blue Lake is one of the few glacial lakes in Australia. It is 28m deep.

After lunch, we returned down the track

Back to the river crossings

And up the steep path 

to Charlotte Pass

Quite a strenuous walk but on a relatively well-maintained path and in perfect conditions.

M&M

OCTOBER 2020 : CANBERRA : a paddle in the lake

Canberra, the capital city of Australia, was a planned city, established in 1913 with the creation of an artificial lake at its centrepiece. The Molonglo River was dammed to create Lake Burley Griffin in 1963.

Five minutes from our apartment I can launch my kayak and head up the river and enjoy some exercise on a tranquil waters.

We’ve brought up one of our kayaks from the coast so that I can explore the lake while we are at home. The lake is quite murky and the vegetation along the river is not particularly picturesque but there has been a huge effort to create wetlands to encourage bird life and there was certainly a lot of activity, even if I couldn’t capture them on film, so I’ve borrowed from the Internet.

Views up and down the river

I look forward to more regular exploring of the lake.

MARCH 2021 - a still Autumn morning, perfect for another Saturday paddle on Lake Burley Griffin. This time from Yarralumla around Springbank Island.

M

OCTOBER 2020 : SYDNEY

A  weekend in Sydney to celebrate Harriet’s 5th birthday

A Disney Princess Party at a local gym

A rare catch up with family due to previous Covid restrictions

Meanwhile in Melbourne our sister is still coping with Stage 3 restrictions with no hope in sight for interstate visits for the foreseeable future.

M&M

OCTOBER 2020 : CANBERRA : A new grandchild!

Our seventh grandchild has arrived. As divine and special as our other ones.

A very proud Nonna and Poppy

With her great grandmother 

Complete family, settled and so together

Could she be any more beautiful?

M&M