Rehearsals

Here are the latest images of t-shirts that have given solid service, but are now consigned to the special place where good clothing goes in retirement.

Those rehearsals about which I was writing last week? Yes, they're really tough, as you can see from this roguish cast and crew. Seriously, I'm loving working with these immensely talented ladies. 

Cast and crew of Coda for Shirley rehearsing at the Oaks Brasserie

And some rather beautiful graffiti.

Birthday lunch

An afternoon jog takes me past the grounds of the Governor General's Residence. The house is lovely, but the grounds are magnificent. The GG has his/her own golf course, which is generously shared with the local residents. 

We didn't get the roos off the green

Rehearsals and planning continue apace for Coda for Shirley, which will be performed in December. I am very appreciative of all the work that has gone into this fine poster, featuring Micki Beckett as the eponymous Shirley. 

And here are some images of my birthday lunch at the Turkish Pide House in Woden. 

Chichek Dolmasi - Stuffed zucchini flowers with goats and fetta cheese and roasted pine nuts [sic]

Aegean Salad - thinly sliced lamb salad tossed on baby spinach, olives & fetta, roma tomatoes & Lebanese cucumbers dressed with mint yoghurt [sic]

Ocakta Balik - char-grilled Atlantic salmon, infused with garlic & olive oil, with a touch of za'atar dressing

Azaliade

Friends have decided to do their own version of Floriade. They call it Azaleade, and host it at their place when the azaleas are in bloom. It's a very pretty backdrop and a great opportunity to catch-up and relax. 

Calamity Sue and Me

Garden views with silver birch

There is seriously so much cake in my life at the moment, I've forgotten the reason for this one. But it was covered in Smarties, so who needs a reason? 

Art and sculpture

I quite enjoy these garish sculptures of fat sheep and their rather incompetent-seeming sheepdog in the Dickson shopping precinct.

Another new person started at work today so I am no longer the newest kid on the block. Apparently new staff = cake, which is fine by me. 

Salted caramel popcorn cheesecake

Look what I found on my phone when I was clearing out photos. This bemused Burmese can still make me smile. 

Chester selfie

A trip to the National Library of Australia reminded me how great are these artworks hanging in the foyer. There are three stunning tapestries, made from merino wool, which were conceived to harmonise with Leonard French's stained-glass windows, and designed to be best viewed from the mezzanine level. Mathieu Matégot, Professor of Art at the prestigious École des Beaux Arts in Nancy, France, began working on the tapestries in 1966 and they were installed in 1968.

The first tapestry depicts the radio telescope at Woomera, South Australia, representing the technological times in which the library was built. Woomera was NASA's first deep-space station located outside of the United States, and it participated in a number of early important space missions. 

One of Mathieu Matégot's Three Tapestries

And this T-shirt is finally consigned to the bin after nearly twenty years of service and very happy memories. 

T-shirt cullery

Coffee, cocktails, friends, flowers and graffitti

The quest for the perfect coffee continues; yes, it's a tough challenge, but I think I am up to the task (especially when fortified with caffeine!).

I walked around to a friend's place - she is actually house-sitting while she works out her life choices - and the route took me through an underpass with some fairly interesting graffiti.

The evening was for female friendship and cocktails - these things seem to go nicely together. She had prepared the list of cocktails; supplied all the ingredients; glassware and garnishes. We let rip with the mixology and the laughter. 

Brad clings on valiantly to his Aviation. Josh is loosing focus. No one can blame him.

A lovely night with beautiful ladies; and a beautiful night with lovely ladies.

Calamity Sue and The Glamazonian

And, while the tulips are in bloom, we made the most of them with another trip to Floriade for a picnic and to see the flowers. And the graffiti.