Fuel in; fuel out

As part of the celebration events for Australia Day, a Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules plane was flying overhead. Obviously waiting to perform its duties, it was circling in a holding pattern on the outskirts of Canberra and flew above our house almost a dozen times. Him Outdoors remarked that it was quite quiet for a four-propeller machine; I replied "Sorry, what?"; he repeated that it was quite quiet for a four-propeller machine; I replied, "Sorry, what?"...

Not everyone was impressed with the noisy, shiny bird, however, and Penelope bravely hid in the lavender bush. Look at that grumpy face!

Him Outdoors has been shopping. We're really looking forward to playing our vinyl again, especially on this beautiful Liverpool red turntable!

It's always good to get out on our bikes for a quick thrash around Aranda Bushlands. The hills don't look like much, but I feel them in my out-of-shape legs!

In the evening we thought we might watch an Aussie classic film - our television offered us the selection below. I question that The Piano is considered to be an Australian classic - it is a New Zealand story, set and filmed in New Zealand with Kiwi and American actors and written and directed by a New Zealander (although Jane Campion graduated from the Australian Film, Television and Radio School in Sydney).

The aso.gov.au website (Australian Screen Online) claims it is 'the most successful Australian film ever produced', because it received Australian funding - the producer is Australian Jan Chapman although the executive producer (Alain Depardieu from CIBY 2000) provides a French association. I wonder if this is part of the time-honoured tradition of Australians and New Zealanders claiming each other's stuff if it is any good (and disowning it if it isn't - no one wants Russell Crowe) or if it just implies that money trumps creativity when it comes to ownership. (For the record, we ended up watching cricket instead.)

For date night we went out to a new (to us) bar in the suburbs: Herbert's at EVATT. It is a cracking wee venue with super friendly owners, hearty pub meals, and rotating craft beers on tap. 

Mac 'n' cheese balls

Jalapeno poppers wrapped in bacon

Pepper steak pot pie with chips and coleslaw

Hawke's Brewing Co Patio Pale and Opener IPA

I love my kittens - I think that's a given. Sometimes, however, they are so cosy and adorable that it is almost impossible to tear myself away from them and go to work (in the next room). 

While working at home, once a week I try and leave the house for lunch - this week I treated myself to a seafood laksa at Chinese Inn Restaurant.

This week our walking crew route was chosen by the Purple Lady - it absolutely poured down as we walked around Lake Ginninderra - good weather for ducks (or pukekos) as they say - making ideal conditions for her to practice leaping over puddles. 

Pukeko with babies

Purple Lady with puddles

The sun came out by the end in time for us to sit and have bacon and egg breakfast buns at 54 Benjamin. Note how the Purple Lady is determined not to let me capture her with food in her mouth (for once).

The finer things in life

Date Night this week was a trip to the newest bar on the block, 54 Benjamin. They do great food, but they are mainly known for their cocktails.

Mr Miyagi cocktail (rum, ginger, cinnamon and yuzu sour)

Sicilian Hit cocktail (vodka, limoncello, rosemary and pineapple)

Jalapeno corn fritters with poached egg and cumin yoghurt

Twice-cooked pork belly with soba noodles in brocollini and soya broth

The winter sunrises this week have been stunning.

More good, warming winter food - this time from Chinese Kitchen Dumpling House...

 

...followed by an evening of culture at the National Gallery, where there is Monet exhibition, and we went to a special showing 'after dark'. It was a fine night of blobby paint and bubbly wine with friends, Mr and Mrs Lovely Bonkers. Tres chic; tres bon. We were allowed to wander about examining the paintings with a glass in hand. How is that insurable?

This first painting is not even by Monet, but it is by Eugene Boudin, who was considered a mentor and a member of the 'French School' of art. Inspired by the work of British landscape specialists, a new generation of French artists abandoned the strictures of the Academy and its ideals; they left their studios, models and props behind to paint France as they saw it. Monet was influenced by this movement. 

La Plage (The Beach) by Eugene Boudin,1864

This is one of my favourite Monet paintings - there is so much energy vibrating from the canvas; I can practically hear and smell that engine. 

Le Train dans la neige. La Locomotive (The train in the snow. The locomotive), 1875

Le Pont de l'Europe. Gare Saint-Lazare, 1877

Effet de neige, soleil couchant (Snow effect, sunset), 1875

Les Tuileries, 1876

Le Voilier, effet du soir (The sailing boat, evening effect), 1885

Meules, milieu du jour (Haystacks, midday) 1890

Charing Cross Bridge, fumees dans le brouillard, impression (Charing Cross Bridge, smoke in fog, impression), 1902

Like many, I love the waterlily paintings which become increasingly indistinct as Claude Monet's eyesight began to fail. They become increasingly about colour and texture and less about shape and form; perhaps a metaphor for ageing in general.

La Barque (The rowing boat), 1887

Nympheas (Waterlilies), 1903

Nympheas (The waterlilies) 1914-1917

Le Bassin aux nympheas (The waterlily pond), 1917-1919

Le Pont japonais (The Japanese bridge), 1918-1919

This is the signature painting after which the exhibition is named. 

Impression, soleil levant (Impression sunrise), 1872

While there are still three days left, we had a 'Christmas in July' dinner party with friends. It was fun and fabulous, as was to be expected.