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. 

Save the best till last?

Naturally, this time of year (as opposed to any other time of year, obviously) is all about eating and drinking. Good friends gave us a cheeseboard for Christmas - they know us so well - so we had to try it out. I am pleased to report that it is perfectly fit for purpose.

With a couple of free days to spend, my thoughts turned immediately to reading. I walked to the library to search out some non-fiction books I've been trying to trace. It was a very hot day - too hot for running (hence the walk) - and the library was closed, but I had a pleasant walk anyway and played with a photographic app which highlights shapes and shadows.

New Blood (Gateway Artwork) by Paloma Ramos

I went for a day of culture with a friend, which included watching a French film, having lunch in New Acton, and viewing an exhibition at the National Gallery of Australia.

Graffito in New Acton

New Acton greenery

We actually visited the gallery to see the David Hockney exhibition - more of which later - but I always make time to sit for a few moments in front of Monet's waterlilies, which fill my mind and soul with peace.

Waterlilies by Claude Monet

Detail from Waterlilies

The building itself is very stylish with lots of hidden passages and staircases. We ascended to the members' lounge to talk nonsense about art and other things, and to admire the view.  

The view from the Members' Lounge of the NGA

Chester also had a very busy day, as you can see. 

We didn't manage to get to Christmas Dinner with this particular group of friends this year, so we had a not-quite-Christmas meal with them instead.

Dinner at the home of The Luminosity

I finished off the year with a run around Umbagong District Park, which is a favourite spot and is nice and close.

 

Him Outdoors spent quite a lot of the week at the brewery making more beer, which makes him happy - almost as happy as drinking it.

And that's it for another year - have a great 2018 everybody!