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).

Sustenance

This is not my picture, but I absolutely love it, so thought I wold share it with you. Give it a minute; you'll get it. 

Funny how whenever Him Outdoors plans date night, it seems to involve pizza and beer...

Chilli prawn pizza at The Brindabella

Spiced pulled chicken pizza

As part of my job I get to go some interesting places and talk to fascinating people. I'm currently working on a project with PhotoAccess, a 'unique space for making, sharing and discovering creative photography and photo-based art.' As well as exhibiting works of photography and teaching techniques to classes of children and adults, they have the only publicly-accessible darkroom in the ACT.  

The monthly bedside bookpile continues to evolve. I'm not sure if it is helped or hindered by recent purchases. 

The park run at Lake Ginninderra doesn't get any easier for me; for some, however, it appears to be water off a duck's back. 

Our landlords are hanging some sliding doors in the laundry and wanted to know if they had all the necessary bits. They asked if I would check the parts that were delivered, so I took a pictorial inventory.

Look at all these creative classes one could do, if one were so inclined!

Splatter workshops!

I finished off the week with a walk around Lake Burley Griffin with a friend. It's hot, so we go early while it is still relatively cool and the light is clear. 

The National Carillon at Lake Burley Griffin

Australian Merchant Navy Memorial

Park run and ride

At the beginning of the year, we start as we mean to go on.

Run around Lake Ginninderra

Book and booze combo - All in the Timing by David Ives paired with Moon Dog's Bad Boy Bubbly

Start of the Park Run

After a bike ride at Capital Brewing

Filtered through Prisma

Enlighten Plus

As I take to the trails round and about, I am rediscovering my love of biking. Coming to a new area is a lot of fun, working out where are the best place to run and cycle. One of my newest favourite rides incorporates the Straight Line Border between the ACT and NSW. It skirts the West Belconnen Pond, on which pelicans nest, and it is so called because...

The Straight-Line Border

West Belconnen Pond

Nesting pelicans

Him Outdoors has joined me on some of these rides, from breakfast and coffee rides, to other, more strenuous excursions.

With Him Outdoors at Little Oink

At Lake Ginninderra

Him Outdoors has also been trying to rope in new converts to his team, draping friends' children in Burnley scarves and flat caps. Forgive them for they know not what they do.

One evening in the week we went to Enlighten. I've written about this before: it's a festival in which images are projected onto the face of some of Canberra's public buildings. Here they are:

Old Parliament House

Spider at Questacon

The National Portrait Gallery

National Library of Australia

National Gallery of Australia

These projections are a big thing in Canberra. Thousands of people flock to see them and they light up the town in more ways than one. However, none of the artists were paid. This is part of the 'artists should work for exposure rather than financial reward' argument. Excuse me, but that is utter crap.

All the other providers to the festival were paid for their work. If you value art, you should reward it as you do everything else in this materialistic capitalist society, and pay for it. If you don't, you will lose it. Artists need to eat and house themselves too. To belittle their contribution in this patronising way is shocking, shameful and unforgivable.