Like a Duck to Water

The water is all drying up from the pond near work, but ducklings have still got to learn to swim. 

Building goes on in Woden and public art is overshadowed by the scaffolding behind it. I think this makes for a particularly interesting backdrop as the artist, David Jensz, claims that by interweaving individual threads, he is producing a 'social fabric. As a community we are all connected, our sense of separateness is only a question of degree'.

Culture Fragment by David Jensz

We had some friends round for a tasting of roses that we had collected from the Wines of the West (central west of New South Wales) exhibition that we attended at The Carrington Hotel last month. I made copious comments and doubtless pithy observations, but I have lost my notes, so... here is a picture of some empty bottles.

The Untapped Festival of Beer and Music was fun. It was outdoors but with plenty of seating, and the weather was warm, but there was plenty of shade. It was interesting to be there purely as a punter and without a professional eye to work/ research/ network/ etc. For the first time in years I could just enjoy a festival for what it was; talk to some people if I wanted (or not if I didn't); drink some beer; eat some food; listen to some music; and leave whenever I wanted. So this is how people do these things!

That's a big list of beers, but we did our best to make a dent in them, as it were. My favourites of the day were Digital IPA by Yeastie Boys (supremely bitter with stacks of citrus); Biggie Juice by Feral Brewing Company (big, bold, and hazy hops - citrus but almost creamy); Pash the Magic Dragon by Batch Brewing Company (super beer - it's a benchmark!); India Alpha Papa IPA by Two Heads Brewing (malty and good - tasty); Major Mitchell by Pioneer Brewing Company (it's got good, strong hoppy values); and Bounty Hunter by Tumut River Brewing Company (chocolate and coconut and all the flavours you'd expect - very nice).

Sailors Grave Brewing was a bit of a winner with their Summer Pudding (I can't tell if I really like this or if it's just slightly sour raspberry cordial - edit, I really like it) and the Peach Melba Pavlova Cream Sour (creamy and sour and fruity and tasty - just peachy!)

Peach Melba Pavlova Cream Sour by Sailors Grave Brewing

Bounty Hunter by Tumut River Brewing Company

Another weekend; another walk around Lake Burley Griffin; another picture of the National Carillon

And as the Oscar nominations are announced, it is time to catch up on black and white foreign films with a bottle of wine at a friend's house (he has Netflix: we don't).

Watching Roma

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

Blue Mountains

It is beautiful here. The pictures of this landscape speak for themselves. 

Three Sisters in the evening

Morning walk

Lyrebird Dell

Pool of Siloam

Gordon Falls

Gordon Falls Lookout

Jamison Valley

The Red Door at Leura is considered to be one of the best restaurants in the district - we certainly enjoyed it, as you can see from the new 'plated and sated' segment. 

Beef quesadilla with refried beans, roast tomato salsa, roasted capsicum on hibiscus mayo with chunky Pico de Galla

House-cured ocean trout on wilted spinach with pickled fennel salad

Leura is a nice place for shopping, if you like posh chocolates and fine art. And who doesn't?

That afternoon we stumbled across a wine tasting event at the Carrington Hotel, which was fortunate timing. 

The day summed up in a pictorial collage.

Another beautiful day for a walk in the Megalong Valley. 

Monitor lizard

It had been a very hot day, and I was exhausted. So, after rehdryating ourselves properly (with water), we went to Miss Lilian's Tea House for dinner and cocktails. The decor in the restaurant was light and airy, and bird cages surrounding light bulbs hung from the ceiling. The drinks, food, and company were all wonderful. 

Drinking a Blue Lady (Chamomile-tea-infused gin; saka; choya umeshu; blue curacao; lime)  

Deep-fried salt and pepper squid and Vietnamese spring rolls

Finishing off once again with another composite collage of the day.