Fishy and his friends wanted to see this film for his birthday. He also requested they be able to go on their own for the first time. Overcoming the strong desire I had to spend two hours watching a thug called Wreck- it Ralph wrecking everything, I succumbed to my son's wishes and went to find MY bliss.
When I emerged, released into the wild without a single child attached (!!!!), it was a little overwhelming. I had a yen to sit in a peaceful place like...say... Matisse's garden.
If you squinted and ignored the soaring temperatures it could be a French Boulevarde- or Grey Street in the morning rush.
So I ducked between some buildings and found myself here, reacquainting myself with the Bouganvillea trellis path and the river side.
Hello there, Brisbania! How pretty you are in the morning. Sorry to have lost touch but it is lovely to see you again!
Under the bridge and around the spiral walkway brought me back to this old dear...
The original Queensland Art Gallery which I'm afraid I have been spurning in favour of her newer, flashier little sister, GOMA.
Hello perennial frangipanis,
hello dandelion fountains so beloved by my once- toddler boys...
and, hello, lovely garden of zen in the middle of the city's miasma of noise. A coffee, a view, still water, a fountain in my ear and a couple of perfect puffy clouds. For a moment it looked like a child was going to make big ripples in my mirror like calm but he was quietly moved on. Yes, please!
I have always loved this large hall with the watery exhibits it houses. Does anyone else remember when it was filled with a floating sea of silver balls?
There was still time to check out some favourite old masters and their perfect rendering of clouds. A little handmade object shop had some precious bits in it too.
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| Sandra Bowkett ceramics |
I filed some away for reference as there will be access to a kiln this year.
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| Murray Topham ceramics |
I was waiting at the doors of Wreck it Ralph, probably looking a little more serene than when we had parted company. Dad had the pizza and cake waiting at home and then we dropped the extras off and headed for a friend's at the coast. Fish got one of his wishes there which was to cuddle Dee Dee his long lost mini schnauzer friend.
Our babiest boy was all of twelve and pretty darn pleased about it!
(We don't know why he has always said that but we like it.)
It will be my turn for the 12 year old boy/man this year too...I am in two minds...a holding on mind and a letting go mind...I juggle the two, not very well...........your kidlet free time sounds divine...x
ReplyDeleteDaughter No. 2 will turn twelve in two weeks time. She's requested another of those damned rainbow cakes.
ReplyDeleteYour morning in Brisbane city looks delightful. I love Brisbane.
oh looks like a perfect day. Well done you, celebrating your 'Birthing' Day in style and in peace.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the cuddle, love Dee Dee
ReplyDeleteYes! I can recall the tonk, tonk, tonk of those silver balls as they drunkenly bumped around the inland lake. Thank you for reminding me. I have also recently taken some time out in that oasis of a garden at the Old Girl Art Gallery. But I had 5 in tow and a woolies bag of poppers and chips. Managed to still be peaceful. Perhaps not for those around us. I think once I get my few are off to school next week I might make a solo trip and stop by the Boulevade Grey. You make it look so lovely. If you really squint they could be seville oranges in the tree on the left .... or perhaps those are New York cabs ...
ReplyDeleteReader 3. She would have a bag of poppers and chips! Funny lady. Always organised. I love the old gallery. It's my absolute favourite. All the concrete; a homage to brutalism. Not to mention the air-con! If my office was at the other end of Queen Street, I'd spend my lunch hour in the Gallery. So glad you had some time alone there.
ReplyDeleteI'm always strangely surprised to see glimpses of Australia through your lens - I love it and it seems 'familiar'. At one stage, my parents wanted to emigrate - other reasons stopped this but I was dead against it (I was 14 and into classical music, history and art..this wasn't what I thought Brisbane had to offer at the time) - I've often wondered how things might have been different.... It certainly looks good to me now.
ReplyDeleteGlad you had such a serene, grown up time to yourself. Axxx
Every pic whispered "OHM".
ReplyDeleteThe pots reminded me of the pottery district of Stoke-on-Trent.
Back then, I would wander from one chimney stack to the next taking black and white photos of them from different angles.
The shape is so satisfying and haunting to the soul.
There are a couple of bottle trees near here which fill me with that same feeling of wholeness and inner peace.
Every pic whispered "OHM".
ReplyDeleteThe pots reminded me of the pottery district of Stoke-on-Trent.
Back then, I would wander from one chimney stack to the next taking black and white photos of them from different angles.
The shape is so satisfying and haunting to the soul.
There are a couple of bottle trees near here which fill me with that same feeling of wholeness and inner peace.
PS.
ReplyDeleteI do hope you had a great day, Fishy.
12 is a serious age.
What a delightful way to spend those couple of hours.
ReplyDeleteOh wow access to a kiln. I did a bit of pottery in high school and loved it.
x
p.s. I have a grandad bill too.
You've got some interesting comments there... not quite as peaceful as your post!
ReplyDeleteYes, I remember the silver balls. I do miss the Gallery. Am making note to come to Brissie more often.
Happy Birthday dear FB friend, Fin. And happy 'Giving Birth Day' to you, dear friend. He's a special one.
Happy Birthday to your gorgeous boy. I love that you had a few hours of Bliss. Nice to see some snippets of Brissie too :-)
ReplyDelete