Canberra in a day

Long day, off to Canberra very early. Mixing business with pleasure,
as my daughter Sam had to do legal signing of various contracts to
secure her first investment property.

Walked in the grounds of The National Art Gallery, seeing for the
first time James Turrell's fabulous installation there.

Just love it, so powerful and so many symbolic ideas in one structure.
Alluding to ancient cultures, and spirituality, yet connected to Earth
and nature. Wow.

Wandered through the main gallery. A good place to be as the weather
outside was quite wintery, wind blown showers.

Girls have got to eat, so we had lunch at The National Portrait Gallery.
Great exhibition there, photos and art of celebrities and more. Fiona
Hall's work was great.

A quick drive through the suburb where her apartment would be constructed.
All modern and new buildings there, colourful and low rise. A good area
when the light rail goes in.

On the way back dropped into COFA (College Of Fine Arts) for Sam
to organise Uni Ambassador work, met her tutor. Good time to have
coffee and meet up with her fiance Gordon who had come by bike.

Pretty tiring, but fun.

I'm the blob in the distance. The stonework is very precise, around the 

cylindrical form. All fairly neutral, the walls reminiscent of plastered 

ancient architecture. A lovely soft dusty pink blush.

The scale overall is mighty and awe-inspiring. Lit by a circular opening 

in the ceiling, and as you enter the stone clad tower inside on the floor 

is a beautiful stone circle reminiscent of our planet Earth.

A stunning bright aqua blue horizon pool constantly runs down and recirculates. 

Needing work or a business.

Well finding work isn't easy. I have currently 2 private art students, and look
daily on Airtasker, an online job site.

From this I have had 4 jobs, housecleaning and ironing, gardening work twice
and also a bit more creative - making 2 papier mache models.

I've competed for the artwork ones, murals, portraits etc. but no luck so far.

Sent my resume and portfolio samples to a community college, and cold called
a couple of art supply retailers who run classes and workshops.

Got an interview with one, no luck with other.

Put my art tutor flyer on community noticeboards and in some high schools.

Bought a cheap workshop shed, thinking teaching sculpture, or letting out to
other creatives.

Am starting an online store with Etsy, for offloading retro, collectibles, vintage
and antique.

Could also sell some creative stuff from that too.

Will try and sell from our next printmaking exhibition. When the time is right,
will join an organisation and get a professional membership, to get insurance so
I can teach at public facilities.

Fawlty Towers and eating in a garage.

Well I think the best thing about holidays is the anticipation of time off
in new places. Thinking you are getting away, relaxing, seeing new and
wonderful views.

Sometimes it is all you wish for, other times not. We just had one of the
latter. Our accommodation in the Blue Mountains at Leura, was what I
will entitle 'A Fawlty Towers' experience.

The charming vision online of a garden cottage, was no more regrettably
than a rude gardener's shed. Paper thin walled and shabby, no chic evident
there.

 First impressions were good, lovely Rosellas.

 Our accommodation seemed quaint, rustic even. However inside was another story sadly.

 Looking towards the old mansion, why didn't we get in there?

At least nearby views were magnificent.

As we saw only 2 other couples as visitors in the breakfast session, main
house, and only one couple per day, we have no idea why we were not
installed in the historic mansion itself.

Luckily it was just a base for nights, and we got a simple breakfast to start
our day. Not the stated cooked breakfast.

Yet showers were out of the question for those 3 days, we would have got
hypothermia, and anyway, you couldn't turn on more than 3 appliances at
any one time. We did only to find repeated resetting of the power.

So a basin wash for me to do a shampoo. Blow dried by a small fan heater,
but not with the kettle on at the same time or a light because that would
trip the power.

We found one excellent Restaurant one evening, a converted garage, called
The Garage, quirky decor, and fantastic food and service.

Then found my daughter's favourite and recommended cafe The Yellow Deli,
best soup ever for me, potato, cheese and corn.

The main purpose for our mini stay was to start the process of hunting for real
estate, a place to retire to. Sydney pricing itself completely out of the market
for the young starting out, and those older like us.

We saw several homes with agents, and drove by many I had researched, just
to get a feel for the areas up there.

Went to some amazing lookouts. it was cold but clear. Needed more beanies,
so off to the Op Shop.

Fun shopping, many eclectic stores, a village feel about Leura,  Many other
little towns dotted along the rail line.

More research needed, much to do on our own, and landscaping too. No idea
when this may happen, but at least a plan of sorts.