Thursday, March 7, 2013

Back Tracking.....

....to February, when I had the opportunity to go to Canberra. DH was down there working so I was able to join him for a few days.
I went to the War Memorial. On temporary display is 'Remember Me - the Lost Diggers of Vignacourt'. Thanks to the generosity of Kerry Stokes AC, hundreds of glass negatives from World War One have a new home. These negatives were found in a large truck in a small French village. They had lain undisturbed for nearly 100 years. They have been carefully restored and some printed. The clarity is wonderful. You can't help wondering if the soldiers in them made it home. Find out more about it here
Our War Memorial building is very impressive, just a shame about its reason for existing.



Canberra, our National Capital is having its centennial birthday this year. Just for my overseas friends - Canberra is located where it is - in the middle of nowhere - because of a fight between Sydney and Melbourne at the time of Federation. Neither wanted the other to be  the National Capital. It was/is a very planned city. Walter Burley Griffin won the International Architectural competition to design it. It might be 100, but I don't think it was until the 1920s that the public servants started moving there to live. The reason I'm telling you this is to explain this photo.

Griffin designed the vista from the Parliament House to the Memorial to be uninterrupted. He wanted the Parliamentarians to be forever reminded of the consequences of their decisions. Appropriate then and now.

The other reason I went down was this.....Toulouse-Lautrec....at the National Gallery.

It was wonderful. We thoroughly enjoyed meandering around the exhibition with the other hundred or so people there. We have started using the audio guides on offer.  We never used to bother with them, but have found them really informative.

The National Gallery is going to have 'Turner from the Tate' on from June to September. I wonder if I can get DH working down there then? I'd like to see that to.

 Afternoon tea at Koko Black, of course. Why, oh, why is there not one of these stores in Brisbane. Maybe that's a good thing...my waistline wouldn't survive!!!!!


Back soon with report on our day at Highfields last weekend.
Take care,
Kayly

4 comments:

Susan said...

Sounds like a wonderful time in Canberra - haven't been there for so many years. Cake looks far too lovely....

Noela said...

I have never been to Canberra. Must take a road trip one day. Hugs.....

Michelle Ridgway said...

A wonderful post Kayly. It is an amazing place. I hope you enjoyed your visit. Coffee and treat looked delish.

Maria said...

What a great time you had!