It's going to be a gorgeous weekend in Sydney

Two weeks before Christmas and the decorations in the streets are making it all look very pretty at night. Sydney streets are looking pretty festive in a lot of areas. People are always drawn to the city through their work, through end of year get togethers, and by the lure of QVB decorations, Laser light shows around the CBD, dressed up statues in the city, Martin Place and the Christmas tree there, buskers and carolers. So it is all happening! And after Christmas there is the massive build up to New Year in Sydney, and the secrecy around the key feature at the NYE Fireworks. The weather around Dec/Jan can be very dramatic with sun/rain and wind combining forces to put on a great show. And sun and heat, to add mention. There are a few events that I am looking forward to. Tonight is the AGNSW Christmas party. I am a volunteer. My job is usually to sell raffle tickets (hard work in itself) but I also can eat and drink there. Next Saturday I will be joining the Sydney Sketch Club members to sketch around the city with a focus on Christmas. Two days later we are going to the Australian Ballet's production of "The Nut Cracker" and that will serve to make us feel Christmassy in Sydney.

Sculpture by the Sea

We recently went to Bondi to Sculpture By The Sea. This was a "meetup"" with the Sydney Sketch Club. I invited Bryce and Gem to come (Grace declined). So we headed there early so as to get a good parking spot. I wore heels (not sure why) and after 13000 steps or so, I know I'll never do it again. Definitely thongs or runners. We were all inspired by what we saw. When I say "we", I mean the 5000+ people who trudged along the walkway between the beaches, looking at the artworks. The Sydney Sketch Club dd meet at Tamarama Beach (the next beach past Bondi) and I eventually met up with everyone for a few momens. Gem parked in a 2 hour zone so by the time I "met up" it was time to go. I did my sketching in the cool of our place at home. I took heaps of photos. I did only one sketch.
This sculpture was made of Huon Pine and was wonderful. It is life size. It's asking price was $15,000 and it had a sold sticker on it.
I'd love to have a go at sculpture. Well..... so many things really. Pottery. Definitely watercolours.
So watch this space!

Some of the joys of living here in Sydney are the parks and gardens around the city. Hyde Park is beautiful, but I have a sneaking suspicion that there are less trees there than previously. A bit of a cull, not sure though. Maybe I'm getting taller and can see more sky! I love my litle day trips. It used to be by train... not so much these days as the Hills bus gets you right in the heart of the city at a very low cost. They seem to run every 20-30 minutes. When the girls were young and at school, I used to go to the city and meet Bryce for lunch. We often would go to Dimocks to the cafe on the mezzanine level. Then rush back in time to pick them up from school. Nowdays my trips are maybe more leisurely. Bus in. Coffee somewhere. Wander through QVB and maybe some of the other arcades. Some photos. Some sketches. Perhaps a trip to the AGNSW. Usually I walk throuth Sydney Hospital (love that building) and then through the Domain. Most times I'm in the city, I make a mental note... next time I'm here I'll..... (... so I'll be back!)

Quintessential Sydney

... always features the Harbour Bridge and/or The Opera House. But those sights never cease to excite the senses. The sheer majesty of these two structures which draw you in, like a magnet. Imagine Sydney without them. Well, Sydney is huge and there are many parts that I do not know really well. How can you, when you live 35kms out from the city. But because Bryce used to work in the city for around 20+ years, and Laura too used to work in the city, and went to uni in the city - I guess there's something warmly familiar about this place. Going back to each of the two afore mentioned structures... I spent a day in the city and drew both of these.
You really appreciate architecture (respect is the word), when you have to try to draw every join, every angle. Ken Done was clearly quick and lazy. He could probably knock up one of his colourful paintings in 1/2 an hour. Mine took twice that long! (I actually like Ken Done's art).

Old Sydney Town

I love Sydney! I didn't always feel this way... Don't get me wrong. It was always exciting coming into the city from the Hills in the past, but I had no sense of connection with this precinct. Over the last 8-10 years, I've been visiting the city more and more. I love so much of the architecture here. And over the last 5 years, I've wanted to photograph the city more and more. I love the contrast between old and new and the meshing of the two. Take, for example, Sydney Hospital, surrounded by all the modern architecture of the high-rise office blocks. So wrong and yet so right. This building stands confidently, impressive in it's own right. Despite being dwarfed by the high rise buildings, it survives, and thrives in it's position on Macquarie Street, opposite Martin Place on one side and the Domain on the other side. Here is Laura, in the Hospital Cafe, having a brief rest on her second last day before leaving Australian soil (for her big adventure in Japan).
Since doing more art/ sketching days in the city, I look at everything through the eyes of a wanna-be artist/ photographer... getting the balance right between old and new.
I love this aspect of Sydney. This is alongside Circular Quay. A familiar route on the way to the Opera House. Since brother Dunc has been with the Ballet tickling the ivories, we have been going regularly to the Opera House to see him accompany the Ballet. Thus, this walk is out thoroughfare. I marvel at how often it rains. "Everytime I go to the city, for sure it rains", I say. But this always enhances the reflections in my photography.