Discoveries with Dougall 15 After the Rain

I have been away in Europe for three weeks and in that time it rained in Brisbane.What a blessing, what a change to the whole landscape. Dougall and I set off today to explore our hood and its paths and to record some of what was going on. A black and white symphony of cockatoos and crows on a grass verge sent flying by his appearance. They were calling and cawing in their own talent show. A bush Turkey busily preparing its nest, scratching away on a hillock of steaming mulch. A very beautiful turquoise butterfly fluttering wildly to find a mate or a leaf to lay its larvae. Tips of new growth on the bunyas and the hoop pines, walking through long grass. Dougall loves nothing better. Colours coming to the fore, the yellow dry and dust receding. The skies still heavy with rain clouds which we hope will burst over us as we walk. 

Returning to the warmth of the weather and the people around us. Neighbours who sweep our pool side clean before our return and "accidentally" fall in it to cool off. Others who stock our fridge so there are dinners for us while we adjust to our altered timings. A ready smile from passers by, an Aussie joke about big dogs. Waking up at 4 am to the laughing kookaburras shaking the neighbourhood out of its slumber. The dawn chorus erupting to my utter, utter delight. Its an early start for me today embracing the morning light. 

Mer de Glace - Montenvers.

A short train ride up the valley and through the forest took us to the Glacier - Mer de Glace.

We walked some 530 steps down to the caverns and of course 530 steps back up. The stark message on the way down was pinned onto the rocks giving the height of the glacier at various times dating back to the 1870s. There is a telecabine there which takes you half way down because not so long ago that is where the glacier was. Now of course it has receded a lot further and you have to walk down into the valley. Climate change, warming of the planet, call it what you will, its there for us all to see ... just. Remarkable in its beauty, translucence, blueness and depth.

From one Majesty to another

A few days en famille, a rarer occurrence these days as the kids grow into their own busy lives. So we moved from the Majesty of Granny to the Majesty of the Mountains - and they have brought a flood of memories, tastes, sensations and thrills back for us all.

Waking up to the view of the moon still visible over those glorious peaks.

And then watching as the sun rises and bathes the slopes in a warm glow, while the gang gets ready with all their paraphernalia to head out. 

Remembering the times we spent in this part of the world, reliving the moments on the mountains and reaching into the inner grey matter for the right French word, while throwing cholesterol levels to the wind as we dive into our first fondue for years. 

What does it feel like to be 100 ?

We have just had a big weekend. Granny, great granny, Ma, Nancy Gilks turned 100 on the 18th. The letter from the Queen arrived in an envelope from Buckingham Palace signed by the other Queen.

We ask her what it feels like and she smiles. "I don't really know. I have not been here before." But where she has been and what she has done has made her 100th birthday memorable. Those who know her marvel at her resilience, her refusal to be defeated, her innate curiosity about the world and her Queen Nancy faultless appearance throughout her long life.

So on the day she enjoyed a hot bath and chose her outfit, her pearls and earrings and applied her lipstick to her lips. All this, the day after she had been discharged from hospital. Thankfully the reasons she ended up there were all addressed by excellent care at the Royal Free.The NHS is unparalleled and every effort must be made to protect it ...

So we were driven to our celebration at the Shard in London where we enjoyed spectacular views of London on a bright, cold, sunny morning in January. We thought perhaps she would be there for a while to greet family and a few friends but again defying the odds she lasted for the entire reception and lunch. She is as alert and interested as ever, though a little frail and more easily tired. 

Born in 1920, trains as a nurse before the NHS even existed, lives through wars and hears Hitler, travels all over the world following us around, trips to Africa, Switzerland and India. Since Pa died she lives alone and independently until now, skypes and emails, plays bridge, reads the papers and has an opinion on Trump, war with Iran, Megxit and above all has free reign (which we don't have) to ask her grandsons, those that are unmarried that is, if they have found partners!

We have messages from around the world wishing her the Happiest of Birthdays and I think it was.

Thank you all who have contributed in many ways to make this day unforgettable. 

Forgotten Masters at the Wallace Collection

A beautifully curated exhibition at the Wallace Collection on prints and paintings for the East India Company, (many never seen before,) which were commissioned by the Company from Indian artists between the 1770s and the 1850s. The detail of the artwork is exquisite and definitely worth seeing. Each paint stroke on this sloth is so carefully done so you almost have this three dimensional sense of his coat. The plants are equally finely and delicately drawn. https://www.wallacecollection.org/

Discoveries with Dougall - 14 - You wont believe this...

My phone told me that I was not my usual active self. I looked at the screen with some incredulity but the graph of my activity flatlined in a most embarrassing way. So I put my trainers on and went out looking for Dougall on our first adventure of the new Decade. 

Our first stop, as if it was obvious that they are all in our minds at the moment, was this fine mascot at a local rugby club. I had never noticed it before. We are all hoping for no more fires, no more loss of wildlife and happier times. 

Its hot and humid here and Dougall thinks so too as he stops at every tap in the parks for a drink.
Nevertheless and in spite of the dryness these are the treasures we encountered today.

 It doesn't take much for the colour and the brightness to reappear - we need it more than ever now.

31st December 2019.

The last day of 2019 was spent in the wetlands near Brisbane with pelicans, fairy wrens, black shouldered kites, wood swallows and babies in nests, a fabulous quiet haven just off the airport. We watched the big birds coming in but concentrated on the real ones. It was a blissful time as we watched the sun going down on this fiery and fierce decade for the last time.