We've been back in Canberra for two weeks now and it seems like we're getting back to some degree of "normality" around here. We haven't caught the triple vax version of Covid yet, but quite a few people around us have. The 7 days of isolation involved causes a lot of disruption but so far no one we know has got it badly (and fingers crossed it stays that way).
While we're virus free we've had a theatre outing and two movie visits (things we haven't done in a long time!) in the last two weeks and a fine dining experience too - are we getting our old life back?
Last Friday we helped a friend celebrate a birthday with an outing to the much hyped "Van Gogh Alive" exhibition, a compelling "immersive multi sensory experience" of Van Gogh's works, life and ideas - all mounted in a large purpose built pavillion by the lake.
I must say I was a bit doubtful about how it would work - but once I stopped expecting it to be like a gallery exhibition I really enjoyed it. No one could come out of this experience without learning a lot about the breadth and beauty of of Van Gogh's work and hopefully be more curious about seeing and learning about Van Gogh's works in real life!
There were LOTS of Instagrammable set ups on the way in, and the way out, which we tried to embrace, tentatively at first I'll confess ......
My friend Jeni has a great sense of fun - and she was right into it; and her enthusiasm was catching ...
Starry starry night (on the Rhone) anyone?
We were celebrating Des's birthday - one of those birthdays ending in a 5 - which is always a great privilege to share!
By this stage Jeni was right into the swing of the selfie ... you couldn't help but be carried away by her enthusiasm ....
So I had a go too......
Not a bad facsimile of Vincent's Yellow House bedroom in Arles?
Our friend David has been back in Canberra off and on the past little while, and for the last two weeks his new partner Ro has been here too, involved in serious work for the CSIRO, but also enjoying some of Canberra's early Autumn charms and meeting us locals.
We met her for the first time on an early morning walk around our lake and breakfast after at our fave local Intra - a slice of normal Campbell life indeed.
We also shared a wonderful fine dining experience at the brilliant Raku with Ro and David one night - just another example of showing off the unique pleasures of living where we live (we were even able to walk to Raku from Campbell!)
Another delight from the past two weeks is finally being able to pick up our beautiful framed Sydney Harbour Bridge drawing (another masterpiece by Claire). She is one talented young woman that one! This work is destined for Coogee when we move back in there, but in the meantime we are enjoying it hung on a spare wall here at Provan Street.
The fourth Indigenous Art Triennial opened at the weekend at the National Gallery - and this was the unexpected sight we came across on the lake opposite the gallery, on our Sunday morning walk - "Holden On" by Robert Fielding. It will be a great exhibition for us to see in the coming weeks. Its so wonderful to have all our national institutions open again with big exhibitions coming up and programs planned.
And in amongst all these special things we're getting back to this year - there's all our regular special stuff too - like the weekly outing with Abi to Forest Park for her riding lesson. I captured her last week in the arena riding Pumpkin (the Galloway). There's cantering involved and a small introduction to the pacing required for "jumps" - its all pretty advanced stuff these days! It's a lovely thing we share with Abi each week, and very special in its way too.
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