Prague

My second time in Prague. But this time I didn't do much touring but was at the Conference while Wendy was doing the trek!

We stayed at an Airbnb in Invalidovna which turned out to be amazingly convenient! A 4 minute walk to the Metro, then 3 stops to the conference, and for Wendy 3 stops to Namesti Republicky from where you could walk anywhere.

We met up at end of day to have dinner, and went to the Conference dinner together at the Zofin Palace

The amazing clock 

we went on a walk to find this the head layers rotated constantly so the head faced a different direction every few minutes  

Located in a busy shopping center in Prague, this twisting and reflective sculpture depicting the head of writer Franz Kafka is the latest kinetic artwork by controversial Czech artist David Cerny. Installed in 2014, the enormous mirrored bust is comprised of 42 independently driven layers of stainless steel and weighs in at some 45 tons. The piece brilliantly reveals Kafka’s tortured personality and unrelenting self doubt that plagued him his entire life.

stunning architecture 

I went on a little expedition over the river by metro and tram to pick up our train tickets for the overnight train to Bucharest. I studied many maps and ended up with the Google 3D one to show me what the drop off place would look like. Once I was there the pictures on the website made sense.

I took a day off the conference to go on a tour to Cesky Krumlov (next post)

Paul Bangay Garden

I had seen his gardening books but not been to his garden.  On the map I realised it is behind Fran's property where we went to see all the kids each Boxing Day.
It is called Stoneleigh and home of Paul Bangay, widely described as one of the foremost garden designers in Australia.

His Garden at The Melbourne Garden Show 

The Open Garden weekend was a fundraiser for Stephanie Alexander School Kitchen Garden Scheme so she was there as well in the book signing tent.
I didn't buy any books as I have been given her books for gifts of the years.
The garden and house were created out of a stone covered paddock so is amazing.
Parking was in a paddock with a road in and another pout! But traffic management was good so the exit out only took 10 minutes.

The car park was filling fast when I arrived at 1015 (opened 10am!)

The grass was like a dense carpet that dented sl. with footprints 

A swimming pool like no other!!!

The pool looking to the house 

A planted border

Hedge on the pool terrace

A stylised garden That I admire but would not plant for myself 

Roof  of a small pergola 

The Apple Walk

The white garden and the small gutter trail

The gate is on other side of the hole

The gate 

Paul and Stephanie busy in the tent!

   

Ann is 90

I was thrilled to be invited to help celebrate Dr Ann Morgan's 90th birthday.

I first met Ann when I requested help from the Mental Health Department at Royal Children's Hospital in 1986.

The patient I was concerned about was a baby, so I was not sure mental health would be interested . But unknown to me some of the Department were just developing a group interested in Infant Mental Health 

When I said it was for a baby, I jokingly recount that it was the fastest mental health referral accepted in history! 

From there I joined the IMH group and developed a respect and admiration for this amazing woman.

Ann with Joanna Murray Smith at an IMH meeting in 2014

We went on to do some joint consultation and her insight opened a new way of thinking for me .
Ann is a Paediatrician and a Child Psychologist and even now runs a tutorial for the Master in Infant Mental Health at Melbourne Uni.
The party was at one of her sons' house in Hawthorn (7 children ) and  many grandchildren were present as well.

There were lots of colleagues that I knew there to celebrate with her husband John. I expect they had many other family celebrations .
She is mentally as well as physically agile but had twisted and broken her foot a few weeks ago.
So her usual  beautiful shoe collection was marred by the boot she had to wear.

We were disappointed there were not 90 candles!

John and Ann

The Play's the Thing..

When we got home Dylan wanted to paste and make a mask so I helped him with that. (I took direction!)
 Then he said he was going to do a puppet show
After half an hour he called us in to the lounge where he had a it set up.

The audience has gathered including Shakespeare himself (white limbs) 

the stage is set with Trees and a Lake backdrop 

the story was about some people who fell into the lake 

a Giraffe fitted in to the plot

And being rescued by a lady super hero

Special Friend

I was invited to Dylan's Grandparents and Special Friends day at Kalinda Primary School where Dylan has been learning for 33 days.He is really into school and loves learning stuff.
He was very confident showing me everything and when nana and Grandpa (Kannageisser ) arrived he went over it all again
Then he showed us the school Map he had, and led us on a  tour culminating in a Singing performance by all the Preps (now called Foundation ) "I'm in Foundation H Mich!" of 'It's a small World"
Bridie was wondering why he had been singing it at home.

showing his place to nana 

he read his book to us 

Then the Map!

Checking out the direction

The fabulous school grounds 

In the Japanese Library (he's ;earning Japanese) 

Lovely pottery Poppies in the corridor 

In the japanese Garden

We came across Ava and Jay Dylan's cousins 

showing us how fast he can run round the track  

The song performance (he's on the far right facing us )

Didn't manage to get a good photo by the grandparents!

Homage

In this age of designed obsolescence (if it breaks buy a new one) I want to pay homage to the great car that I have been using courtesy of Carolynn's mother while mine is being repaired and painted.
I had to buy a East link pass to visit Bridie last week so ended having to put the car description.
It is a 1999 Diahatsu Applause and has done 70,945 klms!!!!!

It is automatic and goes along really well.
But it reminds me of all the new features of cars that we take for granted.

1. No central locking. I need the key in the door (and the boot) to open it. It only opens the driver door so I need to reach in and flip the lock for the back seat.
Locking it took me a while to get in the swing. Push the lock down, hold the handle as I close the door,  (driver door) but the other doors you just push it closed (or it 'bounces' ) if you hold the handle with the button down.
2,Windows Remember when you would wind windows down? and doing the passenger one en route a real challenge! And no access to the back windows!

3. Mirrors It was only my last Toyota that had electronic mirrors. So adjusting the passenger side mirror was an adventure. You need a car or traffic lane beside you to know you have it at the right angle. So lean over,  adjust Sit up again (in driver seat); is it right? Lean over again..Maybe up a bit ? No too far! Can't see the car side (essential for parking) There that's it!

4. Car seats No problem but covered in sheepskin covers. Not had since my Mazda 323.

5. Speedo Not really sure what is different but the position of 60klm is at 11o'clock position, where 80 is on my car, so I would have to keep double checking. Yes its only 60!

6 Power steering Boy do we take this for granted! a 3 point turn or backing out of the garage is an upper arm workout! But it is automatic so don't need to keep another limb busy!

7. The Boot The car is actually a hatch (looks like a sedan ) The boot is heavy and needs strength to push it right up. However It took me 2 serious crunches on my head to remember the catch drops a good 10cms down, and not to lean in when standing at the middle of the back.

And the old Sun shades on the back

But it has been a godsend after the 2nd postponement of picking the car up. Dropped it off (a 3 week wait to book it in ) on 17th Feb (accident on 5th jan) and was due on 28th. Then the 11/3 now mid next week (no definite date given!) but this time they did ring me !
Thank you Carolynn!!