Today I caught up with my lovely Aunty Cheryl to view the Picasso exhibition in Brisbane and for lunch. This is the first time the exhibition has been held outside of Europe. We arrived at 10am when the gallery opened and were surprised at how quickly the exhibition filled up and was extremely busy the whole time we were there.

‘I am interested in expressing the metamorphoses of forms into new bodies, from the furtherest origins of the world up until my time.’
Picasso

I really liked Picasso’s ‘Paysage de Juan-les-Pins’ (Landscape at Juan-les-Pins)1920. Oil on Canvas. ‘…this scene seems infused with an impression of happiness.’
I find the bright colours and abstract effect visually pleasing and even inline with today’s current design trends.

The exhibition features over 100 works from Picasso’s extraordinary collection plus more than 80 important works by the artist himself. A range of documentary photographs also feature.

‘Picasso & his collection’ includes paintings, drawings and prints by artists such as Chardin, Matisse, Renoir, Cézanne, Rousseau, Miró, Modigliani and Braque, as well as an extraordinary selection of Oceanic and African works. …… Picasso’s collection was donated by his family to the French state after his death in 1973, and is now held by the musée national Picasso in Paris. An exhibition of Picasso’s collection has only ever previously been mounted in Paris, Munich and Barcelona.

Queensland Gallery of Modern Art

Well it was an early start to pick up the visiting family to head out for a spot of whale watching and we were blessed with an amazing day for it! I’d conducted some research and found that’s Awesome looked like the craft to suit my needs; discount for locals, 3 hour trip, low numbers, up close viewing, maximum speed 50knots(100km per hour) and 4 x 300ph 4 stroke motors making that’s Awesome the fastest whale watch boat in the world!

I was up the front with my Aunty Gaye and cousins Stephen and Cheryl from Tasmania and we were all impressed with the 30min trip sitting on 30knots and instant spotting of whales that were within five metres of the boat on arrival! Once I was over the initial shock of their size and close proximity I got down to some serious photo snapping.

I was impressed with our skipper Sarah Perry who is 21 and the youngest female skipper in Queensland and the only woman driver in Hervey Bay (Kinda makes you feel safer with a lady behind the wheel!). I was even more impressed when we returned back near the harbour, opened up the throttle and did some figure of eights and donuts!!! After we finished squealing my aunty stated ‘That’s Awesome”, I replied yes that is the name of the vessel!  

  
Then it was a delicious lunch with the family who are always up for a get together and way too much dessert! We did three plus three candles to strategically create my age.

I was going to step out to Hoolihan’s my favourite restaurant for dinner and my free birthday meal but feel alittle tired and think I will stay in and watch Sixty Minutes on the plasma instead….OMG I am getting old! 

 

4 Feb 1916 – 2 Sept 2008

Dear Grandpa,

I have just had word that your life has ended after spending several hours with you today. I am so terribly sad as you were my best friend. My soul feels raw and I felt the need to write.

Thank you for being so inspirational, kind, loving and proud of me. I am so proud and blessed to have had you in my life. You always led by example, were an Aussie through and through and protected our country in World War II.

You taught me so much especially that integrity, personal honour and the simple things in life are really what counts. You had worldly knowledge that I enjoyed conversing on and were an extremely hard worker. Your love for all members of your family was real and visible.

I could not be prouder or more blessed to have such an honourable and loving man as you in my life and as my grandpa.

I love you so much, thank you and will miss you enormously…..

Your loving grand daughter

Jeanette xxx

Ps. I’ll keep my promise not to drag the cops off through the cane fields on the motorbike like you used to! Gee we had some laughs over that!

STYLE was the name of the game in Brisbane yesterday, as more than 30,000 Queenslanders stepped out to enjoy the Exhibition Day races as reported by the Courier Mail .
(p.12,Thursday the 14^th and p19. Monday 25^th  August 2008).

But it took a special someone to pull off Eagle Farm Racecourse’s prize-winning look.

As the only guy competing in the event, civil engineer Stephen Challenger, 21, of Beachmere, north of Brisbane, had his work cut out.

Fortunately, his op shop buys, including $3 jacket and waistcoat for $1.50, stood him in good stead.

Mr Challenger, who also chose a pair of beige slacks and snakeskin shoes, impressed the judges so much they awarded him third place.

“I was trying to create that awesome-guy look that you see on the catwalks,” he said. “I don’t think you have to spend a lot on your clothes to look stylish.”

Congratulations Steve, third is the new first! You are always one Sharp Dressed Man!!!! Love Net 

Today I attended the Star of the Sea, Catholic School in Hervey Bay’s, Silver Jubilee (1984-2008). A time capsule that was buried 25 years ago was dug up and the historic contents put on display. As I was a pioneer student of the school in Grade 4, I was pictured in the first ever school photo that was among the buried treasures.

This picture of me was taken in April 1984 and published in the local newspaper when the school was officially opened by his grace the Archbishop Francis Roberts Rush from Brisbane. My grandmother and father are pictured in the background of the photograph. 

The new child care centre an extension of the school was officially opened today and the local politicians were out in force with Andrew McNamara MP, Paul Neville MP and Fraser Coast Mayor Mick Kruger all present.

I enjoyed a delicious steak sandwich with my parents and purchased promotional stubbie coolers as a momentum of the occasion. My parents also brought a Recipe book that the Grade five students had put together that was really well done.

My father was employed as a groundsman at one stage for the school and was involved in several Saturday working bees when I was attending the school.

We stopped to get a photo next to one of the original targets Dad painted on the wall for the students, and by the chalk marks on it today,
it looks like it is still a hit at lunch times!

I also caught up with Andrew McNamara MP on the oval where there was a lot of activity and plenty of people.

The school is probably five times bigger than it was when I attended and it’s great to see all the new shade structures for the children.

Luke Garrett Maynes
23.12.1974 - 16.11.2007
‘My Cousin and Best Mate’
 
Dear Luke,
 
I have been blessed to share 32 amazing, precious and hilarious years with you as my mate.
 
I feel honored to be your cousin and for the opportunity to enjoy and experience your humor, wit, honesty, kindness, optimism and love of life (especially fishing).
 
Your bravery, strength and willpower was incredible, courageous and inspirational as you faced you biggest journey (stomach cancer).
 
Thank you for always cutting it up on the dance floor with me, we certainly knew how to draw a crowd and have a laugh!
 
Thank you for your constant love and support!
Thank you for being a huge part of my life!
Lukie I will miss you forever…
but I will forget you never!
 
Love Always your cousin Netta
xoxox