Monday 29 December 2008

a wee excursion

I took no.1 son and the girls to the city today to see the "Monet & the Impressionists" exhibition at the New South Wales Art Gallery. I don't actually have any photos of the gallery itself, or of the paintings but I have a few snaps from the day.....



The view along Macquarie Street. I especially like the green domes on the Hospital.



A gratuitous shot of yours truly & progeny.



The fountain in Hyde Park.


more of Hyde Park, the figs are fantastically majestic, aren't they?



Centrepoint Tower



and the wonderful, gothic St Mary's Cathedral





16 comments:

  1. Kylie & Others,

    The cathedral, St Mary's Roman Catholic, pictured in this post is the one mentioned in Colleen McCulloch's First novel, The Thornbirds. Maybe some of your blog fans maybe be interested in this, what is really useless, info.

    It is not a long walk from there, probably within 10 minutes to the shores of Sydney harbour, whose proper geographical name is Port Jackson.

    Also , a stone's throw away from St Mary's Cathedral too, is the area and the hotel where Mary first met Crown Prince Frederick of Denmark, the man she later married, during the Time of the Sydney Olympic Games.

    Cheers and a great 2009 to all.

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  2. Hi Kylie!!!

    Looks like fun. Your progeny is bigger than you are. LOL!

    I just wanted to come visit your blog because I have been a looser and never visited before. I'm glad I did. I will visit more often. Really! I WILL!!!

    XO
    RC

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  3. This is great, Kylie. Your son is so handsome. And did you call those trees "figs" as in fig trees? On which grow figs? They're enormous and beautiful.

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  4. Hey Kyles,
    It's called Sydney Tower now.

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  5. dad,
    thought i was gonna have to ask you what building it was with the domes but guess what? i thiught it was the hospital and it was.

    do you remember picking me up from there, blathering in my drug induced self pity about getting my leg cut off? and that nurse calling dimples "wing nut" ?

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  6. random,
    you mean that my fabulously witty comments elsewhere never compelled you to get over here and check me out?
    poor girl, you cant help it!

    i didnt realise my boy was THAT much taller than me until i saw that photo

    youre welcome here, come back soon!

    k

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  7. leah,
    i've just been checking out the figs on wiki.
    this one is either a port jackson fig, which i had it pegged as, or a moreton bay fig, which i now believe it to be.
    both are indigenous to the east coast of aust. although the ranges differ and there are some differences in taxonomy etc (logical, or else there'd be only one species!)
    they are indeed of the genus ficus and the fruit is apparently edible, though pretty unattractive.

    the fruit is very popular with the fruit "bats" ( actually marsupial flying foxes)
    they come to the figs in the parks in the CBD but while there they cause immense damage in the botanic gardens. there is an ongoing debate as to what to do about it, or in fact whether anything should be done.....

    that was a long comment. my love of biology and sydney combined to make me unstoppable!

    cheers
    k

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  8. hey na!
    how long has it been syney tower? 15 years i guess.
    i'll try to consign that one to the waste along with VDU.....

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  9. What a fantastic city, and with such amazing buildings. I am once again inspired to come visit you and watch your son play basketball. Is he really that tall?

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  10. hey bri,
    would love to see you!

    liam was measured at 180 cm just this week, is that six foot in the old money?

    he's never played basketball, though. soccer is his great love

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  11. Kylie,

    Yes I remember all that stuff one memorable day when Dimples was dubbed "wingnut". However Mr Qantas, I think, actually first heard the comment as did his mate S. Pass-----.
    Accidentally noticed a new post code today 3812 in Vic The place name Nar Nar Goon! Yes true!

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  12. Hey there beautiful friend,

    Just wanted to wish you and yours a new year filled with peace and Gods richest blessings,

    You are a light of courage and love,

    Lotsa love,

    MY3

    PS awesome pics... how tall is number one son! ;)

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  13. hey there my3
    wow! a light of courage & love?
    i'll treasure that one :)

    i hope your 2009 is a wonderful year, full of joy

    love
    k

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  14. I'm late, but technically not. I saw this when it was first posted and I would have been #1, but didn't have time to comment. I LOVED the photo of you and your son and came back to tell you so. You look so beautiful (great outfit!) and your son is so handsome, and TALL! That really is a terrific photo.

    Now that I'm back I see Dad posted first! Yippie because he made my day. Ahhhhhhhh The Thorn Birds. I still have my sister's original copy from 1977 (she was in 10th grade and I had just graduated high school). Laur (the bookworm) read it first and said "Suzy you MUST read this book." I did and I MUST say we were two of the happiest young woman on this planet!!!! We were so in love with Father de Bricassart and so tormented. Over 3 decades later, I don't think that's changed. I often get the book down from the shelf just to feel it. Oh it's a wreck! It's been well loved, so the dust jacket is torn and missing pieces, the book itself is a bit battered, but it's one of the most gorgeous books in my library and a real treasure.

    The book begins with:
    There is a legend about a bird which sings just once in its life, more sweetly than any other creature on the face of the earth. From the moment it leaves the nest it searches for a thorn tree, and does not rest until it has found one. Then, singing among the savage branches, it impales itself upon the longest, sharpest spine. And, dying, it rises above its own agony to out-carol the lark and the nightingale. One superlative song, existence the price. But the whole world still to listen, and God in His heaven smiles. For the best is only bought at the cost of great pain. ...Or so says the legend.

    Thank you for the tour of your absolutely beautiful city, and Dad, thanks for the history lesson. Lovely all the way around. See, it's wasn't useless info!

    Love you Kylie

    Cheers and a great 2009 to all of you as well!

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