mcmxlvii

I bought a book the other day published in mcmxlvii

I had to look it up online .... had forgotton that when smaller values precede larger values, the smaller values are subtracted from the larger values...
i = 1, v = 5, x = 10, l = 50, c = 100, d = 500, m  = 1000

Seagulls brace against the wind

'Blow away the cobwebs,' I thought. 'Walk on the beach!'

Umina Beach, 25 May at 16:30

It was 4:30 in the afternoon, the sun had already disappeared over the hill to the west and the wind made even the seagulls look cold. My walk was a short one.

Thoughts ...

A thought posted yesterday by the Dalai Lama:
Every morning when I wake up, I dedicate myself to helping others to find peace of mind. Then, when I meet people, I think of them as long term friends; I don't regard others as strangers.  Dalai Lama

... and a thought from Bertold Brecht in 1930:

Don't be afraid of death so much as an inadequate life.
Die Mutter (1930)

The fairy Angylion

The Fairy Angylion

She has her wings spread but her feet planted firmly on the floor
Watchful, waiting to play a fairy trick
And burst into delighted giggles.
Sophia Angylion, special fairy.

My train companion

People often sit in the train from Sydney with their baggage beside them instead of on the floor. As the train fills up the bags get shifted, as mine did yesterday when an elderly fellow sat down beside me. He looked (and smelled) like a street person and as soon as the train started he began to talk. The young girls across the aisle glanced over at me with commiserating looks but we had not gone very far before I discovered my companion was both intelligent and companionable.
My companion talked about his two wives, his life as a country rep, his four daughters. I even learned the part numbers of various car components.  He would be good at winning quiz games I told him and he said that he sometimes gets up to a million dollars on Who wants to be a Millionaire "But they can't hear me even when I yell at the television!"
Now and again he said, "I have to talk to keep myself awake you know and when we get to Woy Woy I will stand in the gangway so I don't miss the Gosford stop."
I eventually asked him how old he was.
He said, "I am a 1930 model" then looked me square in the eye and guessed exactly the year I was born.
I was surprised and he said "Oh I am never out by more than a year!"
He said he volunteered at the local op shop. He didn't say he was lonely, but I could feel it and I asked when his second wife had died. 
"Three years ago," he said softly and sadly. "I really loved my second wife."
Then he said "You know I need to get a co-habitor again don't I? I like talking to someone intelligent. I hate being bored"
"Oh nowadays you don't need to cohabit," I responded. "You can live in different places and still be companions."
""Oh no," he said. "I don't like sleeping in a cold bed."
The trip seemed short and we were soon at Woy Woy station. I stood to get out and he stood to wait in the gangway, backing into a corner in a shy sort of way. I nodded my goodbyes.
I doubt I shall never see him again, but I think I will remember him for a long time. It takes courage to live on.

Waves at Avoca Beach

The sea turns quickly. On Sunday the sea was flat calm but 24 hours later there was a raging surf. At Avoca huge waves were breaking in the rocks and salt spray obscured the view.

Waves at Avoca Beach, NSW

Short days on the Hawkesbury

The days are getting short and mid afternoon feels more like evening on cloudy days. This photo was taken about 3pm from the railway bridge over the Hawkesbury River about a week ago.

Hawkesbury River in May

At 5:15pm today I tried to snap a picture in the same spot .... but it was too dark and all I got was the reflection in the window.

The Hawkesbury River is outside there somewhere

Matt

This is Matt. He wrote the play 'Boo' that is on until 14 May at the King Street Theatre. I saw it last week and it is fun. Go along if you are in Sydney - its worth seeing!

Coffeeshop Counselling II

As I sat there painting he talked and she listened. He talked and talked. She listened and occassionally made a suggestion or asked a question.

Then they left.

I hoped he had sorted out his issue. She seemed like a nice friend to have in times of need.

Rata

In front of the old government buildings in Wellington, New Zealand, there are some magnificent Rata trees with the most stunning flowers. They look so healthy, every leaf perfect. They are a credit to the gardeners.

Rata flowers

This photo was taken in February, 2012. In July I will be in Wellington again and I will have a look to see how this tree looks in winter.

Watercolour class

The Umina watercolour class has been fun. We had our last session this week and now there will be a gap until spring when the days are longer and 7pm doesn't feel like the middle of the night.

Vase of Azaleas and an Apple
(watercolour and ink)

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King Street Theatre ... knockout opening!

It was a knockout opening. The King Street Theatre opened last night after long rennovations and the assembled guests couldn't believe their eyes. I couldn't believe my eyes either. In the morning I had been there to help hang my paintings but when I left there were still carpenters and lighting people on ladders, a man laying carpets and mess everywhere. By 6pm the place had been miraculously transformed.

Twelve noon on opening day

6pm on opening night

When the guests arrived at 6:30 the show began. A pianist played, a singer sang, Sylvia performed a wonderful one-person piece about selling wine and the guests watched entranced.

Gifted pianist and singer entertain

Sylvia performs

Guests are entranced

About 10pm when most of the guests had gone, Mel sang a thank you song for Markus who sat with his arm around his daughter and tears in his eyes. The pianist read the notes from his ipod!

Markus and daughter

Mel sings

Then Maria and a friend sang Summertime.

Singing Summertime

One of the guests said, "This is So New York!"
I thought "and so Berlin, and so special."

Last minute drama

I dropped in to the theatre today to see how the paintings were hung and found the place crawling with electricians putting in lighting and plugs. There were also painters giving the final coat of paint to the bathrooms, actors rehearsing and the Intendant wringing his hands because the seats need to be installed before this weekend's performances.
The paintings were still in a row on the floor!

One Direction

One Direction T shirt with figures by my friend Ruby. (If you are into One Direction and you like this shirt there is a link under the picture to the sales site.)

I Love Zayn, Niall, Louis, Liam, Harry T shirt by kookykids

King Street Theatre ready to fly

The King Street Theatre has had a major revamp and is almost ready for opening night.

new paint - new lights - new vibe

The new paint finishes are ready, the actors are rehearsing their new play and paintings for the first exhibition are stacked against the wall.

paintings awaiting hanging

If you want a little taste of what will be on the walls - have a look here. I will post a picture when they are hung.

Strelitzia

Strelitzia flowers are so fantastical that they can easily overtake a canvas, which they did on my first attempt to paint them.  I gessoed over the result and tried again and this time they were better behaved.

Strelitzia

An enormous Strelitzia

At my front door there is an enormous Strelitzia plant that should be dug out, or at least divided.

Digging up and/or dividing would take a lot of muscle and would probably be best done in winter. While I wait and contemplate how it could be done I paint.

Ruhig atmen

Love this picture taken at a German opera house. This is what the singers see before the curtain rises.  Translation: Breath calmly, take a deep breath, don't stress!

Curtain (from a Facebook friend's page)

There is a lot more to singing than meets the eye.

Rumbalara Reserve

If you drive up, up, up Dolly Avenue in the Gosford suburb of Springfield, then on into the Rumbalara Reserve the narrow road leads to picnic spots with spectacular views across Gosford and the Brisbane Waters.

Watercolour: view over Gosford from the Yaruga Lookout

View over Gosfotrd from Rumbalara Reserve

Sometimes a painting can say more than a photograph.

Dawn

The days are getting shorter and daylight saving has finished. Sunrise is just after 6 am.

Sun rise last Thursday at Umina Beach

Standing on the table looking out to sea

This is what they are looking at.

The car park was full even at 6am last Thursday as surfers gathered to try their Easter luck. Next year the surf life saving  championships are being held at Umina Beach, a much safer beach than the Gold Coast which has claimed several lives over the last couple of years.