The National Museum of Australia

The National Museum in Canberra preserves and interprets Australia’s social history, exploring the key issues, people and events that have shaped the nation.

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As designed by architect Howard Raggatt (design architect and design director for the project), the museum building is based on a theme of knotted ropes, symbolically bringing together the stories of Australians. The architects stated:

“We liked to think that the story of Australia was not one, but many tangled together. Not an authorized version but a puzzling confluence; not merely the resolution of difference but its wholehearted embrace.”

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The building is meant to be the centre of a knot, with trailing ropes or strips extending from the building. [source of information from Wikipedia]

The design is not everybody’s ‘cup of tea’, but I love it! And on a rainy day it is the perfect place to spend a few hours inside where there is a rather good café with a view of Lake Burley Griffin from the terrace.

Hills Road Walk

I have still got a few posts left in me about my travels at the end of last year – feels odd writing that as I haven’t yet acclimatised to being back in the UK. I keep expecting to see my grandson having breakfast, or being able to go for a walk along a beach. Sigh!

One reason for visiting New Zealand was to meet my son’s partner’s family and in particular, her parents who live in the delightful surfing town of Raglan on the black sands of the west coast of the South Island, about 2 hours south of Auckland. This is the Waikato region; a landscape formed by volcanoes creating a lush, fertile green pastoral heaven. It is no wonder that Peter Jackson picked this region for the home of the Hobbits (Matamata).

Raglan is overlooked by Mount Karioi in the Pirongia forest park, an extinct volcano. Although it would have been amazing to trek into the forest and among the Podocarps, such as rimu and totara which are found at lower altitudes, along with tawa and tree-ferns, the weather was against us, being too wet a lot of the time. I did manage a short walk along Hills Road, where the ‘in-laws’ live, with views towards Mount Karioi and Whaingaroa Harbour. Join me on this walk and enjoy the wonderful views all around in this picturesque part of the country.

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Mount Karioi in the background
Whaingaroa Harbour
Tui Bird
Wild flowers
Whaingaroa Harbour
Wild Daisies
Wild Daisies
Hills Rd
Hills Rd
Wild flowers
Hills Rd
Dairy Cattle
Daisies
Unusual mailbox

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If you enjoy a walk, short or long, then you may enjoy visiting Jo’s Monday Walk where you are in for a treat.

Bench series #1

For some time now I have been photographing benches when I come across them. I like benches. I especially like them when they are placed in a convenient position, like half way up a hill, or on the top of a cliff, preferably with a view. Some benches have plaques, some have slats, some are made of wood, some are good (to sit on). So for the next year, as a new feature, I am going to post a photo of a bench/seat each week. So you can take the weight of your feet and relax and breathe…

This one comes with a lovely view of the garden.

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Lutyens Seat in Abbotsbury Sub-tropical Garden (Dorset)

Happy New Year 2015

Thanks to all my followers and virtual blogging friends for visiting my blog this year and liking and/or commenting so often. It has been a delight to get to know you and visit your blogs and I have enjoyed your company. It is this community spirit that makes blogging so worth while and I hope to see many of you in the New Year 🙂

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I was lucky enough to meet two blogging friends this year in Australia which was so exciting! Thank you M-R for your delightful and interesting company and the lunch/brunch and thank you dear Meg for your hospitality in the south.  A most enchanting region and one I hope to return to some day. It felt as though I was meeting up with old (OK less of the old) friends.

I shall leave you this year with a collage of some of my favourite photos from New Zealand, a country I have wanted to visit for a very long time and finally did! And of course, my youngest grandson, Lorenzo, who was my raison d’être for visiting the Antipodes.

Happy New Year everyone, wishing you many happy, safe travels in 2015!