I love collecting books. Not kindle type reads for me but the joy of holding the book, feeling its weight, touching the smooth paper and the rhythmic turning of pages. Hard covers are a delight  and immediately give the book a presence. As my hands stiffen with age and cold…

In retreat from single digit temperatures, a leaking toilet and an ever-increasing to-do list, I decided to head to Brisbane for a few days to catch up with friends and a city of sunshine. With no big expectations in my luggage I just want times shared, good walking weather and…

Sometimes there are things to see in your own back – yard. In the spirit of “ explore something new every day,” I cheated a bit when I revisited the Convent Gallery, a 10 minute walk from my home. In all fairness I hadn’t been there for many years so…

Have you read any of Armistead Maupin’s books such as Mary Ann in Autumn (2010) or  The Days of Anna Madrigal (2014)? ? Have you watched the Tales of the City miniseries on Netflix? It’s the story of a young and naive Mary Ann arriving in San Francisco and taking up…

What does beauty look like? What makes a good photograph? How do you respond to the idea of a classical beauty, a model quality? With a focus on women (and men) and beauty this week,  how do we bring together ageing and concepts of beauty? Attractiveness?- is this  beauty- who…

Some weeks ago a local gallery was closing its doors and I decided to visit its final sale of artworks. A very stylish woman, probably in her mid 50’s  was loading her car with  paintings and sculptures, lots of them.  As she headed into the gallery to pay for her…

ICONIC is a big word but some photographs in particular, saturate the consciousness. They give memory to a time in history, a person of fame, an indelible image that stays with us long after our eyes have left the photograph. All art has that power if it is good art…

As a tourist, how long does it take you to “know” a city? Seeing the main tourist attractions is one thing but getting a “vibe” of the unique character of the city may take much longer. Is it possible to get to know a city in a week or a…

It was raining again yesterday. And cold. The adolescent self wanted some new entertainment only found in big cities and preferably in the northern hemisphere. Call it “post -travel- you’re home again blues” but this kid needs a diversion. My seniors card in hand and rugged up against the elements…