On the road again, again

On the road again but no caravan this time. We've been to Canberra, now we're in Sydney and tomorrow, we fly to Melbourne.

But before leaving, I had a desperate attempt at generating funds the easy way. I submitted this photo in an online competition to win $5000 for "I love my bathroom" with Reece, who were actually the suppliers for most of our bathroom which, we do love (blush). Here's the link  but you can't vote yet, I'll update when you can! http://www.reece.com.au/bathrooms/i-love-my-bathroom/submit

Reason for Canberra visit was to support Mae in her final round of chemotherapy. It has been a long hard six months of fortnightly doses - 12 in all. She has coped with fortitude and stoicism. Its been fairly horrible though. Mind you, she consistently makes the best of things so now she's saying it was not as bad as she feared. Not too bad at all, she says. Now the task ahead of her is to regain her stamina and strength and to re-learn how to live without dread.

These fingernails tell the story of the last six months. Can you see the ridges? One for each bout. Its no walk in the park, all this. 

We took Mae out on Friday, here we are at a cafe in Dickson.

Also visited Bev Hogg, ceramic artist at her studio (below), with a small scale model of her latest installation, featuring "kissing" galahs, which will each be 2 metres long head to tail.
http://www.craftact.org.au/portfolios/artist.php?id=286

Bev is a friend of Sally whose house renovation we also visited.

These ladies are wonderful ceramic chooks, based on Bev's own. We bought another magpie and also a couple of crested pigeons - one for Mae and Nick and one for us.

This Canberra visit we stayed with dear friends Anna and Frank who spoiled us with their cooking and their home produce and gave us lots of plants dug up out of their garden. Last night we also enjoyed the pleasure of a great meal in Ainslie at the home of Grant and Sarah (above centre, with mutual friend Christina).

Today we drove to Sydney and tonight we are with Linda (above) and Phil. So its been a wonderfully sociable few days. Tomorrow we get to play in Sydney all day. A visit to the Museum of Contemporary Art might be on the agenda. Its nice to be here without an to-do list of selecting or pricing or buying fixtures and fittings for the house.