A Weekend in Canberra

It was raining in Brisbane when we caught our 8.30am flight to Canberra; it was an early start from home. We shared a bag and also took 10kg of meat with us as part of an exercise being presented at the conference.

Driving in from the airport to the city didn't give a very good first impression; I found it all quite drab and uninspiring. However, once I got out walking, my opinion soon changed.

After a lunch of "Black Pig" pork chop on the bone I walked into the city and wandered about. I emailed a friend I haven't seen for maybe 15 years and told him I was in the vicinity. He came and met me and we caught up on each others' lives for half an hour. He was a good friend of mine at school. He was one of the boys who had come across from the Christian Brothers College to the local State High School to complete their Senior schooling. The College only went to Grade 10. Years later he told us how terrified they all were that first morning, standing outside the school, too scared to come inside. They'd never been to school with girls before; I think they thought we'd eat them before the day was out. They all quickly became great mates of ours and they came to realize that girls weren't so bad after all. He was also a good friend when we all lived in Brisbane in the early 80's and he recalls some wild nights at "Greenbank" where I grew up.

The Friday evening cocktail party was the regular show. No spirits and not enough food. They should put me in charge of Friday night menu. At least we'd all get something to eat. I socialized for as long as I needed to, to be polite then left.

It just so happened that the month long spring festival, Floriade, was on while we were there. I spent Saturday morning there and thoroughly enjoyed it. It deserves a separate post which will come later. Canberra must have known we were coming because, at the risk of sounding totally over the top, Saturday would have had to have been one of the most magnificent days (weather wise) that I have ever experienced! It was THE perfect day.

From Floriade I walked. And walked. And walked. Very strong calf muscles I have; skinny, but strong.

I walked across the bridge and up to Old Parliament House, saw the Aboriginal Tent City and the sacred flame, then on to New Parliament House.

It was Open Day (first time in two years). I was blown away by the central hall area and the fabulous tapestry based on an Arthur Boyd painting; I walked into the House of Reps and saw where all the shouting happens; I spoke to a very nice lady who works in the chamber and asked how I could get a job as an "Attendant"- (I'd like to do that for a while); I took a tour into the Senate and in behind to the President's rooms; I took a lift to the roof and wandered on the grass that covers the building; I went back to the foyer and just sucked in the atmosphere. I so enjoyed the visit, it's something every Australian should do, as a child and as an adult.

I made my way back to the hotel and had a little nap before going to the dinner. Each year an auction is held to raise money for the RFDS. This year yielded $14,045! Items included two boxes of highly marbled AAco meat (six steaks to a box). One went for $3,000, the other for $2,700!!! Other items were UQ DNA tests, 2 x AAco wagyu semen packs, a truffle and dinners at Cha Cha Char in Brisbane and Darwin.

Sunday started off foggy and misty but cleared into another brilliant day.

I walked to the Old Bus Depot Markets and the Glass Factory.

Walking back around the lake I came across a group of men racing miniature sailing boats amongst a group of swans. I sat on a tree stump for a while and just marveled at the scene before me - the boats, the swans, a picture perfect lake, a man feeding magpies, people walking and riding, a crystal clear day - there couldn't have been a better advertisement for life in Canberra.

 

 

I walked back around the other side of the lake, past Blundell's Cottage, through Floriade and back to Rydges where I had lunch at the conclusion of the conference.

Gibbo and I then went to the airport, picked up a hire car and drove four hours west to Griffith. We went to inspect the cattle that he bought to put on feed in the South. We had dinner with the family then went back on Monday for the tour of the 50,000 acre facility. I can't believe I didn't take my camera out there; I never go anywhere without my camera - except for this time. I was so disappointed. I didn't realize until we got there that the property is on the banks of the great Murrumbidgee River. It was wonderful to stand close and watch the water swirl with a fresh caused by recent rain. I grew up on the banks of the Condamine (slightly smaller but still a river nonetheless) - it brought back a wonderful feeling for me. The other reason I wish I'd had the camera was to catch the vivid colour of the canola crops at the property and on the highway during the journey. It's impossible to describe the absolute yellowness of the plant and the way it colours the landscape so beautifully.

We caught the 5.15pm flight to Brisbane and made it home to the feedlot at 11pm. On the road
home, not far from Gatton McD's a truck had turned onto the wrong side of the highway and headed eastbound in the westbound lanes. A little disconcerting.

The kids were still up when we got home - they'd had a good weekend. Meg had 7 friends from Uni days out for a farm visit. Drew worked at Mary's Friday night and at the Careflight dinner on Sat night. He got home at 3am (after driving one of his teachers home safely!).

Tuesday saw us entertain a South African client (wagyu semen) who just happened to meet an old friend of ours in SA a few months ago. They got talking about wagyu, our friend told him what we do; he worked out that he'd bought semen off us; he came over to the conference; long story short - he/they both ended up here for a flying visit on Tuesday.

Gibbo was supposed to go north on Wed but the trip was rained off; he went to Surat today to catch up on things out there. He might re-schedule the northern trip for next week although he and Chris are supposed to meet Dave at Awoonga Dam late next week to chase barra.

The vege garden is growing, growing with all the rain. The pumpkins, zucchini and cucumber are coming along nicely. The kids made a salad on the weekend entirely from garden produce to go with the wagyu steaks and potato bake. They just added some bocconcini and olives. We ate the first carrots last night - they were strangely shaped but at least these ones grew - and were very tasty.

I need to get into the house garden this weekend; Meg is off to Brisbane, Drew has work and two 18th birthdays parties to attend and Gibbo has six-a-side cricket on Sunday. Next week Drew is part of a crew filming a segment for a safe driving documentary that will be presented to all the local Grade 12 kids during the last week of school.