A couple of pics from our weekend at Port Stephens. You can’t believe how big those pelicans are! We were too intimidated to try and get close enough to touch one or even be in the same pic.

My friends (Brett and Nicole – celebrated childrens book author!) little girl (Daniella) wearing the first baby hat I have ever made. I designed it myself as you can tell by the way it is too small and doesn’t cover her ears properly!!!I see however that the hat is completely upstaged by those big beautiful eyes!!!I see however that the hat is completely upstaged by those big beautiful eyes!!!

I used to play the piano when I was a teenager and loved it. But for the last 12 years I haven’t lived somewhere where I could have a piano without disturbing neighbours.

While I was in Paris, Nicolas inspired me and I went back to Australia determined to buy my self a good electric piano that I can play with headphones on. Making mistakes as often as I like and frustrating only myself! (As a testament to Jason, he told me to buy one 10 years ago, but it has taken me this long and good reviews from a friend of mine to get over my snobishness about it) . Now that I have it, I am so happy! Playing it 1-2 hours a day (sometimes when I should be working).

Oh, I forgot to mention…. It doesn’t exactly fit into our apartment… Thank you Ed for not minding it practically blocking the entrance to our flat. (Lucky he seems content enough so long as he can experiment with all the different sounds and instruments)

a piece of glass we found.

Rome has been wonderful. Not the least because Rachael is so funny and makes me laugh and laugh. We have been walking the streets, cycling through the Borghese gardens (which are the same size as the old city of Rome!) eating and generally finding the entertainment of any place or situation. There are a few things that stand out as unique here

First and most obvious

1) BIG COLUMNS (this is the Pantheon which has 16, 14 meter columns made of Egyptian granite)

and this below a picture of the 1st century column in the middle of our apartment which was preserved when it the building was built in the 14th century. This column used to be part of the huge building where people went to vote.

It is very funny as the room is very small! and this gigantic Egyptian granite column is in the middle of it.

2) fashion stores for priests. It never occurred to me that they would have to go to a store to buy their garments. I guess I never thought about it very much!

 3) Skinny streets   – which somehow still manage to house hundreds of scooters, pedestrians and 2 way traffic.