Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Things Australian

New Zealand's population "as at Sunday, 20 July 2008 at 7:48:12 pm" is 4,269,722, (see here for the latest,) while over in Australia, "on 20 July 2008 at 17:50:29 (Canberra time), the resident population of Australia is projected to be" 21,368,996, (here) and considering we are two hours ahead of them, this is darned close to the same moment. The city of Sydney is supposed to have a little over 4.25 million, and the State of Queensland a few families short of that. From memory, Australia's area is about the same as the 48 continental American.

What I'm trying to say is that it's a much bigger country and therefore they do some things very well. I'm noticing an influx of eminently desirable Australian books in our shops in the last couple of years; beautifully prepared picture books on cooking, arts, craft, style/decor, you name it. I also mentioned Craft Arts International before. At the annual textile conference I sometimes go to, young curators from National Gallery of Victoria present papers, and I, as well as some senior Kiwi curators, am/are always flabbergasted with the scale of things over there.

So I've been thinking, with making a few new Aussie weaver friends here and all, I'd love to have a jump-skip over to the big West Island (that's what one of our popular post card calls Oz). But the best time might be right now: NGV is having a fabulous Art Deco exhibition until October. The building in which NGV is housed is worth a look itself, and the museum shop is... well, everything you'd expect from a museum shop!

Alas, we have to replace the woodburner this year, so no trip to Melbourne; not even a trip to Wellington to see Rita. And then another thing, I've never been to New York, or New England, and I've only been to Canada for 3 minutes illegally while the Immigration guys in Minnesota watched our car, and I've only been to continental Europe for 2 days, in Amsterdam. Heck, I've never even been to Masterton!

OK, I'm going downstairs now.

7 comments:

  1. That's okay, I went to Spain when I was 14 for 2 weeks and lived in NYC and Miami. Have visited North and South Carolina, but never been to DC, Niagra Falls or Las Vegas. I haven't even been to LA, which are all in the same damn country. So can I join you downstairs, hehe..

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  2. Yeah, and I used to think it was just a matter of money and time, but now I definitely feel the carbon-footprint-associated guilt, in addition, living all the way down here, Deep End.


    My basement, on the other hand, I can get down to on my own steam, and it probably burns two or three calories of mine!

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  3. Honey, I don't live near Melbourne- but I have a comfy sofa bed and a new 4 shaft floor loom that I have no idea how to use. Come on over ANYTIME. (seriously).

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  4. Oh Meg, we are a big country but don't forget our 21 million people all live around the edges, and most of Australia is almost empty. A shame you can't visit the NGV but neither can I at the moment, even though you did have that nice dream about me driving down to the Art Deco exhibition. (And no, I don't have a car.) The distances are a problem and so are air fares, but later this year I'm going to do some exploring of country towns (in someone else's car). I'm really looking forward to that.

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  5. Oh, you're such a dear, Taueret! and I know you have tons of books! Some day, I will cross these waters and knock on your door. Don't go cleaning your bookshelves or work space before then.

    Carol, it WAS a nice dream. Oh well, I hope someone gets to Melbourne!!

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  6. Oh, I do so love the NGV! I spent many happy afternoons wandering around it when we lived in Melbourne. The wall of water at the entrance is amazing.

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  7. The only time I was there, I think in 2000, they were redoing the facade and so the entire front section was closed, but we got to see the Dead Sea Scrolls, as well as a McCahon.

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