But wait, there's more!

And here's Peter's winning finalist entries in the previous Churchie's, I Lean (2008) and Fish Lane (2006) - you might recognise Fish Lane cafe at West End and I Lean was taken during kerbside pick-up at New Farm!

FLUID is a Finalist!

CONGRATULATIONS Peter Hardie!!

What wonderful news, my brother, a brilliant photographer is one of the finalists in this year’s National emerging art award The Churchie Emerging Art competition! CONGRATULATIONS Peter! He is one of the 98 finalists (including painters, photographers, sculptors, filmmakers) selected from 850 submissions. His entry 'FLUID' is pictured above, and in his own words:

“The shot was taken at the exit stairway to the Sistine Chapel complex in Rome late last year. I had already packed my camera gear away, thinking there would be nothing else to photograph, and then these stairs appeared. The action of visitors leaving down these stairs reminded me of fluid running down a sink plughole. It caught everyone’s attention as they exited the complex”.

This is his 3rd time as a finalist in the Churchie in 4 years! GO PETER! Winners are announced at a gala cocktail evening on Friday 29th May, for more details visit: www.churchieemergingart.com and for more wonderful photography by Peter Hardie, see: http://www.pbase.com/pshardie and stay tuned for more of his stunning pics on my blog, coming soon! One of my favourites is his pic of the flippers! 

Cherished moments, Friendship, and Ice-cream

Isn’t it wonderful, I never got to see the film last night! J My girlfriend and I met up beforehand for a glass of wine and tapas at the lovely breezy spot where all the cruise ships dock, and we got onto our very favourite topic “Paris” and travels, and time slipped away and the film was completely forgotten. How I cherish such moments, nothing quite beats girlie chats after a busy working day. The film can wait! We have known each other since kindergarten days, so there’s always a lot to ‘workshop’! Naturally we couldn’t beat finishing off the night by taking home some delicious chocolate and crème brulee gelati! We are both lucky enough to be visiting Paris later in the year, so I was reminded of my absolutely favourite ice cream shop on Ile St Louis, the little island in the centre of Paris behind Notre Dame. The queues for their delish flavours, even in the depth of winter, extend far down the little cobbled street, but the dark chocolate (chocolat noir) and mango (mangue) flavours are my favourites. To sit and slurp one of these while 17^th century gargoyles look down menacingly from ancient buildings above, artistic performers busk on the bridge opposite, and chic Parisians rush past on their way to some fabulous long luncheon appointment, is to truly feel romantically ‘frozen’ in an era gone by. As one of my favourite authors and artists ‘Sark’ philosophises: Life is all about seeking out and exploring pleasure, lightly scooping it up and ultimately, getting lost in it.. “Let’s magnify our pleasures together, no matter what else is happening in our lives” (from her book Eat Mangoes Naked by Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy) see www.planetsark.com for more of her amazing inspirational and uplifting musings and drawings.

Some time in the distant future I will visit the Ile Saint Louis ice cream café every week for a year (when I run away to France) J I do so already in my daydreams!

If, like me, you plan to run away to France at some stage in your life too, be sure to read the entertaining article published on the www.holidaygoddess.com website written by Jane de Teliga. Many of my favourite books by Aussie authors living in the City of Lights cover the subject too: like A Town Like Paris by Bryce Corbett; The Accidental Renovator by Barbara Biggs and the stunningly beautiful At My French Table by chef extraordinaire Jane Webster.

Tell me what you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? (Mary Oliver, poet, 1935 - )

My First Time!

Well how exciting is this, my first time 'blogging' :-) Welcome to my blog, I hope to create lots interest in the arts and travel and following your creative passions. I will officially start my blog tomorrow as I am dashing off to follow one of my passions now - film - I am off to see a new Australian film with a friend called Closed for Winter - I'll let you know what I think of it!