Bush Regen

It started in 1999 for me, pregnant with Alex I went to the National Trust Bush Care Techniques Workshop at Mowbray Park. Then I joined my first Bush Care group in Castle Cove at the oval and learnt about what it takes to volunteer in a team. I met Dick Smith's mother who brought lovely morning teas each month and made jokes about her son and his childhood to us, I made friends with people who loved the bush and connected with them. And so to Castlecrag, finally living in bushland with its own bushcare group. In Retreat Reserve, we work in dry and wet sclerophyll rain forest and there has been bush regen on our block over the last twelve months to connect the land with the bush. Today I started my first paid bush regen job, next year I will enrol at Tafe to compete a qualification in this work. In twelve years my life has changed completely.

Picasso

Picasso in his studio in the 1960s, strong bold and innovative at the height of his skills

The crane is a symbol of longevity and peace

This Buddha is carved with two Bodhisattva in attendance, more blessings

A silver ornament worn on the back by men as part of Miao dress in China early 1900s

Robert Klippel's sculpture as perfect as his smaller models but larger than life

Watching the installation of images in the upper Asian art galleries, wrapt in silhouette



The Picasso Exhibition will run until 25th March 2012, brought to Sydney from the Musee de Picasso in Paris housed in his attelier that is being renovated while the works travel the globe.

Into my arms

Nick Cave singing Into My Arms

Away

Cabarita Beach

Hobie Porter's palette

Sugarloaf

So then I had a party

With the end of the teaching block came the end of so many other things so the best way to handle it was to have a party. Invite the friends who count and relax around a fire on a rainy Sydney afternoon. I didn't get many photos of everyone at the time as I was too busy talking and listening. However the fire did look great and hopefully Alex will have his blue cast off soon.

Endings

I wrapped up my teaching block last Friday. Year 12 graduated and I attended their dinner. Most of the teachers had headed for international departures at the airport by Friday. Which left me at the pub with a few boxes waiting for a lift home. I had less than I usually do at the end as this time all of my files were electronic and I walked out the door with a usb stick. Teaching in the digital era. As Year 12 had already deserted and most of Year 9 were already out there I just watched Korean rock music with Year 10 (cnblue - check them out on Youtube if you have time) and shared some party food with them that they had thoughtfully provided to farewell me. I was still on the outside looking in as far as the teachers were concerned but I raised the final glass of beer and we all said goodbye more or less amicably. The tears came for a moment and then the sun set on another episode of my teaching career.