Excellent show I got to see last weekend. The work of Klee is especially striking. Enjoy.
Cezanne, Klee, Picasso, Matisse and Giacometti at the National Gallery of Australia
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Tag Archives: travel
Munich
I had a few days in Munich back in July, travelling home from the UK.
Love this photo – the straight lines up into the sky. Germany’s rough around the edges but things get done. The place seems to be in motion. I enjoyed it and would like to have a longer holiday there one day.
I’ll share some more photos another time.
Christmas holidays 2024
We had a great time in Tassie, walking the Overland Track over six days.
All credit to Tasmanian Walking Company for the guides and delivering such a fabulous trip.
Maybe 12 days hiking in New Zealand coming next year…
Adelaide
A couple of photos from the Art Gallery of South Australia, taken this last weekend.
Melbourne photo dump
The Three Capes Walk, Tasmania
A beautiful spot.
Growth through change
It’s been a few weeks since I have written anything here because it’s been a time of big change. I’m now writing this from Sydney, Australia after moving here one week ago and the lead up to this change has been very hectic. House rented, belongings packed, plane tickets bought and accommodation secured does make it all sound very simple but I can assure you it isn’t!
Anyway, this time of change is also a big opportunity for growth in many ways. A new country – well, I was here 20 years ago and it has changed a lot since then – that is so far from the culture, weather and lifestyle that we had when in the UK will take some getting used to but that is part of its attraction.
I’m looking at getting back into employment so doing lots of research and adapting my mindset to being part of team again, even leading one if the opportunity presents itself. I’ve also got some time to think about doing some fresh learning in a new area and I haven’t drawn any conclusions from this yet.
Basically, every option is still open and this time of change is going to give some amazing opportunities for growth that will be fabulous as time goes by. There’s a lot to be very grateful for.
As a sidenote – current reading:
Chaos Monkeys – inside the Silicon Valley money machine, Antonio Garcia Martinez
The Inner Game of Golf – W. Timothy Gallwey
Homicide, David Simon
Race schedule for running:
Bay Run 7km this Sunday
City2Surf (CBD to Bondi Beach) on 14 August
Western Sydney half marathon on 1 October
Fast-flowing water in North Wales
We went to Betws-y-Coed last weekend and had a great time, even though it was very wet and windy. Spotted this on one of our walks. A beautiful place if you are ever in the area.
Annecy
A picture from last week’s amazing honeymoon location.
Travel
This last year has seen a lot of travel for me and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. As always, I’ve made a lot of observations along the way and here are a few of them that immediately come to mind:
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Airports and customer service are like chalk and cheese.
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Receive a smile in an airport, other than from a duty-free salesperson, and it stands out and is always remembered.
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The inhabitants of countries who have less economic power, less inward investment, and less opportunity in their own lives are generally much happier than those than those from other perceivably ‘better off’ countries.
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Simplicity trumps complexity every time and leads to better results.
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Turn off your tv and see what is out there on your doorstep. You’re likely to be very surprised.
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Try to take every opportunity to meet local people in whatever place you find yourself. (I missed out on this a couple of times and I should have made more of an effort.)
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Make a plan for any trip before you travel, but don’t get too hung up on it. Keep some excitement in there.
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There is so much of our own countries that we haven’t yet seen, and, for me, taking a look at this would be a good thing.
Rio wrap-up
Last day in Rio today so trying to get my head around the trip, all of the experiences from it, and my thoughts on the place, the people and how it’s made me feel. I think the sun’s creeping through so will get packed up and back out into it for the last few hours now.
See you on the other side…
Next stop – @homelesswrldcup Rio De Janeiro
Later this week @ninianna and I will be travelling to Rio to witness the spectacle that is the Homeless World Cup street soccer tournament, taking place on Copacabana Beach. I’ve completed a few sporting challenges of my own this year, raising funds for the HWC by way of many generous donations from all of my great friends, and this trip to see what the funds I have raised can do for the people taking part in the tournament is going to be a very special occasion.
I wanted to help HWC by raising funds because they inspire and empower people – giving those with little or no hope a real chance of changing their lives for the better through taking part in the tournament, playing street soccer, and representing their nation on the global stage. Having the opportunity to see this kind of project in action, and the difference that it can make at first hand, is something that doesn’t happen every day and I’m going to enjoy every minute of it.
Just imagine going through these steps over the course of a few months:
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you are homeless (living on the streets or are in temporary housing or a hostel, for example) and you are asked if you would like to come and play soccer one evening
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you turn up, play, and meet some new people who become your friends and team mates
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you come back for more, week after week, have a lot of fun and begin to get fitter
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you are picked to play for your team in a regional/national tournament
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you do well, and are selected for the national team to represent your country at the HWC
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you are wearing your national team’s colours and are playing in the HWC tournament
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you are in with a shout of a trophy on finals weekend of the HWC
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you are playing in the final of the HWC
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you are in the winning team of the HWC!!!
This scenario is going to come true for some of the players in Rio this week – how fantastic is that?! I’m sure I don’t do this transformation justice in this small post but it happens and will keep happening as long as the tournament continues and people support the cause. Mel Young and the team at HWC do a fantastic job in putting the tournament on in the face of a lot of opposition and bureaucracy related the homelessness cause, but their work is invaluable and long may it continue.
I want to share my experiences of the event with as many people as I can so there will plenty of tweets, a few photos and some video clips, too. Follow me here, or the HWC and Mel Young:
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twitter @homelesswrldcup @melyoung53
Biarritz – southwest corner of France, on Spanish border.
Ian Mountford 