14. Plus Parliament House

I have been wanting to share some things I've been doing this week but had no pictures for you until now. I'm starting to find my own way around but am still confused as to why I can get to the same place in two to four ways and they all take about the same amount of time. I really do need to make an effort to visit the visitor's centre for a map!

Monday night was the first time that my housemate and I spent together. I was inspired to make dinner and it was yummy. I wish I'd known about following recipes earlier in life. It was surprising that we have a lot of likes in common. We saw each other for about 5 minutes over the course of the rest of the week, so I don't think that there will be many sharing issues.

I said previously that I would probably join the gym that was the same colour as my car but I tried it out and was uninspired! I will return to Youtube and 'Move with Nicole'. Thankfully, Aldi had another yoga mat sale.  Instead, I have joined an improv group. It's acting without having to remember anything, social and fun. i just don't like driving home in the dark. There are not enough street lights here for my liking. In Melbourne I could begin driving and not realise that my car lights were not on but here, I'm checking that they're on. Maybe once I'm more comfortable with directions, it will bother me less but I may never get past being confused about which roundabout exit to take, especially while some of them are closed for road works. The first night was Tuesday night. When I came home I wrote down a couple of games that could be used for teaching English 😆

Wednesday there was a ground floor work meeting. Weird as usual. I am quite bamboozled to be honest. I think some professional presentation skills could be learned. After the meeting, I had dinner with a colleague. There has been a LOT of eating out for me in Canberra. It's really a bit too easy. I popped in to a shop yesterday and spoke with one of Cinty's friends and he said that there are no really good restaurants in Canberra. I had forgotten, but I did actually hear of one. Maybe I should save up to visit that one. Of course I'll have to google Michelan Star restaurants in Canberra...I just did 😉

Thursday, I went and saw Ahn Do at the Canberra Centre with Sally. It reminded me of a cinema rather than any of the Melbourne theatres or arts centre but the seats were positioned better for viewing between the gaps and maybe levelled a little higher. Ahn Do made me smile, laugh and cry. His family's story is AMAZING! More amazing than I thought it would be. How can one person be so talented? I had to buy his book.

Friday evening I decided to stay home but I finally made a hair appointment. 

Eleanor invited me to trivia at the National Film and Sound Archive and the GPS took me there a whole different way. I didn't mind it. It then took me home another way and I got lost on the roundabout. Rom Com trivia was fun but I'm pretty sure we came VERY, VERY last. If we had to pass on a bell curve, we would have failed and been offered intervention or maybe we would have had to repeat the quiz. 

Before Trivia, I decided to walk 33 minutes in 32 degree heat to Parliament house. I needed the exercise. I haven't been Moving with Nicole because I did one stretch and managed to sprain my rib. It's still tender, so walking is good. I did the free 'heart of the house' tour, which was quite good. There are several tours that you can do for $28 but I found out that you can also walk around on your own. I think that being told information on a tour is quite good though. Anyway, I need to go back because Jen, my housemate, says that the scones there are really good 😝 There is also a 55 minute video that I want to watch and I need to find and check out the garden. I know how to get there now, so if I decide to walk again, it will be more efficient. Google said that it would take 11 minutes if I took a scooter. One day I might but I need to get the app. Parliament House is very attractive! I think it's a nice work environment and although I needed to go through security on my way in, they let me in.

I see it clearly now. 

So close, yet so far - perhaps that's because I took the wrong path. 🤔

Now, I just need to get around this side.

Was the telstra tower built there to make this shot?

I made it!!

I think this was a demonstration. There was music at times and serious talking about people caring about the country.

The seagulls were having a ball.

Parliament house is designed to represent a time-line. This meeting place mosaic is at the entrance. 

The marble is from Europe. I am having a vague recollection from 30 years ago that the pillars also represent gum trees? Do I need to do the architecture tour or maybe the best of tour?

I liked these mock ups - the badges represented what each of the first 16 prime-ministers represented. This is Deakin.

I just thought this area was relaxing and attractive.

This is the centre of the building and represents the current day on the time-line. 

This water feature is directly below and apparently, most of the time, you can see the reflection of the flag. It also provides white noise to help muffle work conversations in the space.

The upper house chamber seemed to be much bigger than the one in Old Parliament house, which is directly below, down the hill.

All financial decisions are made here.

Views from the roof.

Green.

Manuka/Kingston way.  I began walking beyond the distant building.

The senate chamber.

...and to finish off, this morning I met Jenny in Manuka for brunch. So many brunches!! I think she'll come with me for scones unless mum comes first.

Next week, I'll looking forward to brief visits from Melbournians🤗