Sir Peter Siddell - R.I.P

Sadly Sir Peter's funeral was this afternoon.  He was one of my favourite artists.  There have not been all that many self taught artists who have been so influential.  In a beautiful book called "The Art of Peter Siddell" Professor Michael Dunn said:

    "Siddell sets his dwellings in the landscape, embedded in light-filled space beneath cloudy skies..."

These are two of his works which I like.  One, Phillips the Chemist is featured in the book  and the other is a fairly representative of a series he did from inside looking out.

He will be missed.

To see another post about New Zealand art click here

Increasing the age at which you get super

The Labour party has come out with a reasonably sensible policy to address our changing demographics.  People now under 45 would not be eligible until the age of 67.  For those of us over 45 the change is gradually introduced. 

There are a couple of problems with the plan.  One is that Maori have lower life expectancies currently so will suffer disproportionately.  Another is that people are losing trust in government's ability to provide super going forward.

The only really good approach would be for it to be handled in a non political way ... and how likely is that??? 

While the policy is at least novel, it is coupled in Labour's policy with the introduction of capital gains tax.  New Zealand just isn't going to go for it.

Lunch at Blue Anchorage, Bongaree on Bribie Island, Queensland

This was an idyllic spot found quite by accident on a half day trip out of Brisbane as respite from shopping.  Bribie Island is very interesting in itself. Woorim Beach was nice. We happened onto the Bongaree area which we preferred over the more Pauanui like canal development area further up the inside coast. 

The little restaurant on the coast at Bongaree called Blue Anchorage was a lovely place for lunch.  Good food.  I had baby barramundi fillets crusted with a red pepper, candied tomato and caper salsa topped with salt and pepper red claw crayfish and tiger prawn skewers finished with salsa verde. It lived up to the description except for a slight amount of overcooking on the crayfish.  As you can see from the pic, the setting is lovely.

Blue Anchorage, Bongaree

Random Act of Kindness Opportunity

As we were walking to the Art Gallery this afternoon, we came across what proved to be a wallet lying on the ground.  Several other people walked past it.  I picked it up and noted a whole lot of business cards with the same name on it.  So I rang the mobile number on the card and asked the chap who answered if he had lost anything.  It turned out that he was only a minute away in the Park.  He was so overwhelmed to get his wallet back (which had not only credit cards but also his passport and driving licence) that he gave me a hug right then and there!  Felt nice to help someone out.

Birth sampler pattern

I have been stitching a birth sampler for my niece using this pattern.  It is coming up very well done on 32 count cream linen. When I have a photo of it I will post it.  Not only are the colours nice, the size is not too dauntingly big - only about 8 inches square.  Obviously I am customising it!

Youth rates

Just saw some vox pop on the news where people were saying that it was unfair to pay young worker's less.  In my view they are completely missing the point.  Young workers will not be hired without experience if you have to pay them the same when more experienced workers are available for the same cost.

Youth rates will give an incentive to employers to give young people a go.

Spirit House Thai Cooking School Yandina

If like me you have spent years trying to get the balance of Thai flavours right and failing, I recommend going to the Thai cooking school run by The Spirit House near Yandina in Queensland.  Not only is the restaurant which is co-located spectacularly sited, the food is to die for.

The cooking school runs half day sessions for up to 16 people at a time.  It cost A$125.  I have now finally made a red curry that tastes authentic.

Spirit House sign

In case you were wondering, I am not sponsored by anyone/thing I mention in this blog.  I am just doing it for fun.

"How to Be a Woman" by Caitlin Moran - A Book I really enjoyed

The most recent book that I really enjoyed was "How to be a Woman" by Caitlin Moran.  It was really laugh out loud.  Non fiction written warts and all style.  I don't imagine many men would find it quite as funny.  I didn't agree with all her views at all but she sure can write amusingly.  In her own words:

"Part memoir, part rant, Caitlin Moran answers these questions* and more in How To Be a Woman – following her from her terrible 13th birthday (‘I am 13 stone, have no friends, and boys throw gravel at me when they see me’) through adolescence, the workplace, strip clubs, love, fat, abortion, Topshop, motherhood and beyond."

The questions - Why are we supposed to get Brazilians? Should you get Botox? Do men secretly hate us? What should you call your vagina? Why does your bra hurt? And why does everyone ask you when you’re going to have a baby?