Five K Radius

2007-12-19T20:11:00.000+11:00

'The Sketchercisers' installed at The Art of Moving exhibition, Tuggeranong Art Gallery,
Canberra
Artist's statement
From May 2006, I joined Julie Oakley in England and Penny Crompton in South Australia in Julie's on-line challenge to take some exercise in the neighbourhood every day for a year, stopping along the way to do a sketch – good, bad or indifferent – it didn’t matter. Every evening, we blogged our sketches and some comments relating to our outing, or the day generally. Through blog comments to each other and with blog visits from many guests around the world, we supported each other to complete the challenge. A daily coming together – a different sort of nourishment.
You can also visit Julie's blog, one mile from home and Penny's blog, with my boots and sketchbook

Dimensions: approx 170 x 170 x170
Media:Domestic furniture, mixed media

The chairs with gear represent the three of us - bike helmet for me, hat and glasses for Penny and a raincoat for Julie. The two windows at the back are 3D, recreated from small sketches done during my night walks. The pelican, above, is also inspired by a sketch.
We each have a place mat with a small computer and a drawing implement. Spreading from our placemats are a selection of the many sketches we did. At the back, on the right, you can see the small aluminium foil sculptures of Julie's son on his skateboard done from her stick figure sketches. There's a detail picture of them on the previous post.
Julie
Penny - here you can also see some small gates I made from her series of gate sketches
Alison

2007-10-31T11:34:00.000+11:00

This is an installation (still in progress) arising from this one year challenge. It will be exhibited at 'The Art of Moving" Exhibition in Canberra in November/December 2007

Sketchercising
2007

Artist's statement
From May 2006, I joined Julie Oakley in England and Penny Crompton in South Australia in an on-line challenge to take some exercise in the neighbourhood every day for a year, stopping along the way to do a sketch – good, bad or indifferent – it didn’t matter. Every evening, we blogged our sketches and some comments relating to our outing, or the day generally. Through blog comments to each other and with blog visits from many guests around the world, we supported each other to complete the challenge. A daily coming together – a different sort of nourishment- building new habits.
You can still visit the blogs at
http://fivekradius.blogspot.com
http://onemilefromhome.blogspot.com
http://penny-withmybootsandsketchbook.blogspot.com

Dimensions: approx 170 x 170 x170
Media:Domestic furniture, mixed media Julie's comment on one of her last entries, "Exercise, nature and sketching - a magic potion for soothing the soul" gave me the idea for the format - the whole experience was a bit like the daily get-together of a main meal, only a different sort of nourishment. So here is a different sort of table setting. There are three places with chairs. Penny's chair has a hat and sunglasses, Julie's, a raincoat, and Alison's a bike helmet. (They are not placed correctly in this photo)You can see Penny's gates, made from wire and rusted metal, Julie's 'sketches of Hugo on the skateboard and two of my night window sketches. Also a pelican flying above. I need to make some more placemats. I will print out a variety of pictures and cut them into strips and weave them through the centre 'grid' of the cloth. I will add some painting/sketching paraphenalia, probably paint/print some bike tracks, footprints, make a model of Julie's dog, write/embroider some extracts from the blog texts and see what else is, if anything is needed.

2007-05-01T18:13:00.000+10:00

Day 365
Well, here I am for the last day of this year long challenge! This is our house, one of the old workers cottages, built by the government for employees of the nearby brickworks which supplied the bricks for Canberra houses until the mid 70's. Until the brickworks closed, this area was polluted by the kiln smoke so house prices remained low. Now, the area is rapidly gentrifying and these weatherboard cottages are being knocked down or occasionally removed to the country.
I have drawn the car too small - well, it's use has declined greatly over the last year - even with downsizing to one car for a family of four drivers. All of us cycle nearly everywhere these days. My studio is at far left - a converted carport - too small, but I know I am lucky to have it. It looks onto the road and into the back courtyard where Hermione's lemon tree grows in a large tub.
This year-long 'sketchercize' project has been a marvellous challenge for me. I have got in the habit of looking much more closely and 'seeing' line, shape, colour, texture and pattern everywhere, not to mention enjoying the antics of Canberrans, wildlife etc. I have become far more comfortable with having a go at sketching anything and making the sketch 'good enough' - rather than giving up and starting again. I am especially pleased with my collections of night walk pictures and portraits of men at the library; also that I'm getting better at landscapes. There have been many days when I haven't felt like sketching but often it's been these occasions which have produced the most special sketches.
During the first 6 months of, mostly, walking 6 km per day, I lost about 10 kilos (22 pounds) but found I needed to do more energetic, hilly cycling (and pay attention to portion sizes) to lose the second 10 kilos. My fitness improved such that I was able to do a 3 day, 240km ride along rural roads, stopping along the way to sketch. Now the challenge will be to keep the weight off. (After 5 years, 65% of weight losers are heavier than they were before losing weight!)
Most of all, I have enjoyed sharing this challenge with Julie and Penny and the regular and occasional visitors, sharing snippets of our lives and our local haunts, through pictures and comments. I thank you all for visiting and supporting me along the way.
There is a spin-off yet to come from this experience. I am participating in an exhibition with the theme, 'the art of moving', using ideas and pictures from Penny's, Julie's (with their permission) and my blogs, produced in a sculptural form. My ideas for this are still evolving but will have to be actualized by September.
So that's it for now, my friends. Future artistic endeavours will be posted on my Scribbles blog - please visit me there.
ps. After sketching our house, I cycled to Manuka to stretch my muscles on the hills. 10 km cycle

2007-04-30T21:36:00.000+10:00

Day 364
Another of the sketching possibilities I have enjoyed this past year has been sketching at the National Gallery. As it was cold and windy today, I went there for this second last day. These are two 1937 costumes from the Ballet Russe. They employed a number of artist designers, including Matisse to design sets and costumes. The ballet company was in Australia when war broke out and so the costumes ended up remaining here, eventually to be acquired by the Gallery. They have really exciting designs and colours. 12 km cycle

2007-04-29T22:16:00.000+10:00

Day 363
I walked to Hermione's bench again - to look for my purse which I may have dropped on the way home the other day. This tree was beautiful in the moonlight, sharp shadows of leaves falling across the trunk. Ralph found my purse at home while I was out. Done with pastel when I got home as it was raining again - 50ml so far.

2007-04-28T14:51:00.000+10:00

Day 362
I cycled around the lake in the rain so just stopped to do a quick scribble. The boats look too big - oh well never mind! 17 km soggy cycle

2007-04-27T21:50:00.000+10:00

Day 361
Another theme I wanted to revisit in this last week is night views. It was raining and I carried an umbrella and just my small moleskine and a pencil. I stopped under the light of a streetlamp to catch the orange glow of the cloudy sky behind Black Mountain and started to sketch this city view with telephone wires and the tower. Just as I was finishing, a fox scurried past, only a few feet away - he did get a shock when I greeted him heartily :) 4 km walk

2007-04-26T13:28:00.000+10:00

Day 360
A cool, grey start to the day. I just have a few walks left to do to finish the year and wondered how I would like to use those spots. First up - another walk to Hermione's bench, this time to include the actual bench in the picture. For blog visitors who wonder who Hermione is, visit the archive 10 June on this blog (or my other blog - archive March 1 to read/see a little of her story. 6 km walk

2007-04-25T19:31:00.000+10:00

Day 359
I cycled to Manuka via some hills and found the bookshop open, though it's a public holiday for Anzac Day. I was sitting at the wonderful long table where people can read, and loved the two reds, not to mention the 'posture' of the book unpacker. 10 km cycle

2007-04-24T23:00:00.000+10:00

Day 358
Shirley has asked how I do bicycle wheels - nothing beats careful observation but here is an explanation of the aspects I consider - if I have time or inclination in the moment. Looking back, I see she particularly asked about spokes - I should have said, I think it looks silly if you do all of them. (There are about 18 to each end of the the axle) And by chance, a bike features in my daily sketch - seen riding back from my sculpture class where I am making some mini gates from Penny's sketches. 12 km cycle

2007-04-23T17:56:00.000+10:00

Day 357
I have returned to find autumn full on and the evenings are chilly - it will soon be time to start lighting the fire. After fixing another slow puncture, I had a pleasant ride to Woden to get some long sleeved vests (singlets), though rain threatened on the way home. 12 km ride

2007-04-22T15:31:00.000+10:00

Day 356
At Forum, Trudy showed me her little books of collages done from favourite cuttings from art, fashion and other magazines. She adds to them in various ways. Her collection of books were wonderful and such a fabulous resource - much more perused and useful than old magazines on shelves or in heaps, as mine are. I resolved to have a go as I think my mark-making skills are weak and it will be 'good for me' - maybe even fun. So today, I cycled to the art shop to get a little visual journal and here is my first page. I did enjoy it. It will be part of my next art plan to finish this book within a few months. 12 km cycle

2007-04-21T10:04:00.000+10:00

Day 355

On the last day, all classes have an exhibition of the work they have done, whether it be finished pieces or samples. Our class moved directly from the self portrait to begin on a 'narrative portrait' to take the whole 4 1/2 days. We first laid out a blanket 'sandwhich', incorporating the borders of old woollen blankets, then a smaller piece of calico, not necessarily in the middle and then were directed to "with pen and ink, on the fabric, Just Start - using the information gathered in the self portrait, but not looking at it." Before Forum, I had already decided that, if possible, I would use the week to catch the pleasure and fun I have had in the past year with my paintbox, sketchbook and bicycle - we had to include our face - so here it is - about 20 inches square, fabric, paint and stitch. Hermione's lemon tree appeared (when life hands you lemons, make lemonade), the spotty fabric represents journeys to me, and needing a bit of colour in the bottom left, the organic drawing pins represent life's vicissitudes.

After the exhibition, and enjoying seeing what all the other classes had done, I drove home to Canberra with my friend, Lynne, my bike in the back of her car.

2007-04-20T23:47:00.000+10:00

Day 354
On the last evening La Party is held. I am not a party person but it's fun to sketch those who are. They wear 'whatever they feel like'. Below is the shibori class parade. They hung their fabrics samples from umbrellas. The fabrics were beautifully patterned but I didn't try to catch that.

2007-04-19T09:51:00.000+10:00

Day 353
Here is the huge felt bag Pam, my room mate, is working on - nearly two feet high. It will be too heavy to use as a bag, though.

2007-04-18T09:48:00.000+10:00

Day 352
More garden installations - the largest 'tent', on the right, is about 3 feet high. The top installation is about 10 feet long, made from sticks, leaves, sead heads on a ochre painted or chalk background.

2007-04-17T22:31:00.000+10:00

This is just a note to say that Ali successfully completed her trip to Orange by bicycle. She went a bit faster than anticipated and found herself 40 k short of Orange on Saturday night as dusk approached. She then hitched the last few k, being picked up by a dentist, who both drove her to Orange but also kindly provided accommodation that night. A long journey completed, mainly under pure leg power with wind and bigger hills to deal with than originally thought! I should have posted this yesterday - but a temporary bachelor lives in sloth.

Ralph (Ali's partner)

2007-04-17T09:23:00.000+10:00

Day 351
At Forum, garden 'installations' appear - these are fabric 'things' on sticks - the fabric bits are about 2 feet high.

2007-04-16T11:17:00.000+10:00

Day 350

Forum days are fully organised with classes, lectures, chatting etc so every day, I do some exercise by cycling across town from the boarding school where I am staying to the other part of the school where the classes are held. The first thing we had to do in class was draw a self portrait, using pen and ink and "gathering as much information as possible". Consequently, everyone drew every wrinkle and we all looked very old, and of course, intense concentration made us appear very severe. I found it interesting to compare this effort with one done a year ago, when I first joined Everyday Matters (see here)

2007-04-15T12:52:00.000+10:00

Day 349
Well, that was fun! And I am quite pleased with my sketches though I would have liked to have had more time to stop and draw - I had to allow plenty of time to get to the next place with accommodation for the night. Perhaps, another time, I would take a tent and sleeping bag, and less art stuff. I only used my usual pen and water colour. I've realized there's only any point in taking materials that I am really comfortable with - this wasn't the time to be practising with less familiar materials. Otherwise, I happy with what I took, though the weather and my bike were kind so I didn't need the warm gear, bike spares or first aid stuff. The distances between places are a downside for Australian bike touring but I didn't find the landscape as monotonous as I'd expected. I just noticed more and more detail -probably due to my sketching experience over the past year. My fitness preparation was quite adaquate. I was never stiff, rarely puffed - just healthily tired by the end of the day. Thank you to all my blog visitors for your support in the months leading up to this adventure. I am really pleased to have done it.

2007-04-14T20:35:00.000+10:00

Day 348
I set off at 7.45, hoping that there will be accomodation at Cargo, about 55 rather hillier kilometres away. I have head winds, and several punctures caused by the dreaded organic drawing pins (bindis) - I find I cannot take my bike off the road or the tyres will be spiked. At last however, I see how to sketch hills! - and catch the patchwork feel of fields. :)

2007-04-14T18:42:00.000+10:00

Day 348 - Part two
But at Cargo, there is no longer any accomodation! Too tired to manage the last, super hilly stretch, I decide to hitch. No sooner have I found a ride, than we stop at the scene of an accident. Someone has rolled their car, there is sewing stuff spilling on to the road and the car has a Canberra number plate. Another car has already stopped but the emergency services haven't yet arrived. We stop and I discover it is another Forum participant. Astonishly, she is uninjured but stuck in the car so I chat with her until help arrives and she is extricated. She is fine and I continue with my new friends.

2007-04-13T19:58:00.000+10:00

Day 347
After taking the wrong road from Boorowa, I ended up doing 92 km along a different road than I'd planned but that meant I found the lovely cafe and I still made it to Cowra by 3.00pm. During the war many 'aliens' were interned in Cowra, including 500 or so Japanese prisoners of war. They staged a break out and over 200 were killed. They were buried in Cowra and over the years the Returned Servicemen's League looked after the graves so well that the remains of all Japanese soldiers who died overseas were relocated in Cowra and the Japanese Government funded a beautiful Japanese Memorial Garden to be built.

2007-04-12T19:05:00.000+10:00

Ralph sees me off.

2007-04-12T18:44:00.000+10:00

Day 346
On my way at last. Just for the first couple of minutes, I feel very alone but there is a bit of traffic and drivers give me a wave and plenty of road space. A lovely cycling day, with no problems. I arrived at Boorowa at 3 o'clock. 46km
Click on images to enlarge them.

2007-04-11T21:45:00.000+10:00

Day 345
Well, now I am all ready. My stuff weighs about 14 kilos including 3 litres of water. I can hardly believe I'm really going to Forum on my bike! I went for a practice ride with my bike fully laden - it was fine. I expect to arrive on Sunday and should be able to post a message that I have - or Ralph will. Back in time to celebrate Julie's Day 365! 4 km cycle

2007-04-10T22:44:00.000+10:00

Day 344
The 'journey' began a long time ago but today I finished making the journal for the actual ride. Tomorrow, as I pack, I will do the first few pages and then it will be ready for Thursday's departure. It has smooth, hot press slightly off-white 180g/m2 papar, opens flat and a double page spread will fit on the scanner. I wasn't able to find any smooth bright white paper - I didn't want to use the w/c Moleskine as it's too long, when open, for the scanner and I wanted a book with fewer pages, just for this trip. I will give it a title later. 10 km cycle into town

2007-04-09T22:27:00.000+10:00

Day 343
A morning on and by the harbour. While waiting for the ferry, I sketched the Opera House - I was low down and any boats could only have been ferries drawing in to the wharf, obscuring the Opera House, so the water looks unrealistically empty. We took the ferry to Mosman then walked around Sirius Cove to the Zoo. The Heidelberg group of artists had a campsite in the area during the 30's and did many landscapes there. We saw several of these enormous nests in trees but fortunately, perhaps, no residents thereof.

2007-04-08T21:53:00.000+10:00

Day 342
In Sydney for the weekend, we went to the NSW Art Gallery to see the Archibald portrait exhibition. It was poorly reviewed and I think the critics were correct. It was very unexciting with few surprises. The cream of this year's high school art projects were much more interesting. Here I have sketched a sculpture outside the Gallery while waiting for a shower to stop. I forgot to write down any details of it.

2007-04-07T21:52:00.000+10:00

Day 341
A message from the forest floor? I went for a cycle ride around south Canberra but it was windy and unpleasant to sit and sketch so I collected some lovely coloured leaves and painted them at home. We're off to Sydney for a couple of days tomorrow, leaving just Tor at home. I leave for Orange next Thursday if the weather looks suitable. 15 km cycle

2007-04-06T23:03:00.000+10:00

Day 340
Yesterday, I bought a trip computer for my bike so I will know how far I've travelled throughout the day - otherwise, with frequent stops for sketching and very few road markers along the way, I would have little idea how to pace myself. So today, I did two of my regular rides to confirm their lengths and on the way home from the second, stopped to catch the last of the sun on these trees. I walked my bike over about 3 metres of grass and then, to my horror, noticed the tyres were stuck full of those dreaded organic drawing pins. I thought I might just be able to get home before the air leaked out so I sped away - and have just done this from memory. Seven holes in one tube and 6 in the other - it's back to the bike shop tomorrow for another pair of of spare inner tubes.

2007-04-05T22:24:00.000+10:00

Day 339
I cycled into town to get some thermal wear and several half pans of water-colour. I have refilled my travel set but the cadmium yellow won't dry and the Australian dark green dries very crumbly and all the little pieces scatter around the box - a pity as that colour only comes in a tube. Perhaps it needs to be mixed with some gum? I saw this fellow sitting by the lake near the Cirque du Soleil and stopped for a few minutes to sketch him. 12 km cycle

2007-04-04T21:44:00.000+10:00

Day 338
I found my water soluble ink brush pen while getting stuff ready for my trip so with possible rain brewing, I walked up to the dark pine wood to try to catch the downhill feel. There was a man with a red hat - having a pee probably! 4 km walk

2007-04-03T23:05:00.000+10:00

Day 337
This evening, I cycled to the Art School, arriving 15 minutes early - just time for a quick sketch of the courtyard before the group began. As often happens in classes and workshops, it's a bit different from what I expected. We have the facilities of the sculpture workshop at our disposal and two tutors to teach us new skills. Yesterday, I learned how to braise fencing wire and use an angle grinder. Now there is a two week Easter break during which we are supposed to clarify our ideas. A number of art school students and staff will be contributing to the exhibition but they are not at these evening meetings so it will be a while before I have an idea of what the exhibition will look like.

2007-04-02T20:58:00.000+10:00

Day 336
I cycled to Maxine's whose place I last visited, by bike, on the first day of this challenge. On the way back, I sketched these magpies - they are 30-40 cm and have one of the most complex (and beautiful) warbles of any bird. 18 km cycle

2007-04-01T22:19:00.000+10:00

Day 335
After I put the Sunday evening roast in the oven, I nipped on my bike towards Manuka and decided that today was the day to try riding up Redhill. There were half a dozen cyclists on the way up or down. I stopped once, but made it up without walking. We are looking down upon 'old' Canberra - it all suburbs, with 1/4 acre gardens or larger - so you can't see the houses for the trees. 8 km cycle

2007-03-31T21:47:00.000+10:00

Day 334
Lots of riding today as I need to do some longer training rides and the weather was lovely though just a bit windy. I cycled up Mount Stromlo where I sketched the dome of the burned 74" reflector (you can look through the window and see it all rusting inside). The dome itself has been repaired and repainted and can be seen from many parts of Canberra, as before. Then I cycled round the other side of the lake and back through Manuka, about 50 km. After a rest at home, I cycled a 10km route to Mum's and returned via the same way - 70 km for the day. My legs are fine but I do get a stiffness in my shoulders from the hunched position though I have a touring bike, not a drop handle bars style. Anyway, I think I should manage the daily distances to Orange comfortably enough.

2007-03-30T21:58:00.000+10:00

Day 333
I was busy all today, finishing off a set of memory paintings. At four, I cycled over to Mum's and after my time with her, cycled to Manuka to collect an extra ball of wool for my autumn knitting. Then I sketched it at home while Ralph cooked dinner. 11 km cycle

2007-03-29T22:10:00.000+10:00

I cycled via a 10km route to Mum's where I found her in an unusually crabby mood. I thought I might as well sketch her while I listened to her rant and we had tea. I haven't got her eyes right - well she kept moving and sometimes they were above her glasses or obscured by them. Then we went shopping and for a walk and she cheered into her more usual self and started sing the Water Lou song (which I've never heard before). Julie and Penny - I have sent you an email about the Art of Moving Exhibition that I wrote about in January. Please let me know if you don't receive it.

2007-03-28T18:24:00.000+10:00

Day 331
Two more library blokes. The one on the left kept opening one eye and looking at me but didn't seem to register that I was sketching him. 12 km cycle

2007-03-27T15:11:00.000+10:00

Day 330
Better weather today, so I headed up Mt. Stromlo again, sat in a warm sunny spot and sketched a few things on a page. 27 km cycle

2007-03-26T11:49:00.000+10:00

Day 329
I'm just back from riding up Mount Stromlo, an area which was all burnt out during the 2003 fires. The observatory, library and other scientific facilities were ruined. The Brindabellas, in the distance, were all ablaze and the fire rushed across the pine plantation valley and up Mount Stromlo before anything could be saved. There were lots of possibilities for sketching but by the time I got there it was starting to rain - almost snow, it felt like- so I found a spot under the closed cafe and did these three views. I should have taken more clothes - I was fine when I was cycling uphill but sitting sketching and, even worse, cycling downhill, I was freezing and could hardly think.

2007-03-25T21:57:00.000+10:00

Day 328
A very quick effort today, while I was out strolling with Mum. Tomorrow, I will be doing a long ride with a 3 km hill.

2007-03-24T21:39:00.000+11:00

Day 327
I wizzed twice round the lake this morning and just got home before the rain. I added another mini-landscape to my page while Mum had a quick sit down on her walker-seat this afternoon (too soggy for her to lie on the ground today). This view is looking south-east, towards the Tinderry Mountains. 34 km cycle

2007-03-23T18:19:00.000+11:00

Day 326
I took it easy today as I had to wait around to be 'squeezed in' at the doctor (to look at my finger which is mildly infected - sigh) and after that it was too hot and horribly humid for exercise. At four, I cycled to Mum's and we went walking in Commonwealth Park on the northern edge of the lake. She had a nap while I did another credit-card view looking across the lake toward the National Library which looks like the Parthenon. 2 km cycle;1 km walk :)

2007-03-22T22:26:00.000+11:00

Day 325
Today, I cycled twice round the lake and then on to the cyclists' clothing shop. There wasn't much choice for the 'femmes' but this outfit will do. The shorts feel like wearing nappies but are very comfy when riding, and top and bottom can be washed and dried overnight. 40 km cycle

2007-03-21T18:20:00.000+11:00

Day 324
Gorgeous weather today so, in preparation for my big ride, I rode twice round the lake and stopped three times to do these credit card views along the lovely cycle path. 34 km cycle

2007-03-20T18:18:00.000+11:00

Day 323
Back at the library... and an internet-free day. 12 km cycle

2007-03-19T22:58:00.000+11:00

Day 322

It's rained most of the day. Before dinner, I walked with the umbrella to the shop for a few things and then home via the lake. I stood looking at the light spots from the parkway on the other side and their long reflections. Then I heard an enormous plop but saw only the ripples of, I guess, a jumping carp. 4 km walk

2007-03-18T22:54:00.000+11:00

Day 321
The usual wheelchair lifting excursion this morning. Whilst serving dinner, I took hold of a plate that had been near a flame and had one very hot edge - seared five fingers but thanks to 5 hours of freezer blocks and bowls of cold water, have only one inch-long blister. After dinner, I decided I may as well walk to Hermione's bench. I cannot imagine the pain that must result from even moderate-sized burns! 6 km walk

2007-03-17T22:20:00.000+11:00

Day 320
Another busy weekend, the sixth in a row with visitors staying. Today, we went to see Cirque du Soleil. It's impossible for me to catch the energy, sound, outrageous costumes, surprise and awe but my daily exercise comprised walking long distances to and from the car so here's the 'sketch along the way'. 4 km walk

2007-03-16T22:14:00.000+11:00

Day 319
Today I wanted to sketch a flower to make a little hand-painted card. This is our bluebell, a very hardy little plant that flowers all about after rain. There were also lots of decaying pine cone 'leaves', beautifully delicate in the way they disintegrated. 12 km cycle

2007-03-15T22:01:00.000+11:00

Day 318
Just another of my library fellows. Today I borrowed Hockney's Portraits and People and a book on upholstery. I have a new old armchair, who tells me she is called Harriet, in need of a new outfit. 12 km cycle

2007-03-14T20:22:00.000+11:00

Day 317
I did two cycle rides today but didn't see anything to draw. However, while walking with Mum this afternoon, I found both an opportunity and subject matter. Mum lay down for a rest just as a flock of yellow-tailed, black cockatoos started raucously 'playing' overhead. I've never seen them feeding on the ground as the white cockatoos are wont to do, so this is as close as I can expect to get. 22 km cycle
In mid April is my annual holiday to the textile forum/workshop and I am thinking of cycling there. It would be three fairly easy days (55, 75 and 85kms) or even 2 days, along sealed, undulating country roads with time for sketching along the way. I need to do a few longer rides between now and then, buy some padded cycling shorts and a few spare parts and learn how to adjust my gear set. I will decide at the last minute when I see what weather is expected. It would be a challenging near finale to this year-long challenge.

2007-03-13T21:57:00.000+11:00

Day 316
I feel uninspired today - this was my second attempt at something and the top half was so awful, I cropped it off. Never mind - tomorrow is another day. 6 km walk through the woods and across paddocks.

2007-03-12T21:27:00.000+11:00

Day 315
I cycled to the lakeside to meet Robin and as usual we walked around the lake and had coffee at the National Gallery. Before dinner, I set off for the woods to find something to sketch but by chance met another friend and walked the loop with her - still no drawing. So, later, I tried to catch walk and talk/ gossip/discussion/chat while sitting with Ralph and Tor as they watch a film. 12 km walk, 10 km cycle

2007-03-11T20:13:00.000+11:00

Day 314
A very hectic Sunday finished with a beautiful night walk - so still and quiet - no moon. I found enough light at the shops and sketched a view of the chinese restaurant and pharmacy from across the road and behind a veil of seed pods of a black locust tree. 6 km walk

2007-03-10T21:18:00.000+11:00

Day 313
A very busy weekend ahead and it begins with being cut off the internet for not updating our server with the new credit card expiry date. They could have emailed us to warn us. Have to wait until Monday to sort it out. All Ralph's relatives are staying to celebrate the 80th birthday of his Dad. So I just managed a quick gallop to Hermione's bench and picked this beautiful weed to sketch as I watched the vegies cook. 6 km walk

2007-03-09T22:53:00.000+11:00

Day 312
I cycled off from the house at 3.00pm and, via a lot of hills, got to Mum's by 4.00. After a cup of tea, Mum and I went strolling down by the lake. She spied this row of portaloos which has been positioned ready for the weekend Canberra day festivities and of course wanted to use one - "to get the value from my taxes and be the first to try them out". I have to hold the door open in case she gets locked in, never to be released. This was the only one we opened - I hope there isn't already a granny stuck in each of the others :) 20 km cycle

2007-03-08T22:36:00.000+11:00

Day 311
After Mum's, I cycled down to Manuka to buy a few things and then back along the lakeside bikepath. Often I think parents keep their children on too short a leash these days, but I really hate to see this - these birds can suddenly become very vicious. I used to try warning parents but they always ignored me so now I remain silent. I'm glad nothing happened on this occasion. 15 km cycle

2007-03-07T20:48:00.000+11:00

Day 310
I cycled to Woden to get my hair cut. As I was cycling, I was trying to ponder an article I was sent by Anne E Harris (through our memory paintings, we have discovered we have quite a lot in common and have been corresponding) about whether the human brain is hardwired to be religious and if so, how might that have come about. But my mind kept straying to underwear and how I really need some new items - so I went to the department store and had a pleasant time sketching - and a less satisfying time trying to find anything suitable. They are always out of the right size, colour and any bra without underwiring!

2007-03-06T19:59:00.000+11:00

Day 309
I cycled to Manuka to see Miss Potter again. I've already seen it once but had Mum with me and so missed quite a lot. I really enjoyed it - the music, landscapes, the furnishings, especially her room, and the portrayal of her as a feisty woman. On the way home, I sketched this house which has recently been built. All the windows have external louvres - it looks like an office and the internal access from the garage means that the family is never seen. So much for community. 12 km ride

2007-03-05T20:11:00.000+11:00

Day 308
At the library again - this time in the afternoon, when there were lots of school students doing homework. This young fellow was trying to understand a maths problem and looking pretty demoralised as his friend tried to explain it. But neither of them gave up and by the time I'd finished this sketch, he had got the concept and done the algebra. Later, I saw him in the square walking up a narrow ramp on his hands, looking a complete natural. 12 km cycle

2007-03-04T21:40:00.001+11:00

Day 307
Hot and humid again so I did an early ride without stopping to sketch as I had to be a Mum's at 10 am. She and I went to the open day at the Governor General's residence just 'round the corner' from us. There was a mandolin orchestra, an early English dance group and a community orchestra that did the 1812 overture and Peter and the Wolf. The gardens were beautifully green and shady. Mum enjoyed being a part of the crowd.In her current 'lifestyle', she is much more isolated than she would like. 17 km cycle. Lots of wheelchair pushing.

2007-03-03T21:26:00.000+11:00

Day 306
A hot and humid day. Mum and I had a very slow walk along the lakeside, punctuated by several nap times for her. She doesn't stay still for long though. I made up for the lack of physical effort with a ride to Manuka after dinner. 10 km ride

2007-03-02T17:39:00.000+11:00

Day 305
I did my usual cycle round the lake first thing in the morning. There seem to be an increasing number of joggers, cyclists and other exercisers, most of them older. I see very few young people, whatever time of day I go out. This fellow is a combination of several who passed me as I sat sketching. 17 km cycle

2007-03-01T17:05:00.000+11:00

Day 304
I cycled over to Mum's and cared for her for several hours. Rain was brewing again so I decided to sketch Dad's old chair while I was there and just do a ride afterwards. Mum sat watching me and trying to remember the words of 'Ain't it good to be blooming well dead'. I wrote some of it down, then ran out of space as she remembered, or made up some more...There goes Aunt Sally , she ain't got no knickers and here comes the pervert, can you see, it's the vicar! Then 10 km ride up and down the hills to Manuka.

2007-02-28T22:29:00.000+11:00

Day 303
I managed to squeeze an hour for sketchercising between taking my mother for a late afternoon outing in more pouring rain and coming home to dinner which Tor had cooked. The university and city mall areas are closed until next Monday due to severe hail damage last night but we didn't get hail - just a total 0f 70 ml of rain in the last 48 hours. However, as we have no garage, we have blankets ready to cover the car should we be suddenly deluged with hail - oh, for just ordinary soft rain! I cycled to Manuka so I could draw undercover if the rain should begin again - of course I was struck by this girl with a red dress and yellow hair. In reality, she didn't look so sour - I realize I must do pastel large or fit less in - using the bumpy side of the paper makes it extra hard to get the detail, though I like the pattern it gives on the dress. 10 km cycle

2007-02-27T21:43:00.000+11:00

Day 302
Off on my bike again - I really didn't feel like it but once I was wizzing down the hill towards the lake, I was glad I'd made the effort. I cycled to the art school library and stopped to watch the nearby building workers - this guy was operating a lift and most of the time seemed away in a dream. I think he'll be in trouble for wearing the wrong hat. 12 km cycle

2007-02-26T21:48:00.000+11:00

Day 301
I just had a slow walk around the suburb today and spied the herald of autumn - the beautiful yellow autumn crocus - hooray. 4 km walk

2007-02-25T21:20:00.000+11:00

Day 300
A busy Sunday as usual, so after Sunday evening dinner with my parents over, I went off for an evening ride. I'm still feeling flat and was sure I would see nothing to sketch but I was intrigued by the way the light was reflected differently by these various trees, and the fence too. There was also a convenient lampost to stand under. The night is so peaceful and it always feels as if there's much less friction between my bike wheels and the road - don't know how that can be?

2007-02-24T22:13:00.000+11:00

Day 299
I did a long cycle ride this morning but had no time to stop and sketch, so I went for an evening walk. I often pass this cosy sofa with a stripey rug on a verandah which is always lit though I've never seen anyone sitting out. It's hard to see anything because of a thick hedge but I like to peer through anyway. 25 km cycle, 5 km walk

2007-02-23T21:02:00.000+11:00

Day 298
I rode to the other side of town to enjoy some sketching at the annual agricultural show. It was hot and I was tired and flat from yesterday's news about my cousin and it was hard to sketch, not just watch the world passing by. I most enjoyed seeing the farmers talking/supporting each other in these difficult times. Ambulette was having a bad show day - she was excluded from judging on a technicality but now she gets to be a blog star. 24 km cycle

2007-02-22T21:59:00.000+11:00

Day 297
A very full day. I cycled over and around the lake to meet up with the homeschooler group who were picnicing. It was lovely to catch up with old friends and we got around to discussing what approach to take with the Education Department which is nibbling at the legislation without consultation. Before I left, I sketched this couple who had been enjoying watching the children swim in their clothes. Then a session with Mum, home to cook dinner and off to a textile meeting. Back to discover an email saying that my aunt and uncle have had to rush home early as their daughter, my cousin, has been seriously injured in a car accident - aaargh. 17 km cycle

2007-02-21T21:35:00.000+11:00

Day 296
I went for a cycle ride this morning but had no time to stop and sketch. So this evening I put on my plastic gardening clogs and went out with an umbrella to enjoy a thunder and lightening storm with pouring rain. Every few minutes, the sky lit up a sort of lilac colour. It was much scarier than the hoons. I tried to catch the feel with pastels when I got home. 12 km cycle, 1 km walk

2007-02-20T14:42:00.000+11:00

Day 295
I had to return to the library today to sort out why the books I returned last week are still recorded as borrowed in my name - sigh. As I knew I would sketch another library reader, I stuck a snippet of today's paper down to experiment sketching over. 14 km cycle

2007-02-19T21:29:00.000+11:00

Day 294
Not much time to exercise today as the morning was spent doing town things in the Blue Mountains and in the afternoon we drove home after putting my aunt and uncle on the train to Sydney. During a quick evening leg stretch, I sketched these ibis having an evening feed. 4 km walk

2007-02-18T22:34:00.000+11:00

Day 293
Looking west, away from the Three Sisters - we did several more short walks this morning and then went to visit Jenolan Caves, a cave system about an hour west of the Blue Mountains. At the end of the day, we walked to this lookout again - there was a storm on its way, seemingly slow moving but it soon was upon us and we just got back to the unit in time - along with a tiny lost terrier dog, frantically checking every house without luck. Fortunately, it had a phone number on its tag and we were able to leave a message - at 11.30pm, its owner came to collect it - it had strayed a long way.

2007-02-17T21:29:00.000+11:00

Day 292
Ralph and I, with Monica and Alan, drove for about 4 hours to the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney. We did a number of short walks to look at views. This is the most famous - of the 'Three Sisters' at Katoomba - here floodlit, and sketched with the last of the western sun. 4 km walk

2007-02-16T23:02:00.000+11:00

Day 291
The first unpleasant late night walk- the hoons were at large in Yarralumla. From several cars, they yelled obscenities and threats at me so I changed direction and walked to the shops where there were people dining. On my return, I saw they had been doing burn-outs in the street. Hoon is an Australian colloquial word meaning fast, reckless driver or loutish, aggressive youth. 4 km walk

2007-02-15T20:39:00.000+11:00

Day 290
I took Monica and Alan on a walk to Yankee Hat rocks. We set off early to see the kangaroos before they retreat to the shade. Today there were lots and the females always remind me of the poem Kangaroo by D. H. Lawrence which I leart by heart soon after we arrived in Australia. Below is an excerpt.

Delicate mother Kangaroo
Sitting up there rabbit-wise, but huge, plumb-weighted,
And lifting her beautiful slender face, oh! so much more gently and finely-lined than a rabbit’s, or than a hare’s,
Lifting her face to nibble at a round white peppermint drop, which she loves, sensitive mother Kangaroo.
Her sensitive, long, pure-bred face.
Her full antipodal eyes, so dark,
So big and quiet and remote, having watched so many empty dawns in silent Australia.
Her little loose hands, and drooping Victorian shoulders.
And then her great weight below the waist, her vast pale belly
With a thin young yellow little paw hanging out, and straggle of a long thin ear, like ribbon,
Like a funny trimming to the middle of her belly, thin little dangle of an immature paw, and one thin ear.
Her belly, her big haunches
And in addition, the great muscular python-stretch of her tail.
There, she shan’t have any more peppermint drops.
So she wistfully, sensitively sniffs the air, and then turns, goes off in slow sad leaps
On the long flat skis of her legs,
Steered and propelled by that steel-strong snake of a tail.
Stops again, half turns, inquisitive to look back.
While something stirs quickly in her belly, and a lean little face comes out, as from a window,
Peaked and a bit dismayed,
Only to disappear again quickly away from the sight of the world, to snuggle down in the warmth,
Leaving the trail of a different paw hanging out.
Still she watches with eternal, cocked wistfulness !

2007-02-14T21:08:00.000+11:00

Day 289
I cycled to to pick up the car but it started to pour so I didn't do any sketch. Instead I snatched an opportunity while waiting for a restaurant meal at the Yacht Club - there was a procession of couples clutching tickets for a Valentine's Day dinner cruise. This fellow looks as if he's already eying off someone else! 12 km cycle

2007-02-13T18:25:00.000+11:00

Day 288
I cycled to Woden to get a few groceries, then in the opposite direction to Parliament House to sketch at question time. This event is held Monday to Thursday when Parliament is sitting. Usually there is no need to book. One is not allowed to wear hats or scarves unless they are 'dress apparel' - whatever that is - nor take in books. Sketchbooks, however, seem to be allowed and I was told, "yes", I was allowed to draw but I suspect they have never been asked that before and simply haven't yet made up such a ban. The Prime Minister is 'answering' a question - not really - just getting on his soap box, the Speaker, on the left, screeched constantly. Kevin is to the right and opposite Mr Howard and the alien-looking creature at front right is Peter Garrett (ex Midnight Oil? band), now opposition spokesperson for the environment. He really is very huge. 20 km cycle

2007-02-12T17:18:00.000+11:00

Day 287
I cycled into town today, to pick up a free offer of a set of energy-saving light bulbs. Then, as my trouser situation is getting dire, I had a look at the new autumn range. Not really my scene - for 20 years, I have made my own using the same pattern but even having cut the pattern down, it's still too ridiculously baggy. I discovered, along with another woman, that if you want a 'mature woman style' in a smaller size, you have to ask for the model to be de-robed because the store only orders one each of the slimmer sizes and the models wear them. I never thought I would 'achieve' this. I am not this slender, however - the trousers were pleated at the back to hold them up.! 12 km cycle

2007-02-11T18:02:00.000+11:00

Day 286
On Sundays, I do weight training - why isn't there a greater variety of wheelchairs? It can't be necessary to have a 20kg chair for a 45 kg person. Anyway, we had a nice outing with my aunt (Mum's sister) and uncle and I did lots of lifting walking and pushing.

2007-02-10T16:46:00.000+11:00

Day 285
We're still carless so Ralph and I cycled to the fruit markets to stock up for the next week - 4 panniers worth as we are doing quite a lot of the catering for family this week. Ralph cycled home with the super perishables and I stayed on to do a sketch. There were lots more people but I couldn't really put them in after I'd done the fruit stands, then the little girl came and loitered just long enough to include her. When I got home, I cycled off to the supermarket. 20 km cycle.

2007-02-09T16:42:00.000+11:00

Day 284
I am 2 days delayed in posting and have lost my mini moleskine with today's picture - another library fellow. I think I've left it in my uncle's hire car which has been returned and will have to wait til Monday to see. Until Monday 19, posting will probably be irregular as I have my relatives staying and the computer is just outside their room, so I won't be able to post late evening as I usually do. 12 km cycle to Woden ps.Found my book inthe picnic bag :)

2007-02-08T22:35:00.000+11:00

Day 283
Another of my 'men at the library' series. This fellow kept moving but always returned to the pencil in mouth position - he didn't use it for writing at all. I'll have to go back again tomorrow to return the overdue books that I forgot. 12 km cycle

2007-02-07T22:12:00.000+11:00

Day 282
I cycled to Manuka this evening against strong wind but on the way home I enjoyed about 4 km with barely a pedal pushed. The above scribble was an exercise in noticing how the heads get smaller as the picture recedes. Today, I cleaned the super-disgusting grease trap and surrounds of the fan above the stove - well now I won't have to do it for another few years - and then it will be Ralph's turn! 10 km cycle

2007-02-06T22:38:00.000+11:00

Day 281
"I want to go for a swim too." I did the usual cycle round the lake - early to avoid the heat - and spotted this retriever tied to a 'no dogs' sign, waiting while his owner had a swim. I think Blogger is trying to make me update too. I refused, so I wasn't allowed to post but now it seems I can. I will have to back up my blog(s) before I do but am too busy now - doing a 5 year backlog of cleaning as my rather more house-proud English aunt and uncle are coming to stay. :) 17 km cycle

2007-02-05T21:06:00.000+11:00

Day 280
One day, some men came and took away half the house. The curtains were still hanging in the windows and the soap still sat in the laundry cupboard. I saw this on my return from dropping off the car to be fixed. Ralph hit two kangaroos when he drove to the mountains at night last weekend. 20 km cycle

2007-02-04T22:59:00.000+11:00

Day 279
Another busy Sunday - so I did an evening ride round the lake stopping to do a sunset view - mistake! especially given our difficulties with the scanner which is over-exposing. 17 km cycle

2007-02-03T22:45:00.000+11:00

Day 278
This is the track to Hermione's bench. It was dark this evening when I passed by after cycling round the lake but there was an enormous blush of a cloud. 17 km cycle

2007-02-02T21:50:00.000+11:00

Day 277
I was out all day today, so it was another evening excursion for exercise. Now I have a front and a back light for my bike so I did a quick, hilly ride to Manuka to find some people and light. The proportions look all strange in this crooner - the guitar is certainly too small but other than that I can't pinpoint what's off. He was a funny guy - just singing for himself really - he only had 20c on his plate. 10 km ride

2007-02-01T22:45:00.000+11:00

Day 276
Last of the light. Unexpectedly, I ended up doing an evening walk - setting off to Hermione's bench at 8.00pm with a chilly wind. This is looking west to the Brindabellas from the point near Hermione's bench. 6 km walk

2007-01-31T22:10:00.000+11:00

Day 275
I cycled round the lake this morning and whilst head down climbing a hill and listening to a new chinese lesson, I glanced up, and for a brief moment thought I saw two dinosaurs rushing at me. In fact, they were enormous ride-on-lawnmowers! By this evening, still lacking a drawing, I was going to sketch them but then the night was so lovely and cool that I went for another ride and sketched the beautiful moon instead. 27 km cycle

2007-01-30T21:08:00.000+11:00

Day 274
Outside the library, just as I was arriving - cabbage chopping, Shaolin warrior style - first you strip off your top, then puff up all your muscles, then swiftly chop the cabbage, slicing towards your lower abdomen, then pick up all the pieces from the floor. Life will be so much more exciting, now I know how to do it. I just love these daily excursions - there are so many surprises. 12 km cycle

2007-01-29T22:29:00.000+11:00

Day 273
I had a lovely evening ride today, though it was very windy and consequently difficult to hear my chinese lesson - but it is satisfying to be doing another activity at the same time. I just took my small moleskine and a pencil. I don't know the name of this sort of eucalypt which sheds bark in such a profuse and messy manner, nor of another eucalypt which had this beautiful text 'etched' into it, though it was me that put in into rows. 17 km cycle

2007-01-28T21:56:00.000+11:00

Day 272
This afternoon, I cycled to Manuka to meet a friend - we had a coffee and caught up on the past few months. This lady looked very imposing with her super-curly hair, huge wrap and red bag. 10 km cycle

2007-01-27T23:14:00.000+11:00

Day 271
Sometime in my blogging life in the past year, I was directed to www.chinesepod.com a wonderful site for downloading free audio chinese lessons and I have been listening for a while. But it isn't very convenient to have to sit at the computer so for Christmas Ralph gave me an MP3 player, not something I ever thought I would want as I don't listen to music when on the move. Today I used the player for the first time while out cycling - on my 17 km ride, I listened to a 15 minute lesson 4 times through, still not enough to catch it all as, at the level I chose, all explanations of grammar etc are in Chinese - but I must be 4 times closer to getting it. However, I was unable to simultaneously 'see' anything to sketch so I have sketched the player. 17 km cycle