Ash and I went to the National Gallery of Australia today to try our hands at sketching. I gave Alex the choice of era and culture, and he chose Asian Art. We found ourselves seated in front of a Japanese screen featuring cranes. (I cannot think of anything harder to sketch than Japanese cranes – give me Paul Klee anytime!)

Ash’s work is covered by an embargo, so I can’t show it here yet. Anyway, when my boss checks this attempt out, he will write ‘Software – ONLY software” on my employment file!

After they moved off, Pip managed to get his swim.

The Old Parliament House is now a museum, but has been left largely untouched since it was vacated in 1988. You can sit in any seat of the House of Representatives or the Senate (apart from the Speaker’s/President’s seat). You can see the various rooms used by government and opposition. They are filled with typewriters and TVs from the period.

New Parliament house was only a 10 minute walk away. It is huge by comparison, and as a result, the bells for voting ring for 4 minutes not 2. (They calculated this by getting the oldest member of parliament in 1988 to walk from the furtherest reaches of the building to the house and timed him – 3 minutes and 45 seconds!) I was fascinated to see there was a 1294 copy of the Magna Carta on display there – apparently each king was forced to sign a copy. This one had the seal of an Edward.

Other significant documents there included the Apology to the Aboriginal People delivered by Kevin Rudd. Several significant artworks covered the history of the place, including a Tom Roberts and an Arthur Boyd.

The key attraction was Question Time. (Photo from “The Australian” as no electronics were allowed into the gallery.) It is a same thrill as watching a game live to see these people you know so much about in a debate/performance with each other. We were they for an ejection, Tony Abbot managed to address Bill Shorten as the Prime Minister, Hockey gave a very humorous rant on the Word properties of a document, and Bronwyn Bishop gave a splendid rendition of a school librarian.

The course focused on understanding the capabilities of the vehicle while driving up and down rough tracks and differing types. The theory did help in understanding which gear and 4 high vs 4 Low.

After lunch we did some rescuing. Carmel pretended to be bogged while another student dragged her out with a Nylon Snap Tow Strap. Note the two orange “air brakes” – these are to slow the strap down if it snaps and whips off.

The last part of the course was meant to be water driving. However, after the first student went over, the instructor called if off with because the water was too high. (We will just have to go and find another creek somewhere.) We replaced this lesson with a lovely drive through the gullies.

Possums are easier to catch – they just pop up a tree and then watch.

The bird life lets you get a little closer, but I need to take the big camera to catch them properly.

The one bit of wildlife that did not run away is very familiar. I remember this from a French book translated into English that I read when I was ten. It was responsible for the death of the old king. Anyone else recognise it?