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Showing posts with label Project365. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Project365. Show all posts

Monday, October 1, 2012

October 1. Day 275. I spy with my little eye...

 In light rain, the queue snaked around the Hamyyn Harris Pavilion in the Mount Gravatt Showgrounds this morning as a large crowd gathered to witness Brisbane's first annual Lego fan expo.
Those bricks which can cause no end of pain when you step or when you open your wallet to grow the collection are celebrating their 50th year in Australia this year.
If today's turnout is anything to go by the popularity of the Lego is showing no sign of waning. Certainly the exhibit passed Naia's close inspection today.
Lego is one of those great toys limited only by your imagination with an appeal that spans people of all ages. It is a strong person who can see a partially completed Lego building on a table and not be tempted to add a block.
For today's post I shall borrow from the wisdom of  Steve Klusmeyer who believes many of life's important lessons can be learned from Lego. Such as
  •  Size doesn't matter. When stepped on in the dark, a 2X2 LEGO brick causes the same amount of pain as a 2X8 brick.
  • All Lego men are created equal (1.5625 inches tall). What they become is limited only by imagination.
  • There is strength in numbers. When the bricks stick together, great things can be accomplished.
  • Playtime is important. Sometimes it doesn't matter what you are building, as long as you're having fun.
  • Disaster happens. But the pieces can be put back together again.
  • Every brick has a purpose. Some are made for a specific spot—most can adapt almost anywhere—but every one will fit somewhere.
  • Color doesn't matter. A blue brick will fit in the same space as a red brick.
  • No one is indispensable. If one brick is unavailable, another can take its place.
  • It doesn't always turn out as planned. Sometimes it turns out better. If it doesn't, you can always try again."
And most of the people there today probably thought they were just seeing amazing constructions built from coloured pieces of very expensive plastic. Nope, Lego is not just child's play.

Saturday, September 29, 2012

September 29. Day 273. Dazzling smile

It was all smiles at South Bank this afternoon as the large crowds began to gather for what is arguably this biggest event on the Brisbane calendar Riverfire. And no-one was supporting a bigger grin than Chris who was manning a store selling anything you could imagine that glows in the dark. Clearly my imagination isn't big enough because before today I had not envisaged a market for glow-in-the-dark teeth. As the old saying goes "Your teeth are like stars, they come out at night" and there was a twinkle in Chris's eyes to match that dazzling smile.
Truth is Chris was far from the only big kid getting ready for the Riverfire. There is something about fireworks that brings out a childlike joy in just about all of us. A few will mumble about the cost in terms of dollars and the environment but to them I say "bah humbug". You don't have to flash an LED powered smile but just today keep your mouth shut or find something else to sink your teeth into. Now let the fireworks begin.

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Day 7. January 7. Brisbane Arts Theatre



Follow the trail of bread crumbs to today's performance of Hansel and Gretel at Brisbane Arts Theatre. The journey to today's photo began in mid 2001 at the Esk Races. My son was then aged three and was to spend the day with Grandma and Grandpa while we took a bus ride with friends to enjoy the annual picnic day in the Brisbane Valley. We had to leave early and it was going to be a very long day so to break it up bought tickets to take the young man to see Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves at Brisbane Arts Theatre. He loved it but over the coming days the number of thieves varied from four to about 400. I don't think it was ever 40. More than 10 years later his love of Brisbane Arts Theatre shows no sign of diminishing and he has seen every children's show at the theatre since. For the most part I have gone along too but in early 2008 he went with a school friend and his family and came home and announced he had signed up for an audition. In May that year he took to the stage as a baby sheep in Charlotte's Web. Future performances at Brisbane Arts Theatre have followed, including a thief in Ali Baba. Today it was opening day of Hansel and Gretel and the role was Vigo, a boy who gets turned into a gingerbread man by the wicked witch. The Sydney cousins were in the audience so Mr O got to sign their autograph sheets.

Friday, January 6, 2012

January 6. Day 6. Lifesavers at the pool

Summer equals the pool and the ice block. My adorable niece and nephew Jessie and Connor are up from Sydney and joined us for a swim. And of course if you are by the pool you need a Lifesaver.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

January 5. Day 5. The Day Christmas finally ended



By my own rules, the Christmas tree should be taken down on January 2 but I couldn't bring myself to do it. This is not just about procrastination, something I am very good at. It is more that once the tree is gone, Christmas is officially over and the room seems to have a big gap where the tree used to be. But it has to be done. Going...Going...Gone...

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

January 4. Day 4. Mount Coot-tha




Had an early morning cross from the Channel 7 studios on the mountain so decided to use this as the starting point for today's walk and photo shoot. It was very smokey and the views weren't great. I headed to the Botanic Gardens instead and while I took pics which could have made another montage I decided to overcome my love of the big close-up just for today and go with the rainbow created by a sprinker on the manicured lawn