MONET IN PARIS

Two of the lovely ladies in our art group in the village organised a trip into the city to see the Monet in Paris exhibition. It included other impressionist artists as well. Lynne borrowed the village mini bus and drove us into North Shore. It wasn't an exhibition of real paintings like on the walls of an art gallery but a moving projection of the real works set to the most beautiful classical music. The images were projected onto many screens and the floor. There was also printed information projected onto the screens too. There were different images on different screens but it didn't matter where you stood, sat or wandered you could see them all. It was beautiful and relaxing. 

The first room was full of flowers (artificial) but it certainly felt like you were in a Monet painting. 

The main hall was huge 

The artists thoughts and words were also projected.

The floor changed to match the changing paintings which also moved along the walls sometimes.

After the show we could have a photo taken in a painting.

 We could also get painted into a picture in an impressionist style.

When they were projecting Monet's water lily scenes the floor turned into a pond with rippling water. It was amazing. Here is a 25 sec video to hopefully give you an idea what the floor was like. It kept changing to match the paintings.

OUR FOREST ENTRANCE IS OPEN AGAIN

Some months ago our forest entrance was closed while some of the paths were upgraded to be suitable for wheelchairs and mobility scooters. The good new is that the work is finished and our entrance is open again. I say 'our entrance' because it is right next to our village. There is another entrance but we need to drive there because it is a few miles away.

So this is how the entrance looked for months.

Now it has been revealed.

There is a special gate that will let in wheelchairs but not dirt bikes, they are not allowed in this forest.

The walk through space is quite narrow.

There is a group of volunteers called Friends of the Forest and they liaised with the minister and discussed what they would like improved. The man on the scooter is Rex and his wife standing next to him is Beryl. They are residents of our village. They had a lot of input in the discussions and were our representatives. The guy in the blue shirt and dark jacket is our local member of the state parliament, Mick De Brenni. He is the minister for  Energy and Hydrogen and the Minister for Public Works and Procurement  but when the forest improvements were planned he was the Minister for Sport and Recreation. He was keen to better the mountain bike tracks in the forest as well as the disabled walkways.

This group of volunteers and the workers who completed the job were invited to the official opening.

Our Rex and Mick cut the ribbon.

The workers and Mick outside the new toilet block.

The new track from our entrance into the forest.

I even got Bill to try to walk on the new surface which is crusher dust. He hasn't been able to walk for many weeks as he has not been well. He is feeling better but his heart is failing and it makes life tough.

When we arrived home we were greeted by some wallabies. One of them was hopping down our street. I took the following video. He hops out from behind a bush.