Hi, I hope this year has treated you well, and that you've been having fun! So here's my years highlights in pictures .... Once again I headed overseas to France & UK in July-Aug. This time I flew into Lyon (photo of river scene) where I met up with my swing dance friend Ingrid from Germany. We then travelled on to Le Mont Dore for the Studio Hop Balboa Swing dance camp (photo of main workshop tent, including me). We stayed on for another 1½ weeks enjoying the lovely mountain scenery (photo of view up valley, and me at Le Grande Cascade). Ingrid and I enjoyed our few weeks together, it was nice to share time in person rather than just chatting online. I then flew to Manchester, and took the train to Glasgow for the World Science Fiction Convention. There were lots of interesting talks, some great music performances, and the masquerade and Hugo awards. Photos of me with author Peter Hamilton, a great Doctor Who costume in the masquerade, and a space mural in Glasgow. I then travelled on to visit my friend Lynda who lives by Morecombe Bay. I had a few days just relaxing. And we also went to the Lytham 1940s weekend, and to the Lake District (photo). I finished the trip staying with my friends Colin & Rachel in Port Sunlight near Liverpool.
Back in Australia, we had the inaugural Jurrasic Bal (Canberra Balboa dance weekend) in Mar (photo of Fri at Albert Hall). I once again made a couple of week long trips to Brisbane for the "Brisbane Swing Thing" social exchange in May (photo of the swing picnic by the river), and then back there at the end of Sept for the Brisbane Balboa Weekend of workshops and dances, which was also lots of fun (photo of me on the new Queens Wharf skydeck with view over river). And I again drove to Melbourne late Nov for MLX (Melbourne Lindy eXchange), 5 nights of dances with 2 late night parties, fun but tiring!
On the folk side, much like last year, I went to the Brindabella Regency and Victorian Dance Festival in Mar, with lovely costumes music and dance (photo). And to the National Folk Festival at Easter as usual (photo of Melisande performing). In Oct I spent a Sat at the Canberra Irish Set Dance weekend, going to workshops and the evening ceili at the Hall Pavilion. On the Sun I headed out to the Spring Garden Dance party of historic dancing near Yass (photo dancing on their outdoor chessboard).
Last Dec, while in Melbourne with family for Christmas & New Year, I went to see Moulin Rouge at the Regent Theatre, which I enjoyed (photo). Then in early Jan I went to the Titanic Artifact exhibition at the Melbourne Museum (photo), very interesting. Back in Canberra I saw some lovely autumn colours while out walking around the local area in Apr (photo). And in May I went to see Mr Sqiggle, who is now on display in the National Museum of Australia (photo).
As usual I went to a number of my favorite regular Canberra events including to Enlighten at the start of Mar (photo showing projection on the National Gallery). Just after was the Balloon Spectacular (the photo includes "Lucy" the feature balloon this year, lifting off). And I made a couple of trips to see Floriade in Sept, here a nice aerial photo of the garden beds from the Big Wheel.
I again made the trip to Sydney in late Oct for a few days to see this year's Sculpture by the Sea. I walked the path 3 times while there to enjoy the wide selection of sculptures. I've included a photo of the very quirky "Sharnana" which was my (and the People's choice) favorite! I've also been to see and photo the new "Ouroborus" sculpture, which has just been unveiled outside the National Gallery of Australia. I really like it, showing reflections by day & light spilling out at night. I'm also out regularly walking a street orienteering course most weeks of the year, as well as the Wed bush events when I can. I'm still publishing the electronic courses each week. There are not many decent photos of me at orienteering. But I've included this lovely double rainbow photo I took at Watson StreetO in May.
I've been enjoying going to live music events at a number of club's & cafes in Canberra with swing dance friends. I try to get to the monthly Jazz at Jamison event, where we have a little dance floor (photo of me dancing with Kathy to Geoff Powers Great Gatsby Orchestra in Apr). Also in Apr I saw these koalas out at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. Back in Jan we had a drone skyshow (instead of fireworks) for Australia Day, which was quite impressive (photo).
And a few more photos that I didn't get room to squeeze into the printed letter. From my overseas trip, photos of Le Mont Dore in France. Of the Dell in Port Sunlight, which is a very pretty village in the Wirral (across from Liverpool). And also of the Bronze Age copper mine at Llandudno in Wales that Colin took me to see while I was there.
From Jan, photos of Crystal World in Devon Meadows, and of flowers in the Royal Botanic Gardens at Cranbourne. Both close to my Mum's place. Back in Canberra, a photo of the contra music concert in Carey's Cave at Wee Jasper in Jan. And then of the bush dance at the Nummeralla Folk Festival (out of Cooma), that I call some of the dances for, on the Australia Day weekend. A photo of a contra dance in Canberra in May. And of the Sat evening Ceili at the Irish Set Dance weekend in Oct.
Another photo from Enlighten, of a projection on Questacon in Mar. One of the Roulettes at the Canberra Airport Open Day in Apr. And the Wanniassa Hallowean House at the end of Oct.
And lastly, a photo of the first blood orange on my dwarf tree by the house at home in May. Of me at the Jurassic World by Brickman in Brisbane in May. Of the dancing at the Danish Club for the Brisbane Balboa Weekend in Sept. And the Odyssey sculpture at Sculpture by the Sea, which I've used for my card this year.
