"We feel very pretty."

The Queen Victoria statue outside the QVB (Queen Victoria Building)
in Sydney's CBD yesterday.

She's been decorated as part of the Sydney Statues: Project!, part of Art & About Sydney 2010. Her temporary robes were designed by Rachael Cassar and Liane Rossler with Michelle McCosker.

Usually, the good Queen Vic looks like this:


17 July 2009, during my "365 Photos" project.

Other Sydney statues dressed up for the occasion include:

The other Queen Victoria statue - Queens Square - Designed by Linda Jackson
Prince Albert - Macquarie Street - Designed by Jonathan James as inspired by Jenny Kee and Peter Tulley
Captain James Cook - Hyde Park South - Designed by Ken Done, Bronwyn Bancroft and Eloise Rapp with Michelle McCosker
Il Porcellino - Sydney Hospital, Macquarie Street - Zoe Mahony
William Shakespeare Memorial - Shakespeare Place - Susie Rugg with Spoke & Spool
King Edward VII - Macquarie & Bridge Streets - Bronwyn Bancroft with Michelle McCosker
William Bede Dalley - Hyde Park North - Bianca Faye with Michelle McCosker.

Worth another trip into the city!

Her Majesty's majesty

Queen Victoria statue outside the QVB (Queen Victoria Building) in Sydney's CBD.

Sickbed round-up

I've just spent a week very under the weather with flu symptoms that threatened to overwhelm me. Luckily, I seem to have thwarted it, despite everyone around me sniveling, coughing and complaining.

I haven't felt too much like blogging, but I have kept up with my daily photographs for the 365 Photos project:


Part of a very large pile of parcels I had to send out, containing
aluminium Star Trek water bottles. 5 July 2009.

I (stupidly?) volunteered to buy them up for 37 US members of the Playtrek action figures and collectibles listserv, and I'm hoping it pays off in plenty of toy karma. (Now I know why firms charge postage "and handling" - the time it takes to package up things and get them to the post office is deceiving. Every package has required flashing my Medicare card each visit, three signatures: on the parcel, the customs declaration, and a form attached to the declaration - and my address has to appear twice.)


Jack on the lounge, a few minutes to midnight. 6 July 2009.


Cover art of the picture books "Bear and Chook" and "Bear and Chook by the sea". 7 July 2009.

I spent the day writing programming notes for a book rap. These books by Lisa Shanahan and Emma Quay will be the focus of a book rap in Term Four.


The Shopping Trolley Graveyard, where lost and abandoned Penrith shopping trolleys
congregate before their ultimate demise. 8 July 2009.


View through a balcony rail at the Queen Victoria Building, Sydney CBD. 9 July 2009.


My cute new set of "Cosbaby" Nightwing, Robin, Batman and Batgirl figurines. 10 July 2009.


A cheeky poolside willy wagtail left behind a mess on Pan's head at sundown today!
He was using the statue as a springboard for his bathing expeditions.
And driving Jack crazy! 11 July 2009.


View behind the laptop, a few minutes to midnight. 12 July 2009.