Rediscovering Bris Vegas

I went up to Queensland recently, principally to visit my mother. Those of you who keep up with my sister, Greenolive's blog, will know that she has not been well lately. Anyway, I always anticipate my visits "back home" (I don't actually think of QLD as my home and as my parents are divorced, there is no family home anymore) with mixed feelings. Much as I love to see my parents (independently - see comment re divorce), I find it very tiring and usually come home in need of a holiday! This time I was particularly concerned about my mother, as I wasn't sure about either her mental or physical state, but as it turned out I had one of the best visits with her that I have ever had!

An arty shot of part of her new garden

Usually there is an argument or some sort of drama and tears, and it all turns sour, but we had a lovely time. I helped her out with some of her courtyard garden projects whilst I was there, which was good as she would have over-exerted herself otherwise and done it all on her own. Even though her initial steroid treatment had given her huge amounts of (unrealistic) energy, her recent cutting back on the dose meant that she was actually feeling (realistically) tired by the afternoon, so I would need to keep telling her to stop and have a break or nap and have a drink of water. I think at the time she found it quite amusing, but told me a few days after I had left, that she missed me, especially me telling her these things! It was also hot up there (about 30 degrees but high humidity, about 80%), but luckily not as hot as it usually is in December!

The riverside cafe at the Art Gallery

One of the other things we did was go to see the Andy Warhol exhibition at the Art Gallery. We got the CityCat (groovy Brisbane ferries) and as we approached the new Art Gallery complex I was stunned. I hadn't even set foot inside and I was already impressed! The new buildings and design and use of the river is great. Even though I go back to Brisbane about once a year, usually for a week at most, which is enough to notice most changes, I haven't lived there in over 10 years, so don't really have a great feel for the city or what's happening. It really has matured. I always find myself wondering if I could live there again (a question my mother also always asks me every visit) and this time I seriously considered it. Well, maybe for a minute. My husband, Mr S, wouldn't be in it though - he's not a big fan of Bris Vegas and he can't seem forget a particularly bad trip we had there a few years ago. I will continue to enjoy my solo trips to see my parents and hope to keep a connection with a city I am growing to appreciate once again.

One of our lunch companions, a water dragon!

Needless to say the Andy Warhol exhibtion was amazing. We actually thought we were done, having taken our time wandering through some of his ealrier works, to discover that there was a whole other room to see! We needed to stop for lunch - which was great, outside at the Riverside cafe (note: amazing tempura prawns and nougat) - to regain our strength for the rest. I think we were there for over 4 hours in total! If you can get to this exhibition - it is in Brisbane only until 30 March 2008 - it is well worth a visit.

Comments

[greenolive]

Can I live there? is a question that comes up at our place too. Seven years since I lived there. I might try and visit before the closure of the Warhol exhibition.