We visted the National Gallery this afternoon - the Impressionists had been re-hung in a different wing and grouped together, with different Impressionist paintings having been brought up from the vault. We saw Renoir's Umbrellas (pictured), Seurat's The Bathers, Van Gogh's magnificent Sunflowers, Picasso's Girl with a Dove, Degas, Manet, Monet's stunning Japanese bridge reflecting in the pond in his garden in Giverny (which I've walked over!), some stunning examples of pointillist style, some beautiful Pisarros which I'd not seen before, and generally just lost ourselves in the textured paint, murmuring crowd and city and landscapes from a century ago. Oh, and we revisted the 1700's room and saw Canaletto's Venetian vistas in a whole new light post our Easter trip there - want to go back!

Finally! Stu finishes his 3 months probation at his new job and can take some holiday leave! Unfortunately, his probation ends the week before my university year starts... But that's ok, I'm going to completely abuse the purpose of my reading week in November. Instead of spending the week doing study, we're going to Berlin! Why? All that history aside, it's the only place in Europe I can see a real live Panda at the Berlin Zoo http://www.zoo-berlin.de/! On a more serious note, it's also one of the places my Grandmother stopped in, as a prisoner of the Germans, on the way to labour camps. She remembers the train doors sliding open, and amidst fighting for food and water, observing the German women in floor length fur coats, warm against the bitter cold of winter, while she and the other prisoners has no shoes or coats, and huddled together for the warmth to survive. She also remembers Berlin at the end of the war, on the way to a Red Cross camp. The same women were trying to trade their fur coats for food, any food... Funny how the value of an item can alter so radically.

Lauren with the tulips at Araluen...look at those eyes and blonde curls!

Ros with Ethan aged 9 weeks, he's learned how to smile now!

There's two cats in my office today, two beautiful, silky soft tortoise-shells called Freya and Sundae! One of the guys in the office is going away for the weekend straight from work and is taking the cats with him. I'm more than happy for the office to become a cat creche for the day - it's good for the soul (and the blood pressure!) to have these pretty little creatures rubbing against your legs, sniffing your toes and investigating underneath your desk. I say we make every Friday into Cat Friday!

Finally, a headline I cheered at reading: 'Skinny models banned'. An upcoming fashion catwalk event in Madrid has banned all models with a BMI of 18 or less. The healthy range is 20 - 25. It's about goddamn time that someone, somewhere, tried to stem the flow of images of appallingly thin women that flood the media the world over. Very, very few women are that thin naturally. It is irresponsible and outright dangerous to continue to proffer the size 6, size 4, size 0 women as the ideal way to look. Teenage girls are starving themselves, developing all manner of eating and anxiety disorders, as are adult women.

I am so tired of the cult of celebrity where the outward and the materialistic are praised and sought. There is nothing wrong with being slim, looking pretty and wearing nice clothes and makeup, but as incidentals to everything else that goes on in your life. It's when it becomes the sole focus of your life, when it's pushed at you every time you open a magazine, turn the TV on, surf the internet, so much that you can't but help think that maybe if I did lose a few pounds, or buy that new designer bag then I'd be happier. It's such empty, unfulfilling 'happiness'.

Success and happiness, we are told, are equated to being thin, rich and beautiful. Whatever happened to developing as an individual? To spending as much time and money on your mind and heart as on your wardrobe, accessories and beauty regime? To building relationships with your friends and family, and spending time and energy giving to others, instead of focussing on me me me? When did the media switch from the occasional celebrity story to being dominated by celebrity 'news' and proferring them as (useless) role models? Where have all the normal, intelligent, capable female role models disappeared to? Bring them back, please! The women of the world need to know it's ok to be a size 14, that if you don't wear prada people will still be your friends, that happiness is something you make, not buy. Rant over.

Panda Cam is live footage of the new baby panda (born Wednesday last week) with its Mum at Zoo Atlanta. The baby has no fur at the moment and is really small - the Mum has to keep holding the little guy to keep him warm and alive. I keep this on in the background at work and check in on them every now and then - I even saw the baby yesterday! (by the way the pic below is not related to Panda Cam - I just wanted a cute panda pic on my blog!)

Click here for Panda Cam!

Crossing the four generations of my family - Babcia, 82, holding Ethan, 7 weeks young. I wonder what the world will hold for Ethan over the next 82 years? I wonder if he will experience changes of the same magnitude as those that Babcia has lived through, endured and survived?

Our last wedding of the summer - Stu's school friend Simon marrying the lovely Claire at what was such a beautiful wedding and reception. Held in the small hamlet of Fernhurst, in a stone church hundreds of years old, the service was gentle and emotion-filled. The reception was on the back lawn of Simon's family home (think the size of several olympic pools, not including the apple orchard and kitchen garden!). We walked from the church to the reception and were greeted with trays of peach juice and champagne (yum!) and stood and mingled in the glorious late summer afternoon sun. Warm, loving and funny speeches (she moults under the shower like Chewbacca!!) preceeded a delicious dinner of BBQ lamb (from a spit in the kitchen garden!) with heavenly salads, slices, bakes and potatoes freshly dug from the kitchen garden the day before - all so fresh and absolutely delicious. Then we hit the dance floor and had the best boogie that we've had in ages!! Heels flung off and shaking it all about with everyone for a few hours! We both had such a fun, enjoyable, entertaining, memorable night - what a wedding!!

Look who I caught up with a few Fridays ago! Rod and his gorgeous new lady Belinda, all the way from Melbourne! Actually, there are three of them in this pic, but one of them won't be making his/her appearance in the world until next year ;) Congrats guys!

Had a great weekend for Hamish's 40th birthday - as evidenced by this pic! Lots of great conversation, people, food and drink, and a 3am bed time - brilliant!

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth...!

Little Amelia (princess smiley) and Arthur having a cuddle...

You know, you just know, Arthur is going to be one heck of an entertaining teenager....current age: only 4! My little punk rocker...

New hair style! Got tired of long lanky locks that took forever to dry. It's been called 'rock chick', 'fresh' and 'bouncy' - not quite sure it's what I wanted, but it takes 5 minutes to dry and I love the colour the hairdresser put through!

and new hair from the side..didn't *quite* want so many layers but it'll grow out!

A perk of renting - when your oven breaks down, all you do is email your landlord and three days later your brand new oven has been ordered, delivered and fitted! Magnificent!

Little blondilocks Lauren with her first portrait! I see a resemblance...