Life on the hill: competition

Showing posts with label competition. Show all posts

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Thank you

Well, this is a little embarrassing.

I was very surprised to receive an email the other night notifying me, that one of YOU, my lovely readers, nominated me for the Best Australian Blogs 2013 Competition. This is an initiative of the Australian Writers' Centre.

The People’s Choice Award is now open. Which means YOU can now vote in the competition until 5pm on Tuesday 30 April 2013. While the entrants to the competition needed to be Australian, voting is open internationally.

So, if you feeling that way inclined, click on the button below and select Life on the Hill.

Thank you to whoever nominated me. You made me feel very special.

There is an awful lot you CAN do in Canberra, just don't plan on doing it in a weekend.

Sunday morning I woke cranky, and overtired. I didn't think the hours difference due to daylight savings would wreck such havoc with my body clock. But that, and the incredibly full schedule for the day before, had me feeling somewhat exhausted.

Needless to say, I was grateful that the mornings proceedings involved brunch at the Australian National Botanical Gardens, where if you were so inclined you could go and meander through the beautiful walks, or do as I did, lay on a picnic blanket, and listen to the music, and eat the amazing food in the hamper made by Floresco in the Gardens, full of fresh produce featuring Australian bush foods.

After brunch we were off to the Old Bus Depot Markets and the Canberra Glassworks. Unfortunately, 45 minutes to go through the markets didn't do it the justice it deserved.

After speed shopping through the markets, we went on a tour of the Glassworks. Incredibly beautiful pieces of art, in the forms of bowls, vases, glasses, jewellery. The glassworks is housed in Canberra's oldest industrial building -

Canberra Glassworks is housed inside the existing fabric of the Kingston Powerhouse has carefully preserved the heritage values of this iconic Canberra building. Many of the original finishes and fittings remain and the building includes a range of heritage interpretation signage to give visitors a glimpse into the past life of the building.

The Kingston Powerhouse is Canberra’s oldest permanent public building. It was built between 1913 and 1915 and was designed by the Federal Government architect, J S Murdoch. Murdoch also designed other important heritage buildings in Canberra such as Old Parliament House and its East and West Blocks, Gorman House, the Hotel Canberra (now the Hyatt) and the Kurrajong Hotel.

The Powerhouse was originally intended to be a temporary structure and was used to supply Canberra with coal-generated electricity from 1915, continuing to operate as a powerhouse until 1957. - from the Canberra Glassworks

Look closely and you can see a face

While there we saw part of a demonstration of glass blowing occurring, an art form I have great admiration for. I know without any hesitation that I would have neither the patience or strength to do what they do.

Then we got to the bit I had been waiting for all weekend. The creative bit. We got to make our own glass tile. I love doing anything where I learn a new creative process, and this is a process that I would love to explore further. Unfortunately, I think it's an expensive medium to learn, so I will have to investigate that one further.

I am incredibly grateful to have been given the opportunity to participate in the human brochure. It was a huge undertaking. Other then being shattered by the time I got home on Sunday night, and at times feeling like I was on a travel agency junket, I did have a fabulous time. I had been to Canberra as a child of 9, then 12, when I did the obligatory school trip and then again as an adult. And I had always had the opinion that Canberra was a somewhat sterile city. My opinion was challenged and changed. It's a beautiful city, green, and clean, and rich with activities, places and experiences to be had by pretty much anyone.

Just don't plan on doing it all in a weekend.

Flying is ok as long as you don't have to do it in a plane

I'm not a good flyer. Why, I haven't quite worked out, because I've been on and off planes since I was six weeks old and left my birth place New Zealand.

The fact that I would have to actually get on a plane to get to Canberra to participate in the Human Brochure was something I kind of buried away in the back of my brain until Thursday. Then as I started working out what I was taking with me, throwing clothes onto the bed, the anxiety started leeching in. I tried ignoring it. Hah. Ever tried ignoring anxiety? It's like telling someone to not think of pink elephants.

The anxiety just continued to amp, as well as the excitement. And the self doubt. "Who do I think I am? Some refined travel blogger/ social media queen/ writer even?!" Then I reminded myself that I was chosen to go on this trip. Everything else is irrelevant. After trying to pack my bag, which succeeded in me running around from room to room forgetting what it was that I was actually trying to do, M said to me come and watch some TV. I had to pick Laura up from work at 9 anyway I told myself, I'd pack when I got home.

Instead I decided to go to bed, and dreamt of Eden and her trip to India. Who knows why. I've given up trying to figure out how my brain works. All I know is that I think she's a legend, even if she doesn't. And she inspires me to be better, speak louder, use my voice.

We set the alarm for 4.30. Kind of needed to, as otherwise the clothes that I had dumped on the lounge to take were not going to make it into the bag. I have a few lessons still to learn on being poised and organised from Nikki over at Styling You.

We managed to get out the door at 6.15, a good idea, because as soon as we hit the highway so were 1000s of other people. We arrived at the place we were leaving our car just before 7am, and took the free shuttle up the road to the airport. As I get closer to the airport, anxiety starts really letting itself known. Feeling my blood pumping, throat closing, skin tingling, we approached then Qantas check in.

This looks like the face of someone eagerly waiting to fly doesn't it?

Everything is becoming automated now. None of this walking up to a counter and speaking to a human. There are banks of check in machines - type your name in, select your flight, out spits your board pass and luggage stickers, which you have to stick on yourself, obviously. In amongst that process, as we were shown the seats we were allocated on the plane, there on the screen is one seat highlighted in one row, and another highlighted several rows back. I don't know what my face did, I just knew the rest of my body was about to launch into outer space! Thankfully M grabbed one of the humans milling around to assist and told them that I have panic attacks and are not a good flyer. He directed us to the customer service counter and they very kindly seated us together. Thank god, because I was shaking at this stage, and tears were very close to falling. Needless to say, I had another Valium.

Once we had ascended, and I was able to let go of my claw like grip on Ms thigh, I read. A few minutes out from descending into Canberra we hit some turbulence. My eyes slammed shut, and my claw returned to gripping Ms thigh. there was a little boy a few rows in front of us who squealed with delight, while I gripped Ms thigh harder. Stupid anxiety.

We arrived in Canberra at 11.30am. We had been told to look out for the humans carrying the The Human Brochure sign. It wasn't hard to miss. There were several different participants from different streams coming from Brisbane, so we had the opportunity to see which hotel each stream would be staying at. According to the twitter stream, all streams were happy with their accommodation. I was ecstatic with ours.

The Arts and Culture stream were staying at The Diamant, originally built in 1927, to house parliamentary staff. The building has been fully refurbished with some amazing artwork displayed throughout. The service was impeccable, and I would have to say probably one of the best hotels I have ever stayed at.

Chocolate Rocks came with the bill!

As we had a few hours to kill before the opening function at 6pm that night, I was able to catch up with family. They own a printing company Prinstant, and had very kindly made me my business cards. They gave us an impromptu tour of Canberra after we lunched at Rodney's in Pialligo, a lovely cafe set amongst the Nursery area.

Metaphorically wall hitting

Getting up at 4.30, and losing an hour resulted in M and I hitting the metaphorical wall at 3pm, and a much needed nap on our lovely king size bed was required. Otherwise I would be a babbling incoherent human at that nights function. (Who am I kidding, I was still a babbling incoherent human.)

I won something!

I enter lots of competitions. All the time. So many, that most of them I don't even remember entering them. This competition was one of them. Late last night I received notification that I had been selected as one of the 500 people to participate in the Human Brochure for Canberra.

I'm still in shock. A weekend away, doing something I love, immersing myself in art and culture. How lucky am I?

Thank you universe, I really needed this. Oh, and thank you Canberra for having me. Can't wait to get there!

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