Sunday, January 18, 2015

LOOKING BACK


A deep waterhole in a local creek, a tree perched high on the bank, a few ropes and you have the traditional Australian Summer holiday pastime for local kids...

Walking along here regularly, I hear the squeals and splashes as one after another they swing out on the ropes and drop into the pool.
As kids have done for generations.
A perfect way to beat the heat - as long as they take care...

The Media have been telling us this week that this is the Hottest Summer for 50 years, 100 years, or since recording it began or whatever.
We were told the same thing in 2013, and 2014..
The truth is out there somewhere - but there is no doubt it is still Awfully Hot!


For some respite, Mr Cardinal and I hotfooted it took the bus to City Hall, and the City of Brisbane Museum.

If you are planning to go to this exhibition, and don't wish to know what is there, Look Away Now..

No photography allowed, but we had a marvelous time checking out dozens of costumes from Hollywood movies, 1930s -1970s.
Thanks to Mr Google, I found a few of them online:


Elizabeth Taylor's lilac sprigged crinoline from Raintree County -
 accessories included..


Bette Davis dressed as another Elizabeth, in The Virgin Queen..


Be still my heart:
Yul Brunner as Ramses in The Ten Commandments.
Collar and belt only.  Fair enough.


Barbara Stanwyck wore this classic black gown in the original Titanic movie, 1953...


and Barbra Streisand, this fabulous velvet number in Funny Girl, 1968.


This one is for you, Amy:
Beautifully preserved, a check dress and little red jacket, worn by Katharine Hepburn as Jo in the 1933 version of Little Women.
And on it went...

Scenes from each movie, featuring the costumes, run behind the displays..

Movie buff or not,
 this is an excellent way to pass a few hours while keeping cool.


Over in Merrie Olde England, Kate is looking cute in her sixth month, with less of a bump than I have any day of the week..


Tomorrow is my dear mother's seventh anniversary;
it is hard to believe seven years have passed already.
We visited my Dad and took him to put flowers on her headstone.
He understood, and was very grateful.
I thought it was sweet when he said 'She was very talented.  
She was really good at sewing'
Bless him...
She was really very good at a great number of things, was my Mum.


Have a happy week

XXXX








43 comments:

  1. What a nice post. It is short sighted I think to stop people taking photos of exhibtions. So often I have gone to one because I have seen someone blog about it.

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    1. Thank you Jenny. With good cameras on every mobile phone, times are changing - some places just have not caught up yet! I guess there are copyright issues with the Hollywood collection. Still, I read the other day that the Australian National Gallery is lifting the ban on photography of its collection, one of the last big galleries in Australia to do so. We noticed in Europe that even with old signage forbidding it, most people were taking pictures of the art.

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  2. I enjoyed your post Trish and my it has been hot.! I have had a number of small grandchildren leaping into my pool the past little whilst squealing with glee. The exhibition looks lovely x

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    1. Hello Michelle, how fun is that, having grandchildren in your pool. Lovely. The Hollywood show is magic! x

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  3. Your weather is hot, hot, hot Patricia - apparently we are enjoying our warmest winter for years too, although I think I had better say that very quietly in case it changes its mind.
    As Jenny mentioned, I don't understand why photos are not allowed these days. It is not necessary to use flash with a digital camera so where is the harm?

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    1. No harm at all, with the new cameras Rosemary. I think old habits die hard, and some museums have not caught up with the times. It was disappointing however, as it would have been lots of fun to capture them all for myself.
      Global warming continues unabated, I fear. A warmest winter is probably very nice in UK climes, nonetheless.

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  4. That first picture looks idyllic. And the exhibition is one that I would enjoy very much. Like others, I get a bit cross about the 'no photography' thing, provided flash is not used, it's respectful to others and it's not someone's private home. As to your mother; people you love never really leave you, do they?

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    1. It is really pretty down by our local creek and I never tire of going there, Mike. These days, we expect to take a photo of what we see, and yes, it was rather disappointing to see the ban in place.
      So true, as long as we remember, our mothers live on in our lives.

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  5. Lovely post Patricia and I loved all the film costumes. I guess you have gotten used to these high temperatures having lived there all your life but I couldn't cope I'm sure. We're currently looking for a holiday destination in Greece, but it has to be during the early or late season so as to avoid the heat. 23degrees and I'm happy! We never forget our mums do we, I still think I can ring mine to ask her opinion on something or a recipe etc even though she passed 9 years ago! Enjoy your week

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    1. No way do I get used to these temperatures, P. :) We all complain about it, and it really is getting much worse these days, with the global warming. 23 degrees would make me very happy too, which is why we try to travel in Spring or Autumn.
      I 'phone' my mother in my head - have a little chat now and then. Of course we never forget them. Poor Dad got confused at one stage and asked 'Did you know her?". Oh dear...

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  6. The exhibition looks like it was great way to spend a few hours, out of the heat and immersed in the glory days of the film industry. I'm so glad you dad realized where he was when you took him to place the flowers on your Mum's headstone. Those pangs of missing a parent never really go away, do they? Last week when I was shopping for some unknown reason thoughts of my dad popped into my head, and just as quickly tears in my eyes.

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    1. I do understand Kristie, and sometimes I have that experience too - a lump in the throat and a tear in the eye. We never forget them.
      I was glad Dad was having a good day and was happy with the expedition, especially that I had brought flowers. Because of the heat, we had to be quick, only about 10 minutes.

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  7. You found a good place to get away from the heat. But hiding in cool places for days after days must get on the nerves.
    Thank you providing us with great pictures: ).
    So nice of you to host your dad on the specific day. How does he manage the heat?

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    1. You are absolutely right, Mette, the hiding out is definitely getting on my nerves. We have to close off sections of the house because we only have air-con in one area, and I have to find things to do in there. Also have not been able to go walking for about five days.
      The heat is too much for the elderly. His rest home is completely air-conditioned, and we get him to the car as quickly as we can manage. At the cemetery, thankfully we could drive quite close to the gravestone, and only spent 10 minutes there. Truth to tell, he would not survive very long if left out in those temperatures!

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  8. Hello Patricia,
    To swing from the rope and drop into a pool of water is the best fun. The exhibition looks very interesting. I agree it is shortsighted of the museum to not allow photos. I wonder what their logic is? No doubt your father appreciated bring taken to your mother's place of rest. The roses are beautiful.

    Helen xx

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    1. Hello Helen, Yes, a time-honoured activity, dropping in a cool deep pool on a very hot day. It is nice to hear the joy of the children. Regarding the photography, I guess it might be a stipulation from the Hollywood authorities who sent the exhibition. However, with modern iphones, no doubt some people are 'cheating'. xx

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  9. I would love to see those costumes. I once had a job making theater costumes and it was hard work but I learned so much and really began to appreciate fashion and design. I hope you're able to stay cool. You ought to try swinging into that water yourself! :)

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    1. What an excellent job to have done, Jennifer. Costumes are like fashion but with more impact, better embellishments, etc. I am sure you learnt a lot doing that. Oh no, I am too chicken by far to swing into the water. But I probably would have when I was about 10 years old!

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  10. Oh be still my beating heart!! You know why!! Your Mum was obviously a wonderful lady. She must have been to have you as a daughter! xx

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    1. Thank you Amy, that is so sweet of you. I told Dad that Mum had taught me to sew, from the age of four. Sadly, he got confused and said 'Did you know her?". I guess he was a bit overwhelmed by the situation. xx

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  11. Hi Patricia!
    That swimming hole is fantastic!
    You certainly get around to a lot of events...
    Bless your Dad's heart♥️
    So sad.....when you lose your life long partner...
    Enjoy your week ahead...
    Thanks for always visiting me....
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

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    1. Hi Linda, I like visiting your blog. It takes me to Canada, the land of the cute grandchildren!
      Thank you for visiting me too. I wish I knew how you do that little heart.
      Cheers, P.

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    2. I loaded up Emoji....emoticons
      I used to make it with the keyboard, but then I switched to an Apple and my Ipad.....
      Google how to make a heart on the keyboard....
      Sorry....but I don't remember....honest♥️
      Cheers!
      Linda :o)

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  12. very cool pictures Patricia :-)
    Elisabeth Taylor was really magnificent ! just beautiful..
    have a great week.

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    1. I like Liz too - they even had a wig she wore in Cleopatra (a film I love)!

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  13. Seven years, it goes by so quickly. I think when yearly anniversaries come up, time changes, the cogs of time recalibrate and we somehow how slip into that feeling of it happening yesterday.

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    1. So true, Tabitha. A perfect description of the process. Today I am remembering, for me and for my father, who will have forgotten all about it! Maybe just as well...

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  14. You would enjoy the costumes, Val - movie history plus interesting garment construction. The black gown was perfection, a bit of sparkle and a lot of elegance.
    Archibald Prize time: of course, had forgotten about it. Must be time to go back to Sydney :)

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  15. Lovely memories of Mrs B who as you know had so much in common with my Mum, including the sewing! In a few weeks it will be my Mum's 16 years anniversary and I still think of her a lot including scanning my memory at times for "what would Mum have done" information.

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    1. Sixteen years! It is hard to believe, where have the years gone. They live on in our minds, our mothers, and yes, they did many of the same things. Gifted!

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  16. Patricia,
    Elizabeth Taylor was sure a beauty in her day. I can't tell you how many times I've watch The Ten Commandments with Yul Brunner.

    I'm sure this is a hard time for you, as you're missing your dear mom. How sweet that your dad said, "she was really good at sewing." For me, it's been about five years since my mom passed, and she was a great seamstress too. A beautiful pink rose to remember your precious mom.

    Your posts are always so pleasant to me, my friend.

    love, ~Sheri

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    1. Same here, Sheri. We always liked to watch The Ten Commandments at Easter on TV, but they no longer show it here. So we bought our own DVD copy! That is nice to know, your mother also was a seamstress. All the nicest people sew :)
      Pink and blue always remind me of my mother. Glad you popped by, Sheri. x

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  17. It's awfully cold here....time does fly by with alarming speed but the rose is utterly beautiful!!

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    1. Hi, and welcome to my blog! Time flies, and roses mark our passage. Love growing roses... Keep warm!

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  18. Thanks for the reminder of the "old swimming hole". Haven't seen one of those for ages. It must have been fun to see the costumes, you do get to a lot of museums don't you? Lovely that you took your Dad out and that he remembered a sweet memory of your Mother.

    Darla

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    1. Ye old swimming hole appears a lot in literature and art, doesn't it!?
      Loved the costumes, and I suppose we do go to lots of museums. Always loved history, that's why I work in a museum, I guess.
      Dad is getting frail, we wonder when each time will be the last...

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  19. Enjoyed your lovely post my dear! Big hugs on your Mother's anniversary. xo

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    1. Thank you, Tamera, and welcome! Hugs are always nice, :) xo

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  20. A lovely post, Patricia. Those Hollywood costumes are so wonderfully lavish, aren't they?
    I'm glad your Dad still remembers your mother's talents amid his memory loss. Your memories of her must be very sharp and clear and mine of my mother are too, even 32 years after her death.

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    1. Thank you Perpetua, the costumes were great.
      I was relieved that Dad did remember Mum correctly, and didn't get her mixed up with his own mother. 32 years is a long time; you lost your mother quite young, sadly. I am sure she lives on in your memory too.

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  21. Mum's are wonderful and they never leave us. My mum died back in 1991 and the memory of her is still very strong. Hugs Suzy ♥

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  22. 1991 is a long time ago, Suzy. Like all of us though, you have her in your memory and she lives on in you. hugs xx

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