Hap, hap, happy new year!

Good morning everyone! How's your 2013 going so far? Headache resolved? Resolutions made? Boxing day sales assaulted? 

I've had a cruisey few weeks - well, in the sense I've been house-bound, with a chest infection and spent a bit of self-imposed quarantine time on the couch. Sad face. I have had time to do a  bit of online shopping - especially in REread's shop. I've stocked up on some very funny cards for the year ahead. I also went to the Goldie to see in the new year in true Jane Austen style, for some healing  sea air.

It's been a few years since I've kicked off the blog with a 'year-in-review-in-pictures'. Last time I had to do some fast-footed editing with a prologue to the post. This year we've been spared natural disasters - things might have gone a little bit differently if the Mayan calendar/oreo cookie predictions were correct!

So, last year...

I had a haircut,

walked home from work more, 

did a bit more sport,

lured participants to do research at work,

went on some walks with friends,

and celebrated other friends' birthdays,

had a few trips to Melbourne,

to Canberra,

and to Tasmania, where we saw some old bridges, buildings, beaches and rocks, as well as some old and new art.

I also marvelled at the inventiveness of boat-namers.

I saw some pretty lights in Brisbane,

and found a new favourite website.

I did some BrisStyle markets,

and needed some slave labour assistance in the lead up to some of them.

The end of the year involved lunching with ladies,

and drinking with old friends.... 

The winner was Syd-den-ney

I had a recent trip to Sydney to spend time with 2,300 of my closest dietitian friends. One of my most favourite parts of the conference, aside from attending lectures by clever people with whom I became familiar from looking at their names on the spines of our text books, was a plenary session on the final day by a Japanese presenter. We learnt about Shokuiku, the law where every school must have a dietitian (yay!) - not to cook the food (!), but to advise on nutritious school menus and incorporate nutrition education in to the children's days. Sorry for the poor quality of these photos, but they were snapped in the talk ... 

In this school (?all/?most) schools, the food comes from local, named families. 

These kids got a kick out eating their own handiwork. 

And local famers regularly spoke with kids to provide context and the background process to their school meal production. Do you know where *your* lunch leeks come from?

After the conference I spent a few days pottering around Sydney. I made tracks to the State Library of NSW. My beeline was to see the wonderful Patrick White exhibition. It contained some of his (believed to be burned) papers, plenty of photographs, early edited manuscripts, and even some of his old recipes.... You've got until the 28th October to see it. Do yourself a favour! 

Patrick and his cat, Tom Jones.

We also popped in to Aria for a spot of tea one night.

And took the ferry across to Milson's Point for another quick snack.

To fill in time before going out to the airport I explored the new wing of the Museum of Contemporary Art. I apologise in advance that I didn't take down any of the artists names, but if you like the look of any of these pieces, I'd recommend a trip to Circular Quay to check it out.

MCA entrance

Having bad cakes and coffee on the 4th floor cafe I was reminded how beautiful Sydney was (even with 'the Toaster' featuring so prominently).