A few photos from our recent weekend in Melbourne.

The x-rays after Nick's car accident last year were pretty horrific. The x-rays after his operation to meccano his elbow and bones back together were both horrific and intriguing. Nick had an idea that the x-rays would make an interesting piece of art - and the results are below. I was a bit apprehensive before I saw the finished product, but it does look good, primarily because it is not immediately obvious what the image is. What do you think?

Book: The Unknown Terrorist

Author: Richard Flanagan

Synopsis: Pole dancer, ‘The Doll’, is just trying to set herself up with a better life, but is inadvertently caught up and put in the centre of a terrorist plot in Sydney. She becomes the focus of the nation as facts are twisted and discarded in the quest for a good news story and the means for political ends.

Review: A classic tale of a person’s struggle to prove their innocence - in this story against the backdrop of terrorism paranoia. Unfortunately, this tale is somewhat not entirely fiction in recent Australian history (a la Mohamed Haneef) and the role of the media and authorities is not entirely unbelievable. At times the media snippets and overheard conversations are not convincingly ‘Australian’ – although who knows how Sydney-siders would react. A good commentary about our obsession with consumerism, money, and fear. With the GFC now overshadowing terrorism it feels a bit outdated – but a good reflection of Australia at the beginning of this century.

A related OMG, head-shaking moment.

ANZAC Day (25 April) was a beautiful day in Brisbane; maybe our last Summer day of the season. We spent the day celebrating Nick's nephew's birthday at Shorncliffe. Some photos here.

Also, they have painted some new street art at Mitchelton. Not complete yet, but bright and happy.