Thought provoking Ideas from Venice Biennale a few years ago.

From the Edge - Ideas Aplenty

The theme of the Biennale is FROM THE EDGE.  Countries have more or less permanent exhibition buildings, where they interpreted this theme. Scandanavian countries banded together to a certain extent. The brand new Australian building is remarkable.  It was funded entirely by private money, no government went into this building. There is also a grand paladio-styled USA pavillion, France, Czech Republic, slovenia, Hungary, Netherlands, Egypt and a consortium of designers and architects housed in the Biennale building itself.

Look closely

This is from the architural Biennale. 2016

The Israel  Pavillion

I was drawn to this display under the Israel Pavillion because I thought it looked like the bamboo entrance at the Woodford folk festival, shown below.

Woodford Folk Festival 

However, this material is made by bacteria then extruded and made into poles. This means, unlike cement or wood, it is cheap, renewable and so sustainable. Good thinking from a country with few natural resources. I'm excited.

Reflections of Venice from a few years ago

Beautiful Venice, La Serenissima is in big trouble right now.  Acqua Alta


Venice Biennale-Architecture 2  - Australia

So we're peering into the architectural drawings, the footprints, the photos, the models and the tiny, tiny font to read the information from each country's interpretation of From The Edge. Brilliant stuff, Europe is concerned with housing millions of refugees, there are some brilliant, intelligent solutions , short medium and long term.  This is earnest stuff.

Then we walked into the new Australian Pavillion, it's a dark, plain even severe building.  I read somewhere that the architects wanted the art to speak, more than the building. It was a hot day. So what's in the building.......  the Australian Pavillion has a swimming pool.  Nothing to read, no drawings, no photos no tiny, tiny font to read. I flopped into one of the cool deck chairs on pool deck and listened to the voices. recognized the voices. We've been away a while so that was nice. I chuckled to myself thinking how lightweight Australia was..

I watched the reflections of the water.  Then the voice of Anna Funder talked about how important the pool was to all Australians finding a cool spot on a hot day,such fun for kids.  It means summer and freedom to kids. Yeah
Tim Flannery talked about what a waste a pool was, effectively, poisoning water with chlorine, just so we could swim in it.  Yeah.
Hetti Perkins talked about her dad, Charlie and the freedom rides in NSW in the late '60s. She said how pools outwest didnt allow indigenous people in.  Now the pools outwest, not only welcome all children, but the pool access has resulted in fewer ear infections, - This means better attention in schools, actually better hearing in schools, so children learn better.
They had a cute sign "AQUA PROFUNDA" up on the back wall.  Tbis was a nod to the Fitzroy pool, where there was a big Italian migrant population. The pool manager was so sick of fishing people out of the deep end that he put up sign in "Italian" aqua profunda, (spelt incorrectly in Italian hehe)

Public pools ARE big for Australians a serious cultural icon, a slice of our former lives, and really delicious on a hot day.

Clem Jones Class Morning Tea

Morning Tea 10th December at 11.00am 

Attention those happy folk and fellow athletes who attend Clem Jones Healthy Active class on Tuesdays -

A picnic table has been booked in the pool precinct for Tuesday 10th December, at 11.00am

I will bring Tea, Coffee Milk Sugar, Spoons.

Could you bring:-
A small plate to share
Your own mug.

Meanwhile see you in class

Class Details and dates

Ann Lear  Ph: 0431 223 190 

Email: annlear1@gmail.com

Blog:  annlearfitness.blogspot.com.au

NUNDAH
Mondays 8.00am               
 Nundah Activity Centre, Jenner Street, Nundah  4012

Lots of men are coming to the Nundah Class. There is always some H.I.I.T which is the fountain of youth for our mitochondria.

Aspley
Mondays 9.40am                 
Strong Bones Fusion, Aerobic Exercise, Yoga Strength, Weights, Pilates, Stretching, Balance            
Aspley Uniting Church, 748 Robinson Rd, Aspley. Qld  4034

Sandgate
Tuesdays 9.30am                Sandgate Town Hall

STRONG BONES, Fusion of Aerobic Exercise, Yoga Strength, Weights, Pilates, Stretching, Balance
Sandgate Town Hall, Brighton Road, Sandgate.  Qld. 4017  

Carina
Tuesdays 12 noon                         Clem Jones Centre,

STRONG BONES Light paced exercise, strength training in the gym, pilates, Yoga Stretching Clem Jones Centre, Zahel Street, Carina.  Qld.  4152  

Broccoli Leaves... Who knew?

My sister, Mary,  lives in San Diego.  She went to dinner to a Thai restaurant for her birthday.  She talked about a"roll up" dish which had broccoli  leaves as the outer wrap.  She said it was crunchy and delicious.   She referred me to this link- https://www.plantsmartliving.com/blog/top-10-reasons-why-you-should-eat-broccoli-leaves

There's a video clip of farmer Fred and some text listing the 10 reasons to eat broccoli leaves. The surprise for me was they are good for eye health.
It's well worth a look -

thanks Mary.

It's also thanks to Mary that I am growing pansies to eat.  At her daughter's wedding they served Vietnamese rice paper rolls that were wrapped to show the pansy flower inside..   talk about wow factor.

where is your head?

The Guardian , 25th November 2014 had a great article Homa Khaleeli:- " Tech Neck,  How smart phones are damaging our spines".

Here's the graphic from the article that I  have been talking about.

Eungella National Park.

We've  been camping at Broken River Bush Camp and we have seen platypus every time we've gone to the river.... every time.  From the bridge get a clear view of a large lagoon in the river.  It is, thus, easy to spot concentric ripples in the water, and if we keep looking,  sure enough, we see a platypus.    Parks and Wildlife have done a great job with the bridge, too. They've  included a boardwalk for pedestrians to which they have added soundproofing material.

"how's the serenity!"
By the way "Bush camping" means no power, no water, no flushing toilets.  It's been pretty cold, too.  However there are compensations.  The brilliant night sky, the campfire, the peace and quiet......

While we were at Carnavon Gorge there is a magnificent rock formation called the amphitheatre. It's like a tall cave with no roof.  Incredible acoustics!  We had the place to ourselves so I sang Ave Verum to the spirits.

A little further north

We're in Townsville  for 5 days. 

We've had a good look around the family haunts in Railway Estate and of course Castle Hill and Paleranda.  We took in the Jezzine War museum at Kissing Point.  There were lovely old guys who volunteer there and tell interesting stories. 

Townsville is unrecognizable.   The city streets seem much more open, more planting, well landscaped. The Strand is gorgeous and getting better, lots more cafes and bars and eateries. But the parkland and generous wide walkways really impress me. well lit at night too.

It's  been a pleasure to walk along the Strand in the morning and the evening.  It is a masterpiece in town planning. The proof of the pudding is in the use of the wide pedestrian boulevard, which are wide enough to take bicycles AND pedestrians. There are so many opportunities for physical activity.  So, there are people  of all ages making use of this space.  Wow.  A "cool" place to go in a tropical city.

We are situated next to the new Marina, in Mariners Drive. 9th floor. Fantastic views of Magnetic Island and Rowes Bay.

it is a nice change of pace from camping.

10,000 Steps? Some Good News

Turns out that there has never been any evidence that 10,000 steps is the magic number for health.  It is a nice round number, but that is about it. The Japanese guy who designed the current pedometer came up with 10,000 in the 1960's.

Now there's good news.  In the New York Times, Gretchen Reynolds is reporting a hefty new study with plenty of people and an impressive timeline.

There is a "sweet spot" around 4,500 steps that confers big benefit. 

Great news. 

That Vitamin Story.

Here is a link to the article in the New York Times.  This is new information which links hip fractures to these vitamins. .  I have had a look around the literature and previous advice says that B12 is water soluble.

Anyway here is a link to the article.  Judge for yourself.  Let me know what you think.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/28/well/live/high-doses-of-b-vitamins-tied-to-hip-fractures-in-women.html

Benefits of Exercise - it is never too late, but......

There have been many studies which show a link between exercise and longevity.  Many of these studies have been snapshots of peoples' exercise habits.  A new study reported in the New York Times has looked at the link between longevity and exercise over a lifetime.

Many people exercise or play sport when they are younger.  Then they may either discontinue physical activity or keep exercising the whole of their lives.

Then sometimes those who were inactive, start to join in activities in mid-life. Those who did recommence physical activity later in life were shown to have accrued almost the same benefits as those who exercised all along.  However, for everyone, if they discontinued the benefits ebbed away.

The lesson for us is never too late to start an exercise programme or class, but we must try to keep going, don't give up.  Let's keep our engines ticking over.

Botanic Gardens

Some people go shopping on their travels, everywhere I go, it is Botanical Gardens.  Those  in Washington DC are exceptional.  There's a huge greenhouse building with plants well set out and well labelled, thank you.  The plants are arranged properly  and every plant is a winner, so that  the overall effect is pleasing to the eye.  They have themed rooms. Desert, Mediterranean,  tropical food plants and medicinal plants etc.  My favourite  are those arranged in big blue pots. You know me, I  am a sucker for a blue ceramic pot.. It is very inspiring

And I love cinnamon

Beautifully proportioned garden

Tropical plants, coconut, coffee, vanilla 

Across the road is Bartholdi Gardens.  This is a triangular city block which is a Sustainable  Garden.  They capture and store all the rain water in a soil-soaker system so that it doesn't enter the drain. In the modern redesign, they've repurposed the concrete into channelling, they've made elegant stone wall out of paving found on site and they had to take down oak trees so they made them into furniture, i.e. lovely table and chairs to sit in, throughout the garden.  The guide said it was a model that people can learn from and to take these ideas home to their own garden. 
In Australia  we call it Permaculture -  permanent agriculture.

Botanical Gardens Washington DC  -These Bartholdi Gardens are sustainable.

Harvesting Carrots. an older photo

This is an old ;picture. Fantastic fun harvesting carrots.  My kitchen, under renovation in the picture, is now finished.

13 Hours is the Magic number - HOW Habit of the Week

The New York Times reports that sitting for more than 13 hours per day can undo the benefit of a workout. 

It is hard to imagine sitting for 13 hours, however, if you work at a desk 9 to 5, then commute home, then watch TV, the hours are ticking over. 

I'm trying to stand up a little more, but a workout is better, and more fun. 

I've been trying to cultivate some good habits, starting with a journal session in the morning followed by a morning walk.  However, it has been raining here, 48ml, so far, and it is a bit chilly.. So I've been dashing out in the garden digging up weeds. and Jerusalem Artichokes

The Habit of the Week  - HOW, is to keep track of those sitting hours. 

Back in the saddle again

It is great to be back home.  It has been fun seeing everyone.  I'm struck how beautiful it all looks, the rain has been falling in our absence, so everything is clean and green and the sky is bright.  I've been straightening up in the garden too.  The weeds have enjoyed the rain, there are plenty of flowers to pick and food harvests to eat.

Meanwhile, at work.
It was great to start back at Nundah, Aspley, Sandgate and Clem Jones.  The weather is so pleasant and cool.  It is perfect "workout weather" I am a bit rusty, but the classes were fun and effective.

However,  the public holidays will be affecting Monday classes. 
So it is a good idea to keep mobile by heading to the Sandgate class.  It is Tuesday, 9.30am/ It is held in Sandgate Town Hall.  It is a wonderful venue.  Parking in Second Avenue.

Boston, the birthplace of the nation

The finish line of the Boston Marathon

What a contrast between Viva Las Vegas and Boston Massachusetts. Las Vegas is all style, no substance, everything your eye falls upon in Las Vegas is a  "construct" either to put visitors in a party mood, or to extract money. 

Whereas Boston is all substance, and very understated. It was cold and windy.  Maximum 4 degrees celsius.  It is the windiest city in USA.   Turns out that Chicago is only "windy" because of all the hot air.   The Boston buildings are solid and beautiful, and old.  It was one of the first settlements of the English.  The American revolution was plotted there and many of the founding fathers lived there.  We went on a walking tour of the city, which included Boston Common and State Street, the Old English church, Benjamin Franklin's resting place and so many really interesting stories.  Our guide was an excellent story teller, but could not understand our accents.



We went to a grand concert. Dido and Aeneas, the Purcell opera. It was held in Jordan Hall a sumptuous Concert Hall.  Wow, Bostonians love their music.  It was a full house, the performance was magnificent.  We were able to walk to the venue. 

The children of Boston designed the characters on this merry-go-round.  Guess what?  No horses.

Edgar Allen Poe

This represents the arrival of the Irish during the Potato Famine Period- The small hunched over sculpture is the family as they were when they arrived.  The statue on the left is the same family, after settling in America- hale and hearty

Grand Canyon Pictures

One of the most interesting moments of the trip to the Grand Canyon was heading down to the river with a native American guide who came from this land.  He talked about the condor and other native animals that are definitely around, but are frightened off, a little, by the tourists. 

That Grand Canyon

The story starts in Las Vegas. We left San Diego and many happy times, the wedding celebrations and my birthday, lots of site-seeing  and family time. 

Then we went to crazy town, Las Vegas.  We went there primarily because  Don really wanted  to see the Grand Canyon.  We had teamed up with Cousin Iris and we went all out.

by bus- 4.30am pick up, 

plane to boulder City 

My tiny mind couldn't grasp the size of it all.  the plane flight over Hoover dam made me appreciate how dry everything else is, rather like flying to Longreach.

Helicopter down into the canyon was an adventure. though the pilot didn't speak at all, I guess he didn't have to 

After boat ride with an indigenous guy on the Colorado river itself, which was my highlight

We went back up the top

A bus ride around to a couple of spectacular lookouts.  At one of these spots is an ancient sacred site.  It is a massive eagle with it's wings spread open wide. At this spot were lots of security guys in high viz jackets, right at the edge of the canyon, who were telling people to keep back away from the edge, any time they came to close.  A Hong Kong guy had  died there just the day before trying to take photos too near the edge and he fell.

So, while Don took care, he also took some great photos, but it's hard to do justice to landscape on this scale.

By the way, cousin Iris was stricken with a bad tummy bug on the day we were leaving San Diego and she gave it all a miss.  She went to hospital instead to get treatment and, of course, a doctor's certificate to claim on her travel insurance. 

Meanwhile, Don will attach photos of the Grand Canyon in a later post

Stand by for the next episode. 

See you soon

Ann

San Diego, the Theatre

Cousin Iris and I went to the Globe theatre in Balboa Park and saw a performance of "Life After", more a drama set to music than a musical.  The story was subtly drawn and nuanced.  The acting was striking, just hitting the right note.  The music had to be considered in connection with the voices.  The singing was exquisite, because the vocal quality was superb. The music was tuneful.  The orchestra made the sound richer.. in a word.   WOW

As well,  it was nice to mix it up with the San Diego locals, rather than tourists.

Mindfulness - everywhere

I've been thinking about Mindfulness lately.  I've noticed it is everywhere at the moment.  Some friends are bravely undertaking the Michael Moseley "The Fast 800"  book challenge,  He strongly recommends meditation as one of the pillars of good health.
I love the "What I've Learned" channel on YouTube.  He says that meditation changes the default negative setting of your ever-chattering monkey mind and flexes your 'attention' muscle.

At Kali Gray's workshop last night, she talked about the skill of Mindful Eating.

One of my class members sent me the March Mindfulness Calendar.  It has a little thought for each day, which would provoke gratitude and being in the moment.

Woodford Folk Festival - noticing interesting stuff

My Food Culture

I went to an excellent workshop "Freedom from Dieting"  It was by "My Food Culture" Kali Gray.  It was full of fantastic ideas.  She is a professional, qualified, practising dietitian with some revolutionary ideas.

check it out in the link below:-

My Food Culture

I wish everyone could have heard her presentation.  

Aqua Aerobics in January

A spot of gardening

Ann Lear Fitness on Facebook

I have taken the giant leap and I have a facebook page for my classes.
Have a look at Ann Lear Fitness on Facebook.

Heading back down the hill

On Monday, 21st January, at 8.00am the class at Nundah Activity Centre will be starting for the year.  I will be so pleased to see everyone. I am grateful that our beautiful spacious room is air-conditioned.  Meanwhile, I am going for my long Sunday walk.  It is quite steep in parts and gets the heart going.  

Sandgate Town Hall, Tuesday 9.30am is commencing 22nd January - God bless air-conditioning. 

Clem Jones Centre, Carina 12.00 noon Tuesdays.

Over the holidays I have been studying Functional Training.  This is a subject that involves more interesting and complex movement, which is more like moving in everyday life.