We’re trying to tidy the last of 2012 up before we launch into the new year. Melbs was wunnerful, as usual (on account of being furiously short and sweet) but pretty full on. And mainly, of course, it was the full Sicilian-o-rama, given that it was Nonna’s 102 birthday.

She’d had the formal 100th at the Ramacca Club, and then the 101st at Flinders, and so this year they decided to mix it up a bit and go village (as in have it in the garage like the good old days.) So how many Sicilians can you squeeze into a garage? 60 – we kid you not!!

 

 

It was a hoot. Even the pasta arrived in time-honoured village style…

 

 

And the odometer’s been turned over – Nonna’s back to only having to blow out two candles…

 

 

It was lovely. And incredible to see Carmella in such good nick; she’s quite amazing.

 

 

Anyhoo, when we weren’t being Nonna-centric we did a dash around the old haunts, as you do…

 

 

Lunch at Young & Jackson’s now has the added attraction of police performance art; watching the coppers nab people for jay walking as they stream out of Flinders Street Station. Unbelievable. Three of them netting unsuspecting peeps at every light change, at around $75 a pop. They made an absolute killing in the time that we were there.

 

 

It was very entertaining in a fascinatingly horrible sort of way.

 

 

Dear oh dear.

The only art that we caught was incidental and convenient, like the Blender Lane Studios (across the road from Granny’s)…

 

 

…and American artist Patrick Dougherty’s Stickwork at Fed Square (cos it was on our way to see Ian Mowbray’s new work at the Ian Potter)…

 

 

And that (the latter) was our dedicated cultural highlight for the trip; catching up with Ian and swinging through Containment: 2012 Cicely and Colin Rigg Contemporary Design Award (stunning show, on until late July 2013.) Ian’s continuing the Souvenirs of my family series begun for Tour de Force: in case of Emergency break glass. He’s made another ten for Containment (and has his sights set on 60 all up!!)  Too good.

 

 

Oh yes, and we took lots of snaps of macaroons for Dira (cos she’s into them at the moment, big time)…

 

 

And then it was all over in the blink of an eye. Sammy Jo flew back out on the Friday arvo, boo hoo, and we moseyed home for a restful change-over week at the BVRG (yes, we are being ironic…)

Happy days here.