By Silken Threads We Connect

Despite hot, sticky and inclement weather . . I don't think I'll ever get used to warm torrential rain . . . today we popped over to the business end of the Powerhouse Museum to see something rather special.

The Powerhouse Museum is so named because it's now located in the converted Pyrmont Powerhouse in Sydney's inner west. It's a modern technology museum with everything from fashion to science, environmental gagetry and space travel. We love it but literally 1km from our house, is the 'business end' of the museum. Their storage facility and the place where large exhibits are renovated and restored, where tiny exhibits are lovingly placed in sliding hermetically sealed drawers and once a month, an open day is run by volunteers.

Much fun and while it isn't your 'traditional' museum, much more industrial and authentic than most, we had fun wondering around.

This Saturday, the open day featured a quilt. A rather special quilt where three of Clare's friends had contributed a 'square' to the main feature. The project was initiated by a Melbourne girl to create a friendship quilt in red and white. Where each participant made a square and contributed to the whole. Three sisters, friends of Clare's, each made their own panel.


Also, because today is the first day of the Chinese New Year (although celebrations do not culminate until the end of February) we were also given a display of lion dancing and cymbals and drums by the local Chinese troop.

The lion waits atop a drum . . .

Not so spectacular without the sound of drums and cymbals. . .

So, as I sit here now at 6:55 having been to the Powerhouse open day, enjoyed some lion dancing and had the most wonderful seafood lunch with an old work colleague and his delightful wife . . including a serenade from the rather sweet long haired Chihuahua named 'Chicka' who likes to sing along to Shaggy . . .I am replete. Friends remembered and friends rediscovered.

I don't care about the drip in my ceiling being caught by a red bucket in the middle of the lounge, or the torrential downpour, or the lizard poo on the carpet. . . I needed a day like today to remind me that there are bonds in friendship that go beyond red silk and the passage of time.

Yes, my roof is leaking . . .such is the downpour

Thank you Emily for making us aware and thank you Henk and Marion for your hospitality. Friends are like silk. Natural, sticky, colourful, delicate but have the strength to endure.

For the first time in a long time . . .I am feeling very, very happy. Now I must away and vacuum up the poo.