The Kronikles of Tony and Ruth
Day 12 - Tuesday 11 July 2006
Birdcalls, different to the Evans Head parrots’, greet us at breakfast. “Butcher Bird” suggests Merv. After the meal and X-word the four of us chat our way to the Indooroopilly Mall. The precinct is notably clean and sparkling. The four of us split up, myself going to shop for some clothes. “ Try the mature section,” I’m advised after a fruitless fossick. In the “mature” section I strike a gorgeous and very helpful blonde saleswoman from heaven and in record time I’m walking out with five expensive articles. (including a pair of ¾ tropical pants that I had sworn never to wear)
After coffees we drive through Merv’s old uni – the University of Queensland – to Guyett Park . There we catch the City Cat that drops us at Southbank, the site of the Expo ’88. I love the feel of this area: there are eateries, sculpture works, striking landscaping and buildings. We wander down a huge contemporary arbour of Bougainvilleas in bloom. A magic experience. Lunch is taken followed by a visit to the Art Gallery. Two hours later we are arted out and catch the ferry back to Guyett Park. Merv takes us for a tour of his favourite Queenslanders (see Appendix 8)
Grilled salmon steaks are enjoyed for dinner. Ruth books our air tickets for Townsville. I watch “South Park” in one of the many TV rooms and we have a super early night at 9PM.
APPENDIX
Queenslanders – a type of housing particularly suited to the Queensland climate. They are built on stilts, the sides of the house open up and the roof is vented. All this is carried out to allow the free circulation of the cooler evening air. Timber lattice panels are freely used.
Mervyn,Liisa Byrne & the Kulas, Southbank, Brisbane
