Next I was off to BRISBANE, where I stayed with my old friend Jane Brazier.  Jane'd had a baby in August, and little Jonathan was three months old and quite cute by the time I came to visit.  He had learned to smile, was great at cuddling, and loved to be rocked.  Not much of a conversationalist, but very adorable.

Jean-Michel, Jane and baby Jonathan

Jean Michel, Jane's partner, now works for the Queensland government performing arts center, and got us free tickets (and quit nice ones) to see Noel Coward's Private Lives and Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor. Ian, Jane's brother, was a bit of a challenge to track down (his cell phone had gone wonky), but we had a few chances to meet and catch up. And I had a nice dinner with Christine and David Galbraith, saw their gorgeous new house (right on a creek) and then went birding.

Jane and I traveled around a bit locally, with baby in tow.  We visited the botanical gardens, the arboretum, the university museums, Brisbane Forest Park and Tamborine Mountain. 

It was quite dry–there's been drought for a few years now, and the reservoirs are almost empty–and there were bush fires about.  We also drove up to visit Greg in Noosa, taking baby on his first overnight outing.

 

We had a nice weekend with Greg, a few nice drives, but mostly talking, drinks and snacks. And a lovely dinner, of course.

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