ngaio marsh's library

This is such a beautiful room.

The library in the Ngaio Marsh House in Christchurch, New Zealand.

The Ngaio Marsh House was fortunate to escape the 

Christchurch earthquakes with minimal obvious damage (report here).

Image: christchurch city libraries flickr via the captive reader

Feline Mascot

"The feline mascot of the light cruiser HMAS Encounter,

peering from the muzzle of a 6 inch gun" (World War I):

Australian War Memorial collection (no. 304910).
Image source: Australian War Memorial.

Brack

Loved the John Brack exhibition at the Art Gallery of South Australia.

John Brack: Latin American Grand Final, 1969.
Oil on canvas, 167.5 x 205.0 cm; NGA, Canberra; © Helen Brack.

John Brack: The new house, 1953
Oil on canvas on board, 127.0 x 55.8 cm; Private collection, Brisbane; ; © Helen Brack.

John Brack: Collins St, 5p.m., 1955
Oil on canvas, 114.6 x 162.9 cm; NGV, Melbourne; © National Gallery of Victoria.

Image sources: National Gallery of Victoria.

Exploding Rats

The Australian War Memorial currently has an exhibition on animals in war ('A is for Animals') and the latest issue of their magazine Wartime features the 'exploding rat' developed by the Special Operations Executive. There's an 'interactive' display at the UK National Archives site (source of the above image). On the Australian War Memorial site one can also read about the Dickin Medal ("the animals' VC").

Things I Must See

Ever since I saw a poster of this vase about 15 years ago, I have had the Musée Guimet high on my list of Things I Must See. I am determined to get there next year. The web site says it is temporarily closed due to a "serious technical injury" (one hopes it is not the smashing of this vase; cf. the Fitzwilliam Museum debacle).

Mille Fleurs famille rose vase. China, c. 1736-1795 (H. 48cm). Image source: Musée Guimet, Paris (inv. no. G 3444). The web site is a nice one, and you can send yourself a postcard of various lovely things.