Willbanks' Down Under: 400 + 296 Weeks

This week Jeffrey and I took a road trip all the way up to Murrarundi, about seven hours northwest in the Upper Hunter, for the reception of my show with Michael Reid. It was a very long drive. We left on Friday morning, and returned Sunday evening. Murrarundi is a town of only about 900 people, on the New England Highway. It is in the middle of a severe drought, so everything was brown and dusty. It was really like a twilight zone, with two pubs, one little supermarket, a few cafes, a pharmacy and a bowling club with a Chinese restaurant. Even the swimming pool had dried up. It would have been lovely to see the place all green and lush. There was a biker convention going on, so Jeff and I took a trip through the countryside to check that out. And the place we stayed in was a lovely little converted stable, that was beautifully done up but rather loud as it was right on the highway. Anyway, back to the important stuff. In this tiny town lives my art dealer Michael Reid, and he has created this beautiful oasis that houses his Murra gallery and a store. My reception was rather slow, but the good news was I got a chance to chat with Michael at length and get to know him better. I met a handful of interesting people, and my Aussie bestie Ciri showed up, having driven in from Newcastle. It was so good to see her. Anyway, upon arrival to the gallery I was told that they had sold two more paintings, to make 9 out of 14 sold so far, one of which was heading to an Australian embassy in Iran. And the other brilliant news was that one of my paintings has been purchased by Parliament House in Canberra to go in their permanent art collection. This is such a big deal, and I was (and still am, to be honest) truly stunned. Michael has given me advice on which direction to take next, and now I am all set to start painting again for my show next year, as well as a mini show in six months. Anyway, after the reception Ciri, Jeffrey and I went back to our Air B&B, and then decided to head to the tiny supermarket to buy ingredients for a home cooked meal. But alas, the supermarket was closed, so we were forced to wait and go to the Chinese restaurant at the bowling club. It actually turned into a decent meal, and it was really good to spend time with Ciri again. After dinner Ciri returned to our place for a glass of wine, and then off to bed early, as Michael had invited us to coffee in the morning before our long drive home. And then we did that long drive home. And yes, it was long!

Meanwhile the kids had spent the weekend at home being looked after by Lolo and Dida. Arley had gotten quite sick on the Friday night and was hit hard on the Saturday, which is fairly typical of things to happen when we go away. The kids had a lovely time with their grand parents. They took them to the Milton show, which the kids are still talking about, and to the swimming pool. They had a great time, and when we got home, they were really good. Usually they are out of sorts, and Arley is really disregulated, but not so much this time, and I am very thankful.

I have had some other good news too. Avis rental car is hiring six artists this year to travel to three different destinations in Australia, armed with a top of the line rental car, and all food and accommodation paid for, and they have asked me to be one of the six! I will be painting a rendition of my take on each destination, and the paintings will be used in an advertising campaign on billboards, at the airports and in Qantas magazine, across Australia and New Zealand, for a year. When asked where I wanted to go, I chose Adelaide, so I can go to the Barossa Valley and Kangaroo Island, and one more destination of their choosing. I don't know if I will get Adelaide, and I don't know when I will be travelling, but it could be in as little as two weeks, or as far away as July. I will be gone for about a week, leaving Jeff at home with the kids alone. I am in a total panic about leaving them, as I wouldn't want to slog it alone for a week, but at the same time I am so unbelievably excited to travel and have a break!! I can't quite believe this is happening to me either. So, the three paintings, coupled with all the work I have to start for my next show, and the two commissions I already have, I am so ridiculously busy. Somehow I have to figure out this whole homeschooling the kids while I work business, but I'm just taking one day at a time.

We had one little adventure out with the kids this week, to Dolphin Point, one of my all-time favourite places. It is so serene there. And of course Carmie ended up stripping down to her undies and left her clothes and shoes strewn in various locations on the sand, to go for a swim. She just can't help herself. The kids also had a play at the park, and continued their therapies. We tried out a support worker this week. It is a guy in his late twenties who is going to come around and play with the kids, backing up what they do in therapy, and to give me some respite. I honestly don't know what I would do without this NDIS package that I got, and I am so grateful. Arley has benefitted so much from all of the therapy we have been able to give him. He was up and down this week, but that is to be expected with being sick and his mum and dad being gone. And Carmie is a goof and a brain and socially awkward and is totally amazing, albeit with really dreadful table manners :)

Our accommodation in Murrarundi