Small Man, who is studying for his HSC (matriculation) exams, desperately needed some R&R. So last Friday, we drove out to Penrith to the iFly Indoor Skydiving Centre…
Our son, who passionately enjoys this sport, launched himself into the wind tunnel with enormous glee…
I had great fun playing with the slow motion setting on my new iPhone…
When the kids were finished (Big Boy and Monkey Girl both flew as well), we had a chance to watch the experts hone their skills…
Their instructor Mark then had his turn…
It’s a fabulous (if expensive) way to work off a little tension. Small Man is very keen to go back, so we’ll try and find another time for him after the HSC trial exams.
Penrith is an hour’s drive from home, so it was 5pm by the time we came home. Instead of cooking dinner, we all hopped onto the Light Rail and went into town to Big Boy and Monkey Girl’s favourite sushi restaurant (Umi Sushi Haymarket). Pete studied their huge long fish tank very carefully – it was very clean and well maintained…
The sushi was very good, and we were amazed that you could have a whole scampi for $6.50…
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On Saturday morning, Pete and I popped into the Rocks. We were greeted by the most amazing view from the platform at Circular Quay station…
The Museum of Contemporary Art have a new exhibition on display called Energies: Haines & Hinterding, showcasing the work of Australian artists David Haines and Joyce Hinterding (both based locally in the Blue Mountains). It’s a very unusual collection which allows the viewer to experience unseen energies through visual and audio mediums.
In the Level 1 Gallery, the large Haines installation Geology lets the spectator interact and control an enormous video display. The photos below are of Pete conducting the creation of the planet…
A large part of the collection is audio-based. By tracing the black ink lines with their fingers, viewers can cause changes to the radio signals which are being transmitted through the headphones…
These large radio antennas capture the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sun and transform it into audible sounds. In effect, this artwork allowed us to “listen” to the sun (although as Pete pointed out, there is no actual sound in the sun because there’s no air – I was very glad to have him with me when visiting this exhibition)…
Yet another radio antenna, this one being very long wave, captured invisible energies from all around and converted them into static which could be heard through the accompanying headphones. To be honest, I was a bit over static by this point…
…but I was very taken by how the wires inadvertently turned the regular studio lights into a multi-faceted beam…
I stood there for ages studying how the beam of light split halfway through and touched the ground at two separate points. It was non-existent from the other side of the artwork. No one else seemed to notice, but I was completely entranced…
After viewing the exhibition, we went to the MCA Cafe on the top floor for a quick lunch. The view from the roof is always grand, but this was the first time I’d seen this statue…
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Strolling through the Rocks Markets after leaving the MCA, we paid a visit to our fossil friend Tom. He had a couple of irresistible new treasures, including this amazing and rare (but fragile) black amethyst crystal formation…
This small block of dendritic limestone is also known as a picture stone. These are often described as “nature’s paintings” and I find them fascinating. I can see faces in this one, can you? (At the bottom, in the middle.)
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Hope you’re all having a glorious weekend!
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
What a great way to get some R&R from the rigours of studying! I love how much you love indoor skydiving :D
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if every high school had a section dedicated to fun stuff for kids to do to “blow off steam”?
Those wind tunnels are amazing! If I ever get to one I will definitely give it a try!
You see and do some wonderful things Celia…and it always feels like a mini tour of Sydney, I love it x
WOW! What an amazing post dear Celia, fascinated me. Thank you, love, nia
Looks like a very happy family weekend, Celia. The Bloke and I have just driven home from Melbourne after spending a couple of days catching up with old friends. Food and football (for him, at least) was the theme for us.
I am enjoying my weekend, thank you – but wow, indoor skydiving! I’ve never heard of it. Also a fantastically zany art exhibition. Sydney is such a great city.
That indoor skydiving looks like it would be an absolute blast! The MCA has some brilliant exhibitions, a good reason to return to Sydney sooner than later I think. Have you ever tried the Portobello Caffe near the Opera house? I had the most amazing bread there (fig & walnut I’d say) and I’d love to know if they make it or source it from a local bakery as I’m keen to try and replicate it. I can see a coral reef in that last photo. It actually reminds me of a Fed Williams painting too!
Oh Celia! I wish I knew you were at Panthers Friday! We are usually at Cables Water Ski Park right behind the iFly venue! I would’ve dropped in & said hello! Oh well – glad to see you all enjoyed the outing… Xx
It would have been lovely to say hi! Hope you had fun water skiing, but wasn’t it freezing? ;-)
Haha Celia! The only time you’ll see me waterskiing would be on a virtual video game! Our homeschool group gets together for lunch & free play on the large air trampoline Cables have. We also get free view of all the cable skiers doing their their wonderful stunts! I’m a watcher Celia- not a skier! Hehe. Wish you were there. :)
I love to see all the exciting things you do with the family…it’s good to have some down time together :) Love the museum and especially the statue.
I always enjoy the photos and comments you share with us about some of your ‘adventures’!! It’s rather like taking a mini holiday (‘vacation’… ’cause I’m American…) I hope you’re having a lovely Sunday. It’s raining today where I love… but that’s good for my flowers!!
You live a full and interesting life Ms Celia. Keep up the good work! :)
how funny…I see dog faces in the dentritic :) A wind tunnel, amazing to see.
the museum would have been total overload for me but I can see the appeal, sort of !! Thank you for broadening my horizons.
Fantastic post! I can SO imagine the thrill of this form of ‘skydiving’, loved the look of the sushi and would so like to see the look of this MCA exhibit: have a very similar minded Sydney gf: must phone and see whether she is still in the Southern Hemisphere as a summer home beckons every year in Estonia . . . have not visited awhile . . .
I am sure I have some David Haines at home. I would love to try the indoor skydiving. Not sure if my computer has gone wonky, but cannot see the crystal formation. Sounds like a great weekend :)
I especially love watching the slow mo of small man in the wind tunnel – is it difficult to hold your ‘flying’ position – does the wind want to wave your arms and legs around?
Excellent…now my boys want to try indoor skydiving…
What a fun weekend! I spent mine picking blueberries and slaving away over a hot stove making blueberry jam. Then scratched my hands up really good picking blacked berries.
You’ve taken me right back to a childhood memory of my dad, lying face down on the floor, legs and arms stretched out, declaring he was zero height skydiving! The held aloft by air variety looks like more fun!