The Nation's Capital

We left early for Canberra. Spike slept large chunks of the route while my trusty old Transit thundered down the quiet freeway at 80 miles an hour (except on hills, of which there are many between here and there). We met Amelia climbing the stairs in Parliament from the marble-floored foyer to the densely carpeted corridors that lead to committee room 1R3 where the public hearings of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee were taking place. Spike left me and Millie to the parliamentary investigation of the draft DDA Access To Premises Standards in favour of the Degas exhibition at the National Gallery.

We met again for lunch at the excellent Palette Cafe at the Beaver Galleries in Deakin (I would have lost my way, as usual, had it not been for Ms Starr's phone, which barked out directions). I dined on seared prawns, Amelia on squid and sausage, while Spike fended off raids upon a sublime Gruyere and asparagus tart. It's a good little cafe and what I'd say is cheap for what we ate.

Said hello to Susie and Martin Beaver, who're off to Europe soon where they'll meet up with Barbara McKissack. Susie introduced us to Jeff Mincham whose exhibition of gorgeous ceramics, inspired by the landscape of South Australia, opened tonight.