Capital daze
I have an ex who assumed a few successful drag identities over the years: Florida Turnpike, Stacy Daggers, Clit and (the terrorist of many a Mardi Gras VIP Lounge) Lolita 2000.
Due to rare good taste, there was one who never appeared in public, but I thought of her last weekend while perusing the Kylie costume exhibition in Canberra -“ JonBenet Ramsay Street.
Held in the National Portrait Gallery by Lake Burley Griffin, it featured a selection of frighteningly tiny, glittering costumes, alongside a clutch of awards and ample framed evidence that Kylie knows how to work a camera.
Of course, she has since announced her breast cancer diagnosis, which casts something of a pall over the memory.
The idea of heading there now seems morbid, to say the least. I just hope she gets better, and soon.
Lest anyone think I spent three and a half hours on a bus just to view the show, I should say my boyfriend lives in Canberra. I’m still not sure why. Frankly, he’s the best thing in it, which is not to say it doesn’t provide its highlights.
I do like Canberra in autumn; foliage does wonders for dodgy architecture. The number of new townhouse developments is alarming; the number of old ugly ones even more so.
It’s a shame, because the city has inbuilt drama with those two mountains and for drivers, at least, all those big roundabouts must be cool.
What a pity I don’t drive -“ I’m not even a good passenger. My major leg workout involves the invisible brake. The boyfriend, of course, thinks this is very funny.
Personally I resent having to drive for 10 minutes to get between any two points of interest, which usually involve the word shops.
I did try spending the day there on foot once, but I discovered it’s like walking along an endless highway -“ and you’re literally going around in circles.
And where would you be going anyway?
The new Parliament House is handsome, but you have to contend with wire fencing, which is protecting the construction of concrete walling, which was imported from the US, which will protect the House from imminent terrorist attack.
Capital idea. No wonder Howard lives in Kirribilli.
