Perth is 'colouring' up.....

Things have been a little 'blue' on my blog for the last few days, time to inject a splash of colour and as it's officially Spring tomorrow here in Australia, what better way to do it than with flowers oui! The spring bulbs like daffodils and cyclamen are abundant around Perth as are the native flowering bushes like the red Bottlebrush and Geraldton Wax below. Things are looking up, even though showers are forecast for the next week there will be some sunshine also... in the words of George Gershwin 'who could ask for anything more'. I hope you have a wonderful weekend, take care and stay safe.....

Never trust a shark's smile.....!

Most people would swim in the other direction when seeing a shark approaching, but not Bill, check out his diving blog, (fearsome image indeed) I have a strong feeling that this might have been the shot he was taking while I was taking the 'bigger picture' below, what do you think? Thankfully these sharks in the tank at AQWA (check out the virtual tour) are well fed. I did take a bit of video also but haven't had a chance to look at it yet, hope it looks as good as this, somehow I don't think so!!  Meanwhile nephew was entranced by the whole scenario..for myself I think the following poem by Helen Moore definitely applies! Take care!

I went to the aquarium and in a tank so dark

I saw a smooth and swimmy shape and knew it was a shark

.I went to the aquarium and through a wall of glass

I saw that shark and thought..Oh what a lot of teeth he has!

He swam around so quietly, he swam around so quick

I'm awfully glad that his tank had, that wall of glass so thick!

The good thing about jelly fish.....!

Although it's a fabulous sight to see hundreds of jelly fish floating around together in a lit up tank, it's not at all easy to photograph them well..but it does give you a great excuse to have a bit of fun and play around a bit! I went with my sister and great nephew (that's his cheeky little face you can see below) to watch my brother in law Bill dive with the sharks at Aqua World, will show more and give links tomorrow,  I haven't had time to edit properly yet. They really are the most ethereal creatures floating and changing shapes continually, as you can see it was a favourite spot for us all! Hope your week has begun well, take care.....

Capture the Colour.....

I have been invited by my blog 'ami' Virginia who creates one of my favourite Paris blogs Paris through my Lens to enter, as she has, the Travel Supermarkets Capture the Colour photography contest.  Each entry posts five photographs featuring the colors red, blue, yellow, green and white.  In addition you then invite five other bloggers to participate.  So here are my five images starting with....

BLUE

The Crawley Edge Boathouse is probably one of the most photographed sights in Perth, and yet it wasn't until I started a blog about the beauty of Perth that I took my first shot of it, that expression 'right under your nose' comes to mind.....

YELLOW

Taken on a 37C summer evening as the sun was setting on Burns Beach, could there be a better way to end such a day.....?

GREEN

The saying 'boxing kangaroos' and Australia are synonymous, but to actually witness and take photos  of an actual 'match' is an extraordinarily surreal experience.....

 WHITE

This one is special to me because it was the first time I was actually the 'official' wedding photographer, the nerves were strung out to the max, but it went well and all were happy with the results, phew.....!

RED

While one Flame Tree is a colourful sight, a tree lined street is a true delight. I really enjoyed that the lamp bases were red also, how perfectly obliging.....

Now to invite 5 bloggers who may choose to join the contest:

Rae at Perth and other Places
Rob and Mandy at Barcelona Daily Photo
Ciel at Versailles Daily Photo
Bob at St. Louis Daily Photo
Dianne at Adelaide and Beyond

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and are all set for another week, what do you think of my 'face lift' haha! Take care and stay safe.....

I won't be there.....!

Well it's official, I won't be one of the expected 42,000 walker/runners in the annual City to Surf today and just so you know, I'm really fed up about it! I've participated in this event for many years and really enjoyed the challenge, usually tearing along at break neck speed trying to keep up with my 6ft walking buddy and last year with Aimee at a more civilized speed taking in the sights. After injuring my knee about six months ago, my physio has 'strongly' advised against it, it's the hills that are the killer, along the flat..no problem. So P will take my place and walk with Aimee while I watch from the sidelines..next year, I'll be back! The City to Surf attracts top runners from all over the world, I didn't realize that the prize money was quite so substantial or I would have moved along a lot faster haha! After gathering on Langley Park, the walkers/runners head up through the skyscrapers to the start line on St. George's Terrace.....

Once the starters orders are called it's all on! You'll see one of the hills I'm talking about here, there are a few along the way, but the last one coming up to the finish line is the killer! Hmmm maybe it won't be too bad watching for a change. Have a wonderful Sunday, take care.....

Somewhere to stay perhaps.....?

So when you all think about coming to visit me in Perth, you might like to stay at the Hillarys Harbour Resort Apartments which are about five minutes away from where I live, I've not been inside one but they look really nice on the link, the views if you get a harbourside apartment are gorgeous. You can catch the ferry over to Rottnest Island or take a Whale watching cruise, you can hire a car and drive into the city centre which is only 20 minutes away on the freeway, or we could just hang and drink coffee and eat cake! Sounds like a great spot for a 'bloggers meet up' don't you think, maybe I'll have to take a 'mini break' weekend all by myself to check them out a little more thoroughly! I hope your weekend is all that you want it to be, take care and stay safe.....

The Partisan.....

Oh, the wind, the wind is blowing,
Through the graves the wind is blowing,
Freedom soon will come;
Then we’ll come from the shadows.

 

                                                     from A Partisan by Leonard Cohen.....

How could I resist taking this shot, the man sitting in The Partisan in East Perth just looked so 'right' oui! Two friends enjoying an early morning breakfast, or a covert 'assignation'..I strongly suspect the former. If you had taken this shot, would you have gone with B&W? For me there was no doubt. How can it possibly be Friday again already, but seeing as it is, yaaaaaay! Enjoy, take care and stay safe.....

Out of control.....!

Seen on Roe Street Northbridge, the 'shady' side of the railway lines! I couldn't find out much about what, if anything, goes on behind these postered and graffitied locked doors, but while doing the research I did find out that after dark Northbridge is a naughty, naughty place!! I'm staying in with a cuppa and my blogger pals haha!! Have a good day, take care and stay safe.....

Water babies.....!

Here in Australia the adage 'learn to crawl before you walk' should probably read 'learn to swim before you walk'..Bet you this young dad is a surfer! I'm sure it's the same anywhere in the world where water plays a big part in everyday life, swimming lessons can start as early as six months. One of Australia's better known swimming 'personalities' Laurie Lawrence has been an advocate of early swimming lessons for as long as I can remember check out this short video. For sure you never take your eyes off a youngster anywhere near water, but for that one moment when it could happen, those lessons could make all the difference. Have a fab Wednesday, stay safe.....p.s. note to half naked runner above.. shirt up mate, it's chilly!

And he wasn't the only one.....!

Bad moon rising.....

Aimee and I see this house when we walk along the coast road. I've always wondered what it might be like inside and a few years ago I got the opportunity when it was featured in one of Perth's 'homes' magazines. I wasn't disappointed, it's as striking inside as it is out! I have a feeling that the moon in the top shot might have been the Perigree Moon that we had back in July, it looks super big, this was taken early evening as the moon was just beginning to rise, giving the house a kind of 'witchy' look don't you think, and the one below a few days ago just to show why we call it 'the house on the hill'. I hope your week is off to a good start, take care.....

but wait...there's more.....!

If only this 'bad dude' would actually dress like this, he would be so much easier to spot! What would we do without signs to point us in the right direction, tell us what we can or can't do in certain areas and well....just about everything these days! Also how often do you see just one 'instruction' per post, there are usually minimum two....

and in most cases at least three. I've seen signposts that some of my European blogger pals have shown, so this is actually pretty mild in comparison but give us time, we're only young and relatively 'uncomplicated' as yet, I'm sure that will all change as our population grows. I hope you had (or are having) a great weekend and that you have a relatively 'uncomplicated' week, take care.....p.s. there's never too many 'no smoking' signs as far as I'm concerned.....!

Three for the price of one.....!

All was well in Perth yesterday, the sun was shining the birds were singing and it was good to get out and about after feeling a bit 'off' last week. Aimee and I went out to the Claremont Showgrounds to check out the goodies at the 3 in 1 market. Most of Perth had the same idea.....

The 3 in 1 market is made up of antiques and collectibles, some of those old watches cost a fortune.  Aimee can never get past the vintage fans.....

There's the hand made crafts.....

And then the most interesting of all the Polka Dot Vintage clothes section, which I don't seem to have any pictures of... because I was too busy searching through racks and racks of clothes from a bygone era, I had to take a sneaky shot of this very tall man decked out from top to toe in black leather (I did mention that the sun was shining yeh!) I was dreading that he'd look around and catch me snapping, he was probably a pussy cat but looked a little menacing!! I hope that you're having a good weekend, take care and stay safe.....

From a safe height.....!

I know I've shown you my Mr Grumpy Galah many times, but I couldn't resist a bit of a story..We used to have our wild bird feeder nearer ground level for many years, but in the last six months I've been adopted as 'second mum' to this gorgeous little cat below. Sydney lives just around the corner from me and when mum No.1 leaves for work she zips over to my place for breakfast and a cuddle, and then I send her off home for dinner..sometimes she doesn't want to go, and I would love it if she could stay. The thing is, even though Sydney has two meals a day, she has a very strong 'hunting' urge, so P has had to put the feeders up high on the pool fence out of reach, I'd like to say 'and peace reigned' but this morning Mr Grumpy took great delight in hopping about squawking loudly, teasing Sydney below who was not amused! Did I mention she goes mad when she sees the errant ducks in the pool, mind you so does P, all that duck poo haha!! I'm looking forward to catching up with everyone today, have missed reading your news..Have a wonderful weekend, take care.....

Who said romance is dead.....!!

Thanks so much for all the good thoughts, much appreciated, I'm beginning to think I just might live! It was interesting to read your different views regarding the flu injection, believe it or not I'm still undecided (Libran haha!), I know there's probably only one in a thousand that would have a bad reaction, but you know how it goes! As I haven't been out for the last few days, Dave and Courtney very kindly said I could use these pictures taken at the end of June this year while on their honeymoon. This will be a sight familiar to all who love and live in Paris, but it never ceases to amaze me just how many locks there are (and now there is one more) here on Le Pont des Arts (is this also known as Pont de Archeveche?). I did read a story a while back that the Mayor's office was not happy and had all (not officially) but a few of the locks removed, it certainly didn't stop them returning a thousand fold. I don't remember them being painted in pink, blue, yellow and purple, when did this happen? Back to Perth tomorrow with a bit of luck. Hope you've had a better week than moi, take care and stay safe...p.s. I wonder how many keys there are here at the bottom of the River Seine.....!

To be, or not to be..sensible.....!

I took these photos last week when the skies were blue and the sun was shining and decided to keep them for a grey day.. how happy I am that I did.  Not only are the skies grey and weeping but for the second time this year I've succumbed to the dreaded flu! I don't know how it is in other countries around the world but here in Australia before winter sets in the doctors strongly advise everyone to get a 'flu injection' to protect against nasty viruses, in most cases it's free and many sensible people do the right thing. I've never had one, but I'm thinking after the last few days, next year I just might have to give being 'sensible' a try, it's never too late right!  While a lot of trees are still in their naked winter state these brilliantly coloured Butea monosperma, more commonly known as the 'flame tree' are flowering abundantly all around Perth, adding a much appreciated splash of vibrant colour and hinting at the imminent arrival of spring, can't wait! Hope you've had a good week so far, take care.....