Attention seeker.....!

The first time I posted the new Perth Arena in June last year it looked like this. Despite many problems, mainly budget blowouts, it's almost fini..which is a good thing because the grand opening on the 10th of November is only six weeks away! I'll bet there are a lot of very anxious contractors, politicians and agents who will be holding their breath until the curtain goes up on opening act George Michael! With a seating capacity of 15,000 for concerts and 12,000 for sporting events like the Hopman Cup in December, it's no small affair, and as if the design of the building isn't dramatic enough..we have here the 10.5 m high Totem which will no doubt be called anything from the 'pineapple' to the 'corn-cob' if the sculpture in Forrest Chase named 'Grow Your Own' by it's creator, but the 'Cactus' by Perthites is anything to go by. I'm reserving my judgement until I see it in action, moving parts, flashing lights and all. I took these shots (through glass) yesterday from the 7th floor of 140 William St., nice view of the city from up there. Happy Sunday, hope it's a good one, take care and stay safe..

Blue on blue..on blue.....!

Heading out of the harbour past the sea wall to do a spot of fishing before the next squall hits Perth, it's been that kind of week, that's spring for you. Why do we seem to be drawn to the things that scare us the most! The sea terrifies me, yet I'm drawn to it like a magnet, it's the colour I think, blue is so, help me out here, so..what, refreshing maybe!  Happy Thursday, take care.....

Pink lace and floral hotpants.....!

Well I can tell you I didn't take this picture yesterday, the weather was cool (relatively speaking) but most of all it was blustery and wet. I did take it at the weekend though, just a matter of four days ago, in the city..the sun was shining, a day for wearing a long, lacy skirt and strolling down the Hay Street Mall, buying flowers and drinking coffee with friends..good times! I hope the sun shines today in your part of the world, even if for just a short while, take care and stay safe.....

Roos on the Terrace.....

At least they're not boxing, been there, done that haha!! This mob of kangaroo sculptures heading towards St. George's Terrace directly opposite St. George's Cathedral by Charles Smith and Joan Walsh Smith (they also created 'Footsteps in Time') called 'Kangaroos in the City' is a huge tourist draw card.....

I mean, who could resist having their photo taken beside a 2.4 mtr high 1,000 kg bronze kangaroo, see there's even a joey in mum's pouch below. I like them very much, you couldn't get more typically Australian than this..I am enjoying re-familiarizing myself with the public art on the Terrace but next time I might not do it in the harsh midday sun, it really washes out the colour don't you think? Happy Wednesday, take care and stay safe.....

Ten degrees more.....

At least! This young mum had her hands full (I remember the days!) with not one but three toddlers all having a wonderful time splashing about on the beach, a scene echoed all along our coast yesterday, and although the sun was shining for a change, the temperature was still under 20C,  not warm enough for my twinkle toes ..how warm does it have to be before you'll dip your tootsies in the sea! I have to admit I'm a sucker for water reflections, you can have such fun with them. I hope your week has started well and continues so, take care.. p.s. just incase you have blue sky envy, it's back to grey and rain today and for the rest of the week.....

Heaven scent.....

This is the same area that I took the photos of the boxing Kangaroos a few posts ago. The 53 hectacre piece of natural bushland called Hepburn Heights adjoining Pinnaroo Valley Memorial Park is in the northern suburbs and five minutes away from where I live. It is at anytime of the year (as long as it's not raining) a fantastic place to walk, but now in spring when it's awash with the fragrance of my all time favourite the wild freesias, well then it's absolute bliss! Do you have a special flower that welcomes in the changing of the season for you? Here we are at the beginning of a new week once more, scary to think Christmas is just around the corner..No, not thinking about it!! Happy Monday, hope it's a good one, take care and stay safe.....

Catching the news.....!

Reading the paper

 on a windy weekend morning

can be a wittle twicky,  

you need both knees

and a quick eye.....!

 Happy Sunday, I hope your reading of the papers is a little more easy going than this, take care.....

The first rule of fight club.....!

You do not talk about fight club...check....!

The second rule of fight club, you do not talk about fight club...check!

The third rule, someone yells stop, goes limp, taps out, the fight is over... not that serious....!

Fourth and fifth rule, only two guys to a fight..clearly not....!

Sixth rule, no shirts, no shoes...check....!

Seventh rule, fights will go on as long as they have to..check....!

Eighth rule..oh blow the eighth rule lets just have a kiss and make up! This last shot made me laugh out loud when I downloaded it for two very obvious reasons haha! Happy Saturday, rain today, sun tomorrow..it's all good! Take care and stay safe....

Home alone.....!

I can't believe more than a year has gone by since I posted images like this one above, and it still makes me as nervous as it did then to see these little seagull chicks snuggled into the tops of the mooring posts in the harbour at Sorrento Quay. It's especially nerve-wracking when mum flies off in search of food, but I noticed today that when they were alone if they stood up and moved about either mum or dad (or it could have just been a concerned neighbor) swooped in to keep them in line, phew! Hopefully your Friday will be a little less tense, take care and stay safe.....

Pssssst..over here.....!

BOoooo.....!!

Spotted lurking in the bushes in the Lotterywest Family Area of Kings Park, 'upside down tree man with Jagger lips and tree roots hair' surprisingly did manage to go unnoticed by some! It was only my 'bloggers instinct' for the unusual and ok maybe the 'hint' of a tip from Bill, (check out his new header shot, scary much!) that led me to this surprising find. Not quite as obvious as the Dinosaurs in the Synergy Parkland area but still very creative oui! I hope you have a better hair day than this, take care and stay safe..... p.s. it's a wet week in Perth, loving it!! p.p.s. is anyone else missing the CDP forum site as much as moi.....?

Aye, aye.....!

Ahoy me hearties, it be 'international talk like a pirate day'', so be giving me yer best lingo in yer comments or wi' the poke of me sword it'll be a walk down the plank ye lousy landlubbers, arrrrrrr! Me thinks I need a few lessons in the pirate talk from Ol' Chumbucket and Cap'n Slappy. Be having ye a beauty of a day, I'm away to down a flagon of grog...you know that's not true right hahahaha! Have a fun day, take care and stay safe me mateys.....!!

Night life.....

We don't go into the city all that often these days, but when we do I'm always amazed and very happy to see how many Perthites are out and about enjoying what the city has to offer. Considering these shots were very impromptu and hand held while stopped at the traffic lights on Roe Street in Northbridge, I'm not too unhappy with them. The gold building on the left hand corner above is the State Theatre Centre and on the right the Horseshoe Bridge which crosses over into the city centre. When the Perth City Link project is complete the divide between the city and Northbridge will be no more. Perth is a rapidly changing city, and on paper it all looks good, we'll just have to wait and see the real deal oui! Happy Tuesday I hope your week is off to a good start, take care.....

The 'good' smile.....

Smiles are funny things, sometimes they can be aesthetically perfect, but when you search the eyes ..nothing, it goes no further than the lips, you know what I mean? Then there are smiles like this one that come all the way from the soul. I'd like to say that this glorious smile was directed at moi, but I think I may have just been pointing my lens in the right direction at the right time! I hope that there will be many smiles in your new week, take care. P.s. seen at Anthropomoflora and no worries, this handsome man gave me the thumbs up.....!

Smart move.....!

On Friday evening we went into the city for the opening night of my niece Jessica's fourth exhibition, if you remember even though I was in Sydney for her last show, I successfully managed to acquire this gorgeous piece. For this exhibition entitled Anthropomoflora Jessica collaborated with young Perth photographer Kim Evans, the fabulous installation centre stage was created by floral 'artiste' Stacey Lenstra and made up of many individual 'eco spheres' (below right). The venue, Smart Space is a super trendy (below left before everyone arrived) spot on William St. in Northbridge.....

Trays of handmade chocolates by chocolatier Sue Lewis were served (above right), way too much temptation for a 'chocoholic' like moi! I'm definitely making a trip to Sue's shop in Northbridge very soon. Just a few of the paintings below, the top two and bottom right (Medusa inspired) by Jessica and bottom left my favourite of the photographs by Kim entitled 'The exploitation of Norma Jeane', an exotic orchid I think, representing the iconic Marilyn Monroe image, very clever title oui! Well it's almost Sunday here in Perth, picnic in Kings Park today..I wish you a happy day, take care and stay safe.....

Details.....

Just when you thought I was finished with St. George's Cathedral ...!! These are a few detail shots from my visit to 'Roses & Raiment' last weekend. Things have been crazy hectic around here today I haven't had a chance to scratch my.....head!! Quieter day tomorrow and a chance to catch up with everyone. On our way out of the cathedral I spotted this bench with embroidered cushions and immediately thought of Malyss and VP so this is one specially for you.....

A 'cherubic' detail on the stationary font at the entrance to the cathedral.....

and two of the many beautiful stained glass windows around the cathedral.. Cannot believe that the weekend is here once more but am very glad that it is, I hope you have a good one, see you tomorrow..take care and stay safe.....

Like a sore thumb.....!

Aye aye what's this I spy skulking behind the still naked winter trees, it wasn't there a few days ago, and why wasn't I consulted before this huge creature invaded my favourite territory! Walking past The Great Escape at Hillary's Boat Harbour I'm guessing this is what they meant by new attractions coming soon. It's all in the timing, they've given us just enough time to get used to the brightly painted blue hydro tube below and wham there it is, a HUGE mouth gaping chameleon water slide, not quite as sophisticated as yesterday's sculptures you'll agree!

It's one of those things that because it's high up, can be seen from all around the marina, even from my cafe of choice on the other side of the boardwalk below, merde!  Still I mustn't become a 'grumpy old woman' oops! too late haha! it keeps youngsters amused and out of trouble and that can only be a good thing, but I wonder if the owners of the very expensive houses along the coast road that you can see behind the new 'attraction' feel quite so benevolent, would you! Can it really be Friday already, where did the week go? Have a good one, take care and stay safe.....

Footsteps in Time, St. George's Terrace I.....

Anyone who looks in on Perth via PDP will know that St. George's Terrace is one of my favourite streets in the city. It's definitely the 'high finance, big business' side of town but the mix between skyscrapers and heritage buildings is beautifully done. I thought I'd start at the bottom end, some might call it the top end, and work my way up (or down!) and show it in more detail.  Just a short way up from St. George's Cathedral in front of St. Martin's Centre, commemorating the 175th Anniversary of WA, these larger than life sized sculptures (worth while clicking to enlarge) by Joan Walsh-Smith and Charles Smith unveiled in 2004 entitled Footsteps in Time symbolize the business people who have built this thriving CBD, from Dutch explorer Dirk Hartog at the back through to the 'millennium man' up front. I love this striking series of tall dynamic men stepping forward in time, I'm not sure that I've done it justice, methinks you will just have to visit Perth to see it for yourselves oui! Looking forward to catching up with everyone today, hope all is well in your part of the world, take care and stay safe.....

An organ with a bit of brass.....!

Ok so I know I posted way too many pictures yesterday but I did save these last few of the organ for today because I thought it deserved to be shown without distraction. The West Organ, one of three organs in the cathedral, was installed in 1993 with the final pièce de résistance the addition of a solo, horizontal fanfare trumpet voiced in the French symphonic school and installed by the South Island Organ Co in April last year. I haven't heard them, something I hope to remedy in the not too distant future, but if they sound as good as they look I'm in for a real treat...and on that 'note' (I know, I know!), as it's getting to the point where we can actually leave messages for each other e.g. 'mum, can we have pasta for dinner tonight, love Aimee xx' in the dust on the furniture, I may have to do some 'Spring' cleaning, so I'll catch you in a day or two, in the meantime, happy week, take care and stay safe.....

Roses & Raiment.....

Ever since I took these pictures last year of St. George's Cathedral I've wanted to come back and take some shots inside. Yesterday I had the perfect opportunity, a friend rang to say that the cathedral was hosting Roses & Raiment a festival of flowers and vestments. It's a very pretty cathedral build in the Gothic revival style with handmade bricks, bluestone pillars from Victoria, Oregon pine ceilings, the pulpit is carved in Caen stone from France and the marble reredos behind the alter were made in Italy with English alabaster inserts. The delicate black wrought ironwork entrance to the vestry is stunning. It looked even more lovely with the many floral arrangements created by the ladies who volunteer and look after their church, watching them glow with pleasure at the oohs and aahs, I could imagine this scene echoed in churches all around the world. I have the windows and organ to show you another day, so for now happy Sunday, take care. p.s. don't you just love the dear little lady who decided to have a wee rest in the choir pit in the third shot, we had a lovely chat after I took this shot.....