Perth City by night.....!!

Perth City taken from high up in Kings Park, in the foreground the freeway system heading North and South past the city centre. Not the best shot I've ever taken, but it's an emergency post haha! I thought tomorrow was the 1st of the month and had a theme day post all ready to go.. a day early. Ah well, happy Friday, hope that you're not as confused as I..Take care, and stay sane..I mean safe.....!!

Wine, surf and black gold.....!

Who remembers, or should I say who's willing to own up to remembering (personally I was just a child haha!) that line in The Beverly Hillbillies theme song where they sing about discovering 'gold, black gold, Texas tea' in other words oil! This is my much more delicious version, 'gold, black gold, food for the gods'..these gold wrapped ingots of chocolate line the walls of the Margaret River Chocolate Company's Perth City Concept Store on Murray Street. Although the Margaret River region is known world wide as a first class wine growing region, claiming over 20% of the Australian premium wine market, and if the surf can attract the likes of  Kelly Slater ( cool video) it must be rad, but for a chocoholic like moi there is 'pas compétition'! If you have a 'choccy' moment in your day, think of me, happy Thursday, take care.....

Foil for reflection.....

Walking down through Westralia Square off St. George's Terrace at the weekend I caught this reflection of the arched windows in the passage through to the Esplanade Railway Station in the glass facade of the Quadrant building on William Street. I'm happy that I remembered to take the below shot to show both sides of the story! The 'Q' building is the perfect milieu for reflections from so many angles, will have to look for a few more next time I'm in the city. Hope that your week is going well, it's certainly going fast! Take care and stay safe.....

Meteorite..fire..water..earth.....

This is my favourite water sculpture in Forrest Place. Called 'Meteorite', made from orbicular granite from Mt. Magnet in WA, the sphere sits rotating in an atomized mist of water. It's pretty hard to resist putting your hands on the cool smooth surface and trying to rotate the sphere, the young girl here looks pretty determined! Although it has a name plate on the base with the name Josef Kusser I wasn't able to establish whether he is the sculptor, however I do know that the paving feature to the side in swirling black and pink granite featuring geckos is by Malcolm McGregor. The bottom shot is to show where it sits in relation to the rest of the features in Forrest Place, you can see the newish sculpture affectionately (?) called The Cactus way back there, and in front of that the very latest water feature The Labyrinth. Happy Tuesday, hope your week is moving along as planned, take care....

A little unexpected.....!

It's not all sunshine and blue skies in Perth, sometimes the weather can throw in something a little unexpected. When I say unexpected, the forecast had been for a storm...for the last four days! When we went into the movies on Saturday evening it was warm and humid, we went to see Skyfall and in typical Bond style the noise level was extreme. On arriving home I mentioned to Aimee that I thought it might have been raining while we were at the movies...pfffft raining she says! take a look at this (thanks for the pics).  It seems 'we had a bit of a storm', thunder, lightening and pretty hearty hail and I missed it all, which is a shame because I enjoy a good storm. This is pretty much as close to snow as we're ever going to get in Perth and it's not even winter, but it is pretty rare. So did anything freakishly weird happen to you over the weekend, do tell! A new week begins, could they possibly be flying by any faster! Take care. p.s. there's something freaky on Bills blog today.....

Messing around in boats.....

There's nothing...absolutely nothing...

half so much worth doing, as simply 

messing around in boats...

Ratty to Mole...The Wind in the Willows...

Even though I'm more of a landlubber, I can definitely see the appeal of 'messing around in boats' (nice video). I'm not saying I wouldn't set sail, I would and have taken a whale watching cruise , who could pass up an experience like this!. Without doubt I would not ever go on a cruise ship holiday, it's the same sort of deal as flying..too many people enclosed in an unnatural situation haha! Mostly I enjoy strolling around the marina taking shots of attractive little craft like these two. If you're off sailing this Sunday morning, enjoy..and if ye be a landlubber like me, cheers, enjoy your day. Take care....

On Scarborough Beach.....

While all my blog mates in the Northern Hemisphere are getting set to batten down the hatches for winter, we here in Oz are preparing for a sizzler of a summer if the forecast is anything to go by. Steering right away from the city yesterday, we drove down the coast to check out Scarborogh Beach. Although it's still officially spring here and autumn in the NH both sides of the globe seem to be experiencing unusually early signs of summer/winter. Scarborough beach, a bit like Bondi beach in Sydney is one of the more 'colourful' beaches along Perth's coast. The lifeguards were out in force already, choppy conditions and the ever present,it seems, threat of sharks these days. The stairs above lead up from the beach to the cafe's along the boardwalk. Here's hoping for a happy Friday, take care and stay safe.....

More of a mansion than a tent.....!

Government House and its gardens were part of Perth Heritage Days last weekend, so it was a good chance (along with thousands of others) to have a bit of a look around. Built in 1859/64 this two storey mansion is a touch more 'up market' than the tent pitched a little further up St. Georges Terrace that was home for a while to Perth's first Governor James Stirling and his family back in 1829. Governor John Hampton was the first to enjoy Government House when he moved in in 1863.....

Set on 32,000 sq.mtrs and surrounded by lush English styled gardens, Government House sits between St. George's Terrace, the business centre of the city and the Swan River foreshore. Don't you find the more shots you take of a subject, the more difficult it is to pick out one or two to show. It was a little trickier inside and this is a much better view of the ballroom than I managed to capture, it was all those darned (?) people in the way! It doesn't have that European 'grandeur', but GH does have a friendly, almost colonial feel to it which I'm sure makes visiting 'important people' feel quite relaxed. Not bad digs if you can get them right! Happy Thursday, take care.....

Scaling the heights.....!

Sliding down a building tall

Hoping that I will not fall..

Who am I kidding that's not me

For way up there I'll never be.....!

by moi

Don't worry I don't plan to give up my day job, oh hang on a minute I don't have one haha! Can you see the window cleaners and their reflections? The mixture of old (by Australian standards) and new architectural design along St George's Terrace can be quite dramatic, these highrise office  buildings including the BHP Billiton building (bottom shot) in Brookfield Place are all shiny glass, mirror and geometric shapes and although I prefer the older style, these do make for fab photo opportunities oui! Midway point, hope your week is going well so far, take care and stay safe.....

B-boying in Forrest Place.....

It was all going down in Forrest Place on Saturday. As well as the new water sculpture there was a gathering of young B-boyers enjoying an impromptu challenge. Such fun to watch, the guy above is challenging the young lad in the purple trews and beanie, who replies with some insane moves. I think I recognized some of the faces here in a more organized challenge.  What I enjoyed most was the interaction, so much fun and even though the audience looks a wee bit serious here, it was all cheers and clapping at the end of each round. So if you're planning to 'bust a move' anytime soon, make sure you're wearing the appropriate undies haha!! Happy Tuesday, take care....

Watching.....

Keeping cool in the city.....!

On Friday evening the Mayor of Perth opened the new addition to Forrest Place. Perfect timing, the weather was up in the 30C's on Saturday when I took these shots and it was already being enthusiastically appreciated! The Water Labyrinth, an 'interactive water sculpture' using recycled water created by Berlin based Jeppe Hein who many of you probably know through his sculptures and installations all around the world, is his first permanent work here in Australia. With summer and the school holidays looming I think parents will have to remember to pack a towel and change of clothes when they head into the city with their offspring, I might just take one myself, it lookes super cool fun...for all ages!! Hope your weekend was a little more relaxed than mine, catch up tomorrow, happy Monday, take care....

Trinity Church, come right on in.....!

I'm not sure what I was expecting when we approached the Trinity Uniting Church sitting amongst the highrise office buildings along St. George's Terrace. Stepping through the side door with it's invitation for all who might need a quiet moment was a little like stepping back in time. The original Trinity Church on William St. was built in 1846, as the coffers expanded a second church was built in 1865 on St. George's Terrace (last shot below) and this the present church was built in 1893.The combination of green trim, pale pink and cream walls, along with the intricate fretwork lining the balcony is 'heavenly'!

If you look at the top shot and follow the stairs up, they lead to this the original church (below), now used as a Hall and classified by the National Trust. Again the pale green walls with the rose coloured stained glass window, such a pretty church oui! This hall is used for so many things, one being a 'school for seniors'. Anyone is welcome, whether it be to have a cuppa made by the volunteers while you eat your lunchtime sandwiches or just to come in from the city madness to have a quiet five minutes.....

The decorative Romanesque facade, with it's Victorian turrets, elaborate stonework and impressive double doors is no doubt an unexpected sight to see here on the terrace, but it was definitely the interior that won me over! I'm not a church goer myself, but I could be tempted haha! Trinity Church is part of Heritage Perth weekend. It's heating up in Perth, tomorrow I'll show you a fun new addition to Forest Chase, a way for city goers to cool off!! Happy Sunday, take care.....

As the sun goes down in the west.....

As the weather warms up and the sun goes down you'll find the Breakwater Tavern at Hillary's Boat Harbour bustling with Perthites and tourists alike, winding down with a drink at the end of the day. I'm not much of a drinker (apparently I'm hilarious after two haha!) but I have had a really good meal upstairs at Ishka Restaurant. I'm sure you've probably guessed by now that the marina is one of my favourite spots to hang out, as you sit in one of the many cafes looking out at the boats in the harbour, it's easy to see how lucky we are. So here's the thing, why not something along these lines for the Swan River foreshore improvement scheme (yesterday's post), it would be so much more appealing than highrise n'est-ce pas? So cheers! Have a wonderful weekend, take care and stay safe.....

Elizabeth Quay, a bit of a rant.....!!

If you read the sign above it's probably true that at some point way back in the 1800's a brave boatman would have looked at a 'portly' passenger and said "nup, no way, it's just not going to happen!" and that would have been enough to precipitate the beginnings of change. It seems to me that Perth is changing faster than is really necessary these days. I'm totally on board with the Perth City Link project, linking Northbridge with the city whilst removing the eyesore of the old railway lines in the process is a stroke of genius, but really Mr. Barnett do we need to spend an estimated $2.6 billion on creating Elizabeth Quay, at a time when vital services e.g.police, nurses, roads, teachers for starters, could be doing with a decent influx of funds, perhaps it's a bit naff to be spending quite that much money on an already attractive area that with the addition of a few more family friendly cafes and restaurants, maybe a smattering of boat pens, would be even more so! Check out the link and tell me what you think, more highrise buildings or a more European riverfront? Perth is such a pretty city, it would be a shame if it became known as a 'more flash than cash' town. It's a moot point anyway, work has begun, but I do feel better for getting it off my chest and later when the city is in complete turmoil I'll be able to say.."I told you so" haha! What a week, TGIF take care and stay safe..... 

Birds in my garden Vlll, pesky beauties.....!

I didn't have to venture far for my post today, I heard the familiar screeching of the Rainbow Lorikeets in the back garden very early in the morning. They haven't been around for a while so I took the opportunity to make my way out stealthily (?) to take a few shots. In my garden they always seem to arrive in pairs but when they travel around in large groups they can be a right pain in the orchard!! The Lorikeets aren't indigenous to WA, apparently they were 'accidentally' released, or the story I prefer is 'there were some aviary escapees', I can imagine a group of desperado parrots making a planned getaway haha! They breed like rabbits and are now classified as a pest here in WA, I haven't witnessed the havoc they can create in groups, I just enjoy them two by two when they visit! Happy Thursday, hope it's a good one, take care and stay safe.....

Supreme punishment.....

No more space ships, back to reality if we must...really! Standing here at the entrance to Stirling Gardens on St. George's Terrace is a statue of Alexander Forrest, explorer and surveyor of WA, what a great view he has looking up along the terrace. Walking down through the Stirling Gardens you catch a glimpse between the trees of the National Trust listed Supreme Court building. When it was completed in 1903 it was considered one of the most distinguished buildings of the gold rush period, it's been added to since then both in 1960 and 1986/7. This was the courthouse that would hand down the death penalty until it was abolished in 1984, the last hanging in WA was in 1964. It still handles the serious stuff like murders, armed robbery and sex offences. not the courthouse you want to get for your jury duty gig! Hope you're having a good week and all is as well as can be, take care.....

Close encounters.....?

What do you think, strange shapes, flashing lights, could it be...? I did have a bit of fun with this image of the new Perth Arena because as soon as I saw it it made me think of this scene from Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Do you see the aliens high up there looking down on the unsuspecting hoards of humans jostling to come aboard, even the threat of being 'probed' unable to curb their desire for a new experience! Eh give me a cup of Melbourne Breakfast tea and a French movie and that's enough excitement pour moi haha! I've had to give my eyes a break from the computer screen for a couple of days will catch you tomorrow. Happy Tuesday, hope you have an encounter of the 'pleasant' kind, take care and stay safe.....

Perth Arena, opening night.....

I doubt very much that Sir Elton John would have been singing 'under the stars' last night. It was hoped that the retractable roof of the Perth Arena could be pulled back for the 'official' opening but in typical spring fashion the weather which has been perfect for the last few days started to cloud over towards the late afternoon, and you guessed it, poured just as everyone was arriving for the concert, can you see (above) the tip of the huge umbrella P was holding over me in an attempt to keep us, and by 'us' I mean moi and my camera, dry. It was fun to go into the city to see all the razzamatazzle, but even better to leave the crowds behind and drop in to Fast Eddy's for a coffee before heading home. Better luck with the weather on Monday night Rocket Man! Late night, will catch up tomorrow.  Happy Sunday, take care.....p.s. doesn't the arena look fabulous at night, I think it's growing on me already! p.p.s. I'm saving my favourite shot for tomorrow!

Thank heavens.....

for little girls...sorry I was channeling Maurice Chevalier there for  moment. It's so true though don't you think, in no time at all children go from making castles in the sand, to young women  constantly chattering on their phones, where did the time in the middle go. Oy I'm getting old haha!! Hope you have a happy and relaxing weekend, take care and stay safe p.s. the weather couldn't be more different from last weekend, sunshine and 29C, nice.....