Varga Girl, Monday mural.....

How many of you out there are still this bendable! As you can see I'm still working on the same principle as yesterday, somewhere in the world it's still Monday etc :) is it just me or does everyone get a little confused as to which day it is over the Christmas/New Year holiday? I've always enjoyed this mural atop the Varga Girl store in trendy Leederville and right now it typifies exactly how I feel.. twisted in many uncomfortable ways both emotionally and physically. Never fear my usual calm (?) equilibrium will resume... any day now :) I hope that you're enjoying the festive season, I wonder how many of you, like me will have 'must lose 5 kilos' on top of your New Years resolution list! Have a happy and safe New Years Eve, take care....to see more murals from around the world click here.
 The January theme for City Daily Photo bloggers is "Photo of the Year."
 

Sunday bridges on Monday.....!

Even though we are officially an hour into Monday here in Perth it's still Sunday in the Northern Hemisphere thus hopefully making this shot viable for Sunday bridges :) There have been bridges crossing the Swan River at this point in Guildford since 1855. Barkers Bridge, the current structure made mainly from whole Jarrah trunks crosses from Guildford to Caversham over a wide stretch of floodplain on the Caversham side.. you can see some of the piles on the floodplain have been replaced by steel posts, still an impressive and sturdy structure, those Jarrah piles will be around longer than moi I bet! Hope you had an excellent weekend and are ready to face the week ahead.. I can tell you with Aimee moving in a few days it's going to be a strange one for me! Take care.... Click here to view all participants of Sunday Bridges

Boxing Day Sales..... eh!

This is Karrinyup (derived from the Aboriginal word Careniup meaning 'the place where kangaroos graze'), my preferred shopping centre or mall as they say in the USA! I think it's unlikely that a kangaroo has been seen grazing on this spot for quite some time :) If you note the time on the Watch Works clock it's 10.20am.. on Boxing Day! There was no craziness, no scrambling for bargains, they would still be there after a coffee.. tres civilized oui :) this 'laid back' attitude is one of the reasons I love Perth.. Below one of the many projects I've been busy with over the last two weeks.. remember that big red wall in my new kitchen area crying out for a painting.. I call it 'waterlily reflections'. My son, daughter-in-law.. and 'future' granddaughter :) are here visiting from Sydney, it's been  brilliant spending time with them, I can see many more trips to the east in future years, must learn how to skype! Really looking forward to catching up with all your news over the next few days, in the meantime take care and stay safe.....

Santa(s) next door & Julmust.....!

Although I'm not back for a few days I wanted to pop in and take this opportunity to wish you a very merry Christmas from Perth. As I was leaving home a few days ago I had only minutes to dash back indoors.. grab my camera (the first time in over a week) to snap this 'right time, right place' shot. My footballer neighbor, and I'm guessing the whole 'footy' team were off on the next leg of their 'tour de fridge' :)  Christmas is almost over here in Perth, it was a wonderful family day with a perfect 30C but my thoughts were with all in the UK and Europe, the weather reports have been horrific with tragic consequences, I hope all is well with my Northern Hemisphere blog mates and that the weather calms down very soon. I've missed you and will be back in full swing before the New Year, catch you then, take care.. btw Steffe I now know quite well what 'Julmust' tastes like.. not bad :)

Merry Christmas and à bientôt.....

WARNING! Picture overload! You all know I'm a total technophobe and as I haven't mastered the 'post ahead' thing I've put eleven posts into one for the time I'll be away. It was 41C in Perth today and for a wee minute or two :) I couldn't help feeling sorry for the English cricket team in town for the third in the series of the battle for The Ashes.. for any cricket fans out there click here for some excellent images from today's game. The shots below are from Friday night in the city beginning with the Hawkers Markets which are held every Friday night in the city.....

Everyone likes a French crepe.. how about the chandelier, an elegant touch oui!

Meet me by the green blob, a bizarre reference point.. but it's grown on me now :) on the way over to the cultural centre.....

Over in the Perth Cultural Centre the bean bags are getting bigger and comfier :)

I was tempted.....

Knitted cacti....why?

Aimee queuing for Ben & Jerry's, they did well!

The beach in the Northbridge.. why not :)

... and finally on the way home down James St. this one's for you Ingor and Iris.. the Brass Monkey.

Iris and Ingor love Perth so much that they got married while they were here, tres romantic oui!

Heading home up Fitzgerald St..  Here's how things are looking for me in the next two weeks.. time spent getting Aimee's new house ready for her to move in, painting etc.. lots. Hours spent getting my own house and garden ready for family Christmas meal.. many!  Time to concentrate on blog.. not long enough :)  I will catch up with you soon..  I wish you a very merry Christmas, and you can be sure that I'll be thinking of all having a white Christmas with a little touch of envy :) It's a crazy time of the year so take extra care and stay safe.. à bientôt!

Sweetie.....!

Busking with a difference! On a warm balmy evening, build an exotic & magical sandcastle with colourful reflections in the background, glowing candles wavering in the gentle breeze :) seriously who's going to be able to resist taking a snap of this scene.. a sign 'photos donations please' and hey presto you have a nice little thing going on! What's not to love, it's a win win situation.. worth clicking to see the details. The kids below found a super spot to hang out and keep cool.. for the next few months it's going to be all about keeping cool :) Hope you have a fantastic weekend, take care.  Click here to see more reflections from around the world.....p.s. we were there to celebrate Aimee getting the keys to her new house.. the good news is it's only five minutes away.. but I'm going to miss her beautiful face in the morning :(

Une petite surprise française.....!

Yesterday we were in Guildford, one of Perth's oldest suburbs on the hunt for six bentwood dining chairs, I'll tell you why tomorrow :) Guildford has many antique and 'used' furniture shops and I was pretty sure that Jones of Guildford on James St. would have what I was after. Pfffft! can you believe, turns out they are CLOSED on a Thursday! We did however find an unexpected surprise off the main road... hidden away around the corner the tres charming entrance above (magnificent Oleander tree) to a small group of eclectic shops and... the Paris Cafe!

If anything is going to cheer me up on a futile trip chances are it would involve une petite surprise française. It was a wee bit too hot yesterday to sit in the pretty courtyard but I think when the weather is cooler it would be an excellent spot to watch the comings and goings....

 
There were no disappoints inside either, while we waited for our cafe au lait and lemon tart there were all sorts of interesting goodies for moi to peruse.. no luck today with the bentwood chairs but a super spot for the return visit! Have a fab Friday, take care..... 

A white Christmas, who needs it.....!

Of all the beaches in all the world Santa had to put his feet up on this one :) Spotted.. the man himself resting up before the big night on one of Perth's fabulous beaches. This poster always makes me smile, wonder if he's got a cold brew in that eski :). Bob from St. Louis asked me yesterday if Santa arrives in Perth on a surfboard or a sleigh.. I think he has surfed in at least once before but this year he's traveling by air, he probably heard that there are a few sharks lurking about out there :) With temperatures rising to 38C this weekend the chances of a white Christmas in Perth are as scarce as an honest politician.. but looking ahead we could have a wee bit of rain on the big day, we can only hope! These are just two of the cool Christmas posters around the city, fun aren't they. Happy Wednesday, take care.....

The mighty 'bush'.....!

I'm not sure what caught my eye first.. the car, the number plate or the magnificent mo! Something tells me M. Mario has been growing this 'handlebar' mustache for longer than the month of 'Movember'. Did you know that Movember began in Melbourne in 2003 with 30 'mo bros'.. in 2013 there are over 4 million mo's around the world raising money for men's health issues.. I wonder how many stay attached :) after the end of the month? Giving a little wave from across the street I was rewarded with a  'mochievous' (sorry) smile! Oh and about the car.. does anyone know what model it is? American I'm guessing! Hope your week has gotten off to a good start, take care.....

That elusive man in red.....!

Was it something I said.. have I been a naughty girl :) whatever the reason I don't seem to be able to catch a break with the man in red! His sleigh is fabulous.. Donner, Prancer and the gang are all there but as yet he has eluded my lens. I took the above and below shot when Santa was in town to celebrate the Christmas lights being switched on a few weeks ago, he was parked outside Myer or was it David Jones so I guess he could have been doing some Chrissy shopping :)

I could have cried, well alright maybe I did a little.. we had such a fabulous spot to watch the floats pass by as they came around the corner onto St. Georges Terrace and just as Thomas the Tank Engine was passing.. is he giving me a funny look.. it was all over red rover, battery kaput! and from way back at the end of the line I'm sure I heard a faint mocking ho! ho! ho! I'll get you yet Santa! I'm saving my favourite shot of the evening for tomorrow, there's a lot of red but it's nothing to do with Christmas.. Hope that you're enjoying the remainder of your weekend, keep those batteries charged and take care.....

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Good old Dad.....!

It's been a while since we've been into the city to see the Christmas Pageant.. there was a time many years ago when we went every year. It was clear to see that apart from the young lad above who stood nonchalantly hands in pockets as if it was the most natural thing to balance atop a post above the crowds, that the most popular spot for young ones to see the parade was still sitting comfortably on Dad's shoulders! It was a disastrous night for me, no sooner had the parade started when my camera ran out of battery..and no spare, can you imagine, the air was blue! As soon as the shops open this morning guess who will be making sure she never gets caught short again :) I'll show what I did manage to capture before the lights went out tomorrow! Hope your weekend is a little less frustrating than mine, take care and stay safe.....

'Pawn' star..or 'Sponge Bob Square Pants'.....

When I saw the above sculpture in it's new temporary (?) home in the Fremantle Fishing Harbour last week it did bring a smile to my dial :) created by mega talented WA artist Greg James who has shaped so many of the excellent public artworks around the State, including 'Bella' from last Friday's post. The last time I saw this piece titled 'Coast Guard' was on Cottesloe beach back in 2011 as part of  Sculpture by the Sea (click link and take a virtual tour, you'll see him on the end of the pier). The comparison to the man in above shot will give you some idea of the size of this sculpture which  '..considers the value and status of the pawn beyond the chessboard'.. ah the artistic mind, how it delights and confuses all at the same time :) Hope you have a fab weekend, take care.....

Hawaiian connections.....

I've always enjoyed the Christmas decorations in the Carillon City Arcade, I'm particularly partial :) to the planet like spheres hanging in the glass dome atop the three tiered atrium on the s/w side of the complex.. a two storey glass spiral staircase (below) leads up to the top level where a wonderful 1920's (I think) beach scene is painted around the dome, once again I have googled my finger off to no avail, I cannot find out who the artist is, I would love to know, it's a fabulous mural. One thing I did find out whilst searching is that we have a few Hawaiian connections around Perth, aloha.. who knew! Happy Friday, take care and stay safe.....

Buen apetito et bon appétit.....!

Who could resist that smile.. not we three ladies at the weekend 'home grown market' in Forrest Place on Sunday past! My sister, myself and Aimee came away each with 'un gran plato de paella' which I was sure I wouldn't be able to finish..but somehow did :) and naturally before leaving the market the morning would be less than complete without 'une crêpe Nutella'.. parfait!

Yes Perth 'we're getting to know you'..excellent short video.....

Santa's eyes lit up when he saw Aimee, there was no way he was passing by without a photo.. phew! thank goodness it wasn't a clown, she would have freaked out :) Did I mention that from 1st December we are officially in summer.. there are so many markets going on in and around Perth during this season, will have to choose the one's that interest me the most. I hope that you're having a good week, hard to believe it's on the wind down already, have a good Thursday, take care.....