Quo Vadis..'the place to be'.....!

St.George's Terrace reflected in the main entrance to the QV1. My favourite story re the naming of this 40 storey building is from an Anonymous insider and start's like this.....

 'During the late 1980s a gathering of suits (of de rigueur Enlightenment progeny - not pre-Vatican II Roman Catholic) around a Perth boardroom table were pondering the naming of a 60,000 sqm NLA tower being built in St. George's Terrace, when one suit mumbled...

and ends like this..click the above link if you're interested in the middle bit :))

Thereafter a highly influential suit (who has since been banished from The Terrace) spoke across the table with a tone not dissimilar from that of an English lecturer conducting a tutorial for the benefit of convict progeny: "Well actually chaps that is a Latin phrase which translates in English to: The place to be. "After which the collective response was: " Brilliant - thank you Mr. XYZ ,......... now we know what to name it... the number one place to be...QV1"..

Ah! so many tales from the Terrace! Sorry I haven't been around much this week, things to organize re kitchen reno..looking forward to catching up, have a fab weekend, take care.....  linking here to James's weekend reflections

Beating the blues.....!

Whenever I get a little grrrrr! there are two things guaranteed to calm the nerves.. one is to get out and work in my garden, the other is to take a walk along by the beach and remind myself  how lucky I am to live here in Perth beside one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world and that there can be days in winter when the sky looks like this and the Indian Ocean so blue.. can you see the lighthouse way out there! Happy Friday, take care..... Click here to view all participants of Skywatch Friday

Shortcuts & Allen keys....!

Four small words that strike panic and fear into the heart of most men...'let's go to IKEA' :)) Whether it's the sheer volume of goods they may be required to admire, or the strong possibility that they are going to have to 'put together' a piece of furniture using only an Allen key, the dread is palpable, the 'follow the arrow' sign even makes me flinch :)

       There are 'shortcuts'..up to date I've not found one that is actually short!!

Need me..want me..take me, words that used in another context could be rather enticing :) NOT when you're heading into a warehouse filled with sanity challenging flat packs containing everything from a coffee table to a whole kitchen, imagine building a kitchen using an Allen key.. no thanks! 

.....and then, just when you thought you would never see daylight again.. the exit ahead and you have to keep a grip to prevent yourself losing your nonchalant demur, it would never do to show that passing through the warehouse of 'trial & tribulation' had freaked you out :) Seriously I'm only kidding, I can't speak for P, but as long as you go really early and NEVER on a weekend, it's not so bad, they have some really cool Swedish stuff :) We were there yesterday to pick up a few things for the new kitchen, like... a new kitchen! You can't beat them for the basics, the details you can personalize oui. If it ever gets finished I'll show you.. Happy Thursday, take care and stay safe...don't forget The theme for September for City Daily Photo bloggers is "Pink.".....

Hanging in the balance.....!

There was a gasp as the 700 strong audience in the spiegeltent breathed in as one, for the next what seemed like an hour but in reality was about fifteen minutes all eyes were glued to the spectacle before us. Beginning by balancing a feather on the end of a branch and continually adding to it until it almost took on the shape of a giant ribcage reaching out over the front rows..finally resting the whole structure on a centre piece (you can see the finale here) the 'maestro of concentration' stepped back, smiled, went up on his toes and blew the feather off causing the whole erection to collapse :) Oh and btw I made a mistake yesterday, I read that the stage where all this awesomeness occurs is actually two meters round not three, incroyable oui! Can it be Wednesday already..is it possible my kitchen is still in bits..yes, yes it is possible :)) take care.....

Somersaulting, slapsticking & stripteasing.....!

The night before the wall came crumbling down last week, we took my sister on a surprise 'outing' to celebrate her birthday. In the grounds of Crown Perth (aka the casino) under the magical canvas of the Spiegeltent we watched in awe as the performers in the New York production Empire (two minute video of fabulousness) executed mind boggling feats..all on a 3metre round stage. Above Russian born Elena Lev twirls and contorts in a bubble high above the audience before a cascade of sparkling real bubbles rained down on us. It was adult circus at it's very best, rude, raunchy and incredibly funny! If you get a chance to see it, take it, you absolutely won't be disappointed. Perthites enjoyed it so much that the show was extended. I didn't take all that many shots, difficult with heads bobbing in front and stage lights, apart from that I really didn't want to miss a thing. I'll show you the finishing act tomorrow, it was incroyable! Have a great Tuesday, take care and stay safe.....The theme for September for City Daily Photo bloggers is "Pink." To participate, link your post on September 1 to the CDP theme day page.

Industrial arch.....

Ok so it's not the St. Louis Gateway Arch shown to us from so many unique aspects most Thursdays by proud new grandad Bob Crowe and it's probably a wee bit extreme to use it as an indication as to the state of my kitchen right now..close though :) but it definitely is one of the signs that Perth is developing at an ever increasing pace....could this prime spot in the heart of the CBD on Murray St. be the future location of Top Shop just one of the many fashion labels joining the rush to take advantage of Perth's growing population and economy?

For those of you who read about Perth here regularly, you will know how much j'adore St. George's Terrace which runs parallel with the Swan River.. apart from the 'fabulousness' of the terrace itself, the glimpses of the river as you cross each street are an added bonus alas soon to be obliterated by the...wait for it! RANT ALERT :) the hideously pretentious Elizabeth Quay project due to be completed 'sometime' in the far future....

I took the shot below last month on a dull rainy day from the top of Kings Park and couldn't help thinking how wonderful it would be to stand here and view a softer 'sweeping down to the river' family friendly environment more suited to Perth's much loved and enticing 'laid back' image..ah but that's moi, a true romantic at heart :) It's been a while since we've done any serious renovations, I'd forgotten exactly how frustrating it can be, it'll be a few weeks yet before I can show you the results..I'm sure you've all knocked down a dividing wall at some point.what an amazing difference it makes oui! Looking forward to catching up, hope your week has started well, take care.....

Marmalade &....renovations!!

Imagine this....a thick slice of homemade bread toasted, buttered and spread generously with a tangy just cooled orange/lemon marmalade fresh off the hob! Add a café au lait and this could possibly be the perfect breakfast oui! I watched my brother in law bottle and cap this latest batch yesterday, made with lemons from the garden. I have made strawberry jam before..it was delicious, how about you, are you into homemade pickles & jam? I have something mega exciting happening in my kitchen over the next week, renovations..walls coming down etc. it's going to be an almighty MESS!! So I may not be around for a few days..gotta keep my eye on those builders yeh :)) I hope you have a fab weekend, if I get a chance I'll 'peep' in on you, take care and stay safe.....

Along the way.....

It's been a while since Aimee and I had a walk through Hepburn reserve.. yesterday it was so lovely to see the bush coming alive with the beginnings of spring colour..yellow, orange and red Grevillea, the deep blue creeper above changing the wire fencing from utilitarian to..a frame for my winding path :)) Along the way we met other walkers enjoying the warm sunny afternoon, the sweetest being the little fellow below skipping ahead of his mum and sister with two very cute chubby pugs.....

Kangaroo shot courtesy of Aimee, isn't it fabulous.....!

A bench in the bush flanked by grass trees is not to bad a spot to sit and rest awhile, the last time I saw this bench it was covered in graffiti, looks like it's had a lick of paint since then! This one's for you Malyss and VP....hope you have a good middle of the working week Wednesday, take care and stay safe....

Leaving harbour.....!

We missed the Oosterschelde and the Bark Europa leaving Fremantle Harbour, they slipped away a day earlier than expected, we almost missed the English rigger the Lord Nelson, but it was delayed for a day and we caught her (?) as she sailed past the Fremantle Ports Authority Building, past the Maritime Museum and out past the green lighthouse on the South mole into the great blue of the Indian Ocean. It was interesting to see when I downloaded the shots that the clouds that  hung in a thick flat layer over the harbour, dissipated into little 'fluffies' out to sea.....

We were really hoping for a bit of sail, if you look at the link for the Lord Nelson it looks truly magnificent in full sail..if she ever comes back I'll be waiting :))

She was accompanied out to sea by a little red pilot boat.....

We weren't the only ones taking photos, this guy looked just a wee bit professional :)

By the time I  took these last two shots with my 300mm lens the Lord Nelson was almost out to Gage Roads amongst the tankers waiting to come into harboir to unload, not too bad yeh! Oh and above is the red lighthouse on the North Mole. I hope that your week has started well, have a good Tuesday, take care and stay safe.....

Dinky-di & true blue....!

A wonderful time was had at the Polka Dot Vintage Market yesterday.. Jack, Steffe and all confident  'portraiteurs' (?) out there would have been tres proud of me..not one, but three portrait shots :)) On the lookout for a birthday present for my great nephew we were drawn to the colourful display of Conky the Magic Kangaroo books and as an added bonus we met and were totally charmed by author Ken Holman who not only signed my books but regaled us with an outback yarn or two! As well as being loved around the world.. what child doesn't enjoy a kangaroo story, Ken's books have been placed in the heritage section of the WA State Library. You can order them on line..I'm just saying :)

Below left, seriously if I look like this when I'm a 'genuine vintage model' I'll be well happy, she was 'racy & lacy all the way down to her toes' fabulous! I overheard two men walking in front of me saying 'I wish we had a camera'...I mean, who goes anywhere without a camera, right ?? To the right we have Greg the 'maharaja' who was more than happy to pose, especially with Aimee :) Altogether a colourful affair, plus we came hope with some pretty cool 'stuff'..Happy rest of the weekend in the Northern Hemisphere.. take care and stay safe....

Amour.....!

A private moment? Not if you're smooching in the middle of a busy shopping mall in the city centre it's not :) In the words of John Lennon 'Make Love not War'..Here's hoping that you're having a peaceful weekend, Aimee and I are off to the Polka Dot Vintage Market today, looking forward to finding that elusive 'treasure'.. you'll be the first to know if I find it! Oh yeh, new time for posting..did you notice :))

Rouge, blanc et bleu.....!

As part of the Perth Fashion Festival happening in the city right now many of Perth's retail stores are decorating their windows in anticipation of the arrival of spring at the end of the month and participating in Windows of the City.. I'm not sure if the Louis Vuitton window on King Street is included but I was drawn to it anyway, hmmm! could it be something to do with the couleurs rouge, blanc et bleu :)  To see more reflections from around the world visit James's Weekend Reflections. Happy weekend , take care.....

Percy P and friends....!

Whenever I visit the zoo I find it impossible to walk past the Pelicans without taking a few shots, they look splendid sailing across the lake stopping every now and then to scoop enormous amounts of water into their huge bills, sieving out any tasty little tidbits..fascinatingly odd looking creatures don't you think?

I can't believe in all the times I've been to the zoo it's the first time I've noticed the extraordinary markings of the Plumed Whistling Duck with it's long black-margined plumes rising on each side like the sails of a ship..or the Sydney Opera House :)

....and of course there's always the extrovert, the show off! I just wish I'd had a chance to whip out my long lens to get a closer look at the the Great Egret prancing and dancing, before standing at the edge of the pond, spreading it's wings and taking a bow to it's less than impressed audience :) Hope you have a fab Friday, take care and stay safe.....

RED alert.....!

Warning..before you proceed you may need sunglasses :) I know one person who will love this post, you know who I'm talking about Red Nomad! Things have been a wee bit serious and ..grey :) the last few days so I thought a bit of fun was in order! Aimee and I had a super day at the Perth Zoo yesterday, if you've got three minutes the zoo link has an interesting video. I'm sure you'll agree that Aimee's 'plumage' is as bright as any exotic creature that you could find anywhere :) She discovered that when you're 5ft 2inches tall it's not that easy to mount an elephant, but was more than capable of out-staring a giant lizard and later after a wee chat with Mama Gorilla we left only to find that we'd overstayed our welcome in the car park and were rewarded with a $60 fine..c'est la vie :) Happy 'almost weekend',  take care and stay safe.....

It isn't all sunshine in Perth ....!

Looks pretty bleak right! We've had a fairly mild winter so far in Perth, with an average rainfall in the June/July period of 184.0mm, the fourth driest period in 136 years. So far in the first 13 days of August we've had 84.2mm, with 45.0mm of them falling all on the one day last week, the 8th.. I remember it well, was drenched more than once :) I'm sure you'll agree one of the nicest things to do on a wintery day is to be warm indoors looking out, like I was yesterday in San Churro. I'm hoping the August average will be up, how much rain we get from this point on is crucial and will determine  how strict the water restrictions will be through summer. Happy Wednesday, hope it's a good one, take care.....