To burger or not to burger that is the question....!

It's said that everyone craves a burger now and then.. if ever I do it's a 'simply Grill'd'. When founder Simon Crowe, opened his first shop he set out to create a 'healthy' burger, there's no 'upsizing' here.. well you don't really need it do you :) Now there are over 51 Grill'd's around Australia and sometimes when Aimee and I are in the city we have lunch at the Brookfield Place Grill'd on St. George's Terrace. Usually I have the burger and salad without the bun in an effort to save calories, on Sunday I threw caution to the wind and had the 'real deal' and now I fear there is no turning back, it was délicieux snuggled there in it's toasted panini bap! It still won't happen too often :) What about you, do you crave a burger now and then or is it a case of sacre bleu no way!! Have a fab Thursday, take care.....The November 1 theme for City Daily Photo bloggers is "Heights."

Welcome Swallows.....

I was both delighted and fed up when we were walking along the sea wall behind Aqwa (Aquarium of WA) at Hillarys Boat Harbour over the weekend.. delighted to come across a small flock of Welcome Swallows dancing about on the rocks and tops of nearby boats, fed up because can you believe it.. I didn't have my long lens, bah! Called 'welcome swallows' by sailors in times gone by because the sight of a swallow would mean land ahoy!! I think they're the sweetest little creatures and it makes me happy to see them :) I hope that you see something that makes you happy today, take care and stay safe....

Two out of three ain't bad.....!

I wasn't drinking, not then anyway :) and there was no chance of me swimming ..but just for a second my attention was taken away from the rocky uneven surface of the sea wall. All the shots I've taken of the lighthouse at Hillarys Boat Harbour have been from the marina side, for a different angle we walked along the sea wall, a popular spot for fishermen and photographers. Distracted my foot went into a dip and I went 'a over e' if you know what I mean..oh la! my camera!! No fear, believe me my camera was the first thing I thought of, thank goodness it was around my neck and not just in my hand and landed on me :) not the ground, phew! Falling is a horrible sensation don't you think, it kinda shakes you up a bit, have you had an experience like this? Hoping for an 'upright week' and the same for you, take care and stay safe....p.s. I did have that drink a wee bit later :))

Grace Barbe, 'the real deal'.....

One of the highlights of our trip into the city yesterday was listening to Grace Barbe. The camera loved her, even in the full midday sun, so pretty don't you think.. you can see in the 4th shot down I wasn't the only one who thought so. Not just a super voice, a hugely entertaining personality also, and as she hails from the Seychelles there was to my delight 'beaucoup de Français' singing :)) The Northbridge Piazza is the perfect venue on a warm day to hang out, lounge in a bean bag and listen to live music. So what did you get up to this weekend? Sorry I haven't been around much, I had a bit of a 'mishap' taking photos on Saturday, tell you about it tomorrow..Happy beginning of the new week, take care and stay safe....p.s. Bill has just come back from a diving trip in Indonesia, if you like weird and wonderful underwater creatures, and who doesn't :) check it out!

Floating reflections.....

City reflections caught in the Crystal Swan floating restaurant, if you have a mo check out the one minute video for some city views while cruising.. wonder how that's going to work when Elizabeth Quay is finished. The top shot was taken from the Barrack Street Jetty and the view below from up in Kings Park, you can see the Crystal Swan moored way down there at the jetty. I was amazed to see that some of you in the Northern Hemisphere are already experiencing snow.. surely it's too soon? Whatever the clime I hope you have a wonderful weekend, take care and stay safe....To see reflections from around the world check out James's Weekend Reflections.....

Kaleidoscopic Aves.....

A psychedelic little 'Lorie' sitting high up in the 'bottle brush' tree in my front garden. The Callistemon flower profusely from spring through to early summer. My bottle brush has had a few 'close calls' over the years with storms breaking branches etc., it's a testament to the resilience of the Australian native plants that it's come through with 'flying colours' :) They do attract many birds, the most impressive being the large flocks of ravenous 'white tailed black cockatoos' that swoop in and raucously attack the tree leaving behind mounds of broken flowers and seeds, quite a sight! Hope you have a fab Friday, take care..  Click here to view all participants of Skywatch Friday 

Heading out.....!

I sometimes wonder if Parisians go about their daily life not noticing glimpses of Le Tour Eiffel in unexpected places or if walking through the Tuileries Garden is just a means of getting from A to B.. I can't imagine! I do know that I never take for granted living five minutes away from one of the most beautiful beaches you could find anywhere..especially as it was yesterday,  a perfect spring day! To make it even more perfect, rain is predicted for tomorrow :) Happy Thursday, take care.....

Spot the redhead.....!

It's still a little chilly first thing in the morning and evening here in Perth, but if you 'rug up' it's perfect for a walk around Hillary's Boat Harbour, about five minutes from home. The above view (pesky lamp lights don't make it easy) is looking across from the boat slips to The Breakwater and the Bascule bridge on the boardwalk. Continuing around, another view through the 'Wind Rose' that I showed you here, reading your comments from that post made me smile :) Middle of the working week already..s'crazy! Take care, and stay safe.....

What's your fancy.....?

Will it be coffee in one of the cafe's looking out over the Swan River with the WA Rowing Club boathouse and Riverside Drive in the background....what about a 'segway tour', looks like fun and maybe you don't even have to  have a sense of balance or a driving license :)

A leisurely cruise along the river to the Swan Valley on the Lady de Vine might be your thing... I didn't realize until I started taking photos just how many excellent venues there are at the Barrack Street Jetty, apparently all happy and working with developers of Elizabeth Quay next door..sounds good on paper! Wonder what the view looking back to the city (below) will look like in 2000 and whenever :)) Happy beginning of the week, take care....p.s. my 'fancy' was the first choice! The November 1 theme for City Daily Photo bloggers is "Heights."

Monday blues.....

Thinking ahead :) I saved these last two shots from our trip to Araluen Botanic Park for 'Monday murals'.. painted enticingly on the walls of the ticket office as you enter the park. As we were too late to see the fabulous spring display of tulips this year, these 'ever lasting' tulips below will have to suffice until they bloom again next spring. I hope that you've had a relaxing weekend.. mine has been hectic but very 'interesting'! Happy Monday, take care.....

Bedraggled.....!

Do you ever wonder where birds go when it's bucketing down with rain? Well in my world they sit and glare at me whenever I venture outdoors! The Galah's chest feathers are almost red when soaking wet, as for the Corella he was just a dirty boy :) Oh la! they do look a wee bit pitiful though. The dove sitting stoically in the background waiting for his share of the soggy birdseed made me smile :) As much as I love the rain I would happily wish it over to NSW right now, my heart goes out to all those who have lost their homes..and more in the bushfires. Take care over the weekend.....

Araluen - singing waters.....

Wandering around Araluen Botanic Park on Thursday it was hard to believe we were only 35km from the city. It was a little tricky.. midday when the sun is high is the worst time to take photos don't you think? Araluen, an Aboriginal word meaning running water/place of lillies was founded by Australian business man J.J. Simons in 1929 as a holiday camp for his youth organization, it's interesting to see how this 59 hectares of land has developed since then.....

 Reflections of the poolside pergola and the tall trees that surround the park..... 

 .....and from the other side....

 Look who was sitting on top of the pergola.. cutest Little Kingfisher..I nearly missed him!

...and look who was swimming under it, a family of Australian Wood Duck's.....

Last but not least sitting in a tree watching over all an Australasian Darter.. I can't wait to come back here in autumn, can you imagine the colours, so many different species of trees. Hope you have a relaxing weekend, take care and stay safe..... To see more reflections visit James's Weekend Reflections....p.s. The November 1 theme for City Daily Photo bloggers is "Heights."

Rose Heritage Cafe et 'Le Jardin de Rose'.....

We drove to Araluen Botanical Park, 35km south east of Perth yesterday hoping that we still might be in time to see the mass tulip display that happens each year in spring. Alas too late! It was by no means a wasted trip, Araluen is spectacular in every season.. I took so many photos that it was impossible to edit them in time, I'll post some shots tomorrow. On the way home we stopped at the Rose Heritage Cafe for lunch, such a pleasure to look out over the roses some of which were my favourite David Austin's. The French garden was a delight, from the spectacular wisteria arbour above to the 'petit parterre' garden below. On the way to Araluen we passed pear, apple and peach orchards not to mention a vineyard or two.. even though the city is so close, this area in The Darling Range feels like you're right out in the country, tres joli..it's a definite for visitors to Perth! Happy Friday, take care.....

Memory Markers.....

The sculpture aptly named 'Memory Markers' created by Anna Neil in 2006 could not be placed in a more ironic spot if it had been placed there by a clairvoyant! Sitting at the Barrack St. entrance to the Stirling Gardens, directly opposite the new development Elizabeth Quay.. don't worry it's not another rant :) although it was interesting to read the recent thoughts of acclaimed author Tim Winton.. eloquently put Mr Winton! The sculpture looking one way up to the city and the other down towards the Swan River was 'inspired by the process of recording and documenting history and the written memories of Stirling Gardens, the States first botanical gardens opened in 1845'.. oh la! how things are about to change! Happy Thursday, take care and stay safe.....