Perth Upmarkets.. a bit special!

What better way to spend a Sunday morning than wandering through the grounds and halls of the University of Western Australia (UWA) in the company of my sisters and Aimee. With some of Perth's best artists, designers and gourmets selling their work at Perth Upmarket held quarterly, this is one of the best markets to find that special something for most occasions.. my new granddaughter is in for a few very lovely surprises! You can see by the coats and jackets it was chilly, tres chilly, in fact it took beaucoup de café et petits gâteaux to warm us up :)

Winthrop Hall.. we weren't the only ones who thought it was a good idea!

A closer look at the stained glass window and the McGillivray Organ ...

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The reflection pool...

... much better from this side don't you think! Oh, and the talented artists I mentioned earlier.. I'll introduce you to one tomorrow.  Hope you had or are still having a wonderful weekend, take care...p.s. big catch up today!

 See more Weekend Reflections here..

Barracudas in the English Channel!

While at Hillarys Marina very early yesterday morning it was pointed out to me (thanks gentlemen) that the group swimming laps in the chilly water (don't be fooled by the blue sky) off the family beach were not slightly insane :) but in fact acclimatising and in training for this years English Channel swim in July. Swimming the 22 miles of the English Channel has been described as the ultimate long distance swimming challenge and compared in unpredictability, endurance and stamina to climbing Mt. Everest. The Barracudas, some who have already participated, are a Churchlands Senior High School based group of fearless swimmers who's names I have no doubt have and will again appear on the list of successful channel crossers!

My questions for head coach Pauline (red scarf main pic) were 'I guess they'll be wearing wet-suits'.. nope, 'well they'll be covered in goose fat (?) or something to keep warm' nope.. they'll be exactly as you see them here, oh la! Not too shabby a training spot though. Dodging the shipping traffic in the English Channel is a huge hazard for the swimmers, whereas here in the Rottnest Channel Swim it's the sharks! I'm sure I join with all in wishing the Barracudas the best of luck. Happy Sunday, take care and stay safe..

5351km to Bangkok or.. where there's a lampost there's a seagull!

 

The signpost to the left (you may have to pull in) showing the distances from here to other cities around the world is a popular spot for photos at Hillarys Boat Harbour. Two lampposts two seagulls, enough said :) What I love best about this area of the marina are the London Plane Trees, pale green in late spring/summer, orange/brown in autumn and here almost naked skeletons in winter.. ever changing sentinels of the seasons. They are reflected here in the window of San Churro.. not a bad spot to indulge in a winter warming hot chocolate! Wishing you skies of blue this weekend, take care and stay safe...

Posted to Weekend Reflections.

Oh... was there ever such a yachtsman as Mr. Toad?

I can't help experiencing a touch of the envies whenever I visit mon ami français Marie at her apartment in Maylands one of Perth's older suburbs.. with gardens that lead right down to the edge of the Swan River and views like these who can blame me :) Crisp blue skies over Perth, perfect winter days..

... and when I see the two benches side by side and look along the rivers edge it's impossible not to think 'Wind in the Willow' thoughts.. Have a wonderful Thursday, take care...

“when tired at last, he sat on the bank, while the river still chattered on to him, a babbling procession of the best stories in the world, sent from the heart of the earth to be told at last to the insatiable sea.”
― Kenneth Grahame

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Lock it down!

The concept that attaching a lock to a bridge, chain or wall etc. is a gift that  'truly signifies your everlasting love' seems a little unrealistic to me.. and I am a romantique :) Causing concern for the damage they do to bridges around Europe special structures are being build specifically for this purpose. Here in Perth the locks are attached to chains at the entrance to the Bell Tower.. personally I think they look a little boring, at $30 for lock & engraving a few different colours and styles would perk it up a little don't you think! Hope your week is going well, happy Wednesday, take care...

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McDonald's was there!

Another 'where am I' for you today! I can tell you it was one of the most fascinating trips that I've ever made.. if it was a bit safer (clue) I'd go back in a flash I'm sure I missed much.. but as my fear of flying is increasing every day, from now on it's Sydney or Paris pour moi :) Did make me smile when I saw the McDonald's sign, is there anywhere in this world that they are not! My computer has been making me crazy the last few days.. slow beyond patience, might be time for the junk heap! Catch up with everyone today.. happy Tuesday, take care.. oh ok there's another clue :)

Just another rainy day!

Storms on the weekend added a touch of drama to the skies over Perth.. taken from Kings Park. Looking forward to the time when I can take a shot from here and not be distressed by the scar construction on the foreshore! The long low curved building to the left is the Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre where Aimee, self confessed 'nerd'  :) spent most of her weekend enjoying Supanova! 

I like the shot above because as well as the misty shapes of the city shrouded in rain you can see where the Narrows Bridge crosses the Swan River from city side to South Perth and also the red rooftops of the The Old (Swan) Brewery. Exiting onto Riverside Drive below we spotted a couple having pre-wedding photos taken in front of the Crawley boatshed.. in the rain! I don't get the 'pre-wedding' photo thing, it's bad enough on the day :)

... and look (closely), they were still at it on the way back :)

A quick drive by shot of  'the giants view' by Perth artist Kyle Hughes-Odgers which can be seen from the freeway as you drive into and out of the city. Happy Monday, or Sunday :) take care...

 Click here to see more Monday Murals..

Blue skies.. not always!

It was, as they say in the classics 'a filthy day' :) oh how I love those days! I enjoy driving in the rain, but when it's torrential as it was on the way to Kings Park yesterday je préfère being driven.. There was a time when the freeway was a little quiet on the weekends, now there isn't anytime when the freeway is quiet.. which is good, a sign that the many attractions the city has to offer these days are drawing Perthites out of the suburbs in droves :)

A drive by splodgy shot of St. Georges Terrace on the way to the park, even more fabulous in the rain! Show you what the city looked like in a thunderstorm tomorrow.. If the sun is shining in your neck of the woods this weekend.. enjoy! Happy Sunday, take care and stay safe..

 

A winter abstract!

 Leaves float silently down

Yellow, orange.. and brown

The wind blowing them all around

Before they languish on the ground...

You've seen my rustique (?) homemade birdbath before.. usually with a bird in it :) After the strong winds we've had over the last week it's surprising that there are any autumn leaves, barely hanging on, left to fall! Zooming in on the leaves and reflections in the water, adding a touch of this a smidge of that et voilà a winter abstract! It's going to be a wet and wild weekend here in Perth, hoping to get out and capture some of it! Bon weekend, take care..

It's so hilarious!

Don't we all know someone who, when they laugh it's so darn infectious you end up laughing along with them even though you're not sure what the joke is :) They may not look as strange as the cutie from yesterdays post but have a listen here, the laugh of the Kookaburra has to be heard to be believed.. it's so hysterical that it's almost impossible not to smile when you hear it! The Kookaburra 'laughs' to establish it's territorial boundaries, the two above were letting the chap below know that this perch above was taken, buzz off!
 

I hadn't noticed the turquoise blue feathers on the Kookaburra's wings before, tres jolie oui! This week has ziiiiped by in a flash for me, looking forward to a quieter weekend, how about you? Happy Friday, take care and stay safe.. p.s. don't let that blue sky fool you, that was Wednesday, it rained bucket-loads all day yesterday!

A very strange duck!

Walking around Lake Joondalup in-between showers yesterday for the first time I spotted a Musk duck, described in the opening line of my field guide to the birds of Australia as 'a very strange duck'.. I can now confirm this to be true :) The adult male has a most peculiar leathery flap under his bluntly triangular bill and a tail made up of not 27 nor 29 but 28 feathers that expand and fluff up when he puts on a display which he did for moi :)

 

Slowly rotating (above) he raised his bill (below), flap expanded and began making loud 'k-plonk' noises as he splashed away...  

...as he swam off into the centre of the lake, tail puffed out, making shrill whistle like noises that I could hear all the way back to the car, I thought to myself.. strange, that doesn't even begin to cover the Musk duck, at the same time thrilled that I had just witnessed something quite unique! Happy Thursday, take care...p.s. catch up today!

Les chats de la lighthouse...

Yesterday started off with blue skies and sunshine but before long the forecast of wild weather became a reality! As much as I enjoy looking out while cozy indoors my heart breaks at the thought of these little creatures huddled in the crevices of the marina wall. I took these on Monday when I was at the lighthouse and the sun was shining. I console myself with the thought that this could be a prime spot, there is a restaurant close by and it's very popular with fishermen..  they don't look as if they're starving do they? If only people would do the right thing by their pets, and more than anything not dump them when they move or tire of them, I can't even begin to understand that action! It's a tres 'rantable' subject oui! Take care and stay safe..

Sixteen days into winter!

It's official, the weather in Perth has no idea how to conform to seasonal norms! The week ahead reads like this.. yesterday (when I took these shots) forecast 'sunny 4 to 21C, today thunderstorms, will let you know :) Wednesday thunderstorms clearing, Thursday no chance of a shower, Friday it's all over! Yeh I know, I'll be whingeing when it rains everyday for a week.. or will I? The view from half way up the lighthouse at Hillarys Boat Harbour.. there was a very strong northerly wind blowing causing a bit of 'movement' up there.. didn't linger :) Hope your week has started well, happy Tuesday, take care...

Perth.. it's Dead Posh!

Rubbish bins all in a row don't seem quite so utilitarian when surrounded by colour, shapes and a bright orange tee shirt :) Still so much to see in Wolfe Lane. Dutch artist Amok Island found his way from Amsterdam to Perth to 'follow his love for everything tropical'.. see more of his fishy murals around the world here (excellent) including Dolphin Fish above. Meanwhile around the corner on the same building Melbourne artist Lucas Grogan was, in his favoured blue and white.. declaring the whole lane 'Dead Posh' :)

..and just when you least expect it.. a cheeky little ROA, excellent! I hope you had or are still having a wonderful weekend.. Monday for me, let's see what this week brings! Take care and stay safe...

See more Monday Murals here...

Flo, Petar and Leonard Cohen!

Back in April I was lucky enough to catch four of Perth's mega talented buskers jamming together in the city. Since then French musician Flo above, see him singing in Murray St. here, has released his new CD, existentially unnamed.. it exists therefore it is, so French oui :) am listening to it as I type, très bon! Flo will be on his way to Asia by now.. Perth's loss Asia's gain! Petar below, and above enjoying Flo's last gig in Perth on Friday, has released his new CD 'Dream Chaser' which he produced, wrote or co wrote all songs except 'Hallelujah'.. I'm pretty sure if living legend Leonard Cohen had heard Petar's tribute when he was here in Perth last year he would have approved! Hope your weekend is progressing as hoped, take care...

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Three cranes and a fireman, or....

...three cranes and the lady in high heel boots.. whichever takes your fancy :)  Seen through the arch of the 'the cactus' the cranes in the background are working hard to finish the Perth City Link that will join Northbridge to the city for the first time in 100 years and unlike the 'other' project going on in Perth this one will without doubt be a brilliant rejuvenation for Perth..

More firemen below in the city yesterday collecting money for the Chidlow Bush Fire Brigade who do such a brilliant job during the blistering hot summer months.. and a kind of blurry self portrait of moi, the best kind :) Have a wonderful weekend, take care and stay safe...