Very Merry Christmas.. à bientôt.

Check it out.. I'm excited! I was going to try and keep the blog going through the next two weeks but to say I may be a little distracted is a bit like asking if chocolate is a health food.. pfffft ! of course it is :) My Sydney famille is arriving imminently to stay over Christmas.. can't wait to get my hands on my gorgeous granddaughter. So I will leave you until the 1st of the new year with a typical Perth summer scene, enjoy! I hope you have a wonderful festive season and that you receive at least one of your Christmas wishes. Maybe if we all collectively send out a message into the universe for a more peaceful, more humane new year, it might happen.. we can try oui! Joyeux Noel, take care and most of all stay safe.. p.s. what rubber duckie? p.p.s. have I mention that next year I will be Gigi to two!

 

Closing the gap...

Whenever I get the opportunity, as I did at the weekend, to take shots from the 13th floor of Aimee's office building, I can't get there fast enough, it really is the perfect spot to check on the progress of the Perth City Link project. Above, the Horseshoe Bridge which will still be the main access for traffic to and from Northbridge and the city, but whereas before the area between was taken up by the Fremantle rail line, now sunken below, this area is to be named Yagan Square and will be a major public space. Below you can just see the Perth Arena (my header pic) up there to the left. There's still a way to go but bringing the cultural aspects of Northbridge together with the business side of the city makes perfect sense to moi! Will keep you posted on progress. Happy Wednesday, take care and stay safe...p.s. the windows in Aimee's building are designed in a way that I had to slightly lean out to take these shots, pretty brave huh :)

The Human Condition...

First up let me say that j'adore the fragility of Perth artist Jodee Knowles style.. her work is 'heavily based on the human condition and the emotional state of mind that makes or breaks a happy existence' .. this piece found in Maylands exactly illustrates my state of mind at the moment.. headache wise it's been a nightmare but there is always a light at the end of the tunnel :) Based in Sydney for the last five years Jodee's work has gone international, I'll be looking next time I visit famille in Surrey Hills and Joe in Melbourne check out little Bourke Street! Hope your week is off to a good start, happy Tuesday, Take care and stay safe...

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St. Mary's Cathedral..

Don't you love it when you come across a different view of a building you've seen many times before. Last weekend I saw this view of St. Mary's Cathedral on the hill rising above construction work happening on Hay Street. Rounding onto Victoria St. below this view of the new curved expansion completed in 2009. If you check the above link in the '1999 to present' building phase you will read that there can often be 'unexpected' finds under the floorboards when an old church building is being restored.. go on you know you have to see what was under there now :)

The shot below taken from the steps of St. Mary's Cathedral looking back to the church administration building (heritage) and the city.. Hope you're having a good weekend, happy Sunday, take care and stay safe...

Library reflections..

Reflections in the window of the State Library of WA. We went into the city yesterday evening to taste the gastronomic delights of TruckStop in the Perth Cultural Centre. In the reflection the many market stalls and to the far right a glimpse of the WA Museum, and in its new home in the Cultural Centre you may remember the work of NSW sculptor Ken Unsworth titled 'my home is your home' reflected in the background from this years Sculpture by the Sea earlier in March.. below as you saw it really early on a hot summers day on Cottesloe Beach. Can't believe it's almost time for the 2016 exhibition, looking forward to that but not the scorching weather :) Bon weekend, take care and stay safe... 

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Faithful crossword companion...

My sunshine doesn't come from the skies,
It comes from the love in my dog's eyes. 

Unknown poet..

There are so many cafes around Perth now that welcome four legged coffee companions, couldn't resist this little sweetie sitting patiently while mum :) finished the crossword puzzle. The words above could equally apply to any beloved pet, although I can't imagine a pussy cat being patient for quite so long can you. Happy Friday. take care and stay safe.. p.s. ooops! spotted :)

Café de Grace.. open for summer!

Put out seed and they will come! From the tops of my hibiscus bush to high up in the old gum tree next door the word spread.. 'Café de Grace' is open for business :) Heralded to the general winged population by the colourful backyard criers above and below. Did you know that Rainbow Lorikeets pair up and are monogamous for life.. maybe that's why they always look so grumpy.. kidding :)

It didn't take long for the Galahs and doves to fly in.. 

 It was a free-for-all.. let the food good times roll :) I hope you're pleased to see them, I kind of missed the noisy, messy little creatures! Happy Thursday.. where did Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday go? Take care and stay safe... p.s. the colours are true!

Applecross views.. South of the Swan.

The Swan River separates the northern and southern suburbs of Perth and not often the twain shall meet. It's been said that an excursion for either side to cross the river is 'cheaper than an overseas trip but just as foreign' :) it's true! An article titled North V South, when tribes go to war will give you some idea and although personally I could never live South I'm sure it can't be that bad :) I took these shots looking out over to the city just around the corner from yesterdays Art Deco gem in Applecross. Applecross takes it's name from the Applecross Peninsula on the north west coast of Scotland.. just incase you were wondering :) Happy Wednesday, take care and stay safe..

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The Tivoli Club..

Can you believe that after almost five years of PDP'ing I've just discovered that we have an Art Deco Society in Perth. I have a bit of a passion for the period 1920-1940, books written about this time, the clothes, the architecture, Art Deco j'adore! Take a look at the quite extensive list of buildings of this style around the city, a few you have seen on the blog, but many more for me to find and snap. The Tivoli Club housed in the Applecross District Hall, built in 1934, is Perth's only 'non-professional theatre that produces a variety/cabaret show all year round'.. investigation into the interior is required :) I hope the City of Melville are looking after this treasure, it looks like a little amour is needed on the exterior. Happy Tuesday, take care and stay safe...

Traditional or alternative?

Do you have your Christmas tree up yet? I haven't and for the first time I've been thinking of trying something a little less traditional a bit more alternative.. something like this or maybe like this.. perhaps a poster tree like this! It's not going to happen, our gorgeous granddaughter is coming to stay, this is not the time to be experimenting, it'll be traditional all the way :) Last time I was in the city I fell in love with Anya Brock's, (remember the munching mammals) Christmas tree mural in 140William, it will more than satisfy my need for quirk :) Happy Monday, take care and stay safe... p.s. how about you.. traditional or alternative?

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Baby it's cold outside...

 I guess it's all relative right! It was about 15C :) which for this time of year in Perth is a most welcome and unexpected cool change in temp, there was even rain.. oh joy my favourite kind of day, with the possibility of more today, bliss! Knowing it was going to be a busy day Aimee and I decided to stoke the furnace with a hearty breakfast at Voyage Kitchen (check that menu, so good) along the coast road five minutes from home, have never had a disappointing meal there yet.

Above, we weren't the only peckish people participating :) The outside area is popular with dog walkers overcome by the need for coffee and sustenance.. not yesterday, it was bleak, breezy and deserted! Hope you are enjoying your weekend, take care and stay safe.. p.s. who agrees that if you're going to eat out.. breakfast/brunch is the best!

Same view x two + one..

 Sitting in a cafe on the Hay Street mall the reflections in the window of T. Sharp & Co, dealers in 'writing instruments and fine gifts' were ever changing, the only thing remaining stationary in the background was the Town Hall. The lady in the white dress below giving a clue to the warm weather on that day...

... the man below carrying the UGG bag must be a tourist.. it's not going to be cool enough for UGGs around here for quite a while :) Would you wear UGGs, sometimes I think they look kind of cool and other times not so much! Hope you have a fab weekend, take care and stay safe...

  Visit James to see more reflections from around the world.

A theatrical remainder/reminder...

 It's been a while since we have had occasion to walk so far east down Hay St. as we did on Sunday and I found a few unexpected surprises to share with you. The portico above is all that remains of St. Georges Hall. Opened in 1879 it was the first purpose built theatre in Perth, that purpose you might have guessed was 'dramatic performance' :) When the theatre was demolished in the 1980's the 'District Court of WA' was built in it's place with just the portico remaining.. you could say one dramatic performance has been replaced by another! I may have to do a series on facades/porticos, I'm happy to say there are quite a few of these tempting reminders of the past. Happy Thursday, take care and stay safe...

Rhapsody in bleu.. 'Home is where the heart is'..

Spotted.. a little hard to miss, on Fitzgerald St. North Perth. This marvelous montage commissioned by Paragon Property was created over a few days by WA artist Daek William. The size and diversity of this huge endeavour is a tribute to the skill of the artist whose work you have seen here before. On the day I took these shots it looked particularly 'fetching' under the true blue WA sky. Happy Wednesday, take care and stay safe...
Click here to see more Monday Murals from around the world..
 

Shop Window.. Cobbler, cobbler mend my boot!

Cobbler, cobbler, mend my shoe.
Get it done by half past two.
Half past two is much too late!
Get it done by half past eight.

In the window of 'Cobbler Express' in Piccadilly Arcade sits a cobbler whose hammer, although you can't see it here, never stops in the attempt to 'get it done'! In the brightly lit shop filled with many manly things, such as silver mugs, hip flasks, belts and key rings, some not quite so manly, I love that this wee cobbler is embracing his feminine side :) It is officially the 1st day of summer here in Australia.. let the sweltering begin! Happy Tuesday, take care and stay safe..

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People's Climate March - 'There is no Planet B'..

Yesterday (Sunday) 7,000 people in Perth joined in a national rally, 350 community groups joining Aboriginal elders and religious leaders to send a message to the world leaders in Paris for the United Nations Climate Change Conference, the aim being 'to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on climate from all nations in the world' You may have heard that here in WA there have already been lives lost in the bush fires in Esperance. Quote from the WA president of the United Firefighters Union, "There are no sceptics of climate change when you are behind a hose". Was there a rally in your city/town yesterday/today? Happy Monday, take care and stay safe.. p.s. what are the chances of the nations of world agreeing on anything.. seriously! p.p.s. late night, catch up today!

Money Tree in Washing Lane..

In Northbridge last week I noticed Washing Lane for the first time. I was intrigued.. many laundromats all in a row? Washing Lane, 'resurrected and renewed' in the upgrade of the Northbridge area during the Perth City Link project was full of surprises one of which was the money tree below. It is said that if you stand under the Chinese Money Tree luck, prosperity and longevity will come your way. I did stand under the money tree and while I'm more than happy with health and well being if my lotto numbers come in, well who am I to argue with fate.. I'm a very good sharer :) Wishing you a happy and healthy Sunday, take care and stay safe.. p.s. did you notice the lucky red border :)