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 :)

Reaching for the sky..

The Bell Tower, home to the historic bells from St. Martins-in-the-Field, you can listen to them here, sitting on the banks of the Swan River since 2001 is a pretty unique structure whichever way you look at it. I know I've shown it before but who can resist another view or two.. are you thinking armadillo, or is that just me :)

We got a pleasant surprise when we ventured down to see how the Elizabeth Quay project was progressing.. the area immediately around the Bell Tower has been a disastrous mess during the construction of EQ, but here it is now all spruced up and ready for visitors. What are you up to this weekend.. it's the markets, a four year old's birthday party and a protest rally for moi :) Whatever you get up to take care and stay safe...

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Light up my life...

As long as I can remember I've had a hankering for an Art Nouveau/Art Deco lamp to light up a cosy corner, particularly the figurine lamps, they're so graceful and elegant don't you think. As much as I'd like one they really don't fit in with the rest of my decor so I torment myself every time I'm in Subiaco by popping in to Petticoat Lane to drool over the fine collection they have on display, lovely don't you think? Happy Friday, take care and stay safe.. p.s. maybe one day I'll have to create a spot for one of these beauties :) p.p.s. love 1920's humour :)

Things to be thankful for...

These two shots were taken minutes apart a few days after Friday the 13th on a warm and sunny day in the Supreme Court Gardens on St. Georges Terrace. Whichever way you read your world news, newspaper or iPad, when the news is grim it's grim, but however appalling events around the world are right now there is always something to be thankful for. I'm thankful that my three year old great niece survived the accident that killed her mother four months ago and I'm thankful for the safe arrival of a new baby in the family this week. Happy Thanksgiving Day to all who celebrate, take care and stay safe...

The new, the old and a Christmas tree...

It must be true.. the tree is up in the city, Christmas is nigh :) Seen above looking through the sculpture officially titled 'the Bio Morph' but affectionately known as 'the Cactus' or sometimes 'the organism', try saying that after a few drinks :) the tree is sitting pretty in Forrest Place. 'Good public art generates conversation and debate', there was a great deal of debate when it went up four years ago but now it's a familiar part of the the city-scape..

The clock on the Town Hall below tells you exactly where I was at noon a few days ago :) Completed in 1870 this is another old gem that would have been lost if it hadn't been for people power.. in the 1890's the city council wanted to knock it down and build something grander.  Although Perth city is growing and developing rapidly the blend of old and new is still visually pleasing. Are the Christmas decorations up in your city yet? Happy Wednesday, take care and stay safe...

Munching mammals on Eighth Street..

What's this... a mural two days in a row! Sorry I couldn't resist. I was in Maylands, one of Perth's older riverside suburbs yesterday visiting mon ami français Marie when I spotted the giraffes on busy Eighth St. The bold colouful work of Anya Brock has featured here many times.. the munching ruminants are a delight to behold, j'adore and couldn't wait until next week to show you, patience has never been one of my virtues :) Happy Tuesday, take care and stay safe.. p.s. not sure if I can link twice to Monday Murals but will give it a try.. 

Can't think of a title :)

Sometimes it's all about the composition. Here it was the mural for sure, but also the remains of an old black & white poster curling over and flapping lazily in the hot breeze, rusty stairs leading up to.. nowhere these days, weeds climbing the walls, the general state of abandonment. I love the purple toning of the original above but the gritty sepia makes for an interesting interpretation on a hot, dry 35C day :) What do you think? Seen on Bermondsey St. in West Leederville. I've Googled my pointy finger off trying to find the artist, I see 'Toast' to the side there and the annoying thing is that sounds a little familiar to me. Ah well! Hope you've had/are still having a fab weekend, take care and stay safe...
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The Jacaranda Festival, a celebration of colour..

 When the bloom of the jacaranda tree is here,
Christmas time is near.. 

from a poem by Lesley Sabogal

As soon as Aimee mentioned The Jacaranda Festival I knew we would have to go. Held to celebrate the flowering of the Jacaranda tree lined streets of Applecross one of Perth's older suburbs, it's a visual treat.. Jacaranda trees as far as the eye can see, cars too unfortunately :) there were so many people it was incroyable, especially on a 35C day oh la! I noticed that even though there were a good many people wearing hats, there were also many who weren't, moi included.. won't happen next time! Hope you're enjoying your weekend, take care and stay safe...

Flora and Fauna.. Summer Love..

The days when Perth may have been considered a little dull.. nowhere to go, are well and truly over and have been for a good few years now. So many exciting new super cool cafes and bars to explore. We did just that on Sunday morning. I had read about a relatively new venue, Flora and Fauna, tucked away down a side street in Northbridge so that was our first destination of the day. The food was fabulous and beautifully presented, have a peek at Aimee's post to see what I mean, although I think secretly P would have preferred a full English:) Bon weekend, take care and stay safe.. p.s. pretty as a picture oui!

Books, books glorious books...

Directly opposite where we park when we drive into the city Elizabeth's Bookshop is absolutely irresistible, I've tried but oh how I love this book shop! I know I've taken you into Elizabeth's (cuddle up in bed with your book unless you get a better offer) before but can you ever get enough of a good thing, in times of stress or.. always, a well written entertaining book is like a best friend oui! The mix of old, new, rare and erotic exotic is excellent..

Comfy sofas, well worn Turkish rugs, charming chandeliers all add to the relaxed ambiance and when the young man who looked after me described working here as 'pretty much his dream job' I totally got it! This is what we came away with on Tuesday, going through a minimalist phase doesn't include books :) Have the best Friday you can, take care and stay safe..

The view from above and below.. or I may have to eat my words!

On Monday in the city we walked to the jetty to see how the Elizabeth Quay project is progressing. A weird and most unexpected reaction.. I confess I didn't hate it as much as I was expecting to.  If you have a minute check out this short video and let me know what you think. The only thing I have a problem with is the skyscrapers that will eventually pop up around the perimeter of the inlet and compromise the familiar Perth city-scape, I'm not comfortable with that, I feel more thought should have gone into the melding of old and new, there's still a long way to go..

On the way home we stopped in Kings Park to get a different perspective. I've been taking photos from up there since the project began, will be interesting to put them together when the project is fini to see the gros :) changes. These shots were taken an hour apart, you can see how changeable the weather has been these last few days. Happy Thursday, take care and stay safe..p.s. did you watch the video, what did you think?

Bleu, Blanc et Rouge..

Yesterday after leaving the city we stopped in Kings Park to take some up-to-date shots of my least favourite building project going on in the city.. any guesses :) Show you tomorrow. I'm not much of a presence on Facebook, I didn't update my status, but as soon as I lined this shot up in the camera.. the red poppies, almost white clouds and blue salvia.. I knew it would be my personal tribute to the only other city in the world that I would love to live. Bon Courage Paree, from un francophile in Perth.  Happy Wednesday, take care and stay safe.. p.s. It's not by chance that the war memorial is in the shot!

Walking the dog(s)...

While walking along the coast road I spotted la Dame above striding out with her three dogs, three big dogs! You would think three dogs might be quite a handful to control, but as I watched they were brilliantly well behaved.. although I couldn't help wondering if they spotted a rabbit in the sand dunes would it all be madness and mayhem :) pleased to see she has the appropriate number of yellow 'doggy do' bags with her. Weird weather here this past few days, we had our first 38C on Saturday, rain and much cooler tomorrow. Happy Tuesday, take care and stay safe..  p.s.she has nice legs oui! 

Mary Poppins.. how I like her.

Both shots taken after breakfast in Northbridge yesterday. I was happy to come across Mary Poppins minus the rifle below, je préfère MP portrayed as above with flowers and bird.. there's no way you'd catch 'Miss practically perfect in every way'  flying over the rooftops totin' a rifle :) Both created by talented artist JXD, whose unpredictable stencils pop up all over town. Happy Monday, take care and stay safe..

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"Why, it's the most disgraceful sight I've ever seen, or my name isn't Mary Poppins"..