Happy Christmas.. à bientôt.

Here we are again.. where the heck did this year go! I was going to try and keep the blog running through the Christmas period this year but it's not possible. My Sydney famille arrive today.. two grandchildren to celebrate this year, so exciting! I leave you until the new year with a view of Perth that I had never seen myself until a few weeks ago, spotted quite by chance through the jacaranda trees in Applecross.. don't you love when that happens! It's been a while since I've shown a beach scene, this is where we will be spending time over the next few weeks, five minutes from home. I sincerely hope that you have a happy Christmas.. let's hope that whatever the New Year throws our way we'll be ready for it :) See you on the first of January with the City Daily Photo 'Photo of the Year' theme. Happy next two weeks, take care and most of all stay safe...

Not quite a bull in a china shop!

More like a 'Trans-Dimensionl' cow in a watch shop :) This is probably the last I'll show of the bovine beauties in the Cow Parade, the parade is over and although I have many more shots when something's over it's over right! This rather eye-challenging entry by Perth surrealist artist Liam Dee, check the link, much better shots than mine to see, was sitting in the entrance to London Court. The artist 'wanted to play around with the form of the cow and make it into something out of the ordinary, adding hypnotic elements to natural shapes'. I would say in this endeavor he was tres successful! Bon weekend, take care and stay safe...

Visit James to see more Weekend Reflections from around the world..

 

Kalamunda.. 'a home in the forest'..

Kalamunda is a pretty town in the Darling Range 300mt above sea level, lots of ear-popping on the way up to the town, and down again :) Yesterday we took fellow bloggers from Germany up to see a view of Perth city from the hills.. while there we zipped into the Kalamunda library to see the biggest 'community built stained glass window in the Southern Hemisphere'. Depicting the beauty of the landscape in the Kalamunda and surrounding area, visual artist Judy Kotai and glassworks artist Cedar Prest created something really special here.. I can't believe it's taken me this long to go in and take some shots, my bad :) Happy Friday, take care and stay safe...  

Perth.. enthusiastic appreciation!

A few weekends ago we were picnicking in Bardon Park in Maylands, the occasion my great niece's fifth birthday. Whenever I find myself on the banks of the Swan River I look to see if there's a different view of the city and here it is.. still lush despite the heat, the proximity to the river makes all the difference. So there I was snapping away when up jumped a man, a visitor to Perth, who had been sitting with his girlfriend by the side of the river.. throwing his arms expansively in the air he raved 'look, look around, the clean air, the view, you don't know how lucky you are!'  My response 'oh yes, yes I do'. What I didn't say was that I share that beauty on an almost daily basis.. wonder what he would have thought of that :) Happy Thursday, take care and stay safe...

 

Alternative Christmas..

Nothing says welcome and have a fabulous Christmas in Perth more than a ginormous Xmas tree, blue skies and warm sunshine, especially if you are coming from the chilly Northern hemisphere! Every year I get the urge to change-up my traditional tree, I love this one but it may be a bit big for my wee house :) Snapped when picking up fellow bloggers arriving from Singapore at Terminal one, international arrivals, Perth Airport. Talk about big balls!! I'm glad I caught a passerby in the shot below so you can see the perspective. I've just looked back and noticed that this is my first nod to the festive season.. I'm very much looking forward to the excitement of two grandchildren and many adorable great nieces and nephews. Happy Wednesday, take care and stay safe... 

Ibis roost on Tomato Lake...

Now there's a face that only a mother could love.. the Australian 'white ibis' doesn't seem to have any many attractive qualities. Described as a 'trash vulture giving off a foul stench with a croak-like call' seems harsh, I would have said a wee bit creepy :) Last week I was fascinated to see the Ibis roost on Tomato Lake, no idea why the lake is so named, wonder if it may be tomato shaped from the air, there has to be a reason right! Those big babies below look well ready for a gentle nudge out of the nest :)

It's amazing that with all the space available the Ibis seem to prefer sharing what at first looks like a communal nest but is actually several nests piled up very close together.. it's a bit like when you're on the beach with space all around and someone comes and sits right next to you.. why :)

The surrounding wetland area is the perfect breeding ground for the spooky Ibis!

Personally I prefer the sweet little 'blue billed duck' below.. as often happens with birds it's the male that sports the fabulous blue bill and deep chestnut plumage while the female is black with brown tips.. doesn't seem fair! Hope your week is off to a good start, happy Tuesday, take care and stay safe..

Le petit flower picker...

There was something about the delightful 'petit picker of fleurs' seen on the wall of Studio 281 in Maylands, that made me think of my granddaughter.. she is delightful and she does love flowers :) Studio 281 combined with Ferguson Foundry offer a unique space for local and international artists to show their creativity. The mural on the outside wall by one of my very favourite Perth artists Daek William who's work you've seen many times here. I wonder how difficult is it to organize a side bar 'thingy' that puts posts into categories? After five years is it too late :) Hope you had/are having a fab weekend, happy Monday take care and stay safe..

Click here to see more Monday Murals from around the world..

It's the little differences!

The difference between a parasol and an umbrella may be confusing today but back in Victorian times it was clear and unquestionable to society that 'a woman who carried an umbrella was admitting publicly that she could not afford to own or hire a carriage for transportation when it was raining.. but a woman with a parasol was most assuredly a lady, she carried it in fair weather not in foul'. They had some peculiar ideas those Victorians :) here in Perth on a 37C day as it was yesterday, anything that keeps the sun sur la tête is just fine, although there are brollies and then are umbrellas, below, that a Victorian lady would be pleased to show off :) Cooler today with the chance of rain, hallelujah! Happy Sunday, take care and stay safe...  

Luxury Lady.. myriad reflections..

It's been a while since I've posted a bovine beauty, this is one of my favourites in the Cow Parade,  now in it's last few days. Sitting right in the heart of the CBD, reflecting some of the wonderful old buildings around it, the geometric styling of Perth based jewellery designer and artist Allister Yiap's 'Luxury Lady'. Inspired by the theme of 'mineral wealth specific to Western Australia, the metallic faceted design works to showcase all the beauty our state offers, from minerals and mining to luxury commodities such as gold, pearls and diamonds'. She is a sight to see and a challenge to snap in the midday sun but here she is in all her shiny faceted glory :) Bon Weekend, take care and stay safe...

Visit James here to see more Weekend Reflections from around the world..

Next stop.. the city!

Yesterday in Leederville searching for Christmas pressies for my grandchildren, it occurred to me that as the last train station before the city there might be a bit of a view to be had! Parking is a lot easier here, so if making a short visit to the city many people park their car here and catch the train that last 4km into the city. I never do, it's all the way in for moi.. although there have been times when sitting in heavy traffic and a train shoots past that I think why am I not on it :) Above a train heading out and below, almost simultaneously, a train heading back into the city. I took these at 3pm, give it another hour and the scene would be very different with the build up of traffic as workers leave the city anxious to get home. Happy Friday, take care and stay safe...

Botanical bend...

With an hour to spare before heading out to the airport yesterday we stopped in at Kings Park.. I wanted to try again to get some shots of the new sculpture leading into the Botanical Gardens. The last time I tried the overcast weather didn't do it full justice.. I'm not altogether sure the midday sun has done any better :) In reality it is fantastic, with touches here and there of inlaid multi-coloured glass, below. I can't swear to it but I think artists Anne Neil and Steve Tepper are the creators of this botanical archway.

A tour group below heading into the fabulousness that is the botanical gardens of Kings Park, the  gardeners do a brilliant job of displaying and tending plants from all over the world.. come on now, wouldn't you like to join that group :) Happy Thursday, take care and stay safe...

Industrial archaeology.. Maylands Brickworks.

Every time I visit mon ami français Marie in the riverside suburb of Maylands I intend to stop and take shots of the old Maylands Brickworks.. this time I did. When it was built in 1927 it was the most modern of its kind in the state, the site chosen for its close proximity to the better quality of clay deposits along the Swan River.. 

The brickworks ceased operating in 1983 and was saved from demolition by strong public protest resulting in the area being preserved as a 'significant example of industrial archaeology'. Quite right! The Hoffmann Kiln here is one of only two that still exist in Australia. The process of brick making back then was incredibly labour intensive, it almost seems disrespectful to wipe out the memory of all that hard work don't you think?  Happy Wednesday, take care and stay safe... 

East meets west..

Don't you love it when a title falls into your lap like this :) the BankWest logo on the skyscraper in the city behind and this mellow fellow on a wall across the link in China Town, parfait! A collaboration by dynamic duo The Yok and Sheryo and Fecks. Australian artist The Yok and Brooklyn based Singaporean visual /mural artist Sheryo work together and have exhibited and painted murals around the world sometimes joined by Australian artist Fecks.. keep your eyes open in New York, London, Tokyo and ....! Happy Tuesday, take care and stay safe..

Click here to see more Monday Murals from around the world...

Weekend reflections.. Lost in translation.

The difference between a dirty window and a clean window can have a huge effect on the result of a reflection. I certainly wouldn't want to be taking any reflection shots in my windows right now.. always put off today what you can do next week.. kidding :) Cropping away the window edge above makes this shot look more real than reflection.. well apart from the Zenos Cafe sign :) I don't know what happened to the 'real' part of the shot below.. a moment of madness! Happy Monday, take care and stay safe...

Visit James to see more Weekend Reflections here...

'Let me guide you to the purple rain'...

On the way home from a birthday party in the park yesterday we stopped in Applecross, one of Perth's older riverside suburbs well known for it's breathtakingly beautiful jacaranda tree lined streets. I'm pretty sure that in spring from above Applecross would be a blaze of purple! Whenever I'm here taking purple pics I hear 'Purple Rain' running as background music in my head, you can see why right :) These are just a few of the pics I took yesterday.. quite by chance I came across an amazing view that I hadn't spotted before, show you soon. Happy Sunday, take care and stay safe...

 

News flash! Santa spotted in Perth..

Yesterday while strolling around Hillarys Boat Harbour, five minutes from home.. a flash of red on a balcony in the Hillarys Harbour Resort Apartments caught my eye..  could it be! Zoom in and yes there he was hanging over the balcony enjoying the fabulous views overlooking the Indian Ocean and the marina.. 

You can't blame him, with restaurants and cafes right on the doorstep this is the perfect spot to rest up and garner stamina before his big gig in a few weeks. Mon Dieu ! Can it really only be a few weeks until Christmas again.. are you ready? Santa's view from his seaside digs.. they'll do :) Bon weekend, take care and stay safe... P.s. the guy with the selfie stick on the pier made me smile, is that still a thing, I thought that was sooo yesterday!