The wrapping is off!

The lighthouse at Hillarys Boat Harbour has been wrapped up for the past few months for repairs and hopefully a lick of paint. I have been keeping my eye on it to hopefully catch the unveiling and was pleased to see on Tuesday evening that the wrapping is off and the although still encased in scaffolding there are signs that it's coming down! I was interested to see the public notice here re the Osprey nest that was atop the lighthouse.. it will be returned in time for spring nesting.. good to know!

The gentleman below fishing and enjoying the sunset was sitting on the wrong side of the railing.. I couldn't help worrying that he might fall in.. I spend too much time these days worrying about people's safety, some may even say neurotically so :) Happy Thursday, take care and most of all stay safe!

Crossing the line...

As it was a rainy day yesterday I thought the cloudy sky might make for a photo worthy sunset. There is something quite magical about quietly watching the sun go down along with a group of people that you have never met before, a sort of appreciative silence apart from the click, click of the cameras and the occasional sigh. I must admit to enjoying it even more if something unexpected comes along.. last night it was a group of about twenty canoeists lining up to race across the setting sun beam.. or maybe just to race :) They're off!

It's after the sun goes down that the colours intensify and once again last night the apparition of vertical light on the horizon, you might have to pull the shot in a bit, created much speculation.. any ideas, what do you think? Hopefully not a ship going down.. only kidding :) Happy Wednesday, take care and stay safe.. P.s. what about that sky, pretty amazing right!

ROA.. brushtail possum.

 Belgium street artist/muralist ROA 'generally paints animals and birds that are native to the area  being painted' quietly but passionately 'repopulating the city-scape with animals as a way to have them re-enter the contemporary landscape that was once theirs.' By painting the brushtail possum here it is reintroduced to its native environment. Spotted on Palmerston Street in North Perth the brushtail possum was a 'percent for art' piece commissioned for the The Bottleyard complex, the mural highlighting the conservation of both the surrounding native animals and of the local bottle making history. It's always a treat to come across a ROA that I haven't seen before, check out more of his incroyable work here. Happy Tuesday, take care and stay safe...

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Dad's lil helper...

I spent some time at the garden centre this weekend and a lot of time in the jungle garden, I think this round is mine and if that sounds like a 'war of the roses' kind of battle:) that's because it is! I've always been a passionate gardener, there's something incredibly satisfying standing back at the end of the day surveying your hard work, but either my garden is getting bigger or I'm getting older.. let's go with the former :) The little fellow here was a delight bopping along after dad, I would have loved to hear what he was listening to through the almost too big for his head speakers. Such a little sweetie.. gotta love the big and small thongs :) Hope you had/are still having a fab weekend, take care and stay safe...

Trinity reflections...

The mix of heritage and new architecture on St Georges Terrace make for some appealing reflections.. here Trinity Church reflected in the glass skyscraper on the corner of William and the terrace. So what are you up to this weekend? I think if I can muster the energy I will attempt to tame my jungle garden, the temperature 22 and 23C today and tomorrow, perfect! Happy weekend, take care and stay safe...

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Trees of significance...

In Maylands visiting mon amie française Marie after lunch in the Peninsula Tea Gardens a walk around Tranby House. Built in 1839 by English settler Joseph Hardy Tranby House is the third house he built, this time on higher ground after the first two were washed away in Swan River floods. It is the earliest domestic residence still intact in the inner city area. Yesterday it was the magnificent winter oaks that stole the show, brought out from England with Hardy they are almost 200 years old and in 1984 were placed on the National Trust's Register of Significant Trees. The giant Australian native Eucalyptus that I'm standing under to take this shot was pretty impressive also. Happy Friday, take care and stay safe.. P.s. gratuitous river views below :)

Stepping back in time..

Do you have a spare million dollars plus! Walking along Palmerston Street in North Perth, one of Perth's older established suburbs five minutes from the city, on the hunt for a particular mural, it's impossible not to admire the fully restored and renovated cottages, some built in the very early 1900's.  I wonder what this street looked like back then and if the first occupants ever thought their property would one day be worth so much.. eh, hindsight, should have picked up a couple when they were going for a song :) Picture on the front page of the paper yesterday. Mother and calf in the clear waters off the coast in the same spot where Bill took yesterdays shots, taken from above using a drone.. aren't they fabulous! Happy Thursday, take care and stay safe.. 

It's that time of the year...

If I was like seriously that's not ever going to happen ever canoeing out on the ocean waves and this sight popped up so near me you wouldn't see my paddles they'd be spinning so speedily in the opposite direction. Below also :)

The mother Southern Right Whale and her calf slowly making their way down from the warmer waters off the Kimberly's to rest for awhile and thrill onlookers along the coast of WA before heading down to the Antarctic to feed. Diver Bill took these shots from the same place that I took the shots here..a much more overcast kind of day. Whales are a bit like children, only a lot bigger :) when you want them to perform sometimes they refuse, but just a glimpse can be a beautiful experience. 

This is too close below.. no really it is for the canoeist anyway. The guidelines state that 100mt is the closest you can get and with a mother and calf situation why would you even try to get so close! I was hoping for a breach or two :) maybe next time, merci beaucoup for the pics Bill. Happy Wednesday, take care and stay safe... P.s. A whale-watching trip is on the cards!

What we need...

... is more of the above and less of the below! My interpretation of the stencil art found here in the inner city suburb of Leederville is all about offering care and friendship and I'm pretty sure that isn't the artist's signature below. There is too much tagging going on around Perth, where's the respect! Happy Tuesday, take care and stay safe...

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Winter blues...

I took these shots yesterday standing on the fisherman's pier, in the collage below, along the West Coast road five minutes from home. Although a chill brisk breeze was blowing strongly it was wonderful to feel the wind blowing through my hair, gazing out on the medley of blue and turquoise, which were exactly as you see them here, no touch-ups I promise! Turning their camera this way then that I was tempted to call down to inquire what had captured the photographers eye down there. The young boy fishing with his dad was hoping to take home a whiting or two and the companionable seagulls were just shooting the breeze :) Hope you had/are having a good weekend, happy Monday, take care and stay safe...  

St. John's Church..Pinjarra.

When we were watching the white river rafters thinking how high the river was apparently that was nothin'! St. John's Church has seen the might of the Murray River many times, right from the start during the construction in 1861 building was delayed by the winter flood of 1862 because the flood was so bad 'that water rushed through the windows one side and out the other, imagine that! Then there was the Meckering earthquake of 1968, 6.9 on the Richter Scale. This sweet church has been through a lot, now closed for much needed restoration, it has well earned it's place on the heritage trail and I will definitely go back, would have loved to see the windows from the inside. Just a thought, maybe they should have built it on higher ground..

Meanwhile back to the Murray River.. the bridge that you can see in the background above and below is the fifth and hopefully last traffic bridge. Four gone before, the mighty Murray takes no prisoners! Hope you are having a good weekend, happy Sunday, take care and stay safe..

Reflecting on life..

The trip to Dwellingup last weekend is the trip that keeps on giving, it was the trip that kept PDP going through a heck of a week. My friend, aka mon amie française Marie, was heading over to have lunch with me. I got a shaky call 'Grace I've had an accident', I knew exactly where it would be. I won't go into details but two minutes later this is what I saw, too much too soon! My heart stopped! The best news, although my friend's much loved camper van that took herself and her late husband on many trips around Australia is a write-off, as is the other car, both drivers were bruised, shocked but unscathed thanks to safety belts. Btw just in-case you're wondering I didn't take this shot until after mon ami was safely in the ambulance :) Aimee got serious flu, looking after her I got it too. The week could have been unthinkably worse.. not always but sometimes, miracles do happen. Happy weekend, take care and stay safe..  
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Shooting the Murray River rapids..

The point of entry for the white water rafters into the Murray River running through Lane Poole Reserve looks calm enough...

.. until the pull of the current draws them over the edge!

Up to now you may not have thought these rapids were up to much but I think the perspective in the pics below gives you some idea of their size and rough and tumble! There was much hootin' and hollerin' from all on board as they went over, leading me to believe that it could have been an exhilarating experience.. standing on the edge of the rocks here was all the excitement I needed :) Happy Thursday, take care and stay safe...

The Murray River..

This is what we came to see.. the Murray River. 'The longest permanent river in the jarrah forest and one of the few major rivers remaining undammed flows through Lane Poole Reserve . Slow and meandering in spring and summer people flock here to canoe its tranquil waters. In winter the river rises, with white water and fast currents creating a challenge for more experienced canoeists and kayakers'. Aimee and P tell me that Bobs Crossing below is where they would normally cross to the other side when hiking, not happening at the moment.. we have had so much rain in the last month that it's completely underwater..

 Looks deep and tranquil when past the rapids but don't go jumping in willy-nilly there could be hidden 'stuff' under those beckoning waters :)

'If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?'

When we were in Europe there were many a desperate moment when there wasn't a loo to be found.. not so in Australia, even here in the middle of the forest 'accomodations' are met :) I'm sure there are many of you who have already seen or heard about Red Nomad Oz aka Marion Halliday's Aussie Loos with Views. Incroyable images.. 

So just as we were getting ready to head off a bus full of super excited and eager 'rapid rafters' arrived.. well I couldn't possible leave then could I :) To be continued.. Have a good Wednesday, take care and stay safe...