Winds blowing in from the South..

Recently a fellow blogger noted how easy it is to miss details, even in much loved and often visited places. Sitting in a cafe on Whatley Crescent in Maylands last week I discovered this to be true. Looking out over the roof of the railway station to the old Peninsula Hotel, now a Dome Cafe, on the other side of the tracks, the cupola with fire-breathing dragon caught my eye. I love weather-vanes, I wouldn't mind having one atop my own roof :) Interestingly the old Peninsula Hotel, built in 1906 was one of the first buildings in Perth to be saved from demolition by public campaigning.. yay for people power! Below how it really looked on a wonderfully grey day. Happy Wednesday, take care and stay safe..

Maylands Cottages.. Timeless Beauties.

Developed in the 1890's the riverside suburb of Maylands is home to some of the most beautiful old cottages in Perth. Complete with white picket fences, low stone walls, decorative fretwork and lush gardens they are charming to behold. Thank heavens for people with the 💙 time and money to buy and bring these aged beauties, some in an unimaginable state of disrepair, back to their former glory. Taken yesterday on a cool(ish) cloudy day, #lovethosecloudydays. Happy Tuesday, take care and stay safe..

'The Ocean Inspires the Imagination'..

I spotted the murals here when we arrived for brunch at Mullaloo Beach. On the curved walls of the beach shower block the enchanting murals commissioned by the City of Joondalup last year were created by Perth artist/illustrator Esti Nagi, the artist hopes to 'share and express the sense of joy and wonder she feels gifted with through her encounters with nature, and to bring a sense of delight and discovery to those who view her work'. I felt the joy and was super delighted with my discovery. Check out more of her work here. Hope you had/are still having a fab weekend, happy Monday, take care and stay safe.

Visit Sami to see more Monday Murals from around the world..

Holiday in the Fast Lane..

 This crazy image, I hope it doesn't give you a headache, reflected in the Hugo Boss shop window on Hay Street also reflects the state of my head for the past two days.. zoom, zoom! No brain no pain they say.. I say 'dear migraine, let's break up' :) Happy Sunday, take care and stay safe.. P..s. big catch up today!

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

Men At Work..

As always when walking down Murray Street in the city I have a peek to see how this huge project is progressing. Once the most expensive car park in the city I have no idea what will take it's place, we'll have to wait and see. I pulled back the netting to get a clearer look, happy to see that the fabulous mural by Welsh born London based artist Phlegm has so far survived. I remember watching him as he worked back in April 2015 during Public 2015, an incroyable endeavour! I understand the life of street art can be fleeting but it would be sad to see this one disappear behind a wall of steel and glass aka a skyscraper! Watch this space! Happy Friday, take care and stay safe..

'When life gets blurry adjust your focus'..

In the city to see yet another Fringe World show.. this time with camera in hand, I wasn't going to make the same mistake twice! Good thing I took a couple of shots of the crowds enjoying the Chinese New Year Fair celebrations in Northbridge on the way to the show because.. you guessed it. Strictly No Photos Allowed! It was an okay show, I did enjoy it, but no photos no mention. I can be precious too 😉 Happy Thursday, take care and stay safe..

Fringe World 2018.. Club Swizzle.

Guest Post. Last week when we went to see Club Swizzle, take a look, I made the executive decision to leave the camera at home and give my full attention to enjoying the show.. oh my, so many fantastic photo opportunities I could have cried :) The show was faaabulous! Thankfully when Aimee went with friends she did take her camera and captured the 'sassy mayhem' of the show perfectly.  It was hard to choose which shots to use so she has given me a link to her Facebook album here, have a quick squizzy, such a fun night. Thanks Aimee for reminding me that it is never a good idea to leave the camera behind :) Happy Wednesday, take care and stay safe..

Fringe World Mermaids. Warning.. may get wet!

 A flurry of swirls and bubbles as the Fringe World mermaids rise to the surface and shower the excited children squealing with delight with their wet hair. Such fun! Always one of the more popular Fringe World events it was impossible to get close this year, check last shot! The advertising for the show states 'perfect for little dreamers and the young at heart' .. well I'd say that pretty much covers most of us right :) Happy Tuesday, take care and stay safe...

Everything looks better in colour.. unless it's black and white!

Incroyable colour combination of deep purple and vibrant orange in this piece by Perth artist, illustrator Sarah McCloskey aka SarSar. Commissioned last year by the Rosemount Hotel, seen to the right in the last shot. Looks amazing on the black wall of the Rosemount's Thirsty Camel bottle-shop. You might remember the last mural by the same artist here, black and white and equally fabulous. Hope you had/are still having a brilliant weekend.. for me it's all over :) happy Monday, take care and stay safe..
Visit Sami to see more Monday Murals from around the world..

The Big Splash WA VII.. Hope Restored.

It's been a while since we've had one of the fabulously decorated dolphins around the city during January and February as part of The Big Splash WA, a Perth Children's Hospital Foundation initiative to raise awareness and vital funds for child and adolescent mental health. 'Hope Restored' by Perth visual artist Rebecca Kerbey sits in the foyer of Enex. The black lacquered background with gold textured design represents 'a visual parallel between renewable and interconnected neurons in the human brain and the philosophy of a Japanese ancient pottery technique called ‘Kintsugi’, which translates into ‘joining with gold’. Broken pottery is repaired with a seam of lacquer and precious metal, highlighting the cracks rather than hiding them. Like the pieces of shattered pottery, we are all connected and by joining together we can mend our community'. 🐬 encounters around the city are delightful :) Happy Sunday, take care and stay safe..

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

Tawny Frogmouth.. Strike a Pose!

I confess, I didn't spot the tawny frogmouth here and yesterday's post. I would have walked right on by if P hadn't pointed it out. Do you think you would have spotted it? After taking yesterday's shots I moved in a little closer and the most extraordinary thing happened. In the top shot the frogmouth is beginning to straighten its head and below the head thrust upwards and although the eye closes it is still observing every move as it assumes a branch-like pose.. one of the best examples of mimicry in Australian birds and absolutely fascinating to watch.. the masters of disguise! Happy Saturday, take care and stay safe..

Tawny Frogmouth..

AT LAST! As you know I have been trying to catch a pic of the tawny frogmouth for ages! Was so excited to see this little beauty on a walk around Lake Joondalup. They are masters of camouflage, sitting in the paper-nark trees alongside the lake.. how about that tree bark! I discovered that the tawny frogmouth isn't an owl as I thought but actually from the podargus genus. Although they look a wee bit like owls to amateur-birders like moi there are many differences between the two if you read the link. The owl hunts by swooping down and picking up it's prey with its claws, the frogmounth uses its beak, check out those tufts of bristles atop its beak, making it an easy prey for feral cats as it lands on the ground to get its prey. They normally travel with a mate, I searched but couldn't spot it. Still, one is better than none right! Talk about an expressive face. You won't believe what it did when it thought I was getting too close, show you tomorrow. Happy Friday, take care and stay safe..

Leedy Palooza.. Un-Fair Day encore.. Happy Un-Valentine Day.

Yup! That's it there on the corner.. my un-romantic contribution to Un-Valentine Day.. a bike stand 💜 A few last pics from the Un-Fair Day in Leederville on Sunday afternoon/evening.  So much fun for the kids.. free fun =  super fun for the parents :)

The mermaids are always popular with both the girls and boys.. all were fascinated, as was I, with the Marie Antoinette of the Sea hair above. It's like the surf, the waves, the sea and all the colourful creatures that live within all piled up together, fabulous!

Tall ladies, the strongman, funky music by the Junkadelic Dumpster Disco Crew, the ringmaster.. happy days! I took the farewell to the un-fair shot below while waiting for Aimee to return with my (mis)FORTUNE. An ice-cream designed by Gusto Gelato (check it out) to celebrate Un-Fair Day.. a 'black white chocolate gelato with crushed fortune cookie pieces. Confucius say hopefully you're fortunate enough to get your laughing gear around this one'. I did and it was the un-perfect end to our visit. Happy Wednesday, take care and stay safe...

Leedy Palooza.. Un-Fair Day!

Unfair Day = 'The best-worst family street fair you're most unwelcome to attend. Unlucky dips, bad family portraits, misfortune cookies and weirdly wonderful creations. Unfair Day will be regrettably unforgettable!' You've just got to love free community events during Fringe World :)

Aimee and I were in Leederville on Sunday afternoon when Oxford Street below, the main street in Leedy was transformed into an urban lounge room..  

We were a little early to have our misfortunes told by the 'unfortunate fortune teller' which was actually fortunate for me.. that tent was unfortunately way too small for a claustrophobe like moi :)

Seriously small!

The kids were fascinated by the snakes.. I too was never almost tempted to wear it around my neck :) I did touch though.. cool!

They do say that children have more fun with the boxes their presents come in than with the actual present itself.. could be true. Below a massive pile of old boxes in Boxville kept many children busy constructing for ages..

I might be pushing my luck with number of pics so will show a few more tomorrow. I'm glad I took the shot below looking down on Oxford Street, the main street in Leederville where the traffic can be hectic and the parking scarce. Taken over for the afternoon and evening by unfortunates.. I like it much better this way :) Happy Tuesday, take care and stay safe...