Birthday Surprises..

It was a big weekend! Special birthday for P and as he had a fancy for Thai food we booked into Long Chim, basement level in the restored State Treasury buildings in the city. Long Chim, adorned with the work of Thai graffiti artists, a small sample above, brings 'Bangkok buzz to the heart of the CBD' along with traditional dishes that renowned Australian chef David Thompson discovered 'during his many years in the Thai capital'. The food was indeed fabulous but even more so were the special guests that flew in for the weekend for dad/granddad's birthday, seen below heading back to Sydney after a hectic 48 hours. First dad and daughter trip away and although my adorable granddaughter had a wonderful time she was looking forward to getting back to mum and little brother 💙 I hope all is well with you, take care and stay safe..

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

Re-charging the batteries..

1905 holds up well against 2018 above! In the city yesterday I took so many shots before dashing home to arrive minutes before one of the biggest storms this winter.. just made it! I'm going to take a few days away from the blog to re-charge the batteries.. read a few books, enjoy the winter weather, you know how it is 😉 So a pic for each of the days I'll be away. The difference between old and new can be quite unsettling as above on King St. and below at Elizabeth Quay..

Blue wren painted by Noongar artist Peter Farmer Jnr at Elizabeth Quay..

The other side.. 'Walking the River' by John Walley..

....and this one just because I like the shadows on the stark white wall, the model shading her eyes in the glare of the sun.. sometimes an image just appeals right! See you back here on Monday in time for Sami's Monday Murals. Have a wonderful weekend, take care and stay safe..

Double rainbow..

I miss these colourful little creatures as they feed in my back garden, making a dreadful din to show the other birds who comes first in the pecking order! I think Cafe de Grace will have to re-open soon :) As a follow on to yesterday's beautifully painted birds I delved into the archives to find some unpublished shots from a few years ago. I needed a further splash of colour to cheer me up and know that many of you are also experiencing mega wet stormy weather right now. Hopefully whatever the weather these gorgeous Rainbow Lorikeets will brighten your day. Happy Wednesday, take care and stay safe..

Art and the Community..

What better way to brighten up a dull winter day than to come across a brand new just finished mural by Melski McVee! This wonderful celebration of colour depicting the native flora and fauna in the surrounding area and commissioned by Belmont Forum is 7mt high and over 25mt wide. The artist, along with many members of the community who came along to help, have created a mural that is not only relevant but incroyably fabulous to behold! Happy Tuesday, take care and stay safe.. P.s. a singing honey-eater above, I think, and a red tailed black cockatoo below..💛

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

Picnic Cove.. Between the Storms.

Thank goodness that there are these short breaks between the storms.. just enough time for a quick walk around the lake at Picnic Cove. The water level in the lake has risen considerably since our last visit. I don't think I've seen as many black swans altogether in one spot like this. It's the first time I've noticed the turtle crossing a few shots down, if you check out the sign there is abundant water life going on in and around these wetlands. Looks like we are in for more of the same this week with hopefully the odd appearance of a blue sky. Hope you had/are having a fab weekend, happy Monday,take care and stay safe..

Mirage à trois..

 Oh la! What a week, beaucoup de pluie! After getting drenched at the flower market yesterday, the 🌷's were worth it though, we called in for a look-see at Hillarys Boat Harbour. Deciding one soaking a day was enough I took these shots from the car before heading home. Could hardly see the lighthouse above or the boats in the harbour below.. as for the trip home, I'm happy I wasn't driving :) So many dreary pics of Perth but I'm sure it won't be long before the skies are blue again. Happy Sunday, take care and stay safe..

Waiting in the Wings..

You may remember the composition below from a few posts ago. The scene, minus Percy pelican, seen through a sculpture last seen here, complete with model, on Cottesloe Beach during Sculpture by the Sea at the beginning of the year. 'Waiting in the Wings' created by WA artist Denise Pepper, was purchased by the City of Melville and now sits in its new home looking out over the Swan River to the city from the Applecross foreshore, 'an expression of our aspiration towards a higher possibility'. I can see many a photo op happening here! I loved it shimmering in the summer sun on Cottesloe beach and I loved it even more here on a wet and windy winter day in Perth. Happy Saturday, take care and stay safe..

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The weather.. doesn't really matter.

Rainy Monday

Windy Tuesday

Cloudy Wednesday..

The weather forecast on an umbrella! Couldn't make out Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday but suspect it will be more of the same :) It seems to me that the weather is doing a bit of a turn around, our summers in the northern hemisphere, well in Perth anyway, are getting milder. more rain in winter whereas the other side of the world is sweltering in unheard of temperatures. Hands up all those that don't believe in climate change now? Happy Friday, take care and stay safe..

 

 

Well look who flew in...

From the car my eye had already composed this shot.. the old wooden pier, the tree, the misty city across the river, the isolation.. more than enough to entice me out.  As I braved the weather to snap the wintry scene Percy pelican flew in and photo-bombed my shot! He wasn't the only one, landing atop the one lamppost as another brave soul walked into the scene and out onto the pier. What do you think.. did they enhance or detract from the image? Last two shots without intruders :) Happy Wednesday, take care and stay safe..

Wait Up Dad!

I was sitting cozy warm in the car when I took these shots on Sunday, zipping down the window whenever any brave soul rode or blew past along the foreshore. There weren't many. A youngster struggling against the wind to keep up with dad and a couple, hands deep in pockets striding determinedly forward. Love the silhouettes. For tomorrow's shots I did get out of the car and brave the weather but I think it was worth it. The weather was more of the same today and I think likely for the rest of the week.. I'm happy :) Have a good Tuesday, take care and stay safe..

Throwing caution to the wind..

 It was wild yesterday, the wind blowing a gale.. my favourite kind of weather :) Show you some of that weather tomorrow, but on such a dull wintry day it was a delight to come across this vibrant and also appropriate, wind blown hair, mural, a collaboration by Konfucius and Art By Destroy who's work you have seen here many times. There is so much construction going on around Perth these days it's kind of cool that it is softened by colour and beauty like this. Happy Monday, take care and stay safe..

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Tree meditation..

'Until you dig a hole, you plant a tree,

you water it and you make it survive, 

you haven't done a thing. You are just talking. . Wangari Maathai.

Last week was all about man made architecture,  thought it would make a change to show the magnificence of nature's architecture.. who doesn't love to sit and dream under the shade of a beautiful tree on a warm sunny day. Wishing you a happy and peaceful Sunday, take care and stay safe.. P.s. All trees in Kings Park..

 

Lunchboxes on the Terrace..

If you've been reading about Perth here for a while you will know how much I 💙 St Georges Terrace. The terrace, running parallel with the Swan River is the heart of Perth's CBD, the architecture an eclectic mix of heritage nestled between modern skyscrapers. It's where you will unexpectedly come across a window like this filled with fabulous vintage lunch boxes and reflections of life on the terrace. Nice one Lunchbox, such a cool window display. Was hard to choose which lunchboxes to highlight, settled for the original line-up of Australia's iconic rock band AC/DC, bet that was a big seller in the 70's and the ever glamorous Marilyn Monroe. Do you have memories of a favourite lunchbox, or like me, was it waaay too long ago to remember :) Happy weekend, take care and stay safe.. 

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Crossing the Bridge.. and back.

At the bottom of Mount St, last two posts, crossing the bridge over the freeway and into the city. I don't hate the brand new Woodside building above, it's more curvaceous than the square lines of the old Woodside Plaza centre of the pic. When I downloaded the shots I took that day I was amazed at how many of them this building appeared in without me noticing at the time! Haven't had a chance to edit all pics taken that day so, above heading into the city and below crossing back up to Kings Park, the in-between two hours will follow 😉 Happy Friday, take care and stay safe.. P.s. the skies have been blue all week, hard to believe that it's the middle of winter.. it's about to change, grey skies ahead!

Trees.. Essential to Happiness.

The walk down tree lined Mount Street from Kings Park into the city is such a pretty walk.. coming back up is a wee bit of a puff :) From the Art Deco Miami apartments below at the top of the street, to the fabulous apartments I posted yesterday, there are many gorgeous apartment blocks, some classic others more modernistic..

Towards the city end of  Mount Street the Riverview On Mount Street is an excellent location for visitors to walk to Kings Park and to the city.. haven't read a bad review yet, what review would you give them Andrew? Hopefully you have fond memories of your trip to Perth :) Bit of city architecture to come, so different from this leafy green tree lined street.. Happy Thursday, stay safe..