A roller coaster week..

 

 I haven't dared to mention it in case I put a jinx on it. We have been waiting to hear if my son and family who live in Sydney would be able to come home for Christmas. They made it within hours of our WA border restrictions to NSW toughening up again. It has been a year since we saw them last Christmas so I'm sure you will understand that I want to spend every minute I can with them. It has been a dreadful year for all, a tragic year for so many, all we can do is hope for a much better 2021. Thank you for all the positive comments throughout the year, I appreciate them more than you can imagine. See you back here around the 8th Jan, in the meantime take care and stay as safe as you can 💙 

Signs of the time..

 

We were in Mid Century Cafe and Collectibles in Yokine yesterday for lunch.. such a cool spot! The decor is retro all the way even the food and beverage menus had a classic retro touch. Loved the one above.. but I'll drink anything 😉

Another sign of the times below, this time not from the 50's, 60's or 70's but from the 2020's. You might have to embiggen the shot to see the SafeWA app (click link to see how it works) or if you don't have the app on your mobile you sign in the register, just in case you need to be contacted re Covid. So far so good! Happy Friday, take care and stay safe..

Venetian Carousel..

 

 

'I'd like to have the kind of house someday where a carousel horse wouldn't be out of place in the living room'.. Jay McInerney 🎠

They say carousel horses aren't just made of wood they are painted with memories. I think this may true of the Elizabeth Quay carousel which comes all the way from Italy and is 'crafted by the same talented people who built the carousel in front of the Eiffel Tower, this majestic beauty features hand painted horses, carriages and artwork with music that promises a truly magical experience for children and adults alike'. If you would like to take a quick 15 second ride click HERE, it's pretty cool :) Happy Thursday, take care and stay safe..

 

Love and other cool stuff..

 

'When someone else's happiness is your happiness, that is love'.. Lana Del Ray.

On the wall of Chinta Cafe on Scarborough Beach Road in North Perth, check out the food gallery HERE, so many temptations. You will have to take my word for all the other 'cool stuff', each time we visit my minimalist lifestyle comes under threat  :) Happy Wednesday, take care and stay safe..

Under the shade of the sheoak trees..

 

The couple here found the shadiest spot to sit under the sheoak tees to enjoy each other's company and  look out to the blue of the sky meeting the blue of the Indian Ocean on the horizon at City Beach. I used to think that sheoak trees were not the most attractive of trees but I'm changing my mind about that, in the right situation they are alright.. ok that's not the most enthusiastic change of mind but it's a start :) Happy Tuesday, take care and stay safe..

'Take some time and smell the flowers'..

 

Although we are lucky to have so much fabulous street art here in Perth created by both International, Australian and WA artists, I haven't seen all that many 'on the street' murals around so I was super happy to come across the lovely lady peacefully asleep here on the footpath in front of Bamb Binos Cafe and Ice Creamery in Bassendean. The mural painted back in November last year by super talented WA artist Sharon Peterkin whose work you last saw HERE on the blog. The note in the book 'take some time and smell the flowers'.. something many have been forced to do due to the arrival of Covid shortly after the mural was painted 🌸 Hope you had/are still having a good weekend, take care and stay safe..

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

Watching over the fruit and veg..

 

Spotted the silver streak up in the roof space at the Wanneroo Markets. Not sure what he was doing up there but loved the reflections of the produce below him and by heavens if you even thought about sneaking a sprout or two he was ready for you :) Hope you have a super weekend, take care and stay safe..

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

Then and now, old and new..

 

I confess to being anxious that the magnificent flight of stairs leading up to the second floor of the museum might somehow in the construction of the new WA Museum Boola Bardip be replaced. Thankfully here they are super polished and dressed up with golden handrail albeit minus the green carpet..   

The last time I took a few pics of this grand old staircase was back in 2015 below before construction began and as much as I love the new museum and I really do, the romantic part of me will always miss stepping up the elegant green carpeted stairs leading to...

... these guys in the Mammal Gallery. 'Many of the display cases and specimens here dated back to 1890/1900's when the Museum was still young'. It did indeed feel like stepping back in time but we need to move forward and encourage a younger generation to learn about the past in a way they understand, which seems to include many interactive activities :) Happy Friday, take care and stay safe..

Sudan..

 

 

'Extinction isn't only about animals, it has a lot to do with humans too'.. James Mwenda.

 

The 700kg sculpture, a tribute to Sudan, the last known remaining white rhino euthanized in 2018 due to age related complications, arrived in his new home last week. Created by country WA artist extraordinaire Jordan Spriggs using old tools, chains, farm equipment, car parts and sheet metal..  you can see more of his incredible work HERE. Bought by the owners of Rambla on Swan Sudan will be a wonderful welcome when visitors arrive at Mends Street Jetty to visit Perth Zoo while also bringing attention to the plight of endangered species. I find it totally abhorrent that poachers would kill such a magnificent creature for its horn, despicable! You can see a short video of Sudan arriving in his new home HERE. Happy Thursday, take care and stay safe.. 

Christmas markets..

 

There are so many Christmas markets in the lead up to the big day that even if I wanted to we wouldn't be able to make them all. Aimee and I did get to Fremantle on Saturday for the Made on the Left Christmas Market held under the magnificent tall Norfolk Island pines in Esplanade Park,in the background the Skyview Wheel.Work by local artists is always the most appealing to me and purchases were made :) 39C today.. such fun 😉 Happy Wednesday, take care and stay safe..

 

Silver fox..

 

From whichever angle you look at it this is a pretty cool ride sitting there glinting in the sun! I'm not so knowledgeable about cars, as long as they get me from A to B I'm fine with that, but I certainly can still appreciate the beauty of the older cars.. much more so than the latest models in fact :) Does anyone know what this might be? P had the thought that it might be a 'kit car' what do you think? Parked across the road from the Balmoral Hotel in the background below, Victoria Park's favourite local. It's going to be 35C here today, perhaps a chance to get my new summer header shot :) Happy Tuesday, take care and stay safe..

All you need is love and a cat..

 

"I had been told that the training procedure with cats was difficult. It's not. Mine had me trained in two days".. Bill Dana.

Anyone with a cat knows the above to be true 😉 Wasn't expecting to find a pussy cat when we popped into the garden, cafe, nursery Greenbunch yesterday for a much needed break away from the house. Not sure if Nina is the name of the artist or the cat but she was a delightful addition to the outside garden space. Hope you had/are still having a good weekend, take care and stay safe..

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

Reflections going up!

Reflections in one of the two magnificent staircases in the new WA Museum Boola Bardip. It's shaping up to be a hectic weekend, fingers crossed that my bathroom will be fini by the end of it :) Happy weekend, take care and stay safe..

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

 

Leg day..

 

'Give a girl the right shoes and she can conquer the world'.. Marilyn Monroe..

Leg day, if you regularly work out, is the day you concentrate on leg exercises.. apparently :) Couldn't resist a shot as the lady above strode with purpose across Forrest Place in the city. She is definitely wearing the right shoes and looks set to conquer her world :) Happy Friday, Take care and stay safe.. 

'We have always been here'..

 

One of the most significant galleries in the new WA Museum Boola Bardip is the Wesfarmers Gallery, Wesfarmers being one of the Founding Partners of the museum. This gallery, Ngalang Koort Boodja Wirn, (our heart, Country, spirit) 'shares the stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Western Australia. It honours traditional knowledge systems, protocols and ways of communication. It is an acknowledgement of the endurance, survival and strength of all Aboriginal peoples'. Despite the atrocities endured the gallery is also a celebration of the creativity of Aboriginal artists, authors and performers. A definite must see when visiting the museum.. more to come :) Happy Thursday, take care and stay safe..

A wider view..

 

This is the shot I should have taken on our first visit to the new WA Museum Boola Bardip instead of the views I posted HERE. This view clearly shows the blend between the original museum buildings and the new. I've always loved the splendid Jubilee Building above, which opened in 1899. Have a look at the fabulous panoramic shot HERE taken in 2004. I really must start using the camera in my phone to take panoramic views like that, I very rarely use the phone camera, how about you? Happy Wednesday, take care and stay safe.. P.s. as long as there aren't any unexpected problems we have a deadline now for the bathroom renovation.. Saturday, fingers crossed :)

City Daily Photo December Theme.. comfort food.

 

For the longest time chocolate was my go to for a comfort fix, pretty sure that doesn't fall into a respectable 'food' group :) but I have noticed for the past few years it's all about the pastry. Give me a coffee with a croissant to dunk in it.. yup that's right I dunk my croissant, minus the jam, and I'm a happy chappie :) Also a dodgy 'food' choice but in the words of Roald Dahl, a coffee soggy croissant is scrumdiddlyumtious 💖 Happy Tuesday, the first official day of summer here in Oz, take care and stay safe..

Visit CDP to see more comfort food from around the world..

'Behold the turtle..

 

... he makes progress only when he sticks his neck out'. Turns out West Perth is a treasure trove of excellent street art as I discovered last week. Painted by Blank Walls Collective, their mission as a collective 'is to make a difference through art, painting our unique interpretation of life on blank walls around the world'. Looking from across the road, last shot, the beautifully painted turtle is absolutely making a difference, creating a colourful splash on the corner of an otherwise ordinary street corner. Happy new week, take care and stay safe..

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

Boats, beaches and bubbles..

 

Still having fun with the lensball :) but thinking I could have even more fun with the added maneuverability of.. the flexarm! What do you think, worth it or not? Harbour and beach views caught in a bubble at Hillarys Boat Harbour. Chaos reigns here for another week, have been assured that fit out day will be next Saturday, let's hope, three weeks for a small bathroom seems.. a lot! Happy weekend, take care and stay safe..

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

Boola Bardip.. Many Stories.

As you can see the skies were blue and the sun a bit too bright for the official opening of the new WA Museum Boola Bardip, there is a fabulous overview pic on this link, last Saturday the 21st November. Having had a sneak preview inside the week before I was pretty happy I didn't have to stand in the long queues waiting here to explore the new museum. Its name, Boola Bardip, means 'many stories' in Whadjuk, the Noongar language..

Just as it sometimes is with historical facts the lines between past and present architecture can also be hard to align, the spectacular blend of old and new works so well here because although it may look like it, the wonderful old original buildings refuse to be dominated. Will take more photos when we are there next to highlight this point..

With the upheaval of renovations going on at the moment I haven't had time to go through the photos I took on that earlier visit, hopefully soon. Meanwhile a sneak teaser of what's to come :) Happy Friday, take care and stay safe.. P.s. The reason no one is wearing masks is because we haven't had any community covid here in WA for the past several months.. P.p.s. still trying to catch up :)

I dropped the ball!

 

What a week! To be unwell/sleep deprived in the middle of a major renovation should be avoided. To say I 'dropped the ball' is an understatement :) The reno looks not much different to the pic I showed you last week but at least the concrete floor is in.. I forgot for a moment rule one and two in the tradesman's handbook, add at least a week on to the schedule and a bit more cash to the budget.. it's all good 😉 Spotted the cheeky mural here in West Perth, hopefully, or not, the young lady here won't drop her ball :) Painted by Perth Visual Artist Jerome Davenport back in 2014. BIG catch up tomorrow and thanks for the get well wishes, much appreciated. Happy Thursday, take care and stay safe..

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

OK I give up!

 

I haven't mentioned it before but this week we are a few days into a full bathroom renovation, this is the current state of my main bathroom, luckily there is another but you can imagine the dust, the noise etc. Our house is of the older variety, on first sight the plumber threw his hands up in despair before setting to and replacing all the piping. Plus I seem to have caught a bug, no not THAT bug :) the medication is giving me a mega headache so I think I will have to give up and have a few days off. The bathroom will take another week, hopefully the headache not so long! Catch up early next week and show you the progress. Take care and stay safe.. 💙

Downsizing successfully..

 

The Grumpy Sailor.. still the best name for a cafe in a port city :) last seen HERE on the blog. While many small eateries have struggled to keep afloat during this extraordinary year of covid The Grumpy Sailor has downsized and moved, not far from it's original spot but much closer to the traffic flow from Freo's High Street. Gone is the quirky decor, the shelves of books, couches and armchairs but the important things are still the same, excellent coffee and delicious bagels.. a huge favourite with locals and visitors to the port city, a move that has passed with flying colours. Happy Thursday, take care and stay safe..