The Blue Screen of Death..

While getting my post ready for tomorrow I was confronted with 'the blue screen of death' 😱 (Google it) too hard to  explain :) valiant efforts by P to fix the problem were to no avail.  So my desk top computer with all my photos will be heading in to be looked at by the experts today. Fingers crossed that it is fixable and I don't have to buy a new computer. Depending on which outcome I'll be back in business either  tomorrow, or whenever I get my old computer back. Despite the ANZAC Day services being cancelled yesterday because of the virus, all over the country Australians paid their respects in their own unique ways, was wonderful to see 💙 Happy Sunday, see you when I see you, take care and stay extra safe ..

On Anzac Day, we will remember..

A few shots here from a past Anzac Day march and Dawn Service because 'for the first time since WWII Anzac Day services, marches and memorials have been cancelled across the nation putting decades of tradition on hold'. That does not mean in any way that the bravery of the men and women who have fought and died in war will go unobserved, this year it will just be in a different way. Instead of heading to Kings Park for the Dawn Service, we along with thousands of others around Australia will be sitting in our driveways at 6.30a.m (Perth time) tuning in to the ABC to listen to the dawn commemorative service. It would be incomprehensible, if after surviving the horrors of war, conditions so much worse than we are experiencing right now, to put the lives of the remaining veterans in any danger whatsoever. I get so emotional on this day, the thought of so many dying in order to make the world a better place, and really.. is it. Happy weekend, take care and stay extra safe..

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

Earth Day.. better late than never.

I can't believe I let Earth Day 2020 slip by, I blame it on the renovations :) I am thrilled to say that the avenue of sugar gum trees above, aren't they glorious, in Guildford are heritage listed 💚 personally I think all trees that have survived to a great age and the avarice of man should be heritage listed. I love trees with a passion and have planted three new trees this year. Is Mother Earth breathing a sweet sigh of relief (excellent read) over the last few months, I would say yes to that! Happy Friday, take care and stay safe..

The unavoidable randomness of life..

Still super busy with DIY home renovations again yesterday I have a few random pics today taken over the last two weeks. Above, I don't often look out for ghost signs but perhaps I will from now on, the old Coca-Cola sign seen on the way down to Fremantle last week where as you can see below the streets were deserted, love the dockyard giraffes centre stage, they are a bit of a landmark, I can see them all the way down the coast from Sorrento Beach..

Below, at Hillarys Boat Harbour you can order a cup of coffee but don't even think about sitting on a bench to drink it :) The weather was a bit overcast, just the way I like it!

School holiday fun at the beach while still following social distancing procedures 🌊

More backyard visitors below, they are a cheery if somewhat noisy presence :) Hope to get out for a drive today, don't worry we will be super careful and follow the rules. Happy Thursday, take care and stay extra safe..

Looking back..

 I haven't left the house for the last two days, renovation work going on at home :) so we are slipping  back to March this year to revisit Sculpture by the Sea. There were a few sculptures that didn't make it into the first post and then sadly there wasn't a second sunset visit because the exhibition was closed due to the virus crisis. The poignant sculpture above, S.A.D (Seasonal Affective Disorder) by WA artist Geoff Overheu relates to the 'heroic self-sacrifice and despair farmers experience. These two figures are one and the same. The isolation translates into a kind of cultural invisibility. They exist as ghosts in the landscape'. Our often underappreciated farmers are working hard to keep us supplied with food through these difficult times..

 

The sculpture above titled 'Journey' by Japanese artist Yuko Takahashi represents 'the path of life we walk on, both in the past and in the future. The youthful optimism in the figures shows that they are in the early stages of this long journey.' Sometimes I think it must be pretty hard for young people to stay optimistic about the future, we seem to be making a bit of a hash of it! The delightful work below by Aboriginal artist Mandy White is titled 'Olly, Miss Pinky, Barking Owl and Kardy' the 'mischievous little bush creatures are inspired by the stories her mother told her while she was growing up. You can talk to them but you might not like what you hear.' Hope you are well, happy Wednesday, take extra care and stay safe..

 

The Great Escape..

Back to Fremantle we went on Saturday to take shots of renowned Australian artist Fintan Magee's mural painted earlier this year. Known for his huge artistic endeavours, see below for perspective, the mural here on the wall of the Hougoumont Hotel is dedicated to the six Irish Fenian prisoners who, one hundred and forty four years ago escaped from the British penal colony of Western Australia. Irish Fenian rebels often referred to themselves as 'flying geese', the six flying geese here depicting the six escapees, their rescue organised by one of the most famous of the Hougoumont Fenians John Boyle O'Reilly. If you are interested you can read all about that daring escape here. Mr Magee never fails to impress with both the size and the quality of his talent. Happy Monday, take care and stay extra safe..

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

Crystal reflections and Atlas..

Reflections in the window of Crystal Reflections at Hillarys Boat Harbour. The marina is one of the top tourist spots in Perth and as locals we wouldn't normally dream of coming here at the weekend, way too busy. Yesterday this is how it looked.. I can honestly say I have never, not even on the coldest day in winter, seen the marina like this! I know there will be scenes like this all over the world, unbelievable times. On a side note.. I was strangely attracted to the bronze sculpture of Atlas above 😉 Happy Sunday, take care and stay extra safe.. P.s. we had a little rain yesterday and cool temps, was luvverly!

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

 

Early one morning just as the sun was rising..

Even for supreme beings that's a little presumptuous :) I don't actually own a cat but I attract cats like bees to honey.. not sure why but they love me and my garden, perhaps they feel it's a safe haven to stop in for a while. Couldn't believe my eyes when I came out early to fill the seed trays to find one of my favourites already in prime position. It was a standoff.. while the cat lay languidly, his tail swaying lazily back and forth the birds were screeching at me to sort out this outrageous situation, which, with a shake of the cat biscuit packet I did. Bit cheeky though don't you think :) Happy weekend, take care and stay safe..

What is it about Art Deco..

... that makes my heart beat a little faster :) I read that 'Art Deco design represented modernism turned into fashion. That individually crafted luxury items and mass produced wares had each the intention of creating a sleek and anti-tradional elegance and sophistication'. The heritage listed Nedlands Park Masonic Hall has been used in many ways since it was built in 1935, even standing empty and unloved for a while before being beautifully restored and now home to IQX@UWA, click the link to see the interior Deco touches and oh those ceilings, bliss 💙 Took these shots two weeks ago at midday on a 37C day, not easy with the sun overhead. Thankfully we are now fully into autumn and summer is but a memory :) Happy Friday, take care and stay safe..    

Ghostly regiment.. #itsabeautifulday.

'Don't let one cloud obliterate the whole sky' Anais Nin..

Personally I think cloud formations enhance the sky but that could be because the skies over Perth are so relentlessly blue in summer that even the most delicate smudge of white is welcome. The formations here on Tuesday were amazing, like a ghostly regiment flying silently over Sorrento Beach and out to do battle at sea. I'm sure there will be a technical name for these clouds, I call them impressively splendid :) Happy Thursday, take care and stay extra safe..

Two's company three's a crowd..

Never has the expression 'two's company three's a crowd' been more relevant than it is today.. all over the world, unbelievable! On a walk along West Coast Drive and around Hillarys Boat Harbour yesterday the only time I saw more than two in a group was when it was a family. Keep it up Perth! How are you bearing up? Hopefully not too much longer, I'm taking the positive view :) Happy Wednesday, take care and stay safe..

Ethyl the sea-dragon..

This is the mural that we went looking for last week on our trip to Fremantle. Found on Stirling Highway Ethyl the delightful leafy sea-dragon was painted by Fremantle artist Alice Ford. The mysterious and fantastical appearance of seahorses and leafy sea dragons has always appealed to me, if you have two minutes take a look at the short video here, amazing creatures they are 💙 Happy Tuesday, take care and stay safe..

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

Easter Sunday visitors..

It was a quiet Easter Sunday morning.. until the rainbow lorikeets arrived for breakfast, gosh they are noisy little birds en masse! They are beautiful to see though and I find it hard to resist a shot or two each time they visit, hope you don't get tired of seeing them. We really missed our family picnic this year, it has been a tradition for as long as I can remember for both sides of my family to gather in a nearby park and celebrate all together. This year we caught up through the magic of technology, not quite the same as running about in the fresh air.. the picnic hopefully just postponed until we are able to get out and about again. How did you celebrate Easter Sunday in these extraordinary circumstances the world finds itself in? Happy Monday, take care and stay safe..

Happy Easter.. let's go on a bear hunt!

We're going on a bear hunt,

We're going to catch a big one

I'm not scared

What a beautiful day!

One way of making a walk in the fresh air more fun for children during isolation in the corona crisis is a bear hunt, an idea taken from the popular children's book that has spread around the world. I'm sure you have seen them on your walks also. I snapped the cuties here on a short walk around my neighbourhood, brilliant to see so many getting into the spirit.. if you look carefully you will see my own proper Pooh bear sitting in my bedroom window. If you are still able to get out and have a walk why don't you see how many you can spot, I confess my inner child was alive and well :) Happy Easter, hopefully we will look back on this one with a new outlook and appreciative eyes. Take care and stay safe 💙

.. and then this happened!

Heading into the second month of official autumn the weather gods fooled us into a false sense of security with a few fabulous cooler autumn days.. and then this happened! Taken on Sorrento Beach, someone get that lady an umbrella, on our way back from Fremantle Harbour on Wednesday. The temperature is heading in the wrong direction for the next few days 36/37C .. what the fox! Good to see no relaxing of social distancing though :) It is going to be a different Easter this year, let's hang in there and do the right thing so that next Easter this will be a far distance memory. Happy Good Friday, take extra care and stay safe.. Ps. Ooops! Take two below 😉

The ship that refuses to leave..

We drove to Fremantle Harbour yesterday for three reasons, one to get out of the house for a while, two so I could snap a pic of a mural I had seen previously but hadn't had time to stop.. plenty of time now :) and three to see if the Artania, the ship that refuses to leave was still in the harbour.. yup, still there! Click the link to get an idea of why our Premier, who is doing a brilliant job of trying to keep WA safe from the virus describes the situation as 'one of the greatest frustrations of my life'. The harbour was so quiet, Fremantle city like a ghost town, surreal! Personally the thought of being stuck out on the high seas with thousands of people on a cruise ship totally freaks me out, but hey, whatever rocks your boat :) Happy Thursday, take care and stay safe..

Looking forward to...

No don't worry, I'm not breaking the stay at home rules, I took this shot about three weeks ago before the rules tightened up and cafes closed. I am looking forward to sitting on a beautiful autumn day, it could be a cold but sunny winters day depending how long we are restricted, either is fine.. people watching while enjoying a coffee in Bocelli's Espresso in Forrest Place, simple pleasures. What are you looking forward to? Happy Wednesday, take care and stay safe

A touch of Deco..

Two weeks ago I took my camera in for a check up in a camera store in Northbridge. Had to leave it with them for fifteen minutes so took a walk around the block and look what I found.. wasn't expecting that! It's probably fair to say that you can live in a city all your life and there will still be places that could go undiscovered. The City of Vincent Perth Oval has a long and varied history, if interested you can read about it here. What interested moi the most was the gorgeous heritage listed gates here built in 1930. Although described as inter-war Mediterranean style I dispute that :) and say there are definitely classic Art Deco flourishes here, what do you think? Happy Tuesday, take care and stay safe..