Isn't it ironic..

'The purpose of the camera is to capture memories,

not replace them'.. Abhijit Naskar

Was looking for the perfect birthday card for my sister a while back and when we were visiting the gift shop in the Fremantle Arts Centre a few months ago, before the world came to a standstill, I found it. I also couldn't resist the card here by Australian cartoonist, artist and writer Judy Horacek. Honestly if you have five minutes and need a smile you should have a look at her work here, she is brilliant and funny too :) Btw the next time I specifically go to watch a sunset I am leaving my camera and phone at home, will sit on the grass/beach and fully appreciate the beauty 💛 Happy Sunday, take care and stay safe..

Maneki-neko reflections..

Reflections of the old General Post Office building in Forrest Place in the city. The beckoning cat, left hand raised to welcome customers to sushi heaven :) It's going to be a wet and wild weekend in Perth, my favourite kind of weekend 💙 Happy Saturday, take care and stay extra safe..

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

Last days of autumn..

We zipped into the city yesterday for something specific only to find the 'something specific' shop still closed. Like many cities around the world Perth feels a little bit sad and deserted right now which is a shame because it is looking particularly pretty in its autumn colours. The views here looking up and down through the canopy of trees on Murray Street are lovely as the trees change colour. Although there is a lot of rain about it isn't all that cold.. between 19 and 22C during the coming week. Not sure if I mentioned that my newly planted tree did survive the storm but is now totally leafless, it is a deciduous tree so they were on the way out anyway :) Happy Friday, take care and stay extra safe 🍂

'I'm singing in the rain..'

... just singing in the rain
What a glorious feeling I'm happy again.
I'm laughing at the clouds, so dark up above,

Come on with the rain, I've a smile on my face

Just singing, singing in the rain' .. 💙

No words needed really. I know I can't be the only one who lives in a hot dry climate who loves the rain so much. Below you can actually see the storm heading towards us over the river, it was a mad dash to the car but not before clicking a quick shot to show how well the infamous giant Boab tree, story here, has settled in it's new home.. I only got a little bit wet :) Happy Thursday, take care and stay safe..

Oh what a night..

Happy to say our roof is still attached, unfortunately many were not so lucky. The storm through Sunday into Monday, the remnants of ex-Tropical Cyclone Mangga  has eased, leaving a hefty bit of damage in its wake. Thousands of homes were/are without power. On Monday morning we were shocked to see how high the Swan River was along Riverside Drive. 'The general rule of thumb is when the tide is over 1.6 meters there can be some inundation along the Swan River, and the tide is current 1.73m.'  There was a serious amount of inundation! One of Perth's most photographed attractions the blue boathouse, normally seen like this was almost submerged, the surfer above walking along the totally submerged boardwalk..

The bench below sits on the grassed area well up and away from where the waves usually lap gently onto the shore and in the last two shots the waves are flowing over the wall and crashing onto the car park. It has taken me a few days to get my garden back in order so please bear with me as I catch up. Happy Wednesday, take care and stay safe..

Sirens of the sea..

Along the Burns Beach walk last week where I was lucky enough to snap a shot of the sweet little fairy wren here, I also discovered a new mural painted earlier this year by Perth artist Kylee Larson on the ocean side wall of Sistas Burns Beach. What could be more appropriate a stones throw from the Indian Ocean than a pair of willowy sirens of the sea. I love that they are swimming around the view of the ocean in the cafe window 🌊 As I type the storm is swirling about outside my window, am hoping all is still where it should be when I step outside in the morning :) Happy Monday, take care and stay safe..

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

 

That's the way it is..

For the time being anyhow. In the al fresco area of Bocellis Espresso in Forrest Place there would normally be up to twenty or more tables.. and even though things are easing up a bit in Perth this was the seating arrangement a few days ago, eight tables in this huge space. Not to mention Forrest Place itself, the heart of the city, hardly a soul in sight. Although it might be a while before people watching becomes viable again it's better to be safe than sorry. We have a RED storm alert for later today, fingers crossed my roof doesn't go AWOL :) Happy Sunday, take care and stay safe..

Sittin' on the wall..

.. but don't even think about sitting on the bench :) I took this pic two weeks ago so that might have changed by now, will have to check it out.. just an excuse to go and get a coffee from Alley Cats Espresso, at Hillarys Boat Harbour, it's so good, that's why there is queue sitting waiting on the wall, socially distancing of course :) That's quite an alley cat below! Can you believe we are in the last days of autumn heading into winter and today it's going to be 27C, it might be the last for a while though, next week rain rain rain 🌂Happy weekend, take care and stay safe..

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

 

Old and new side by side..

In town on Wednesday I was really keen to see how the new WA Museum is progressing. Above looking corner on to incorporate the new building to the left and the old to the right. Below the new WA museum c2020, have a peek inside here, looks amazing! Opening in November this year. I was happy to get at least three people in the shot to give size perspective :)

Below incorporated into the new design is the Jubilee Building c1899 and Hackett Hall c1913. Both seen here and again here and also here, do you remember that visit, I enjoyed it so much and am hoping there will still be some of that magical bygone era charm. Happy Friday, take care and stay safe.. P.s. when you look at the shot below it's a bit like the future bursting through into the 20th century past :)

Around and about Elizabeth Quay..

I can't remember the last time we strolled around Elizabeth Quay, it's been several weeks at least. Yesterday was the perfect late autumn day to do so, crisp temps and blue skies, parfait! Hope you don't mind an overload of pics.. making up for not posting yesterday :) Starting point at the Spanda sculpture, affectionately known as 'the paperclip'. Below heading around to the right towards the bridge. Still not many people out and about..

Below, not too shabby a spot to moor the yacht. The tall lemon scented gum trees along Fraser Avenue and the State War Memorial in Kings Park in the background to the left and the Narrows Bridge to the left in second shot..

Below a view of the South Perth foreshore from on the bridge, if you look closely you can see the numbat and frilled lizard shade canopies here and here..

Views into and out of the city below..

A last look back and then into the city. After all the time I spent trying to keep people out of my shots I'm very much looking forward to welcoming them back in :) Happy Thursday, take care and stay safe..

 

Mrs Fairy Wren..

Whenever we are walking in or near bush areas I always keep both eyes open to see if I can catch a pic of the fairy wrens, they are the sweetest little (11-13cm) birds but so hard to snap as they flit around searching for insects. Years ago I did get a shot of a male white-winged fairy-wren you can see him here but he's not as crisp as I would like. Yesterday on that very same stretch of the coastal walk along Burns Beach I snapped a female fairy wren, not as clear as I would like but she was a fair distance away. It's a bit infair that the males are such a splendid blue while the females, apart from a few pale blue feathers in their tail, are a sandy brown. Still very cute though all puffed up to keep out the cold and on the plus side not so easy to spot by predators as their flamboyant partners. Hope your week is off to a good start, happy Tuesday, take care and stay safe..

Nice pussycat!

Well I bet you weren't expecting that on a quiet Monday morning, or Sunday afternoon depending on where you are in the world! It is fierce there's no doubt about it, but at the same time the surrounding block pastel colours makes him less so don't you think, come on he's just a big pussycat after all 😉 Multi-disciplinary Fremantle artist Jackson Harvey, see more of his work here, states that his work is 'characterized by bright, carefully selected colour palettes and soft flowing curves contrasted with bold pixilated textures'. The positioning of the mural in the 'tow away zone' made me smile.. who would dare :) Happy Monday, take care and stay safe..

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

Hattitude!

Beneath every great hat

there is a great woman 💓

Spotted the darling lady above sipping her take away coffee outside Madlilys Espresso in London Court. One of the busiest spots in the city for tourists London Court was, as the rest of the city, quiet. From Monday, the 18th May, WA will be going into phase 2 in the COVID-19 restriction plan, if you are interested you can see how we will be dealing here. Looking at the regional travel map, it looks like we could possibly head off on a country trip at some point soon.. they need our support also. Happy Sunday, take care and stay extra safe..

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

Kuljak Island..

The rest of our walk around Kuljak Island, also known as Black Swan Island, was less stressful than yesterdays situation, we never did find out if the baby darter had been rescued, I'm choosing to think in the positive. The grasses and colourful vegetation on the island, gorgeous at this time of the year is home to many different species of water birds, although this time, despite it's name we didn't spot even one black swan :)

Couldn't resist a quick shot of the dog below nonchalantly leaning on the side of the boat as it was coming in to dock, so relaxed.. like a cat :) Hope you have a super weekend, take care and stay safe..