Winter in Hyde Park..

 

Hyde Park is one of the prettiest parks to stroll around in any season but the plane trees that line the lake look amazing in their stark nakedness during winter. I wanted to use either the first or second image here as my new winter header shot and after much frustration and even more cursing like a sailor I got the shot into position in layout but the quality wasn't good, it was blurry and unacceptable to me to use as the first image people see when they click on blog. Anyone else having this problem. I really like having a seasonal header shot and hope I can sort this issue.. tips anyone? Happy Wednesday, take care and stay safe..

Much ado about nothing..

 

Walking around Hyde Park yesterday in search of a new winter header shot there was a right kerfuffle going on in the lake. The face off between a dusky moorhen, red beak yellow tip, and an Eurasian coot, white beak, went downhill fast when the moorhen called in support from family, leaving the pugnacious coot defending it's feeding spot heavily outnumbered. Not so sharp shots as there was lots of vigorous flappy action but fascinating to watch nonetheless. The coot deciding three to one were not good odds swam off, perhaps to recruit help :) Happy Tuesday, take care and stay safe.. P.s enjoyed the colours in the water in these shots..

 

Architects and heroes..

 

Street art is coming indoors. So many private homes, cafes, hotels and businesses are livening up their space with art. I think it's a brilliant idea, found this gem in Architects and Heroes on Rokeby Road in Subiaco. Painted by super talented ArtByDestroy who's extensive body of work covers everything from pretty to pretty dark, see what I mean HERE.. there are a couple of clown murals there that would freak Aimee right out :) Hope you had a good weekend, happy Monday, take care and stay safe..

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

What is it about naked trees anyway?

They are gorgeous and here in WA the naked trees are sometimes the only sign that we are actually in winter. I never tire of  this sight, in every season but particularly so in winter, when walking through Central Park into the gardens on the corner of Hay and William St. The tall trees without their foliage to blur their delicate, yet enduring framework of skeleton branches. A glimpse through to the steeple of the Wesley Uniting Church on the corner, the pale blue wintry sky above.. love it! Have a wonderful weekend, see you on Monday, take care and stay safe..  

'Nobody needs a mink coat except the mink'..

 

Happy to say that I saw many, many coats being worn in the city yesterday but not a one made of fur :) It was also a pleasant surprise to see that although black coats were still in the majority there was a substantial smattering of lighter coloured coats and jackets.. I must get one, I have only one coat and it is black :) Some of the shots are clearer than others, some were walking faster, look at the killer heels the lady is wearing 2nd to the left bottom row, yikes! It's not often you see people rugged up here is it. Happy Friday, take care and stay safe..

Outrageous!!

 

Arriving yesterday to find one of the city's most popular cafes locked up and under threat of permanent closure, even worse demolition, chilled me to the bone even more than the wintry weather. READ THIS to get some idea why I am so angry! You all have seen countless photos that I have taken over the years while sitting in Bocellis Espresso in the heart of the city in Forrest Place it's one of my go to cafes for people of Perth shots not to mention brilliant coffee and more often than not.. cake :) Along with the Old General Post Office and Commonwealth Bank buildings Bocellis adds a touch of European charm to the square. I wait with bated breath to see if our new City of Perth Mayor has the gumption to stand with the people against an agreement that was made before he became so. Will big money once again win out over a family run business that has been here in this spot for 30 years.. I'd like to think not. Will keep you posted. Happy Thursday, take care and stay safe.. P.s. did I mention how angry this made me. P.p.s if you click the Bocellis link you can protest from afar :)

Brass monkey weather..

 

I'm pretty sure most of you will have heard the expression 'cold enough to freeze the.. ' I'll let you read the rest HERE  :) That's the kind of weather we have had here the past week, winter has hit with a blast of cold, super chilly lows in the morning and evenings. In the words of our Premier posted on his social media “Who says Perth doesn’t get cold?” He then followed up with a comment: “To all our friends around the world: we know this is not that cold. Just let us have this one.” :) When I look at the temps for the rest of the week the realization that we are a bunch of wooses becomes obvious :) Happy Wednesday, take care and stay safe.. P.s. on the beach, one determined walker and one windblown photographer :)

PERTH FORECAST FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK

Wednesday: 5-17C, partly cloudy

Thursday: 5-17C, mostly sunny

Friday: 5-18C, partly cloudy

Saturday: 6-20C, partly cloudy

Sunday: 8-21C, shower or two

Monday: 12-19C, showers

Dapper dawgs..

 

You might remember my post a few days ago from Mr Chapple in Fremantle. Apart from the convivial vibe of Mr C the other reason we popped by for lunch was to take shots of the fabulous mural here by Aussie artist ArtByDestroy. Anthropomorphism, paintings of animals acting like humans, has been around for a long time, possibly the most well known example Dogs Playing Poker by CM Coolridge way back in 1894. I think it's pretty cool, what about you? Hope you had a good weekend, happy Monday, take care and stay safe..

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

'To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow'..

 

So said Audrey Hepburn and she is right. After a trip to the garden nursery yesterday that's where I will be this weekend, in my garden. I feel a need for more beautiful roses in my life and the peace to plant them. The sun will shine today and tomorrow with rain expected on Sunday, how perfect is that. I hope all your weekend plans go ahead as you wish them to. Happy Friday and weekend, see you on Monday, take care and stay safe.. P.s. No, I didn't bring the scary ram home with me :)

Visit James to see more Weekend Street/Reflections..

What's your fancy?

 

We had lunch at Mr Chapple yesterday, just one of four eateries/drinkeries.. new word :) housed in The Old Synagogue on South Street in Fremantle. The Old Synagogue built in 1902 was the first synagogue built in WA but by 1908 services were no longer held here as the majority of the state's Jewish population had moved to Perth. The building was acquired in 1922 by William Beer and was also known as the Beer Building which as Mr Chapple boasts 18 taps of WA crafted brews, front row above, seems a most appropriate name.. personally je préfère le hot choc :) Happy Thursday, take care and stay safe..

Not for the faint hearted..

 

Look away if you are eating a meal right now :) It was the greyest of grey days yesterday, bleak and wonderful. Caught the osprey high up near it's nest on the communication tower at Whitfords Nodes feasting on the biggest fish by the size of what's left of it and it's tail, I didn't notice the trailing gizzards until after.. are you still eating 😉 How I would love to catch one of these magnificent predators in action but you have to have patience for that shot! Happy Wednesday, take care and stay safe..

In memory of..

 

Spotted the beautifully painted mural on the wall of the Federal Hotel.the last time we were in Fremantle. In memory of a woman who obviously loved all aspects of nature and by the dates shown passed away far too young. Life is so often not fair. Painted in 2020 and signed by GABD. Happy Tuesday, take care and stay safe..

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

Bascule bridge..

 

I'm sure it goes up and down like the stock market but I have only ever seen the drawbridge, the bascule bridge at Hillarys Boat Harbour open once in all the times we have been there and as the harbour is less than five minutes from home you can guess how many times that is.. twice yesterday :) Took these shots early yesterday morning after coffee with P on the perfect winters day..

... and this one later in the evening when I went back with Aimee to take some reflection shots for her latest photographic challenge, both times, early morning and evening it was deliciously chilly enough for jackets.  Hope you had/are still having a super weekend, happy Monday, take care and stay safe..

"Life is about using the whole box of crayons"..

 

Taken last weekend on the beach when the weather was wintry grey, helping Aimee with pics for a weekly Instagram project she is participating in. It was about colour and those who know Aimee know that colour is her thing, from the rainbow umbrella right down to the yellow Doc Martens that got swimmingly soaked before she had time to retreat from the incoming barrage of waves :)

Below the shot she edited and used for her project, tres dramatic! A few minutes after I snapped these shots we were running for the car as the rain sped across the water towards us, exhilarating! Hope you have a wonderful weekend, see you Monday. Happy Friday, take care and stay safe..

3 in One..

 

Last weekend Aimee and I went to the 3 in One Market at Claremont Showground. The couple in the quick click here were the epitome of what the market is about.. vintage, home made and antiques, definitely the vintage, she looked gorgeous. I said a little thank you prayer that the white Doc Martens below were too big for Aimee otherwise they would have come home with her :) I can't even imagine how uncomfortable the shoes on the left must have been to wear! I came home with a beautiful hand made pen, by the same pen makers who made THIS, I'm going to enjoy using it very much. Happy Thursday, take care and stay safe..

When one fur coat is just not enough..

 Yesterday our top temp was 13C but felt like 10C due to the wintry winds. Spotted this little cutie waiting at the ferry stop all rugged up in it's fur coat when we had lunch in Claisebrook Cove in East Perth. Oh how I love winter days like this, when the sun is shining but it's chilly enough to wear a coat. Is he sticking his tongue out at me or is that a pug thing :) Happy Wednesday, take care and stay safe..

Standing out from the crowd..

 

 

Handling.. 4 stars

Performance 3 stars

Usability 4 stars 

Feelgood factor 5 stars.. that says it all 😉

 

I must admit I never notice cars when we are driving around and about. P will sometimes say 'look at that Jag or that Ferrari etc.  eh, they don't impress me in the slightest, if I had that much money to spend I wouldn't spend it on a car when there is so much fabulous art around :) But I do love looking at vintage cars, so much more style and character like the, I'm going to say Citroen Traction Avant here, am I right? Have a look at THIS, oh I would definitely be tempted by this, how about you? Happy Tuesday, take care and stay safe..