I am dinosaur hear me roar!

After a wet, wild and windy weekend the blue skies have returned for a while.. still a bit chilly, top of 18C today, my favourite kind of day.. not bad for the middle of winter! I understand that dinosaurs are big news right now but every-time I walk past The Great Escape at Hillarys Boat Harbour I can't help wondering if the moving, roaring dinosaur up there isn't a bit scary, I'm guessing not or he would have been banished back into extinction.. kids are tough these days :) Here's wishing you blue skies and a happy day, take care and stay safe... p.s. rooaaaar :)

Farewell Freo.. for a while!

A few final shots from my trip to Fremantle last week when the weather was so much warmer than it is right now.. 3C overnight brrr! Above, crossing Esplanade Park, up ahead the Tourist Wheel, fabulous views out over the harbour and despite my morbid fear of heights I did take that 40metre high trip and can confirm the views are indeed fab! Below an equine weather vane atop a rather splendid row of  apartments on Cliff St. tres stylish oui..

 The 'Ten Arches' on a heritage facade in Cliff Street below, commissioned by the City for the Fremantle Festival, created by Julian Poon.. the religious themed work won the young artist the 2012  Mandorla Youth Art Award..

Have you ever tried to play a Didgeridoo? Take a look here.. check out the stomach muscle control, incroyable! So much puff required, I wonder if they give out free respirators with the free lessons :)

I leave you with this odd and slightly macabre image :) will tell you where I took it the next time I'm down in Fremantle.. it's a brilliant space and deserves a more detailed post... curious? Happy Tuesday, take care and stay safe...

Certificate of Exemption.. Guido van Helten.

This amazing work on Fitzgerald Street in North Perth by Brisbane artist Guido van Helten was inspired by the image below of an Afghan camaleer on a 'Certificate of Exemption from Dictation Test' dated 1916. Perhaps I should have waited for a brighter day to take the shot but somehow the dark clouds overhead were symbolic of the early 1900's when the White Australian Policy came into being. One hundred years later Australia is a thriving multi cultured country, although there will always be those who think they are superior. I'm of the opinion that people who feel they are superior are without exception.. not! Well that was a bit of a serious start to the week, cheering up tomorrow :) Happy Monday, take care and stay safe..

Click here to view more murals from around the world..

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La pluie.. at last!

As they say in the movies... two minutes earlier Lil and Lol were strolling along the pier, stopping occasionally to take a scenic selfie.. catching a glimpse of the sky behind them they realized they had roughly 60 seconds to sprint back to their car before la pluie raged down from the skies upon them.. I would like to have seen that selfie :) It was fun watching them while sitting cosily in San Churros at Hillarys Boat Harbour. Looks like a stormy weekend ahead in Perth, j'adore! Think of me working my way through the ten films français I purchased last week for a mere $20. What are you up to this weekend? Enjoy and stay safe.. p.s. had a bit of fun with the first shot :)
Visit James to see more weekend reflections

Smart Arts.. Hom(m)age to Africa!

You may or may not know that I spent a good many years of my life growing up in central Africa.. Zimbabwe and Zambia, followed by a few years in UK before settling here in Perth. Most people leave Africa with a substantial collection of wood carved animals and copper ornaments to remind them of time spent on the dark continent.. we travel light :) Searching for a new piece of canvas art to brighten up the recently refreshed red wall, I came across the brilliant Smart Arts Gallery in Fremantle and after seeing Jack's fab photos of zebras taken while in S.Africa I thought the contrast of black & white would be perfect. I spotted the hand-painted work below while perusing Smart Arts website, that's my painting being wrapped above, merci beaucoup for your help Johnny, I'll be back.. the VW Camper van to the right is kinda cool! Happy Friday, take care and stay safe..

Pietro Giacomo Porcelli.. the sculptor and the sculptor..

Fremantle has always had a strong Italian community right from the early days. Pietro Giacomo Porcelli who emigrating to WA with his father in 1898 went on to create many impressive sculptures around the city including the Peace Memorial in 1925, considered by some to be his finest work. How fitting then that one of our own most accomplished sculptors Greg James, you might recognize some of his work here, was chosen to sculpt a memorial commissioned by the Italian community to honour signor Porcelli which sits in Kings Square. The details are a joy! Is it just me or is this week zipping past, happy Thursday, take care and stay safe...

Phillimore Street Fremantle..

When you come to Perth a visit to the port city of Fremantle is absolutely essential, in fact I'd recommend staying a night or two, there's a lot to see there. If you're into heritage buildings.. and who isn't :) Fremantle has streets of splendid old beauties, Phillimore Street (excellent link) being one of the best.. wonder if I can find any old pics of what it looked like before the roads were laid..

Built in 1902 Elder House on the corner above, initially the home of the Fremantle Harbour Trust and the Royal Australian Navy Intelligence Headquarters during WW11, not really sure what it's used for now, looks pretty quiet.. but can you just imagine the hustle and bustle of activity going on back then.  Below, built in 1908, red doors to the right, the Old Fire Station, now the Old Fire Station Backpackers, good reviews.

Couldn't resist one more shot.. below to the left can you guess what the round structure by the lamppost is? Built in 1924 it's a ... horse trough! I really have to find some old photographs! Happy Wednesday, take care and stay safe... p.s. check the Phillimore St. link, so good! p.p.s. took these last week, don't think the skies are going to be so blue for the next few days :)