Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Seriously sexy sandwich and other things on the terrace...



One of my favourite places to sit and and people-watch on St. Georges Terrace is the Shingle Inn. They make a seriously luscious avocado, chicken, oozing with Camembert cheese on brown multi-grain.. there's nothing quite like oozing Camembert.. unless it's oozing Brie :) and you can sit right out on the terrace and admire the view.. it's not just you men who appreciate a pert derriere, am I right ladies! Two of Perth's finest!


Kangaroos on the terrace.. the beautifully restored Old Treasury Building in the background below. I don't think I've ever seen 'The Kangaroos in the City', created in 1997 by husband and wife sculpture team Charles and Joan Smith' without people posing for photos either on or beside them..


 Council House window cleaning day, good luck chaps, there's an awful lot of 'em! Hope your week is progressing well, happy Wednesday, take care and stay safe...


Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Anzac Day Dawn Service...



Apologies straight up for the quality of these shots, except the last :) Not easy conditions! There was a 90% chance that it would rain while we stood in silence yesterday morning during the Anzac Day Dawn Service. Although the numbers were down a bit on previous years over 30,000 did brave the weather, which actually held off until after the service and we were on our way home. We didn't make it to our usual spot overlooking the city but the placement of big screens around the park allowed everyone to watch the ceremonial laying of wreaths.. no screen necessary to experience the spine tingling haunting sounds of The Last Post.


By comparison to today's fighting planes, the frailty of the Tiger Moth planes flying in formation in the turbulent sky above makes you even more aware of how little there was between those brave young pilots and their eventual fate. It never ceases to amaze and move me the number of young people who make the effort to come to the dawn service. Mothers, fathers, grandfathers/mothers and great grandfathers/mothers would be proud. Happy Tuesday, take care and stay safe...


Monday, April 25, 2016

SpongeBob SquarePants and a bit of magic!



If like me you had never heard of SpongeBob SquarePants who lives with his friends in the underwater city of 'Bikini Bottom' :) let me introduce you! I first became aware of SpongeBob ten months ago during weekly sleepovers with my dear great niece and nephew after they lost their mum in a road accident. It was an after diner before bedtime ritual that brought a smile at a very sad time. A multi award winning show the content had me chuckling when I least expected it. Here painted on a wall in North Perth by WA artist Idol Motions.


Did I mention a birthday party. There was a magician aka Al Kazam who held 15 young children and numerous adults :) under his spell for an hour. Too cool in his...


...magician's shoes! See how I made his middle disappear.. I'm a fast learner :) Up before the crack of dawn today for the Anzac Day Dawn Service, rain expected.. show you tomorrow. Happy Monday, take care and stay safe...
 Click here to see more Monday Murals from around the world...




Sunday, April 24, 2016

Water in glass...


A reflection of the Swan River caught in one of the many glass high-rise buildings popping up around the CBD. It's the Anzac Day long weekend here in Australia with the Dawn Service in Kings Park on Monday morning. Forecast rain =  thousands of umbrellas! Whatever you're getting up to this weekend, enjoy! It's gardening..again, and birthday parties for moi. Bon weekend, take care and stay safe... 


Saturday, April 23, 2016

Searching for the perfect tree..



I have a spot in my back garden for a tree, not just any tree, the perfect tree! I've made mistakes before.. for example the two Fiddlewood trees that we planted when we first moved in, they can grow up to 40ft.. and they did! Even though we have a big block they were out of control! So they had to go. There was the wonderful really old tree that was already here that I loved but was uprooted in a bad storm, heartbreaking. So here I am again looking for the perfect tree! Loved the one above spotted on our travels, worried it might get too widespread and below seen in Queens Park, maybe a wee bit too tall :)


Gorgeous but waaay too messy, P would have a conniption!


 The Variegated Peppermint, more commonly known as the Western Australian Peppermint, a smallish native tree that flowers for five months of the year could work, although reading the 'cultivation' details it might not be suitable as a garden tree.. Help! Any suggestions for a pretty small tree under which I could place a bench, myself and a book :) Bon weekend, take care and stay safe..  


Friday, April 22, 2016

I'll have a fabulous view with my wine s'il vous plaît!



Yesterday after a walk in Kings Park, a coffee in Chapels on Whatley in Maylands we set off with visiting Melbourne blogger Andrew and partner to have lunch at Sittella, recommended by SIL, merci beaucoup Haze, one of the many wineries in the Swan Valley. P was hoping to spot one of the small Australasian birds that the winery is named after, but alas not a Sittella in sight. After a few days of rain everything is so green. I'm guessing the grapes have just been picked as I read harvesting is January to March in this region...  


I've often wondered why there are always roses planted at the head of each row of vines.. I now know it's because roses are susceptible to many of the same fungal diseases as the vines and therefore an early warning of problems that could occur during the growing period.. very pretty alarm system :)


Those of you who are regular readers know that for moi the best part of any meal is the dessert :) My main meal of grilled Schnapper was good but the warm apple crumble with cream and caramel sauce topped with a jaunty little biscotti was bliss! Weather perfect, excellent company, a few bottles of Sittella wines brought home for future enjoyment.. it was all good! Happy Friday, take care and stay safe...


Thursday, April 21, 2016

Traveling musicians...




Bit of a treat in the city yesterday.. well two actually! Firstly we had a catch up with fellow blogger and his partner from Melbourne Andrew, here for a week.. thankfully Perth is putting on her best weather for le occasion! On the way back to the car the evocative, earthy sounds of the didgeridoo vibrated along Murray St. Traveling musicians Whales Ave, here entertaining Perthites and visitors for a while made it look too easy.. have you ever tried? It so isn't easy, I can't even produce a pitiful peep :) You can see them in action here.. four minutes of incroyable breathing control.. and yes I do love the bagpipes also :) Happy Thursday, take care and stay safe... p.s. still catching up!