Sculptures by the Sea + 'error 503'.....

Remembering from past years how busy and how hard to get a parking it is in Cottesloe when Sculpture by the Sea starts, Aimee and I set off very early on Sunday morning to enjoy this annual event, and although there were some early risers it was still quiet, not so by the time we left. I'm starting here with the sculptures in the order in which we saw them. The first above is called 'Wind Playground' by USA artist Maia Marinelli who is an avid sailor, this work is designed to 'capture the thrill of play and sculpt with wind like sailors do', not being a sailor I have no idea what that means! Below we have 'Portal' by WA artist Toby Bell, a work 'based on spiritual and emotional themes', although it was designed to be 'interactive' and I took many shots with people sitting in the centre, this image felt a little more 'spiritual' (she said tongue in cheek).....

The amazing creation below is called  'Ghost Net Crocodile' by GhostNets Australia, so clever. Remote community indigenous artists create works using ghost nets retrieved by indigenous rangers from Australia's remote northern coastline, it's fabulous, check it out bigger.....

'Look This Way' by NSW artist Ken Unsworth  is designed 'with the hope to astonish and confuse, questioning the mind of the viewer', I'm guessing by the puzzled looks below that it's working.....!

This work below by Perth glass artist Vaughn Bisschops called 'Transparent Sea' was one of my favourites, designed to 'make us look into our oceans and see the beauty within'. I have heard that in the evening when the setting sun falls on it, it's spectacular, I might have to go back for that shot!

Last one today by Danish artists Jonas Hallberg and Rene Pedersen called 'How close we are'..Step through the eye of the needle..that could be a little tricky with a certain redhead blocking the way! Check out that dramatic sky, many clouds, very little rain. These weird and wonderful creations could not possibly have a more fabulous setting to show them off, more tomorrow. Catch you at 8am Perth time from now on..early bed is getting more and more tempting..have a good Thursday (already!!) take care..p.s I've been plagued by 'error 503' tonight, will start fresh tomorrow.....

Chilli...eh! that's for babies.....!

Just when you thought it couldn't get any hotter..meet Eddie the fire eater! Here are the last few sights that caught my eye while we were in Fremantle on Saturday. Young Eddie knows how to attract a crowd, chilli..eh that's for babies! The shot above was for the crush, the one below was just pour moi, I'm putting that advice to 'ask' to good use these days! If you're looking in Eddie, merci beaucoup!

Just a few meters up from Eddie, it was almost possible to believe that this pretty young girl was a statue, until she slowly turned and raised her fan in thanks for the money P had placed in her basket.....

I haven't ridden a bike for goodnes knows how long, but if I get ever get the urge again, I'll be back to Vintage in Wonderland to see if this beauty is still there, isn't she pretty? A little basket on the front and off I go! 

Then across at the harbour I spotted a fellow photographer taking an up close detailed shot of one of the sculptures on the Fishermen's Memorial that I posted about here, it was a super angle because a short time later when I took a shot from the same spot, the ships in the background definitely added extra interest and colour to the image. Hope your week is moving along at not too frantic a pace, take care and stay safe. p.s. Aimee and I went to Sculptures by the Sea on Sunday, show you tomorrow.....

Them, me..and the others.....

On Saturday in Fremantle while hundreds, nay thousands of locals and tourists sweltered in the queue to go into the Araluen Chilli Festival, a hugely popular annual event (in cooler conditions we would have joined them), to taste everything chilli from chocolate through to chilli beer and wine (?). We chose instead to watch them while sitting under the trees in the Carriage Cafe eating ice cream, it just made so much more sense! (Erk! I really should have fixed my tatty nailpolish!).....

Others who weren't at the festival were lunching just over the railway line at either Cicerellos Landing, around since 1903 (below) or Kailis Cafe and Fishmarket (below, below) in Fremantle since 1928, both synonymous with the freshest chish and fips in the harbour. I'm happy to say that we did get a little rain (18mm) last night, and while I do understand that for many of you the sight of rain is less than welcome after a long cold winter, we haven't had a drop for months here and 'things is getting desperate', be happy for us haha! Hope your week is off to a good start, take care.....

Getting around.....

Once again there was so much going on in and around Perth this weekend it was hard to know where to start. On Saturday morning we caught the train at Whitfords, our local station, green line, into the city where we changed trains, the blue line, down to Fremantle. Although the Perth Train Station is big, clean, modern, efficient and easy to use, essential for the volume of traffic that courses through it each day, we still lack the rail line service from the city to the airport that is needed and expected in most big cities. Ah well, we will have Elizabeth Quay (yes I am being sarcastic haha!)..get back to basics Mr B.. basics!!

Pulling into Fremantle Train Station it's lovely to see that it still retains some of that early 1900's charm, in fact there is much that is charming to explore in the port city of Fremantle. It's been unbearably humid in Perth this last week, but I can see an end in sight, looking out of my window now at the grey skies I predict rain..soon, hallelujah!! Hope your week begins well, take care and stay safe.....

Miconception v misperception.....!

It's always been my view that there are certain subjects that one should steer clear of.. religion, politics and money being three of them..so all I will say at the end of state election day here in WA is that it matters not which of these words apply 'misconception or misperception' probably both, the chances of our re-elected government bringing home their promises is definitely less likely than these wonderful fishing boats in Fremantle harbour bringing home their catch! On top of that it was the most uncomfortably humid day, so in the words of Pink's 'Blow Me One Last Kiss' it's been a s... day! Oh hang on that cheered me up just watching the video, she's fabulous! Hope you had a better day than moi, take care. p.s. just one more thing, can you please go back home now Julie Bishop you're doing my head in haha!!

HOT diggedy dawg.....!

Yesterday while I was waiting for the bank to open, this old darling was waiting for her human to come out of the library, let's hope it was just a return book not a new pick! Seriously that's the biggest, longest tongue I've ever seen...on a dog, can you imagine that tongue slathering all over your face haha! Had to show you the second shot, she kind of looked at me without making the effort to turn her head, a look that said.. 'whatever'! Sympathies m'dear, c'est beaucoup chaud! Off to the polling booth today, here's hoping for a good result. Happy weekend, hope it's a good one, take care.....

Super summer survivors.....

It really is a miracle that any plant can survive out there on a searing 42C summers day, and this year the weather in Perth has been hotter than ever..one plant that seems not only to enjoy but thrives in these conditions is the Bougainvillea. At the beginning of summer I went a little 'loco' and planted Bambino Bougs in various hanging baskets and pots.. I'm now enjoying much pleasure from those moments of madness as vibrant colour spills out all around my patio. It's the WA State elections on Saturday, I can't remember the last time I was so keen to get into that polling booth and vote! Happy Friday, take care and stay safe.....