Children - The Future

The Face of Tomorrow
As today is the last day of the year, I'd like to share with you the last family member born. Aged 7 months and a few days, she and her contemporaries are the leaders of tomorrow.

As we begin the countdown, let us hope that the new year will bring better, and happier times - that people everywhere can learn to live in peace and harmony.

Saint Ronans (Wishing) Well

Three Coins in the Fountain?
Maybe not a fountain, but even better - a Wishing Well.

Driving along the beautiful Black Spur, on the side of the road is Saint Ronans Wishing Well. If you enlarge the picture, you can see the water trickling in the lower right-hand side.

Saint Ronans Well is a natural mountain spring and when you stand here you can hear (and see) the sound of trickling water as it gently flows over the small rock wall and down a gully, under the road to the other side. Listening to the twitter of birds trilling their merry song make this an enchanting place. There is a space for two (or maybe three) cars to pull over and park.

The Public Purse

The Public Purse
A Calca red granite and stainless-steel sculpture, this wonderful piece of artwork was created by Simon Perry in 1994 and is one of the city’s most unique and distinctive forms of street seating. Appearing as if it is nothing more than an oversized dropped purse, the sculpture perfectly reflects its bustling retail district surrounds.

Located in Bourke Street near the intersection of Elizabeth Street, it sits outside the GPO - you can see the steps of the GPO in the first photo.

In creating The Public Purse, Perry was interested in making an object that would work both conceptually and poetically, while still addressing the context of the site. The Public Purse engages with its environment through its clear reference to the commercial nature of the area.

Bourke Street Mall

Bourke Street Today

Bourke Street Mall - No cars here thanks
Bourke Street is the hub of Melbourne's CBD and shopping precinct. Department stores Myer, David Jones and Target are all here. Always bustling with buskers, shoppers and city workers, the section between Elizabeth and Swanston Streets became a mall in 1983, and is the "heart" of Melbourne. So no cars, but the trams run through - well, what would Melbourne be without her trams? And how else would you get from the top of Spring Street up to Spencer Street?
Every year, Myer has the "Christmas Windows". (Photos taken Christmas Day 7.45pm.)

One of the Myer Christmas Windows

Indulge in some Retail Therapy
Not for nothing is Melbourne known as the shopping capital of Australia!
Myer occupies two buildings - the Bourke Street store and the Lonsdale Street store and is joined by an overhead walkway. You can find just about everything - the latest fashions and streetwear, designer label clothing and shoes, a huge variety of top label aftershaves, cosmetics and perfumes. Plus electronics, homewares and children's toys.

David Jones occupies three buildings - one which features menswear, children's wear and a food hall, another dedicated to women's fashions, cosmetics, shoes and accessories, and the Home Store which is all about homewares and bedding.


Transport: Getting There
There's a number of tram routes travelling along Bourke Street and the Mall - including Nos. 86, 95 and 96. At the west end is Southern Cross railway station (formerly Spencer Street) and Parliament railway station at the east end. Flinders Street and Melbourne Central stations are a short walk from the Mall.

A pedestrian bridge at the western end provides access - Southern Cross Station, Telstra Dome (now known as Etihad Stadium) and the Melbourne Docklands.

Below: Bourke Street circa 1910

Below: Looking East

A far cry from today As these two photos show, Bourke Street has come a long way in the past 100 years. Obviously these weren't taken by me - they are from the Melbourne archives.

Scenic Sunday - Selovers Lookout

Scenic Lookout
In the forested mountains a few kms past Healesville on the way to the Black Spur is Selovers Lookout. You can see the Maroondah Reservoir. I was there last Sunday - ever stood on a mountain and sung at the top of your lungs? It's a great feeling. Christmas carols blaring from the CD, I stood here and belted out the "Gloria In Excelsis Deo" from Angels We Have Heard On High. (I've also danced on the side of a mountian while singing ABBA!)


"Dance like no one is watching. Sing like no one is listening. Love like you've never been hurt and live like it's heaven on Earth."
— Mark Twain

Click here to see other participants of Scenic Sunday

Christmas Downunder - Aussie Style

Pass the Salad
Christmas 2009 - A great day was had by all. I hope your Christmas was wonderful too.
Cheers.

But the Angel said to them,
Do not be afraid, for behold,
I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people,
For today in the city of David,there has been born for you a Saviour,
Who is Christ the Lord.

"Adeste Fideles" is the name of a hymn tune attributed to John Francis Wade and the first line of the Latin text for which the tune was written. The text itself has unclear beginnings, and may have been written in the 13th century.



I wish everybody a happy and holy Christmas, and for those who are unhappy or troubled, may you find peace, love and happiness. May the Spirit of Christmas fill your heart with hope and bring you joy.

Christmas Angels

'Angels' in Greek mean 'Messengers' The Angel Gabriel gave Mary the message that She was to bear a child. It is said we all have a Guardian Angel. We place an Angel on top of our Christmas tree. According to the New Testament, when people are sorry for their sins, the Angels rejoice. Angels voices filled the skies on the night of Jesus birth.

Angels We Have Heard On HighThe words of this song are based on a traditional French carol known as Les Anges dans nos campagnes (literally, "Angels in our countryside"). Its most common English version was translated in 1862 by James Chadwick.

This recording is from Carols by Candlelight. Every Christmas Eve since around 1955, in the Sidney Myer Music Bowl here in Melbourne, the carols have been performed and proceeds go to the RVIB. (Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind.) And every Christmas Eve, hundreds of people have their television stations tuned to channel 9 watching this wonderful performance.

Just to add, this recording has the best version of "Angels We Have Heard On High". The singer is Mariah Carey and this song has sort of become her "signature" piece at the carols. Thousands of people sit on chairs, and on the grass, holding a lighted candle, waving them around for two or three hours every Christmas Eve.
Christmas Blessings.
God bless.

The Empty Christmas Stocking

The Christmas Stocking These are my family's stockings, and we have from left - Master 5, Master 4, Master nearly 2, Miss 8 months and Miss 7 months.

I want to tell you the story of an empty stocking

Once upon a midnight clear, there was a child's cry, a blazing star hung over a stable, and wise men came with birthday gifts. We haven't forgotten that night down the centuries. We celebrate it with stars on Christmas trees, with the sound of bells, and with gifts.

But especially with gifts. You give me a book, I give you a tie. Aunt Martha has always wanted an orange squeezer and Uncle Henry can do with a new pipe. For we forget nobody, adult or child. All the stockings are filled, all that is, except one. And we have even forgotten to hang it up. The stocking for the Child born in a manger. Its His birthday we're celebrating. Don't let us ever forget that.

Let us ask ourselves what He would wish for most. And then, let each put in his share, loving kindness, warm hearts, and a stretched out hand of tolerance. All the shinning gifts that make peace on earth.

Cantique de Noël (O Holy Night)
The first time I heard this carol it brought tears to my eyes, it is so beautiful. Composed by Adolphe Adam in 1847 to the French poem "Minuit, chrétiens" by Placide Cappeau (1808-1877), a wine merchant and poet. Cappeau was asked to write a Christmas poem by a parish priest.

The great Enrico Caruso recorded this on 23rd February 1916.


Boun Natale.

The Kinglake Christmas Tree

From the ashes comes hope ~ Kinglake was one of the towns that was wiped out in the Black Saturday bushfires this year. The two blackened stumps are remnants of that fire. This photo was taken last week - outside the Kinglake police station. The adding of a Christmas tree and decorations brings a glimmer of hope not only to children but adults as well. Below the photo is the story of the Christmas Tree.

The Story of the Christmas Tree
Many hundreds of years ago, people thought evergreen trees were special and put candles on them to banish the dark of winter. Throughout 10th century Europe came a beautiful story, (said to have been told by an Arabian named Georg Jacob) that on the night that Christ was born, all the trees in all the forests - even those in frozen countries - blossomed for one night, and bore fruit.

In 13th century France, legend tells of a huge tree in the forest lit with candles - some were straight, some upside down, and at the top of the tree there was an infant with a halo around his head. The tree represented humanity, the candles were people, good and bad, and the child was Jesus.

It is said that Martin Luther returning home one dark night, saw stars twinkling through the evergreen trees, and brought indoors a small fir and lit it with candles to show his family. From there, indoor Christmas trees spread throughout Germany and across Europe - Prince Albert set up a Christmas tree in England when he married Queen Victoria in 1841.

From Germany comes today's beautiful old Christmas carol O Tannenbaum (O Christmas Tree) sung by the Vienna Boy's Choir. A Tannenbaum is a fir tree and this version was written in 1824 by Ernst Anschütz. The melody is an old folk tune.

Fröhliche Weihnachten

The Sounds of Christmas

Music is what feelings sound like These three young girls started playing yesterday outside the Healesville shopping centre and brought smiles to all who passed.

Each day from now until Christmas Day I will be posting something Christmas related and will include a (Youtube) video of some of my favourite Christmas carols. I hope you enjoy them as much as I like listening to them.

Today it is Il est né le Divin Enfant, a traditional French Christmas carol, the original words written in Latin by a Franciscan Priest in the XIIIth century, and sung by the children's choir, the Petits Chanteurs à la Croix de Bois.


Joyeux Noel.

Scenic Sunday - The Bend In The River

The bend in the river reflects the turns we make in life - everchanging and alterable. I never tire of looking at the mighty Yarra - in all seasons there is beauty.

Ten miles down Reedy River
A pool of water lies,
And all the year it mirrors
The changes in the skies,
And in that pool's broad bosom
Is room for all the stars;
Its bed of sand has drifted
O'er countless rocky bars.

From Reedy River by Henry Lawson.

Click here to see other participants of Scenic Sunday.

Easy Rider

Chrome and Leather
You're the guy that'll be sneaking out of your bedroom at three o'clock in the morning to look at your bike. ~Paul Teutul, Sr., American Chopper, "Billy Joel"

These chaps were across the road from the two "bikies" in yesterday's photo, and rode off with all the pomp (and noise) that comes with it. And having ridden on the back of a Harley in the middle of the Australian desert with the wind in your hair, I can understand - there's nothing quite like it!

Tête-à-tête

I'd love to be a fly on the wall!
I was in Strath Creek this afternoon and noticed these two "bikies" deep in conversation. Something about the stance of the gray camouflage pants one and the expression on the face of the red jacketed one had me wondering what the topic might be...

The "Rock"

Spiderman eat your heart out!
You may not find Connery or Cage, but these youngsters might give them a run for their money. They were having the time of their life climbing this "rock" and swinging down and around.

Skywatch Friday - Sunrise Dawning

Sunrise Dawning

At the dawning of a new day
Bright orange fires the sky
Yesterday is past
And today is the new tomorrow

The tomorrows of today
Are with us as we watch
The tender rays
Unfold
And spread their light and shining glow
Upon the earth

See God's beauty
And His handiwork
Shining through
The birth of a new day.

To see other skies around the world click here.

(Many thanks to all of you for your good wishes - am slowly getting there,☺)

Les Bicyclettes

The wheels of the bikes go round and round
Strolling along the Yarra some weeks ago, seeing this chap and his daughter riding their bikes brought to mind the song by Mireille Mathieu. I remember hearing this on the radio when I was a little girl and the melody always stuck in my mind.

I did my back in again. An old injury has flared up and at present it's lie flat on my back or find a comfortable position on the sofa with plenty of cushions! My time on the computer has been limited, not very comfortable sitting on a kitchen chair. I really must invest in a proper computer chair with back support - ergonomic I believe they're called. I've not been able to visit and see all the wonderful photos as much as I'd like just at the moment, but I'll do my best.
Cheers.

Two Boats

Fancy a cruise?
These two boats are moored on the Yarra. The building is the Brighton Grammar School boatshed.

Weekend Reflections - Curiosity

I see a shop
The Curiousity Shop
What is there?
I cross the road
Peer in the window
The shop is bare.

And then I feel
Disappointment
What was there
What did it sell
Was it clothes or craft
I cannot tell.

For all I see
Is what you see
An empty room
An empty shell.

Click here to see other Weekend Reflections

Continuum

Continuum by Michael Snape (1951 - )
Created in 2005, this impressive artistic work measures 600 x 600 x 1200 cm and stands at the intersection of The Esplanade and Bourke Street along Waterview Walk. Essentially, Continuum is about the dance of life, reflecting the human condition of being alive.

The interconnected figures encircle each other and reach up to the sky, conveying a sense of community, co-operation and wellbeing. The artist was inspired by the Docklands coming to life again, impacting on the community's sense of self and causing "an internal shift: this is the continuum."

Skywatch Friday - Lady Moon

0 Lady Moon, your horns point toward the east;
Shine, be increased:
0 Lady Moon, your horns point toward the west;
Wane, be at rest.

Christina Rossetti (1830-1894)


Click here to view all participants of Skywatch Friday

The Leaning Tower of Glass

The Leaning Glass
Take a walk along Docklands, and in the grounds near Southern Cross Station is this leaning conglomerare of frosted glass and metal with etchings on each 'tier'. What it is nobody knows and try as I might I've not been able to find out from the Melbourne City Council - it isn't listed in their documents.

And so - I wonder about the artist who created it as I look at its smooth, clean lines.

Theme Day - Waiting

Dominic waits for his knee to heal

Walking along busy Puckle Street, I noticed this chap with his leg bandaged and a pair of crutches. His name is Dominic and he tells me he works in the building industry. About 150 lbs of building material came down on him damaging his knee. He explained how he put his hands out when he saw the stuff coming down and had he not done so his knee would have been more severely damaged.

He will be off work until next year. And so he waits patiently for that day to come.
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