Happy New Year 2014

Wishing you a New year
Which will look as one as one for you
May you be able to walk even though you are drunk

Before starting the new year celebration
Make sure that you are calling a Taxi
To take you home
Happy New Year

 

Today's quote: Let our New Year's resolution be this: we will be there for one another as fellow members of humanity, in the finest sense of the word ~ Goran Persson.

Christmas in Australia

 

Above: On Santa's Knee


Many people when they think of Christmas, picture snow, fires blazing, snowmen built by happy children and happy people skating across the frozen lakes. But here in Australia, there is no snow, there are no fires and there certainly aren't any snowmen or skaters. Here it is the middle of summer, hot desert winds and the threat of bushfires. Most of the Christmas carols we hear are about the Northern Hemisphere - snow, cold etc.

 

Above: Australian Christmas Carol Book

But did you know - there are Australian Christmas carols, not that many perhaps, but we do have a few. One of my favourites is "the Three Drovers". The music and lyrics were both written by e used to sing this at school. Sadly, these Australian Christmas carols aren't played over the loud speakers in shopping centres on or the radio. I learned these when I was in grade 3 or 4 and still have my carol book (pictured above)

Here is my all time favourite Australian Christmas Carol, "The Three Drovers" - a drover is a chap who spends his live droving - moving sheep or cattle over long distances.


Today's quote: Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful ~ Norman Vincent Peale.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

Many years ago, a talented American gent Clement Clarke Moore, wrote a poem about Christmas Eve and how Father Christmas or Santa Claus flies through the sky in a sleigh pulled by eight reindeer and how he lands on the rooftops and comes down the chimneys to leave gifts for children. Little could he have known how popular his poem would become.

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

 

Today's quote: Dear Santa, I already have everything I could possibly wish for this year. Got my family, good friends and LOVE. Please take care of those who need you. THANK YOU!! XX

11.12.13

 

Above: Melbourne Central Clock

Today, Wednesday the 11th of the 12th in the year 2013 is the last time we will see three consecutive numbers line up for 90 years. We will have to wait until 1st February 2103 for the dates to line up again.
The 11th day of the 12th month of the 13th year of the millennium. This is about time, hence I have chosen a timepiece for today's photo. Pity I didn't think to take the photo at 12 minutes past 11!

I am even setting this to post at 11/12/13.

Today's quote: The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time ~ Abraham Lincoln.

Theme Day ~ Looking Out

 

Above: Looking out at the traffic

Coming back from brunch one Sunday afternoon across town, I took the 'tourist' drive through pastoral hills and greenery, the Chandler Highway aka Tourist Drive 2. Traffic was at a standstill - approaching this bridge, I realised why. Half the bridge was blocked due to emergency road work around an electricity pole at the other end. What was a two lane bridge was now a one lane bridge - workman holding a "Stop" sign stood to direct one way of traffic. Looking out the side mirror to see the traffic build-up behind me, I took this photo. The iron bridge crosses the Yarra River in the Kew/Alphington area.

Edit: Many thanks to Andrew of High Riser for pointing out an error. The bridge is called the Chandler Bridge and the building of it was originally completed in 1891. To avoid confusion, I have removed the incorrect data which was in the original post.


Today's quote: Where ever I am I always find myself looking out the window wishing I was somewhere else ~ Angelina Jolie.

To see other participants of Theme Day, visit the City Daily Photo portal.

Playground Bridge

 

Above: Activity and viewing deck bridge
This fantastic bridge runs the length of Markham Reserve Playground and is an activity and viewing deck. You can see the four zones into which the playground is designed - toddlers, juniors, seniors and an active area. The bridge may not look fancy but it sure is a lot of fun.


Click here to see other Sunday bridges.

Today's quote: Let every man praise the bridge that carries him over ~ English proverb.

The Laughing Kookaburras

 

Above: Kookaburras
The kookaburra is native to Australia and New Guinea and is one of my favourite birds because of their unmistakable laugh. When you hear them, it brings a smile to your face and you feel like laughing with them. Tree kingfishers, they're a large bird growing 28–42 cm (11 to 17 inches). Aborigines of the Wiradjuri group called these birds guuguubarra - the English word kookaburra comes from that. The above photo was taken in a childrens' playground.

Kookaburra sits on the old gum tree,
Merry merry king of the bush is he.
Laugh, Kookaburra, laugh, Kookaburra,
Gay your life must be!

The above words were penned by Marion Sinclair in 1932 and is a well known and much loved children's song..

Click the video to hear the laughter.


Today's quote: As I stood on the lonely backroad, I'm sure I heard birds, kookaburras, laughing ... Steven Herrick

Remembrance Day 2013

The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month

Remembrance Day (also known as Armistice Day or Poppy Day) is the day we remember those who sacrificed their lives so we may be free. Across Australia hundreds of memorial services around the country are held at 11 o'clock when a minute's silence is observed. The trams in Melbourne stop, the radio station goes quiet while the bugler plays "The Last Post" It is a poignant time standing at the war memorial in respectful silence. Wreaths are laid, poppies are worn. The "Flanders" poppy. For me, both Remembrance Day and ANZAC Day are profoundly moving as we reflect on the terrible tragedy of human suffering and loss.

The Great War as it was once called may have occurred almost a century ago, but it is important we remember, for the sake of the future.

 

Above: Remembrance Day service at my local RSL


FLANDERS FIELDS
In Flanders fields the poppies blow,
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place, and in the sky,
The larks, still bravely singing, fly.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
 
John McCrae, May 1915.

I made this video for Remembrance Day 2013.


Today's quote: I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its stupidity ~ Dwight D. Eisenhower, Jan. 10, 1946.

Queen's Birthday

Today is the Queen's Birthday in Australia, (except in Western Australia where it is celebrated at the end of September/beginning of October) or rather the public holiday for it is. On an English website I read her actual birthday is in April, but the weather is better in June! Because in the Northern Hemisphere the season is summer. Forget about Australia - down here it's winter and cold. Anyway, being a public holiday and being a Monday, means a long weekend. (You know three days off)

I tried to come up with something that would tie in with this, something to do with queens and came up with the following -

Queen Victoria Market
(Well, it was named after a queen)

 

Above: The famous front sign

A Crown
All queens need a crown.

 

Above: A crown fit for a queen


Postage stamps and More

 

Above: Postage stamps and Currency
If you are a Queen, you get to have your face on a postage stamp. And money. Not bad eh?


Queen Victoria

 

Above: Drawing of Queen Victoria
I do think Queen Victoria had one of the most recognisable faces in the world, don't you? She always looked like she was smelling something nasty!


Today's quote: It's all to do with the training: you can do a lot if you're properly trained ~ Queen Elizabeth II

Weekend Reflections ~ Priscilla Jones

Take a look at the Joneses.

 

Above: Thru the Jones's window
Priscilla Jones cafe at the Gasworks Art Precinct in Albert Park has high quality and delicious foods as my non-existent waistline will testify. From Priscilla’s Quinoa Granola to Croque Monsieur to Sweets n’ Treats like Grandma Jones’ famous Almond Bread, it's as though you have stepped back in time. I took this photo after Sunday brunch recently.

Click here to see other Weekend Reflection participants

Today's quote: We don't have to keep up with the Joneses - we are the Joneses.

The Red Umbrella

 

Above: The Red Umbrella
I spotted this on the upper level on the back of a building in one of the little laneways that Melbourne is famous for. It reminds me of a 20th century Mary Poppins - remember how Mary Poppins held her umbrella high and flew up over the treetops? Well it almost seems as if these two are about to do the same. One of the things I find so endearing about this sketch, is the look of love on the mother's face as she looks at the child and the look of trust on the boy as he looks back.

Today's quote: Until the sun comes out again for you, my umbrella is big enough for two ~ Author unknown

Dogs - with Attitude

 

Above: Priscilla
Doesn't the expression just say "Princess Poodle"?
This amazing sculpture was created by Janette MacGregor and was part of her art show "The Quirky Side of Life" at the Gasworks Arts Park in March this year.

She used a gutter wire armature which she sewed together then used shredded paper to make a professional papier mache mixture to build the body. Janette then embellished it with imported tiles, paint, glass eyes and false eyelashes on the poodle which was a gift from her makeup artist daughter and mirror tiles on the poodle. The dog is life size.


Today's quote: They're not poodles, they're art ~ Rachael Leigh.

Theme Day ~ The Beauty of Decay

 

Above: Animal, Vegetable, Mineral
The rusty bolt and dead dragonfly were on the old timber ledge of my carport. Even in death, the dragonfly is beautiful to behold with its lacy transparent wings. This is Hemianax papuensis - Australian Emperor.

 

Above: Australian Emperor
Close up of the dragonfly. If you look carefully, you will see the front legs are reminiscent of holding one's head in one's hands.


Today's quote: I have always looked upon decay as being just as wonderful and rich an expression of life as growth ~ Henry Miller.

To see other theme day contributions, click here.

Miss Marple's

 

Above: Miss Marple's Tea Room
You could be forgiven for thinking you were in the English countryside of a quaint English village. With it's old English architecture, this lovely old building is the epitome of Englishness. Located in Sassafras in the beautiful Dandenong Ranges, the tea room was inspired by Agatha Christie's delightful character Miss Marple.

The local tea room in the quaint old English village of St. Mary Mead was the gathering place for all the local identities. It was a hotbed of gossip, and to anyone of an enquiring mind, like Miss Marple, it was a constant source of useful information. It was Miss Marple's shrewd powers of observation that enabled her to solve many a dastardly crime (read murder). Crimes always reminded her of a parallel incident you see and she had the remarkable ability to latch onto a casual comment and connect it to the case at hand. According to Miss Marple, "Everybody is very much alike, really. But fortunately, perhaps, they don't realise it."

Today's quote: Love and scandal are the best sweeteners of tea ~ Henry Fielding.

I'm Watching You

 

Above: Forgotten
Strolling through Gasworks Park I espied this forlorn pair of sunglasses sitting on a tree trunk ..... waiting.


Today's quote: The only thing faster than the speed of thought is the speed of forgetfulness. Good thing we have other people to help us remember ~ Vera Nazarian.

Water Towers

 

Above: Queen's Park fountain
Queen's Park in the suburb of Moonee Ponds and is a small retreat from nearby busy streets. Early travellers heading for the goldfields met here because fresh water was available in the lagoon. Burke and Wills camped here on their fateful journey to cross Australia.


Today's quote: That which the fountain sends forth returns again to the fountain ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Click here to see other weekend reflections

The Spires

 

Above: The spires of St. Patrick's Cathedral

St Patrick’s is one of the worlds most elegant and inspiring neo-gothic Cathedrals. This bluestone/sandstone gothic revival cathedral was designed by William Wardell. It was built in stages from 1858 to 1940, when the spires were added. Saint Pat's as it is fondly called, was accorded the title "Minor Basilica" in 1973 and is on the corner of Gisborne Street and Cathedral Place, East Melbourne.


Today's quote: I never weary of great churches. It is my favorite kind of mountain scenery. Mankind was never so happily inspired as when it made a cathedral ~ Robert Louis Stevenson.

Yellow & Black ~ The e.Bar

 

Above: The e.bar
This is the e.bar of the Old England Hotel in Heidelberg which first opened in 1848. One of the dining areas in the Hotel, the e.bar is a casual bar with a covered and heated outdoor area, inexpensive meals, beer and cider on tap, and Trivia every Tuesday night.
I was standing on the balcony when I took this photo. The double story red brick building you see reflected is the Masonic Hall which is opposite the Hotel.

Today's quote: Few things are more pleasant than a village graced with a good church, a good priest and a good pub ~ John Hillaby


Click here to see other weekend reflection participants.

Theme Day ~ Creative Artisan

 

Above: Artist at work

Walking to the St. Kilda Esplanade Market one Sunday afternoon, I was fortunate to see some of our wonderful street artists practising their craft. I love the colours and motion of this artwork and on asking the artist permission to take a photo, he answered, "Yes, but not my face" to which I dutifully complied.

Street art (or graffiti) is art, but specifically visual art - it is not something you go to a museum or gallery to look at, it just is. It is for the joy of the passerby, the flaneur taking a constitutional, for anyone and everybody. It makes you think about what you are seeing, what the artist is saying, in short, street art is an Art in itself and should be encouraged by councils and governments alike.

To see other theme day photos click here.


Today's quote: "Graffiti is one of the few tools you have if you have almost nothing. And even if you don’t come up with a picture to cure world poverty you can make someone smile while they’re having a p-ss." ~ Banksy

Theme Day ~ Pedestrians Crossing

 

Above: Best foot forward - Crossing over to Fed Square
While in the city one weekday morning, I spotted this group of school children led by their teacher, crossing the footpath and mounting the steps of Federatioon Square. In the background is the iconic Flinders Street Station. What I find most endearing is the girls' tunics - they haven't changed since I went to school. Good to see some things are "ageless."

Click here to see other theme days around the world.


Today's quote: Restore human legs as a means of travel. Pedestrians rely on food for fuel and need no special parking facilities ~ Lewis Mumford.

Theme Day ~ Cafe Chairs

 

Above: Trendy Seating
Strolling along Southbank one morning checking out the cafes, I was struck by the brilliance of these cafe chairs. A riot of colour - so colourful even on a winter's day, they add a splash of gorgeousness.

To see other them days photos click here.


Today's quote: There were around 64 chairs set up, and they had part of those indoors, but most of them were outside on the patio and under tents ~ Barbara Rollins

Holy Cow !

 

Above: Cow up a Tree
This striking and unusual art created by John Kelly was originally installed at Docklands in February 2001, and later dismantled and stored so that construction works to lower the wharf could be undertaken. It was then reinstalled in 2003.

This iconic sculpture is made of five tonnes on patinated bronze and is eight metres high. You may think the sight of a cow stuck up a tree rather curious and surreal but the absurd vision of a cow being stuck up a tree is based on reality. The inspiration comes from the Australian landscape and a water based theme. Australian floods are often violent and it is not unknown for cattle to be swept into trees whilst floods are ascending only to be stranded once they subside. The artist witnessed this occurring in the Gippsland area of Victoria.


Today's quote: I gotta go Julia, we got cows ~ Melissa in Twister

Bricks and Breeks

 

Above: Gentlemen must be Properly Attired

So readeth the sign on the wall of one of Melbourne's inner city pubs. So remember Gentil Hommes, next time you think to enter and quench your thirst with a good, cold ale, be sure your satin knee breeches fit snugly and are in accordance with your matching westkit, your frockcoat buttons polished, your kid leather shoes with low wood stack heels and embossed steel buckles in good condition and your tricorne at the correct angle.


Today's quote: Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society ~ Mark Twain.

Weekend Reflections

 

Above: Through the window glass

In a lovely old Victorian terrace in Collingwood with a pale yellow facade is Mezina Cafe. One of my favourite places to spend a Saturday afternoon indulging in good coffee people=watching while sitting under one of the outdoor umbrellas.


Today's quote: People everywhere love windows ~ Bill Gates.


Link to Weekend Reflections

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP4-24

 

Above: Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP4-24

Care for a ride? Can you imagine whizzing around in this snazzy little model? Wow - not exactly the car you'd nip to the shops and back is it? But then again, think of the heads you'd turn taking this little baby to the supermarket, or better still going through one of those McDonald's drive throughs to order your burger...


The Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 had a Mercedes FO108W V8 engine and was driven by Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainenin. The Australian Grand Prix that year was held on29 March (2009) at the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne and was the first race of the 2009 Formula One season.


Today's quote: "The only difference between men and boys is the price of their toys" ~ my Mother.

Elephants and Parasols

 

Above: Paper Parasol

At the So Frenchy So Chic 2013 festival in the grounds of Werribee mansion, I spotted this lovely parasol. Made from paper with bamboo frame, it looks so elegant with its grey elephants gaily around the circumference sporting pink hued flowers in between.
The perfect parasol for a warm, sunny day.


Today's quote: “Of doues I haue a dainty paire Which, when you please to take the aier, About your head shall gently houer, Your cleere browe from the sunne to couer, And with their nimble wings shall fan you That neither cold nor heate shall tan you, And like umbrellas, with their feathers Sheeld you in all sorts of weathers.” ~ Michael Drayton

Black Saturday - 4th Anniversary

 

Above: Black Saturday Bushfires

Today is the fourth anniversary of the Black Saturday bushfires. On Saturday 7th February, 2009, my state, the state of Victoria burned. There had been bushfires burning but this day was the worst in Australian history with the largest loss of life - 173 people lost their life and 414 were injured due to the fires.

I remember that day clearly - early in the morning, the sun was a bright orange ball and we knew that that day would be terrible. the temperatures in Melbourne were 46.4ºC (115.52ºF) and in other areas it was 49ºC - (120.2ºF). The hot northerlies raged through my state with speeds of 80-100km. - the wind was ferocious, when I stood on my verandah it was 48º - in the shade and the wind was so hot it burnt our legs. You could hear it howling and there was a noise in the distance - a thunderous, rumbling noise - it sounded like huge jets, only there were no jets. I have never heard winds like that before, and I hoped to God I never hear them again. It was a most awful, awful sound. And it went on for hours.

Black Saturday was Victoria's darkest nightmare and the worst in our history.


Today's quote: It quickly swelled into the shape of a gigantic question mark, the middle of which was a vivid crimson, and as this thunderhead-like column billowed upward through the sky, she could see a red ball of fire at its core ~ Hiroyuki Agawa.

Luna Park

 

Above: The Entrance
Luna Park is one of the places children always wanted to go. It is an amusement park - the first built in Australia and opened to the public on 13 December 1912. There were rides, fun and hot chips and cream waffles. The biggest (and scariest) ride when I was a child was the Big Dipper - a train ride with ups and downs in a hilly, tortuous heart-stopping ride of a lifetime. You'd scream with terror as the train car rested ever so slightly at the top of a "hill" before it went crashing down at furious speed to the bottom. Then it started all over again. Sadly, the Big Dipper was demolished in 1989 in anticipation of a new large roller coaster which never eventuated.
Inside this was the Scenic Railway, similar to its big brother (the Big Dipper) but it wasn't as scary as the ups and downs were gentler. My mum would only go on this, but dad took me on the big one.

The Giggle Palace was another favourite which unfortunately was destroyed in a fire in 1982. I always loved going to Luna Park and enjoyed the River Caves, the Ghost Train, and the Rotor.

 

Today's quote: Life is like a roller coaster, it has its ups and downs...

The Westgate Bridge

 

Above: The Westgate Bridge
Spanning the Yarra River, just north of its mouth into Port Phillip, the West Gate Bridge links the inner city and Melbourne's western suburbs with the industrial suburbs in the west and with the city of Geelong which is 80kms to the south-west. With its height above the water at 58m, the main river span is 336 m, and the total length of the bridge is 2,582.6 metres.

The Collapse of the Bridge
Two years into its construction on 15 October 1970, just before 12 noon the bridge collapsed, killing 35 construction workers. Many of those who perished were on their lunch break beneath the structure in workers' huts, which were crushed by the falling span. Others were working on and inside the girder when it fell. The whole 2,000-tonne mass plummeted into the Yarra River mud with an explosion of gas, dust and mangled metal that shook buildings hundreds of metres away. Homes were spattered with flying mud. The roar of the impact, the explosion, and the fire that followed, could be clearly heard over 20 km away.

In 1972 construction resumed and the bridge was completed in 1978. After 10 years of construction, the bridge, a part of the larger West Gate Freeway, cost $202 million. The bridge opened to the public on 16 November 1978 and it was tolled until 15 November 1985. When it first opened, everybody went across it at least once just to see what it was like and to say they'd been.



Today's quote: “Let every man praise the bridge that carries him over” ~ English proverb.

The Cruise Boat

 

Above: The M.Y. Challenger
This stunning vessel was once a gentleman's private yacht - now it cruises along the waters of Port Philip Bay where the passengers partake of Sunday Brunch. Sipping a French Champagne while on the upper front deck on a warm Sunday with blue, sunny skies is a lovely way to loll away a couple of hours. And best of all - parking is free on Sundays!

Today's quote: Yachts are the closest a commoner can get to sovereignty. ~ Charles Simonyi.