Theme Day ~ Zest

Seafood & raw fish with Tobiko (Salmon roe)
Some people have a zest for living, some have a zest for life, and some have a zest for all things fishy...This is Sashimi - thinly sliced, raw food, it is one of the most famous dishes in the Japanese cuisine. The dish above is from Chiba, a local Japanese restaurant.

Sashimi Ingredients
Sashimi is comprised of Maguro (Tuna), Sake (Salmon), Tai (Sea Bream), Saba (Mackerel), Katsuo (Bonito or Skipjack Tuna), Kanpachi (Greater Yellowtail/Amberjack), Buri/Hamachi (Yellowtail or Amberjack), plus Shellfish and Mollusks: Ika (Squid), Tako (Octopus), Amaebi (Shrimp), Hotate (Scallop), Hokkigai (Surf Clam), and Roe and Millet: Ikura (Salmon Roe) and Uni (Sea Urchin).

Did you know.....
That the word sashimi means "pierced body" and dates from the Muromachi period (around 1337 to 1573)? It is thought it was possibly coined when the word "切る = kiru (cut), the culinary step, was considered too inauspicious to be used by anyone other than Samurai!

A Bit of Trivia
There's a restaurant in Tokyo called Zest which prides itself on serving American rugged U.S. Southwest style foods.

Today's quote: What hunger is in relation to food, zest is in relation to life ~ Bertrand Russell.

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Theme Days ~ Squares

The Green, Green Grass of Squares

Above: Urban Garden Amphitheatre.

This is the Urban Garden Amphitheatre;
Lie on the grass, pull up a seat,
Sit for a while, take the weight off your feet.

Surrounded by zinc-clad walls, this homey little snug is down the steps of Federation Square on the corner of Swanston Street and Flinders Street.

Today's quote: I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars ~ Walt Whitman.

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Easter Sunday Lunch

Easter Sunday Lunch at my place with the family - 7 children under 10, screaming, yelling little blighters, food spilt, a delightful mess, drinks tipped over and best of all, those wonderful ear splitting screeches when they don't get their own way. Is there anything more wonderful than the sound of children's voices raised in kiddie warfare? And that's only the children - you should hear the adults! You need either super-sonic hearing to make yourself heard or a loud-speaker to get you point across.

Did you know...

The commercialism of Easter, that in which children collect chocolate Easter eggs, chocolate bunnies, and fancy baskets to put them in is a tradition that stems from the old pagan religions as part of the celebration of spring. They believed eggs represented fertility and rebirth.

The story of the Easter Bunny

Ever wondered how a rabbit came to be associated with Easter? Since ancient times, rabbits have been associated with springtime, It is said the Anglo-Saxon Goddess of Spring, Eostre had a hare as her companion - the hare symbolises fertility and rebirth and much later, Christians changed the symbol of the hare to the Easter bunny. In Germany about 500 years ago, the Easter Hare acted as a judge and determined if the children had been behaving themselves or not. The tale took off from there, in 19th century Germany, eggs were made from pastry and given to good children, today the eggs are chocolate eggs.


The Spirit of Easter
Kindness is the essence of truth, when we are kind toward others it reflects our true self. The Spirit of Easter is about hope, love, and joy. Seeing things with new eyes, a rebirth of starting afresh.

I wish everyone a happy Easter and may your day be filled with love, laughter and merry memories. This is a time when we should remember those less fortunate than ourselves, someone, somewhere, some place, is cold or hungry or lonely and perhaps in some small way we can help make their day a little brighter. It can be as simple as a smile - it costs nothing yet can help make someone's day just a little brighter.

Today's quote: It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow ~ Robert H. Schuller.

Theme Day - Triangles

Le Gâteau de Triangle

Once again we have Theme Day and this month it is triangles, instead of spires, wires and architecture, I give you ~ Le Gâteau de Triangle. Photo taken at a friend's party, and, btw, it tasted as good as it looked!

Above: Le Gâteau de Triangle


Today's quote: A compromise is the art of dividing a cake in such a way that everyone believes he has the biggest piece ~ Ludwig Erhard.

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Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Daoibh - Happy Saint Patrick's Day

Well now, today is Saint Patrick's Day, the day all Irish people and those who wish they were Irish celebrate the wearin' o the green, drink Guinness (made by Arthur Guinness, who founded the brewery in Dublin in 1759) and have a rip snortin' good time.

Above: St Ali Loos Sth Melbourne

Not having a recent photo of one of the many Irish pubs around Melbourne, I searched for all things green and came up with this -

Why is St. Patrick's Day celebrated on the 17th of March? Because that is the date of his death back in 461 Anno Domini. Saint Patrick's Day was made an official Christian feast day in the early seventeenth century and commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland as well as celebrating the heritage and culture of the Irish. I myself have a Shillalah - an Irish walking stick or cudgel, very handy for knocking heads about! I must take a photo and post it up one day.


I leave you with this Irish blessing:

May your days be long and filled with happiness
May your children be many and full of health
And may you live in peace and harmony.
Today's quote: I come from an Irish family. St. Patrick's Day was our big holiday. The night before we'd hang up our stockings and in the morning they'd be full of beer ~ Sean Morey.

Sláinte

Theme Day ~ People on the Street

Anyone for a Beer?

Above: Outside the Leinster Arms

On a sunny Saturday afternoon, what better than sitting outside a local pub downing the amber fluid with a few mates? Convivial conversation, relaxed atmosphere, these blokes have the right idea.

Hidden in the quiet back streets of Collingwood, the Leinster Arms is a well-loved and popular favourite with locals. Built in 1863, it's the only single storey pub ever built in that era and has an "Irish" feel to it.


Today's quote: There's nothing I value more than the closeness of friends and family, a smile as I pass someone on the street - Willie Stargell.


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Theme Day ~ Entry

Grandeur of the 1880's

Above: The Staircase

This is the entrance of the Grand Hotel, Healesville. It is an elaborate hotel designed by the famous architect, William Pitt. With fifty rooms, the large two storey solid brick hotel was built in 1888 for Mr. Edgecombe. The bricks are hand-made and came from the local brick-works of Clarke and Phillipie. It has an unusual French mansard-style roof of curved corrugated iron with protruding attic windows. Originally there was an iron-lace verandah along the front which was removed when the present large brick and concrete Bauhouse-style verandah was constructed during the World War II and the two street facades were cement rendered.

The Grand Hotel is historically significant and is registered with Heritage Victoria.

Today's quote: Look on every exit as being an entrance somewhere else ~ Tom Stoppard.


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Theme Day ~ Photo of the Year

 

Above: Bird on a Rock
Photo taken mid morning at Queen's Park lake.

A bit of trivia
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: No matter how high a bird flies, it has to come down for water ~ Old American
proverb.

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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.

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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.


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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.

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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.