Theme Day: The Beauty of Simplicity

Strawberries &  Ice-Cream

Delicious doesn't have to mean fancy - what could be more delectable than a good old-fashioned bowl of strawberries and vanilla ice-cream?

Today's quote: It is the sweet, simple things in life which are the real ones after all ~ Laura Ingalls Wilder


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Happy Easter and Chag Pesach Sameach

Happy Easter and Chag Pesach Sameach to everyone. May your day be filled with peace, hope and love. Wherever you are, have a smile on your face, a twinkle in your eye and a friend to share it with.

With all the trouble in various parts of the world today, this is a good time to reflect on what is important. Too often, there are people who think only of themselves and try to force their views on others, be it religious or otherwise. Instead of creating misery caused by hatred, if we can all live together and show respect for those who are different, those who have different beliefs, those who speak a different language, this world of ours would be a better place in which to live.
It is not what we say or what we think, it is what we do that defines us.

I am the Resurrection and the Life

Today's quote: God loves each of us as if there were only one of us. ~ Saint Augustine.

Theme Day - Landmark

Above: Flinders Street Station

Easily the most recognisable of Melbourne's landmarks is Flinders Street Station on the corner of Swanston and Flinders Streets. This grand old Edwardian baroque building of red brick and golden cream stucco was built between 1905 and 1910 after winning an architectural competition held in 1902.

When going into "Town" this was where people met up - "Meet me under the clocks" was the catchphrase of friends, lovers and sweethearts. It was everyone's favourite meeting place.

Flinders Street Station is Australia’s oldest train station and the busiest suburban railway station in the southern hemisphere. Over 1500 trains and 110,000 commuters pass through each day. It is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register, and the 708-metre main platform is the fourth longest railway platform in the world

Today's quote: As a child I found railway stations exciting, mysterious and even beautiful, as indeed they often were ~ Paul Johnson.

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Lightning Lashes Melbourne

From an early morning storm which began at 1.40 am this morning, Melbourne's skies were lit an eerie glowing pink. As the thunder rolled, the lightning cracked, you could be forgiven for thinking you were facing your personnel Armageddon. Wild storms lashed Melbourne leaving devastation in its wake. Many homes are still without power, the trains weren't running, the Monash was like a snail's pace, the Tulla was at a standstill, and the highways were almost as still as a corpse, and the Kew cemetery was on fire caused by gum trees being struck by lightning. I wonder how many bosses today have received a call saying, "Can't get to work today, got struck by lightning."? Below are some pics of our skies today.

Above: Melbourne 27 October 2014. 6.59am. Photo: Marc Taylor

Above: Lightning seen from Templestowe Lower (East of Melbourne) photo: David Swann

Above: Storms over Melbourne CBD. photo: Ian Ranson

Above: Lightning in Coburg (north of Melbourne). photo: Jason Edwards

Above: Lightning Bolt on the Bay. photo: Donna Bauer

Above: Dudley Street underpass at 8.52am. photo: Stephen Skilbeck

Above: Commuters experience delays after wild weather lashes Melbourne. photo: Nicole Garmston

Above: Gum trees on fire at Kew cemetery. At least nobody there will die in the fire. photo: Michael Filgate


Today's quote: The reason lightning doesn't strike twice in the same place is that the same place isn't there the second time ~ Willie Tyler

Talk Like a Pirate Day

Avast ye, matey! - it's that time o' year again - t' day when people around t' world suddenly break out into unintelligible words an phrases. September 19 be "Talk like a pirate day" and this young fellow be all dressed up for t' part. ’Tis time to flap yer jaws like a buccaneer.

Above: Captain Blood

A few words and phrases to help you with yer pirate speak:
Shiver me timbers and binnacle me barnacles,
Hornswaggle .... Thar she blows! .....

"Fifteen men on the dead man's chest--
...Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!
Drink and the devil had done for the rest--
...Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!"

The archetypal pirate grunt is Arrrr - remember to rrrroll your 'r's

How did it start?
International Talk Like a Pirate Day (ITLAPD, September 19) was created in 1995 by John Baur (Ol' Chumbucket) and Mark Summers (Cap'n Slappy) of Albany, Oregon.

Above: Cap'n Slappy and Ol' Chumbucket

It is said the day came about as the result of an injury playing sport. During a game of racquetball between the two (Summers and Baur), one of them reacted to the pain from an injury with an outburst of "Aaarrr!", and the idea was born. They sent a letter to columnist Dave Barry in 2002 who rather liked the idea and promoted it. It is now celebrated internationally.

Above: The Jolly Roger

Today's quote: Pirate Law: Dousing oneself in beer is a perfectly acceptable replacement for a shower.

And finally, How do you know if you are a pirate? You just "Arrrrrrrr"...

Theme Day ~ Rust and Ruin

The Lonely Chimney

Above: The ruins of a home

This is all that remained of a home burnt in a devastating bushfire - everything was gone except for the chimney which was still standing, a rusty pipe and some twisted metal.

Today's quote: People need to be cautious because anything built by man can be destroyed by Mother Nature ~ Russel L. Honoré

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Melbourne ~ World's most liveble city ...again!

For the fourth time in a row, my city (Melbourne) has been named the world's most liveable city. Melbourne outperformed 139 cities to top the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Survey and achieved a perfect score in healthcare, education, sport and infrastructure. That's something to be proud of.

The scores are calculated by assigning every city a rating across categories including stability, healthcare, education, infrastructure and culture and environment.

Our Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said he was proud that Melbourne had received the top honour. “To be named the world’s most liveable city for four consecutive years is a great honour and a testament to the enviable lifestyle that Melbourne’s offers,”

I have selected a few photos of Melbourne showing different aspects of the city.

Above: The Yarra River

Above: Flinders Street Station

Above: One of Melbourne's trams

Above: Public art - "Cow Up a Tree"

Above: Playground at Birrarung Marr

Above: Dennis Lillee (one of our greatest fast bowlers) at the MCG

Above: Melbourne cottages

Above: The Blowhole

Above: Seafarers Bridge


Today's quote: To misquote Dr Johnson, if you're tired of Melbourne, you're tired of life.

Second quote: Cities are the greatest creations of humanity ~ Daniel Libeskind.