Thursday Thirteen #19 Blind Photography

Over the last couple of days, I have been 'entertaining' a friend of a friend of mine, who had come up from Melbourne, as a photo of his was being exhibited in a competition, Arts Access Australia - Art for people with disabilities. He took out the inaugural, Peoples Choice Award!!

Andrew is vision impaired, and is legally blind. The way he explained it to me was, he has zero sight in his left eye, so close your left eye, now 'squint' your right eye, so as you can only JUST see something about a meter in front of you... that is all the sight he has! Bad hey! So with that in mind, I showed him around, as best we could, some of the Sydney spots for his upcoming work, 'Day is Night' which will be exhibited in August 2013, and here is some of my shots from the two days in Sydney...

1. Woolloomooloo Gate - The Royal Botanic Gardens
   
2. Fort Denison - Sydney harbour
   
3. Kangaroo Paw - Mrs Macquaries Point
   
4. Photographer and his Guide Dog
   
5. Sailing Ship
   
6. 'Talent'
   
7. Sydney Ferries
   
8. Water over Rocks
   
9. Opera House, Harbour Bridge (and a Ferry)
   
10. Light Painting a Photographer
    
11. Sydney CBD by night
    
12. 'Andrew' and the CBD by night
    
13. Sydney Olympic Park - Boulevard
    

Hoo roo for now...

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Wordless Wednesday No. 66 - A night at Harry's

Harry's Cafe de Wheels

Hoo roo for now...

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Saturday happenings...

By looking at my Friday Fill-Ins, you'd think I would have had an easy day... Far from it!!!

The day started with an early 'wake-up call thanks to a neighbours rooster! And yes, they're NOT allowed in a residential area within my LGA! You are allowed to have up to 20 birds, but zero roosters! But I wasn't going to let it get in the way of what had to be done. So I got up, got ready and got madam (Bronty) into the car to head into the city for the 'Bark in the Park'! However, we didn't stay long as my hay-fever started to hit, so we just headed to the beach for a swim (after a brief bit of spotting).

Bronty Plane Spotting

Once home though, I took an anti-histamine and got stuck into doing the lawns. I got my brushcutter out and did the edges, and then the mower... Fueled her up (she's been on her last legs for some time), primed her, and pulled the chord, and that was it, she didn't start nor will she start again! So it was off to Bunnings, with my gift cards ($170) and I got me a brand spanking new Masport 4-stroke mulch mower! AND, a bag of chook manure!

When I got home, I had to fill with oil, easy as, filled it with fuel and it was the easiest mower I have ever started in my 30 years of green keeping!

Lawns done, I got my Karcher pressure cleaner and then cleaned the back veranda which was in dire need of being done! Not content with just that, I then got to doing the spa house, both concrete and the roof!!! It looks as good as new!!!

And finally, look whats in flower again, it my Dracunculus vulgaris!!!

Dracunculus vulgaris

Hoo roo for now...

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Friday Fill-Ins

Friday Fill-Ins; here we go! 

1. Oh, that cat fight this morning, at 1.20am, IN MY BEDROOM, was not at all fun... Stray cat, stop hanging around here, Jasmine doesn't want to be out at night playing and guarding her territory, and nor do I at that time! 
2. It's a sure sign of a hot summer ahead, when yesterday's temperatures (mid 30's), which is uncommon for this time of year...  When it happened, it means we have already had more hot days (so far in October) than ALL of last summer. 
3. Are we having another wet weekend again?? Forecast says no, but, we'll see how it pans out...
4. My heart skipped more than a beat the other day, after driving over the Harbour Bridge and heading for the Gore Hill Freeway, about 80klm, and this car on the exit ramp lane decided to change lanes, I broke (HARD) swerved (thankfully the car next lane, behind, saw what was happening, and I missed the car by millimetres... It would have been a very hard hit, and I would have forced her into the car in-font that she was going around... it would have been very bad! 
5. Do you believe in the saying, 'Good things come to those who wait'? I do, and as I am still waiting, there must be LOTS of good things coming my way! 
6. I'm a semi-reasonable cook, and I love to do a roast... Maybe, a Sunday roast this weekend? 
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to an early night given lack of sleep from 1.20am and attending a funeral this morning, tomorrow my plans include going to 'Bark in the Park' with Bronty, and maybe down to the beach afterwards for a swim and Sunday, I want to get the lawns done again, boring I hear you say and yes, I agree, but I enjoy doing them... There is also the Motor Bike Race from Phillip Island to watch/listen to!

Hoo roo for now...

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Wordless Wednesday No. 65 - A Movable Feast!

Just a few words to explain - if I can? George St here in Sydney, is one of the busiest streets in the CBD. It was closed on Saturday night, for the 'Food Trucks' to be stationed, for the 'Movable Feast'! this was a great concept, but it was far from 'movable' as there was far too many people, it was gridlocked! BUT, it was a great thing to do on a Saturday evening... Now, onto the wordless...

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Sydney Food Trucks

Sydney Food Trucks

Sydney Food Trucks

Sydney Food Trucks

Sydney Food Trucks

Sydney Food Trucks

Movable Feast - Crowd

Movable Feast - DJ

Movable Feast - Movie Screening

Hoo roo for now...

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Friday Fill-Ins!!

And...here we go!

1. I hope I can get all of the 'odd jobs' done around the house on Saturday, as Sunday its the 'Sculptures by the Sea'!
2. What to do when you have to much to do? Head down, bum up and get it done - and this will be my motto for Saturday!
3. Boy I sure did enjoy walking OUT of the office a little while ago for lunch... Its not long NOW until the weekend hits!!! 
4. Remind me to call the Vet's before going away, (touch wood) just in case something happens whilst I am away! 
5. What does the price of fuel have to be, before you 'FILL UP' rather than 'TOP UP'? For me, its all swings and roundabouts, in that I dont wait too much... I will always try and fill up at the bottom of the cycle, but a few times I've been caught out, and its gone up either overnight, or whilst at work! Currently, in Sydney, is it c. $1.55cpl 
6. It makes me happy, hearing about achievements by family and friends, especially those who are turing 3yo over the next month...  
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to an old boys reunion, tomorrow my plans include mowing lawns, washing Bronty, at least two loads of washing/hang on line, dusting, vacuuming, mopping  the house, weeding Rose Garden (Onion Weed) and fertilising the gardens out the front. Weeding/pruning rear garden beds and fertilisng both the Wisteria and Gardenias as with the Murraya hedge and the Clivia's and Sunday, I want to chill out and relax, but alas, would like to go to the 'Sculptures by the Sea' at Bondi and Tamarama Beach!

Hoo roo for now...

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Wordless Wednesday No. 64 - Floriade Canberra

Floriade 2012 - Canberra

Hoo roo for now...

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Thematic Photographic - 'Drink Up'

This time each week, Carmi (Written Inc) has a new 'theme' for his Thematic Photographic... It is, of course, perfectly OK to make it what you want, but in keeping to his theme, I will of course, 'drink up' and here's cheers!

Pink Chandon Bubbles

Rittle Room

These photos were taking one weekend back in 2010, on a trip down to Melbourne for a Swans game. but, our dutiful driver willing to take us out for a day trip for 'bubbles' (and whom am I to argue) out to the Domaine Chandon Winery; a small division of the 'Moet & Chandon' brand since the early 1980's.

So make sure you pay a visit to Written Inc, and see what else is on offer...

Hoo roo for now...

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Floriade 2012 - Canberra

Saturday, we took a drive south, to the National capital, Canberra for this years 'Tulip Time', Floriade...

The drive, in itself, is easy, just over 2.5 hours south along the Hume Highway (Freeway), which now bypasses great towns like Mittagong, Bowral, Goulburn and so on, along the edge of Lake George 25km-long, 10km-wide expanse of water which, when full, looks like a permanent fixture. But as locals know well, it's possible for Lake George to disappear entirely. The large body of water rises and falls seemingly mysteriously, and has done throughout its history.

But, once we arrived into Canberra, we quickly found a spot to park the car, and we entered into the colour that is, 'Floiade'...

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

Hoo roo for now...

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Friday Fill-Ins

And...here we go

1. If I had won Powerball, Lotto or even the Lottery, I will payout the mortgage, stay at work, but organise a wonderful party for my friends! BUT, I also need to buy a ticket!!
2. When I worked in Local Government, I really enjoyed being a Curator of Turf Wickets for Cricket. It is almost Cricket season, and I am wanting to go to a One Day International this year!
3. Why are weekends so short, yet weekdays seem to drag out? I am SO looking forward to the weekend, yet, it is filled with lots of things to do, and certainly NOT enough time to do it all! 
4. Soon I will be travelling to Vietnam... Not sure yet what to expect, and I am sure it will be a good trip! BUT, before to long, it will be time to start planning the trip to Dublin in May, for the European Turf Society, and July to Beijing for the International Turf Society conferences! 
5. Wow! We are having some pretty wild weather around Sydney at the moment, Snow in Goulburn to the South (2 hours), Katoomba and Mount Tomah to the West (1.5 hours) and its forecasted for the Northern Tablelands today sometime! Photos are below...
6. You said that ".
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to once and for all, fixing technology issues on M's laptop, iPhone and contacts, as they are doubling up, tomorrow my plans include driving down to Canberra (2.5-3 hour drive) for Floriade; I just hope that the Tulip blooms are still good and Sunday, I want to finally go shopping for my new pillows!!! I am over these headaches I am getting, and I am putting them down to a bad sleep from incorrect sleeping posture, as I also have a sore neck and right arm!

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Here are some of the photos from Mount Tomah, these photos are not mine, but that of a colleague from work (M Murray)... I will add some more in later, but for now, here are some...

Blue Mountain Botanic Gardens Mount Tomah Blizzard

Blue Mountain Botanic Gardens Mount Tomah Blizzard

Blue Mountain Botanic Gardens Mount Tomah Blizzard

Hoo roo for now...

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