Newnes State Forest Glow Worms and Sunsets

This weekend, being a long weekend (Queens Birthday Weekend), means a lot of people get out of the city for the bush for a bit of camping. I use to do the same, and want to get back into some more camping! BUT, on the weekend, we did two things; one was to go to the HARS (Historical Aviation Restoration Society) on the Saturday, whilst on the Sunday, it was to head to the bush in the Newnes State Forest!

the task for the day, was to visit the Glow Worm tunnel, and to try and get a sunset photo against the sandstone walls behind the Katoomba/Blackheath area! So we drove up to to where the Zig Zag Railway 'TOP Station' was (recently closed operations) and waited for a mate to arrive, before heading into the tunnels! When we arrived, I was SHOCKED to see, SO many cars!! there would have to have been 40-50 cars (mostly 4WD's)! The walk through was, well, 'interesting, as there was a lot of kids, with torches, shining up onto the tunnel where the little glow worms are :(. However, we all saw some on the way through. Upon exiting the tunnel into the 'Valley of the Ferns', everyone seemed amazed at all of the tree ferns!

Valley of the Ferns

Tree Fern

Valley of the Ferns

After walking back through the tunnel, time was running short to where we wanted to get to for the sunset, and whilst driving, the sky didn't look as though we would get anything anyway. As we got closer to the carpark, we decided to head back to the top of a hill, and see what we get. A great decision, as we had all of 10-15 minutes, of which, I was very pleased we got...

Newnes Sunset

Catching the last rays of sunlight

I am SO glad to have turned around…

Hoo roo for now...

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Wordless Wednesday N0. 84 - Autumnal Colour in Winter!

Late Autumnal Colour In Winter

Hoo roo for now...

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Three Sisters - Katoomba

On Sunday, I went for a drive up into the Mountains, the Blue Mountains to the west of Sydney. In some parts of the world, it may seem more of a 'hill' as the overall height isn't really that high!! :p

When we left, it was cool, and VERY wet and the forecast was for it to get wetter (which we heard through social media and the news reports). However, once we got to the top of Glenbrook, the rain seemed to have eased somewhat. I was taking a German friend up into the Glenbrook National Park, and down to Euroka Clearing, as there has almost ALWAYS been a mob of Kangaroo's there when I have been up in the past. That was NOT the case on Sunday, grrr :(, so we continued up to Katoomba to visit the Three Sisters since the weather was easing...

As we climbed up into the Mountains, the cloud base lowered, and by Leura, we were in a thick fog, and this was how it was to be all the way through to Katoomba! We opted for lunch in the main street, and when walking back to the car, it looked to be clearing! So I drove out to the Three Sisters, and thankfully, it was clear as; both weather and visitors! It was though, very cold, and the wind was bitter!

So I took a series of NINE photos, and when we got home (eventually) I ran them through a 'photo-stitch program, edited the panorama, and here is the result (click HERE to see its FULL size (6000 pixels)).

Three Sisters Panorama

Hoo roo for now...

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Wordless Wednesday No. 83 - Vivid Sydney Colouful!

Sydney Harbour Bridge - Vivid Sydney

Sydney Opera House - Vivid Sydney

Sydney Opera House - Vivid Sydney

Sydney Opera House - Vivid Sydney

Sydney Opera House - Vivid Sydney

Pacific Pearl - Vivid Sydney

Pacific Pearl - Vivid Sydney

Sydney harbour Bridge - Vivid Sydney

Hoo roo for now...

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Sydney - by air!

today, I finally got to do a hell-flight over the CBD of Sydney, but it almost didn't eventuate!! A little thing called FOG had set in! It was early, it was think and it hung around!

BUT, I arrived out at Bankstown, and we had to wait a little bit, and constantly checking the webcams for the area. The aircraft, an R44, would be going out at max MTOW as there was four onboard; Pilot flying (training), Pilot Trainer, another learner (who'd later do his first solo) and little ole me!

The planned routing would be departing Bankstown, turning right at Rosehill, then following the Parramatta River, flying over the Southern Pylon of the Sydney harbour Bridge. then onwards to Goat Island near Rose Bay, U turn and back to Bankstown. Along the way, there was some pretty amazing sites, even with the remaining fog about the place!

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney

Sydney Opera House and CBD

'Carnival Spirit' in Circular Quay

Gladesville Bridge

ANZ Stadium - Home of the Sydney 2000 Olympics

I am SO grateful for being given the opportunity of doing this flight, it was a b'day present, and for the pilot flying, who was finishing his endorsement on the day… I had a BALL of a time!

Hoo roo for now...

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Vivid Sydney's back in town!!

Well folks, its THAT time again, when VIVID SYDNEY is back in town, which can only mean one thing.... A WET opening night!! Yes, on Friday night when Vivid opened and turned on the lights, the heavens also opened!

We drove into town and we parked (fairly easily) around near pier one. This is about a 2-3 minute walk around to Dawes Point, right opposite the Sydney Opera House! But, as we were getting out of the car (the camera bags didn't even make it out) it hammered down rain, and I mean HAMMERED! So, we jumped back in, and opted for a short drive up to Observatory Hill and the safety of a rotunda up there! Unfortunately though, we also shared it with a half dozen or so young girls (I won't use the word 'ladies' as not even on a tough building site, have I heard language these 'girls' were using)!

We set up our gear, and got a few shots... Some with clear skies...

Sydney Harbour Bridge - Observatory Hill

Sydney Harbour Bridge - Observatory Hill

And some with the rain falling...

Sydney Harbour Bridge - Observatory Hill

On the Saturday, after moving furniture all day with a mate, we ventured back in for some more photography; this time though, from the Cahill Expressway across Circular Quay. There was a P&O cruise ship there (Pacific Pearl) and this was used as a backdrop - VERY cool!!

We then we ventured further along the pathway and started crossing the Harbour Bridge for Milsons Point. We stopped just past the Southern Pylon, which gave us a pretty nice view of the Opera House. Here is a short video of the Opera House shots I took...

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

I will be going in again during the week, with a mate here in Sydney, a German friend coming back to Sydney (currently in Byron Bay) and who ever wants to go, drop me a comment, email or an SMS and we'll meet up!!

Hoo roo for now...

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Wordless Wednesday No. 82 Afternoon Moon

Afternoon Moon

Hoo roo for now...

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Looking looking looking...

SOME of you may know, that recently, I have been on 'tenterhooks' for the last 18 weeks, well yesterday, it all came to a head… Finally, after 5 weeks since interview, yes thats right FIVE WEEKS, I was told that I was unsuccessful in an application for a position that would have kept me employed. In that time, not a phone call to advise of a delay, not an email to tell us whats happening, no, nothing, which really only added to the stresses of the process!

Now, I DO understand that there is a process involved with recruitment, but the way in which I found out, was, simply atrocious!! I was at my desk, when a person came up into the office, and although this person most likely had NO IDEA I was there, proceeded to tell person 2, that XX had announced that XYZ has got the job! After a couple of seconds silence, I then heard a door close… I was, needless to say, ropable, and I simply wanted to get out of there, there and then! But, I am better than that, and when my Manager came out into the office later on an unrelated matter, I aired my disgust. To the credit of him, he was equally mortified, not only the way in which I discovered the news, but in the way in which it was all handled!

Later in the morning though, I was 'summoned' up into the big office, where I was officially informed of the decision… So, for now, I am still 'viably' employed until everything and everyone is recruited, sometime in July, and at that time, I will become 'excess'! So today, after a sleepless night due to Monday's news, I had a day off to catch up on sleep, not that I got that much.

Instead, I mowed the nature strip first, then my front lawn. next up, the back lawn, and hung out a load of washing, and stripped the bed, and washed the sheets. I then got out some flannelette sheets, as it is getting cooler now!! Late in the afternoon though, I finally managed to get some banking done, but I had to travel to Rooty Hill to deposit some cheques! Dinner is in, a simple pie and baked spuds with peas and gravy. Its an interesting night on the box tonight, so I will simply chill, relax and 'try' not to get stressed anymore!

Hoo roo for now...

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Wordless Wednesday No. 81 My Office

My Office - Upper Level



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In other news, it has been a very busy week... With last weekend being Mother's Day on Saturday, I removed the aged Murraya's from the back garden and replanted some Gardenia's. Sunday, I spent time at mum's in the morning (western edge of Sydney) then over to Christines (eastern edge of Sydney) for lunch! I was tired by the time I got home! Sunday night, whilst watching TV and chilling, I saw an image of mine being used on a show, and not to long after, I was getting messages about it!! Work has been more than a little 'stressful', and I am busy planning my trip to Beijing, and I will more than likely include Prague and Oslo as an extension. Today, I am hoping to have an early night, work stress is exhausting, and then Thursday, nothing major is planned, which is not to say it wont happen either! Friday - I am off on a rec day, so I will not be at work, and I am being taken somewhere for something!! I have no idea what! No doubt, photos will follow... Stay Tuned!

Hoo roo for now...

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Wordless Wednesday No. 80 - Cooks River Sunset

Cooks River Sunset - Sydney

Hoo roo for now...

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