photo a Day Challenge - Day 23 Something Old

Ok, this is going to be a little series of photos, but it all is something old, just a story about its renewal!!

You see, we have an old house. It was built in 1927. We purchased it though in 2005, and quickly removed the Liquidamber out the front. They are on Council's list of 'undesirable' trees!

Front Tree

Here in the second shot, you will see how the Frangipani has grown, the brickwork has been repointed AND tuck pointed (L would love it...). It is a similar angle to the shot above, although sans Liquidamber!

Garage Bay Window

And this last shot, taken on Saturday when I pulled out ALL stops to get gardens done to go out on Sunday. Lawns mowed looks good, right??

Something Old

Hoo roo for now...

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Photo a Day Challenge - Day 22 Your Shoes

The other day, I went out shopping for a couple of new tee's... I went to Kmart and Target, but by the end of the 'quick trip', I came out with 2 x pairs of jeans; 2 x tee shirts and a new pair of shoes!!

Your shoes

Not bad for a quick shopping trip hey!

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Happy Birthday to the other 'B' as well, as I went to his party and had a great time. It was a small interment party, but it was fun all the same...

Hoo roo for now...

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Photo a Day Challenge - Day 21 Reflection

OK, I will be straight up, I cheated (badly) on this one! I had no time today to set-up a shot I had thought of doing, so, I've had to resort to cheating using a fancy little iPhone app called "Water Photo". Its simple to use in that you can either take a photo OR use a photo, and it will make it look like the subject is beside a water... Its pretty impressive, no?

Reflective Lyre

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In other news, tonight I celebrated the other B's b'day in 'The Shed'! It was a great night, catching up with some of his old school friends whom I've not seen in a while. Happy Birthday B!!!

Hoo roo for now...

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Photo a Day Challenge - Day 20 Someone you Love

Just because you're not here anymore, doesn't mean I love you any less...

Louise Wedding Day

Hoo roo for now...

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Photo a Day Challenge - Day 19 Sweet

Running a little behind, apologies.. But for the 'sweet' photo, I could have done lollies, cakes, desserts etc, but I also wanted to do something a little different. So I looked back into my photo collection for a specific flower thats in the garden, in fact, there's two specimens! The Brugmansia spp (Wiki link, so don't take it as gospel...)! My old Director at work, has recently re-wrote the app, and I think it is published now, I must ask him next time I see him!

Out the back, there is a single apricot coloured bush, that stands around 3m tall and equally round. When its out in bloom, it has the sweetest scent coming off it, wafting down into the rear living area and kitchen, whilst in the front yard, there is a double white one, which is equally as strong scented. the beauty of these though, is that they are at their strongest at night, which is good when in the spa you can smell it, and in bed at night, its wonderful!

Brugmansia

HOWEVER, it does also have a danger about it, as it is toxic...

All parts of Brugmansia are poisonous, with the seeds and leaves being especially dangerous. Brugmansia are rich in Scopolomine (hyoscine), hyoscyamine, and several other tropane alkaloids. Effects of ingestion can include paralysis of smooth muscles, confusion, tachycardia, dry mouth, diarrhea, migrane headaches, visual and auditory hallucinations, mydriasis, rapid onset cycloplegia, and death.

The hallucinogenic effects of Brugmansia were described in the journal Pathology as "terrifying rather than pleasurable".^[25] The author Christina Pratt, in An Encyclopedia of Shamanism say that "Brugmansia induces a powerful trance with violent and unpleasant effects, sickening afteraffects, and at times temporary insanity". These hallucinations are often characterized by complete loss of awareness that one is hallucinating, disconnection from reality, and amnesia of the episode; such as one example reported in Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience of a young man who amputated his own penis and tongue after drinking only 1 cup of Brugmansia tea. The Swiss naturalist and explorer, Johann von Tschudi, described the effects of Brugmansia ingestion on one individual in Peru:

Soon after drinking the Tonga, the man fell into a dull brooding, he stared vacantly at the ground, his mouth was closed firmly, almost convulsively and his nostrils were flared. Cold sweat covered his forehead. He was deathly pale. The jugular veins on his throat were swollen as large as a finger and he was wheezing as his chest rose and sank slowly. His arms hung down stiffly by his body. Then his eyes misted over and filled with huge tears and his lips twitched convulsively for a brief moment. His carotids were visibly beating, his respiration increased and his extremities twitched and shuddered of their own accord. This condition would have lasted about a quarter of an hour, then all these actions increased in intensity. His eyes were now dry but had become bright red and rolled about wildly in their sockets and all his facial muscles were horribly distorted. A thick white foam leaked out between his half open lips. The pulses on his forehead and throat were beating too fast to be counted. His breathing was short, extraordinarily fast and did not seem to lift the chest, which was visibly fibrillating. A mass of sticky sweat covered his whole body which continued to be shaken by the most dreadful convulsions. His limbs were hideously contorted. He alternated between murmuring quietly and incomprehensibly and uttering loud, heart-rending shrieks, howling dully and moaning and groaning.

Some municipalities prohibit the purchase, sale, or cultivation of Brugmansia plants.

In 1994, 112 teenagers were admitted to hospitals from ingesting Brugmansia in Florida alone. The concentration of alkaloids in all parts of the plant differ markedly. They even vary with the seasons and the level of hydration, so it is nearly impossible to determine a safe level of alkaloid exposure.

So there you have it, sweet!!

Hoo roo for now...

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Photo a Day Challenge - Day 18 Something you Bought

I wanted to post something that I may have bought today... But I had no purchases today... I thought about what I had bought recently, fuel... Boring... I've posted the bike before, so didn't want to do that again... So I had a look through my flickr account for some inspiration. I also wanted to post something I had not posted before...

So here it is. I was in Madrid (2009), it was late evening and I was, you guessed it, hungry, so I had some dinner... And, when in Spain, what else could you order other than...

Madrid Paella

Hoo roo for now...

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Photo a Day Challenge - Day 17 Water

February 2009, I had the opportunity to visit Doha Qatar for a job interview. At the time, L was back at home doing the injections for the last session of IVF... I normally gave her the injections, and she was having particular difficulty self-injecting!

One of the highlights of the visit, was a visit to the Villaggio Shopping Mall, which was next-door to where I would've been working! It is a typical shopping mall, right? NO! It had some very high-end stores, and it also had a Venetian style canal inside

Villaggio Shopping Centre Canal II

NOT to mention, an Ice Rink (frozen Water)

Villaggio Ice Rink

Hoo roo for now...

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Photo a Day Challenge - Day 16 Morning

I want to share a photo that was a FIRST for me... Airport/Aircraft SNOW!!!

VQ-BHL (A320) Sitting in snow at SVO airport

This is how I arrived into Sheremetyevo from London Heathrow! It was roughly 6.30am, and the sun didn't rise until WELL into the morning either! It was quite pleasing to the eye seeing this, as well as very strange as we don't get to see this in Sydney, or Australia for that matter! Come to think of it, I'm not even sure if we have de-icing equipment here at all!!! I shall have to have a look see next time I'm in Melbourne in winter!

Hoo roo for now...

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Photo a Day Challenge - Day 15 Happiness

I was pondering about this one, post a photo of me, happy, or of something I take pleasure from... OR, post a photo of someone who's obviously happy... But instead, I thought I would post a photo (or two) of some of the pets that are happy.

First up, we have poor old Macc... Here he is but a pup, but he looks happy!

Happy Macc

Next, is Bronty... She's always happy to see me when I get home from work, or if I've been out! It doesn't last long though, as when she comes in and onto her bed, she's happily sleeping!!

Bronty

Hoo roo for now...

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Photo a Day Challenge - Day 14 Something you're Reading

I'm currently reading "We need to talk about Kevin". It is difficult reading in that it is in the 'third person' and the author has styled it in a 'letters' format to the father of their son (who's in a prison for mass murder)!

We need to talk about Kevin

I got this in London recently, and was reading whilst waiting for flights and communicating back home via 'Whats App' and SMS/Facebook... The later, communication, was a welcomed distraction due to the difficult style this book is in. BUT, having said that, it is a very good read!

Hoo roo for now...

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Photo a Day Challenge - Day 13 In Your Bag

Well, I don't have a bag, so i could post nothing! But, instead (looking through the archives) I will post Ngong Ping's ONLY Plastic Bag, as its a plastic bag FREE village!!

Ngong Ping Village ONLY Plastic Bags

Well done Ngong Ping!

Hoo roo for now...

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Photo a Day Challenge - Day 12 Close Up

I thought I would post something a little different today, I mean I could have posted one of the many macro's I have, but when looking through my photos, pondering what to post, I knew I had something from a trip to the Tramway Museum at Loftus. Here is the track that runs into the Royal National Park, it use to have mainline trains running along it, but thats long gone... Kind of sad really to not have the RNP serviced by Cityrail...

Tram Rail and Leaves

Hoo roo for now...

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Photo a Day Challenge - Day 11 Where you Sleep

About 18 months ago, I decided to get a new bed, both mattress and bed frame itself... The bed we had was already several years old, and I thought it time (now being by myself) it was time to renew..

I found a really nice bed frame (bed-head & bed-end) on eBay, whilst I did a great deal on a new mattress. The only problem with it all is that its LUCKY I am tall as when I sit on the mattress, my feet are NOWHERE near the floor!!!

New Bed Mattress

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In other news, today was my first day back at work after 3.5 months off work. There was/is a bit to catch-up on, but there was also a few emails that simply got sent straight to the trash bin!! But I got a fair amount of it sorted!

Tomorrow, is another day... Its also a 20/20 day!!

Hoo roo for now...

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Photo a Day Challenge - Day 10 Childhood

I looked and looked for most of the morning for some photos I had from growing up - all to no avail... I searched my networked hard drive, my desktop PC, nothing. I looked out in the garage as I thought I had an album, but NO, nothing, so I think they must still be with mum! But, I had a thought I had one in FB, so when I looked, BINGO, I found one!

Childhood

By the looks of it, and given my arm is in a cast, I think I was c. 14. I think I had broken my arm (if memory serves me right, it was a 'green stick' fracture up the fibular) out on a camp I was on. I wished I had a better haircut though on this day, but I do honestly think it was wind blown though!!! Oh the memories...

Hoo roo for now...

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Photo a Day Challenge - Day 9 Daily Routine

I really pondered over this one, as there really in no set routine! I mean there ARE some things which I won't mention for obvious reasons, but it really is more of a 'see how it goes' sort of thing! The only other thing I can think of is feeding the pets morning and night - a cup of kibble for Bronty whilst Jasmine gets a scoop of dry morning/night and a pouch of wet food night time only! Hardly photo worthy I think!

Paste on Brush

So there you have it, about one of the only things that IS part of a fixed, daily routine, brushing my teeth!!

Hoo roo for now...

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Photo a Day Challenge - Day 8 Your Sky

This is a belated post, of which day entries will be corrected, but I inadvertently forgot this day - Your Sky. Having said that, and to confuse you a little, here is what the sky will look like in the future on Wednesday 11th Jan whilst at the 20/20 Big Bash, where I will predict Sydney Thunder will get thrashed by the Perth Schorchers!

>br>Cricket Sky

Hoo roo for now...

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Photo a Day Challenge - Day 7 Favourite

Favourite, whats my favourite?? Well thats a 'how longs a piece of string' kind of question, but there is a lot of things I call 'favourite'! But, one of my MOST favourite things would be a nice, mown yard!

Backyard

This may seem a bit weird, obscene, maybe just freaky, but after lawns have been mowed is a sense of completion and you can sit back and enjoy... Its even better if there a shower of rain just after as well, but alas it was not to be with brilliant sunshine for the remainder of the day!

Hoo roo for now...

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Photo a Day Challenge - Day 6 Makes You Smile

There's many a thing that makes me smile, some more than others, but I was perplexed today thinking about this one... Was it something today that made me smile? Something from a memory?

Today though, yes I did have a smile, several times actually, but I digress! Today was at Inner City Golf, where BF was using a voucher he got for Christmas. He had a lesson with the Pro, whilst M and I waited so as we could 'play' our round! We got to pick 'where' we'd play, and I suggested it HAD to be the home of golf - St Andrews! We had 2 hours to do our thing, and whilst it was good, very good, it really wasn't the same as the real thing. It was difficult to gauge the greens in particular when it was time to putt! But, we had a good time, so that bought a smile.

I headed home to rest up a bit, and the cricket was on, day 4 from the SCG here in Sydney. Earlier in the day, Sachin Tundulkar was trying for his 100th 100 in the SCG's 100th Year of Cricket... He was bowled by Australian Captain Michael Clarke and caught in the slip cordon by Michael Hussey for 80 runs, and yes, that also made me smile.

But in looking through my pictures, since it is a 'Photo a Day' thing, I was drawn to back in the archives so to speak, to Bali in 2007. I've posted this photo a couple of time before, but the smile on this old ladies weathered face, is infectious, in that it made me smile, both on the day, and yes, today as well... So this is my 'Makes You Smile' day! Happy Smiling!!

Monkey Forest Lady

Hoo roo for now...

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Photo a Day Challenge - Day 5 Something you Wore

Here we are at day 5 - something your wore... I thought about this today, should I take a photo of what I wore today? Nup, it was sticky hot/humid and didn't feel like it (not that it was photo worthy either mind you...). I could've simply posted a photo of the 'Mambo Loud Shirts' I have, but thats been done before so I didn't think it would really be right to re-post... So, I'd like to share a photo I have from my recent trip instead!!

Anfield, LFC

Here I am sitting in the corner of 'The Kop' at Anfield, home of the Liverpool Football Club. As you can see, I have my leather jacket on, as with a tee-shirt, sleeveless jacket a scarf as well! The only thing you can't see is the beanie I wore as well as the gloves!!! It was cold!!

Heres a bit of the history of 'The Kop', and more importantly, Anfield Ground.

In 1985 the Heysel tragedy claimed 39 Juventus fans' lives and a change was brought about to football. Anfield changed two years later with a more 'at-home' ground made. The Kemlyn Road stand was given a fresh look with coloured seats and a police-room was built. In 1989 after the Hillsborough disaster the Taylor Report stated the all grounds in the country would be all-seater. This recommendation in itself led to the demolishing of the most famous stand in the game - the Kop.

The last set of major changes that have taken place have all occurred in the nineties. The Kemlyn road stand was finally demolished and re-built as a huge double decker cantilever stand. The plans to build the stand had been made much earlier but two old ladies living in Kemlyn Road refused to move out of their house and the plans were put on hold. When one of the old ladies died the other finally moved out and the plans were put into action. The stand was officially opened on 1st September 1992 by Lennart Johansson and named the Centenary stand. The stand includes executive boxes and function suites as well as some 11,000 seats.

The Kop was rebuilt in 1994 after the Taylor report and became all seated. It was the end of an era for Anfield although in the circumstances a move that had to be made. Today the Kop holds just over 13,000 seated fans and can on occasions produce a similar noise to that of years ago. It may never be the same again but the legend lives on.

Hoo roo for now...

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Photo a Day Challenge - Day 4 Letterbox

Today's theme, is a letterbox, but alas, mine is a boring kinda letterbox though! And, I had this grand plan today of getting a few different types, from the pic below, 'rustic', to modern (and this may also include 'bad taste' to cheap and then practical being the Post Office Box... But the day got away from me, and I had to catch up with a mate up from Melbourne, so this is all I got...

406 A

Hoo roo for now...

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Photo a Day Challenge - Day 3 Something you adore

Ok, so for today its suppose to be something you adore... But in life, there's often things you adore that you don't see... Things you adore, that you can no longer touch... Things you adore you once use to smell... But for me, all of these are true in some way or another...

So for now, whilst I can't seem to think of anything in particular, I will have to put a member of my current 'family'... Bronty!

Bronty

She's really come to be a very special member of my family! Theres no denying her cuteness, her personality in the way she 'speaks' when being directed to her bed, and yet she's so cute lying in her bed, on her back with all four legs in the air... Isn't she just 'adorable'!!!

Hoo roo for now...

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Photo a Day Challenge - Day 2 BREAKFAST

Ok, it may not look good, but its an omelette... Honest it is!! With ham, tomato and cheese...

Omelette fail (still tasted good)

Yesterday, I spent most of it with my left foot up resting. By the end of the day though, 2 x Panadine Forte, I was somewhat 'zombish' and ended up in bed rather early... Today though, although my foot is still somewhat sore, it is a bit better - at least I can walk (a little) on it!! So, an omelette for breakfast, was quick and easy to do!!

Hoo roo for now...

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Photo a Day Challenge - Here we go!!

Ok, this is a new meme a friend of mine is doing, looks alright, so I will give it a go as well... Here's the 'agenda' for January...

Photo a Day

So, for today, its a photo of me (with Ray Meagher (ok, ALF from Home & Away))!

Ray Meagher - Palace Theatre London

Hoo roo for now...

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Happy New Year!!!

Although this year, I did not get out into the city to see the fireworks to welcome in 2012, I did manage to see some out at Penrith, at Panthers no less!! However, as it was a VERY last minute decision, i was camera less.... Oh well, never mind! But this is how Sydney showed off, just HOW to bring in the New Year!!

NYE 2012 Sydney - Photographer Unknown

Hoo roo for now...

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