What does a week of 35c PLUS days in a row do??

Have a look at some of these lawn pics... Plus, there is a couple of flowers at the bottom!

Rose garden Wedding Lawn Panorama

Turf Plots Conservatorium of Music (Background)

Land Bridge

Ginger

Ginger Con

Hoo roo for now...

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Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away...

Mind set: - confused!

Sort of, but not really! In a day where the realisation of TC Yasi was becoming apparent, I had spent the day seeking information, preparing information, and giving out information! And somewhere in amongst all of that, I had some really great company around me (which was fantastic) and ate some really great food (which was also fantastic)!

It all started early, VERY early! I had not been sleeping terribly crash hot, not a good comparison since we've been having daily temps for a week now above 38c! In fact, on Tuesday it hit 41.7 in the early evening, but at 1.20am (Wednesday) it was still a stifling 32.9c! So thus, my lack of sleep...

Overnight Temps

ANYWAY, I had gotten to work and I was working on an image that just did NOT want to play... So I got it to its best and then went and got a coffee, I so needed a coffee!

Heading towards lunch, I was beginning to do a report needed for work and I got SO hungry, so I went over to Martin Place with S, as she was a little 'stressed' to say the least! I ordered the Scotch Fillet Steak Sandwich with an Orange and Passionfruit juice!

Orange & Passionfruit Juice

Steak Sandwich Lunch

After lunch, J had been looking at getting a lens, Sigma APO 50-500mm 50-500 F/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM, and after a bit of searching, I had found a couple locally as a lot on eBay were Hong Kong based. On my way home, I stopped in a shop in Drummoyne where he didn't have THAT lens, but more so the 150-500 instead! AND, as he's right under the flight path, would make a great spot to have a play with it and test it out before buying it! And I am now going to get one as well (my b'day present), as my 80-400 lens, which I've had for nearly 2 years now, I only got to 'learn on' before going out and spending up big! We are now in the midst of negotiating on a price, as depending on where they get purchased from, rounds out at c. $3,000!

Sigma APO 50-500mm 50-500 F/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM

And last night, after a brief chat with M on the way home, we decided to meet up at La Mono for some 'wog food', which is a fun way of saying Lebanese! We had some chicken, shish, bread and TWO bowls of Garlic Dip, YUMM!!! Thanks guys, both M&J for having dinner, I had a great night and I hope that you both did as well! And thanks for the great company...

La Mono Feast

This is why I am content at the moment, I have some great friends and associates around lately, to which I am grateful for!

Hoo roo for now...

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Thursday Thirteen No. 13: Yasi

Tropical Cyclone YASI hitting the Far North Queensland coastline... Stay safe!

1. Premier Anna Bligh, simply amazing with all of the natural disasters you've had to face so far this year...

   QLD Premier Anna Bligh & PM Julia Gillard
2. 7.31am A baby has girl has been born in a Cairns evacuation centre. She arrived at 6.09am (AEST) after her mother Akiko Pruss went into labour three hours ago in the first aid room of Redlynch State College. Mrs Pruss has made it clear her second child will not be called Yasi.
3. Tropical Cyclone Yasi approaching the Queensland Coast...

   TC Yasi
4. "It is just a scene of mass devastation. (Cyclone) Larry was a boy compared to this." Larry was Australia's most recent Cyclone, the largest since Tracy hit Darwin.
5. TC Yasi overlaying the United States to show just how BIG it is...

   TC Yasi (overlay to compare size to USA)
6. "It is just a scene of mass devastation. (Cyclone) Larry was a boy compared to this."
7. Satellite map of TC Yasi...

   Satellite map yasi 12-30am QLD time
8. The VERY DESTRUCTIVE CORE of the cyclone will take up to 4 hours to pass.
9. Showing strength in the line of TC Yasi

   Good luck North Queensland Yasi
10. DESTRUCTIVE winds with gusts in excess of 125 km/h between Cape Tribulation and Ayr will spread inland overnight.
11. Shopping Center becomes a 'make-shift' safe house for the local communities

    Earlville shopping centre
12. Reports are coming in that all banana crops have been lost and over $505 million worth of sugar cane is also gone.
13. Banana crops ruined...

    Ruined Bananas

Hoo roo for now...

Source of images and selected text: - News.com.au

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WW N0. 43 - Trains

Taken on a recent heritage train trip to Bomaderry (Nowra)

CPH 1 & 7 Central Berry

Berry Point Handles

Berry Points

New & Old

Hoo roo for now...

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House is 'coming along' slowly...

OK, so I know I've been slack lately with blogging, but I HAVE been a tad busy!

You will remember, that the house has had some major work done, (repoint and re tuckpointed on the facade). Here is a little more of a 'tease' as I want to get ALL of the painting done, and then do a big reveal! This will (knowing my upcoming trips) most likely be either my birthday in March OR the end of March at the latest!

House OLD 'v' NEW colours

I've also been busy with a trip to Nowra on the South Coast on an old CPH Railmotor, Brisbane for a day of spotting with J and met up with M, 20/20 Cricket games (NSW v Tasmania & NSW v QLD) with B & J (and Co...) as well just for good measure!

Nowra on a CPH Railmotor

The day started early, having to be at Central Station 8am. The old Railmotors, built in 1923, were restored beautifully and faithfully, except for the 'long drop' toilets are now no longer dispensing to the tracks below, as opposed to being enviro friendly today! There was a fair amount of 'rocking and rolling' as we had a top speed of 80klm. It was also rather noisy, as there wasn't much in the way of insulation for sound, but it was a great noise! The trip took us out from Central to Waterfall, down the escarpment via Helensburgh to Thirroul and through Wollongong. We briefly stopped at Bombo Beach just before Kiama and then onto Bomaderry (Nowra) where we had lunch at the local RSL Club. Thanks S&L for including me on this day trip, I had a ball!

Tickets

CPH 1 & 7 Central Berry

Drivers

Rounding for Bombo

Trip to Brisbane for some spotting

I spent Australia day with a mate, J, and his dad, D up in Brisbane. We also teamed up with N who flew in from Newcastle and some local spotters up there as well, M works with J but at the Brisbane airport! We did some spotting, but alas, these photos are still on laptop, so I will need to process and upload as soon as I can. The day will get a post in its entirety, as I had a great day, as I think we all did! Thanks J for the trip, I owe you one!! :)

20/20 Big Bash Cricket

Now I know that some people just do NOT understand the laws of cricket, and I am not about to tell you how its played. It is easier to watch a game and see it, rather than be confused as to its play. Having said that, this version, 20/20, is a recent incarnation of the game, and these two games are the Domestic version of it! Both games, I went with J & D (and co...), B &R and M. We had dinner up in the Members Gold Dinning Room, and then sat in the Members seating area which has a particularly good vantage point! On the NSW v TAS game, I did not take my camera, but I took it to the NSW v ACT ladies match and following them was the NSW v QLD game. There was a little bit of entertainment between games, and being an old curator myself, I watched the pitch repairs and rolling! It was, both nights, a great outing, and I can't wait to go again! Thanks to all involved!!

ACT v NSW Womens

ACT v NSW Women's

Pitch Maintenance

NSW v QLD Men Usman bowled

Pitch Maintenance

What a way to watch cricket

ANZ Stadium (4 pic panorama)

Hoo roo for now...

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