31 October, 2012

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


Harry's Cafe de Wheels

Hoo roo for now...

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27 October, 2012

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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26 October, 2012

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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24 October, 2012

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...




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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19 October, 2012

Friday Fill-Ins!!

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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17 October, 2012

Wordless Wednesday No. 64 - Floriade Canberra

Floriade 2012 - Canberra
Floriade 2012 - Canberra


Hoo roo for now...
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16 October, 2012

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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15 October, 2012

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'...


Hoo roo for now...
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12 October, 2012

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!

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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11 October, 2012

Thursday Thirteen # 18 End of year rundown...

Thursday Thirteen 
Things to do, in whats left of this year!
  1. Work, I am doing a report, OSCAR. This, basically, reports on the energy, water, gas and fuels (DSL and ULP) that we have used for the fiscal year; 1 Jul;y '11 - 30 June '12. Its kinda boring, but interesting, I just wish that when items are purchased, the purchaser doesn't list it as "DSL as per invoice", how am I suppose to know/get/report how many ltr's were used?
  2. Three and a half weeks, I am off to Vietnam with J and M. I have said, it isn't necessarily a destination I had wanted to go to, neither was Bali, but when L & I went there, I loved it, and I suspect it will be the same. I am looking forward to it, don't get me wrong, its just a different destination I hadn't had on my list of places to go...
  3. We don't do Halloween or Thanksgiving here in Australia. Sure, some people do, but in general, not a popular event! BUT, I am looking forward to seeing some of my distant friends outfits and how they celebrate!
  4. Shopping, I have to do Christmas shopping! Don't know when/how/what, but it will get done soon... Maybe, some Vietnamese gifts?
  5. Soon it will be the Events Season, so lots of FREE concerts. Jazz, Symphony & Opera in the Domain, Carols in the Domain, New Years Eve, Open Air Cinema just to name a few!!
  6. Warmer weather, and hopefully dry as well, will mean time spent down the beach with Bronty...
  7. Coming up, not sure about the date at this stage, is the Organ and Tissue Memorial Service, where last year, I spoke. It is put on by the Lions Eye Bank, after donating L's eyes.
  8. December, is L's birthday, our wedding anniversary as well (within a week) and then there is Christmas as well!!! So a lot of things going 'on'!
  9. By mid-late December, if I have timed it right, the Roses will be in full bloom. It will be a couple of weeks after, that they will be given a medium to heavy prune, a top-up fertiliser and then a good watering to bring on a second flush of blooms...
  10. Saturday, I'm off to Floriade in Canberra... Hopefully, the Tulips will still be good and in full bloom. Whilst we've had some warmer days in Sydney, not to mention the winds (both of which destroy the Tulip blooms), Canberra is still a very balmy -1c overnight, and tops around the low-mid teens!
  11. I have all my vaccinations for the Vietnam trip, all that remains is the Malaria tablets, which I will get just before going...
  12. Bronty will be staying at the Vets, so I need to book her in, in the next couple of days...
  13. SLEEP, I need to get some good SLEEP! I have been sleeping, but every morning is a bit of a struggle to get out of bed... I think it is just the change in the day, as last week, we sprung forward into daylight savings!
Start List Here
Hoo roo for now...
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10 October, 2012

Wordless Wednesday No. 63 - Such a Drag...


Such a Drag...


Hoo roo for now...
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05 October, 2012

Friday Fill-Ins

Friday Fill-Ins...
  1. I said, I would fertilise the lawn (front) and weed the Rose Garden the other weeek... I did, and the lawn is greening up nicely and the Roses have lots of shoots.
  2. Coffee is what I'm craving right now, so I may go over to the Pavillion for one!
  3. I was thinking about what to do for dinner last night, I really wanted a marinated chicken, but there wasn't any, so I opted for a small Roast Pork - it was YUMM!!
  4. I am now (publicly) announcing that I will be going on a diet, and using the the 'change' on saturday as the catlyst, will you?
  5. We (Bronty) should have been finished her 'heat' by now, but she is still in season, but is keeping herself very clean, which is grateful indeed!
  6. I will be washing Bronty this weekend, and cleaning the car, whether I want to or not!
  7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going to see the GP to pick up a script, then to the chemist to pick up the script beofre a fish 'n' chips dinner, tomorrow my plans include a 10.30 appointment at the GP for my vacinations for my upcoming trip to Vietnam, shopping for new pillows (and SO much more). It is also time to put the clocks FORWARD one hour, so HELLO Daylight Savings and Sunday, I want to sit and watch the V8's up at Bathurst, but there are more important things to do! BUT, Sunday night, Channel 10 is showing the movie about Julian Assange, and I'd like to watch that...

Hoo roo for now...
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04 October, 2012

Thursday Thirteen # 17 - Shiny

Thursday Thirteen - Shiny...

Federation Square (Fed Square) in Melbourne has all of these eclectic shaped buildings, and here is just one of them, with its shiny, yet oddly shaped, glass facade...

Fed Square - Melb 
This little Fokker, with the sun shining off the First Officer's Window, was my first time on this type of aircraft...

My Fokker Ride to AMS
In Amsterdam, mainly around the airport to do some 'spotting' I hired this little, shiny new, Hyundai i10... Yes, it was LITTLE!

My Ride - AMS Hyundai i10
When I went to Floriade, Venlo The Netherlands, one of the displays was 'Dancing Tulips, which were glowing a shiny colour changing whilst they moved around.

Floriade 2012 Venlo, The Netherlands
Back in 2004, we visited Coventry, and into the old, and new, Cathedral. Here though, the sun is shining through the stained glass window.

Coventry Cathedral
These tea plates, all shiny and clean, were once blogged, many years ago before L died (she had a thing for eclectic cups & sauces...

Tea Plates
I really love the way that the light is shining off the water droplets on this Lilly leaf...

Bali Botanic Garden Lilly Leaf
 I always like this shot - i just love the way the light shines off L's cup of tea...


Cuppa Eye
Sydney, really has some great architecture, and here it is at its best, at night, shining off Farm Cove (which is part of Sydney harbour).


Sydney CBD at Night
Macc, although not technically allowed, often came with me to the cemetery where L is buried. Here he is, reflection of the shiny clean glass, looking towards where she is buried...


Macc looking for mum
L'incontro is a little cafe/restaurant in Melbourne, and they have a cute, shiny, little logo on the wall outside. Its a little copper man running with a plate and cup!


L'incontro
In 2009, the ITRC (International Turf Research Congress) was held in Santiago, Chile. Here, at the Grand Hyatt, the light is shining through the rooftop glass into the foyer area.


Grand Hyatt Santiago
Doha, Qatar, has two very different sections to its city, the old and the new. Here, is the new, City Mall, and the sun is shining through the rooftop glass, across 5 levels of shopping floors and down onto the ice-skating rink below.


City Center Mall


Hoo roo for now...
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03 October, 2012

Wordless Wednesday No. 62 Melbourne and a Footy Grand Final


2012 AFL Grand FInal

2012 AFL Grand FInal

Movida Nextdoor (Hosier Lane)

Nuts and Bolts - Hosier Lane

Melb Flower Box

Melbourne Sporting Precinct

Hoo roo for now...

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