This is, although not technically, a sign... But, its painted onto the very edge of the platform at Woolooware railway station in Sydney. Its just a reminder that, there can be a gap between the train and the platform...
Hoo roo for now...
------We have not seen, for a very long time, extended periods of 'BLUE' skies in Sydney, due to rain. And, after yesterdays storm (and a return of cleaning this afternoon after work) it rain again. This time, it was Katoomba that copped it with hail!!
But when I was out walking Bronty after cleaning the back veranda, I rounded a corner to see this wonderful sunset with some stormy skies in the background... I suppose that whilst there is orange, and purples and a whole lot of other colours there, there MUST be some that are 'blue'? Isn't it lovely!
Hoo roo for now...
------Ok... It has been done before, and people have even done a book about it, so I thought I might give it a go as well... There may be times when its a little 'quirky' but it will be (basically) a different location from within Sydney (mostly) every week... I will try and get these up of a Friday, but it could be anytime over the weekend really!
So, today marking week 1, where do we start... With 'A' of course and that's an A for...
AVALON
Avalon is a northern beachside suburb of Sydney, in the state of NSW, Australia. Avalon is located 35 kilometres north of the Sydney CBD, in the Pittwater Council LGA and is otherwise know as the Northern Beaches region.
History
Avalon was named after the mythical Avalon, a legendary island in Celtic languages mythology. According to legends, Avalon was an earthly paradise and the final resting place of King Arthur apparently!
European Settlement
The first land grant in the area was 60 acres (240,000 m2) to John Farrell in 1827. A 400-acre (1.6 km2) land grant was made to Father John Joseph Therry in 1833, who fought hard for the recognition of the Catholic Church in the colony. He built a church in this area but his plans for a settlement never eventuated. In the 1920s, the area was still known as 'Priest's Flat'. Arthur J Small handled a subdivision in 1921 and chose the name Avalon.
Commercialism
Avalon features RSL, bowling and sailing clubs; a supermarket, shops, cafes and a cinema. Sport & Recreation.
Avalon Beach is a surfing beach and has a 25 metre salt water rock pool at the south end. Avalon Beach Surf Life Saving Club members patrol Avalon Beach.[3] Several former surfing world champions are also past or current Avalon residents.
Avalon Soccer Club, established 1982, has over 80 teams and 1000 registered players. Avalon Junior Rugby League Club has contributed several players active in the Australian National Rugby League. Avalon also has a small nine hole golf course.
Culture
An episode of the American TV show Baywatch, was shot at Avalon Beach in the late 1990s. Producers of the show, seeking to relocate from their Californian base due to cost constraints, proposed a full relocation to Avalon. However, following complaints from residents (supported by former world surfing champion and local property owner Mark Warren), the series moved instead to Hawaii.
Hoo roo for now...
------Last night was spent with a trip into the city (well, actually, I STAYED in the city after work) for Vivid Sydney...
I met up with M at Central Station, and we walked (briskly; it was cold) over to World Square where we had Japanese for dinner before heading to the car for the drive down to the Rocks for Vivid. In Campbell's Cove next to us was a fire and music show, blah, and further around in Circular Quay was Customs House but it was just to bloody cold to stay out any longer... So I got a heap of pics of the Opera House and various stages and, well here it is...
Hoo roo for now...
------Tonight, the Opera house turned blue (Light It Up Blue) as part of the World Autism Awareness Day. I went in to get a couple of shots, and to practice my night photography skills as well...
I started, whilst waiting for M to arrive from Uni, to get a shot of OLIVETO Restaurant.
We then head into Harry's Cafe De Wheels, for a quick bite to eat before heading over to Dawes Point which is under the Harbour Bridge, opposite the Opera House as well, so makes a great vantage point!
I finished up getting a couple of extra shots, of course the Harbour Bridge but also opposite at Nth Sydney, is Luna Park
There was even some ghastly ghoulies about the Rocks area as well!!
Last night, we went down into the local shopping center, where I got a couple (OK, FOUR) new tee-shirts. I also wanted to get a new pair of casual shoes, but by the time we had dinner, the shops were starting to close! But we did have, allegedly, dinner! Whilst I had a Teriyaki chicken, which was barely 'luke warm' let alone hot, and M also had a 'luke warm' dish as well... At least we were not sick today!
Today was a bit of a catch up day after loosing a day due to my work computer not playing. I spent most of yesterday swapping files from one PC to another, and due to there being a large volume on it, and limited space on the network, it was a slow and laborious project...
BUT, after a 'tip off' I wondered out just before lunch time as there was to be a joint USAF & RAAF flyover.
RAAF & USAF Sydney FlyoverOn my way back to the office, I also got a few shots of some of the local sights...
Opera House
Gov House
Kirribilly House
Boy with a Thorn
Couple of GHFFThe weekend, is again, going to be a bit of a busy one, starting with my nephews Grand Final for Baseball, followed by a lot of painting, weather permitting!
Hoo roo for now...
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NYE
NYE
NYEOn New Years Eve, I was lucky enough to have some tickets to, basically, have front rows lawns to the biggest fireworks display in the world! For some reason, that's the way it seems! Really, our Eastern neighbours in New Zealand are the first, but the focus seems to be on Sydney with everyone comparing OUR fireworks. I wonder why...
NYE
NYE
NYE
NYEI took a mate with me, I prepared a dip, a salsa dip as well, cheese and a Danish salami and corn chips and crackers as well... I took some drinks for us to share! When we arrived, we caught up with D&A with their son B. He's a great kid, and was very friendly! It was also great to catch up with D&A as well, not to mention D's mum B!
I had a text message from another mate who was down from Newcastle, and after a couple of text's, we arranged that he will come and stay as well, after all, I have plenty of room and there were no more trains heading back north! We all eventually hit the beds at around 3.45am... I woke, later than normal, at 7am, whilst J & N got up and about around 9. We decided that a day of spotting was in order, so we got ourselves ready and was at YSSY in around 45 mins! It was going to be hot, 41c, so after a little while at one place, we headed for lunch of seafood, and then to a new place (for me) and set up camp there. Another mate, K, had decided to beat the heat in western Sydney, so when I dropped N at the station, I collected K and we headed back to the spotting spot! It was a great day, with great company!
TT VH-VNP
UA N175UAThe following day, Sunday, was a quick day trip down to Melbourne for another day of spotting... There was four of this day, with J's dad D and my mate from Melbourne, another D! Again, a great day and great company. When we left Melbourne, there was a considerable amount of storm activity in Sydney, and as a result, we were in a holding pattern over Canberra for a little bit. I didn't mind at all, and J got some great sunsetting pics! Thanks for a great couple of days J, (and N, K, D & D) I really had a great time!
Gooney VH-OVM
TG HS-TKB
VOZ with J at the fenceI've also been back to work this week, sad, but I am already planning a few things. There is a 3 day conference I am very interested in in Brussels which I think would be good to go to for a research paper I am co-authoring. There is also a possibility of a 4-5 days away to Hong Kong, to again visit the Hong Kong Jockey Club for a visit to discuss techniques with the Track Manager, and we may fill in with a bit of spotting there as well; who knows!
Hoo roo for now...
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Just a couple of pics I got when Emirates started the longest flight ever from Sydney to New York (17.5 hours)! Apart from the Skycargo and the Korean, I have actually been on all of these carriers!
EK Skycargo A6-EFD
QF VH-OEJ
JQ VH-EBA
JL JA705J
EK A6-EDM
Korean HL7461It was a great morning, better than the previous morning when it was supposed to go when it closed in and then rained and rained and rained!
Hoo roo for now...
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Last night, I was invited to go to Bon Jovi's first Sydney Concert... I thought it would have been a great concert, but I had NO idea JUST how good it would be! Here is what the stage looked like about 15-20 minutes prior to the concert starting...
Bon Jovi StageAnd just after he started his 2 hour PLUS concert, without a break really!
Bon Jovi Opening setMy mate's mum (and friends) came in from Parkes in Western NSW for the concert, and as one of the family had to stay at home to attend to whats left of the crop after the recent rains/floods, this is how I got a spare ticket! I am so grateful for the ticket, and the night, thanks again Jayden!
I say this, as yesterday would have been my 10th Anniversary...
Wedding DayAfter the concert, we got away from the stadium pretty quickly for where I was parked. We headed down to Harry's Cafe de Wheels for a pie. I had my normal Chicken and Mushroom pie with cheese and tomato sauce, whilst Jayden had the same pie, but with mashed potato and mushy peas with gravy! Its called a "Chicken Tiger"! It was his first time at Harry's and I suspect, it will not be his last!
Hoo roo for now...
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