Storm warning…

Yesterday a violent thunderstorm ripped through Sydney killing a man, destroying many buildings and leaving tens of thousands of homes without power. (For more details and pictures click here) Followed by hail and gale force winds. The man died when a tree fell on his car The storm was centred in the Western Sydney area where the farm we recently cared for is situated.

I received this e-mail from Deidre (who with Kim are the farm owners))…

“I’m glad we were home when this storm hit – we took a direct hit, a bit of hail and wind like you can’t imagine. Power went off of course.  But we have been very fortunate.  A tree that could have hit the house has been stopped by the dead tree (to the south of the dog pen). That tree should have been taken out after a lightening strike last year, but the contractor never turned up to do it!  Branches fell off, one hit the very corner of our bedroom but only bent a gutter that needs replacing anyway.  There is a big part of tree near the dog pen, but it fell between the wheelie bin and the gate, so if we crawl under we can still lock them up.  Other small stuff down all over, but the driveway OK.  The rented house had a tree fall between the carport and a shed, it damaged an old trailer. Andy and Raylene had a tree fall between structures too.  And, miracle of miracles, the power, phone and internet all came back on very quickly. That is a first.  (Neighbours said trees pulled down power lines locally, so I guess it was a relatively easy fix).

 Thought you might hear stories of storms in Sydney, and wanted to let you know we are OK.”

I was so relieved to hear they were ok, and thankful we never had that terrifying experience when we were in charge.

Now the storm is heading our way, 70 km per hour winds are presently buffeting our area and rain is forecast for later tonight. Fortunately the intensity has decreased so hopefully we will get some rain but not as bad as Sydney.

I biked down to the end of the street just before the rain started to capture these images of the storm clouds rolling in.

This sensible duck had bunkered down off the water for the night.

The garden is in need of a good soaking rain. I didn’t do any watering today…

Sydney snippets… 3 day roundup, Art, Architecture and Gardens…

We have settled in to our Airbnb accommodation in Bondi Junction, our hostess, Shona, has welcomed us like one of the family.

Our Airbnb accommodation.

It is only a 10 minute walk to the railway station and from there, with a $2-50 senior pass, Sydney is at our beck and call.

The weather has been perfect so here is a roundup of what we have done in 3 days…

First a visit to the NSW Art Gallery. Can you see Jack?

A hall full of classic art

This picture is one of my favourites

Groups of school children are being shown to appreciate art

Beautiful still life

A close up shows the juice dripping from the oyster.

It can be very tiring being a tourist

After a morning absorbed with the beauty of art it was time for lunch.

Across the road in the Domain is the Domain Kiosk.

A favourite place for lunch

Now to immerse myself in the beauty of nature.

Follow me into the Royal Botanic Gardens of Sydney

I have over 100 photos, the light was superb for photography, so I have many more to show you at a future date.

Suddenly from a blue sky a summer storm passed over. Torrential rain for 10 minutes and every one ran for cover under the huge, spreading Morton Bay Fig trees.

It past as quickly as it came.

No visit to Sydney is complete with out walking past these 2 icons.

Day 2 was again perfect weather so this time we visit another favourite, the Chinese Gardens at Darling Harbour.

These gardens are in the heart of Sydney

We had lunch in the garden Restaurant and then spent hours wandering around, sitting, sketching and enjoying the peace and tranquillity of these beautiful gardens.

Leaving the Chinese Gardens we walk through Darling Harbour to catch a ferry round to Circular Quay.

Joyful sculpture of dancing Brolgas

Walking in the sun

Playing chess

Just relaxing with the birds

Just finished a game of table tennis

 On the way we pass under the “Old Coat-hanger”

Cruise liner in port

In Circular Quay we see this cruise liner tied up. This is not the one we are going on but I imagine ours will also be this big.

Day 3 we take a train to Surry Hills and wander around the galleries and interesting boutique style shops.

Then catching another bus we search out the UTS (Sydney university of technology) to see the Frank Gehry designed building. I will do another post about this amazing building, but will just give you a preview of the building here.

We have walked miles and our legs feel at least 6 inches shorter. We have one more day before we join our cruise to New Zealand. So this will be my last post for about 2 weeks. I will miss visiting you all and will probably have internet withdrawal symptoms.

By the way Jude, you may notice quite a number of benches scattered around…

  

 

Travel Theme : Above

The view from the lookout on the top of Mount Wellington, Hobart, Tasmania.

As I came down the mountain Hobart spread out before me on both sides of the Derwent River.

We house sat here for 3 months in 2013

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Another memorable flight was over the Bungle, bungles in the Kimberly area. This is the view from above.

This is the view as I walked toward these amazing formations.

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Travelling is great and there is so much to see, but after an extended trip this is the best view of all from above.

The best harbour in the world, Sydney. Can you see the iconic sails of the Opera House and the majestic curve of the Harbour Bridge, fondly known as “the old coat-hanger?

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This post is inspired by “ABOVE” Ailsa’s Travel Theme challenge for this week.

Travel Theme : Illuminated

A difficult theme for me this week as I don’t take many night photos, but one memorable illuminated moment was during our stay in Sydney, just before Christmas, I watched the magnificent Sydney Town Hall illuminated with magical lasers and computerized images and I took a short video of it.

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Then I remembered all those magical moments around camp fires, cooking over the coals in the camp oven. Watching the sunset illuminating the sky in a rich red glow. Enjoying a glass of wine as the casserole simmered. The fire light flickers and illuminates a small circle while the rest of the surrounding bush disappears into dark shadows.

Preparing the chicken casserole

The sun sets in a ball of fire

Enjoying a glass of wine while dinner cooks

Damper cooked in the camp oven is ready to eat

Jack waits patiently for dinner

Another camp site sharing a meal with new friends

Beautiful memories of time spent exploring and camping in the Australian bush. I hope you have enjoyed your short stay around some of our camp fires.

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Thank you Ailsa for this weeks theme. It has brought back all those memories. Go over to “Where’s my backpack” to see the many lights on Ailsa’s post.

 

Final look at Sydney, left the best till last…

I could not leave Sydney without mentioning that endearing symbol the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Opened in 1932. That was the year Jack was born and he has a real affection for the old “coat hanger” as it is affectionately called.

It can be seen from all parts of the city. As you wander around town it will suddenly pop up from among the glass towers. But the best place to see it is along the foreshore at Darling Harbour and from the Rocks. Framed by Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House, and nestled on the edge of breathtaking Sydney Harbour, The Rocks offers an unrivalled blend of the old and new. This historic area has the bridge rearing over the top of it.

Seen from the Rocks

As we walk around Darling Harbour Jack takes a photo of the bridge as the early morning tourists order breakfast.

The cruise ship dwarfs the bridge as we walk along Darling Harbour and into the Rocks area

 

Market day

Market day

It is weekend and the colourful Rock’s markets are on. We wander through the varied and interesting stalls and then round into the historic part of the Rocks where the original dwellings  have now been renovated into attractive and expensive homes.

The Rocks are also renowned for their cafes and restaurants

Sydney’s oldest pub

This is an area that you must explore on foot. Really a week was not long enough to really see all Sydney has to offer, but we have been here before and we will certainly be back again in the future.

 

The day before Christmas…

And the shops are crowded. Is it all merry and bright? Or is the stress of last-minute shopping fraying nerves and stretching budgets.

We are now home and it is 2 weeks since we were in Sydney. I can only imagine how that grand old lady of Australian shopping emporiums “The Queen Victoria Building” is today resounding to the hustle and bustle. It was relatively calm when we walked around, the frantic build up had not started. Do most people leave the shopping to the last-minute? But the tree towered 4 stories in glistening, bauble bedecked splendour. Santa listened to whispered requests in his throne room and 2 weeks ago people still had smiles on their faces.

I wonder if she is amused, as she presides over the building with her name.

 

 

Since first opening in 1898, the QVB has had a mercurial history. Designed by George McRae, it replaced the original Sydney Markets and was named to honour the monarch’s Diamond Jubilee. Elaborate Romanesque architecture was chosen for the grand building, which housed a concert hall, coffee shops, showrooms, warehouses and a wide variety of tradespeople. Over many decades, the concert hall became the city library, offices proliferated and many tenants moved in.

Drastic Art Deco ‘remodelling’ occurred during the 1930s to accommodate the main occupant – Sydney City Council. From 1959 to 1971, the QVB faced near-demolition. A massive restoration project was given the green light and, in 1982, Ipoh Garden was awarded the restoration project and a 99-year lease. The fully restored Queen Victoria Building reopened her doors to Sydneysiders and visitors alike in 1986. A major refurbishment in 2009 restored her even further. Today the QVB stands in all her glory, testimony to the original vision for the building and the superb craftsmanship of the artisans who put it all back together again.

 With 4 levels of boutique style shops, cafes and coffee shops situated around the open centre atrium with the Christmas tree dominating every floor, it is a very different shopping experience from the large modern style shopping centres.

Beautiful stained glass windows illuminate the stairwell between floors

I don’t think this baby really knows what Christmas is all about yet…

Just a minute is that Santa I see making his get-away with one of his helpers????

Christmas is almost over and I hope all my friends in the blogging community have a wonderful time, however it is celebrated. I will raise a glass to you all and wish you interesting and happy times in 2014 and I look forward to another year of following your posts.

 

 

Video of Sydney Town Hall light show

This is just the last few minutes of the fabulous light show. It went for almost 6 minutes total. The sound quality is not very good as it was quite a windy night.

I hope you enjoy it…

Town Hall Talking about Christmas

Sydney Town Hall is a magnificent building one of the grandest surviving buildings in Australia. It is a major landmark in the heart of the city and it’s steps a favourite meeting point.

The inside is equally imposing. Walk through the exquisitely carved red cedar doors into a world of yesteryear. The intricate Victorian plaster work is rated as one of the most lavish and interesting Victorian interiors in Australia.

Red Cedar entry doors

 

The main hall was being set-up for a function and we were not allowed inside, so just took this photo from the doorway, a tantalizing look at this imposing interior that has recently been returned to the former glowing Victorian colours.

Tours can be arranged with the “friends of the Town Hall” but at this time of the year it is fully booked for functions, so that is another “must-do” for our next visit to Sydney.

A tribute book was available for Nelson Mandela with this beautiful display of flowers

 What a transformation after dark. With the modern technology of lasers and computerized animation the Town Hall lit up into a magical Christmas wonderland display, constantly changing colours and playing Christmas music to the delight of young and old.

Each night, round the side of Town Hall, a different singer entertains the crowd between the light shows. Can you see her on the balcony?

This was another magical and unexpected pleasure during our Sydney visit.

Christmas in Sydney : Lingering Look at Windows

David Jones is an institution in Sydney.  It is not only Australia’s oldest department store, but also the oldest department store in the world still trading under its original name. It is fondly known as DJ’s by the locals.

It has traded for 175 years and a very special tradition is the decorating of the Christmas windows each year. Of course we had to see them, so I would like to share with you the wonder and joy of the children, and the adults, as they crowd around to gaze at this beautiful display.

All ages enjoy the display

But it is especially the children that love it most

It is difficult to capture photos because of the reflections. They are also animated and in this window they are busily preparing Christmas dinner.

A choir sings Christmas carols

This boy captures his own special moment

 

This is a street scene from the 1920’s all the figures busily moving around

It had to have Santa busily preparing parcels

Finally a beautiful ballroom scene with the dancers twirling around

I would like to wish all my friends and followers in this marvellous WordPress community a very happy Christmas.

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A special thank you and best wishes to Dawn of “The day after” for giving us this weekly challenge. Take a look at her blog and maybe you would like to join in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pets and Other Things Spotted on Darling Harbour : Michelle’s Weekly Pet Challenge

Pets in push chairs

As we wandered around Darling Harbour I had to take a closer look at these cute little dogs.

Ideal subjects for Michelle’s Weekly Pet challenge

They certainly did look hot and tired and in need of a ride in this wheel chair.

I think they were also enjoying the 2 buskers behind them…

Darling Harbour is a vibrant part of Sydney’s water front. The café culture and restaurants provide plenty of variety and places to rest be revived and watch and listen to the different buskers.

A boy joins in with the sculptured dance of the jabirus

These are just some of the 27 Santa’s that walk on water.

 The Harbour Bridge can be seen from all parts of the harbour, but it is dwarfed by the huge cruise ship.

But take a closer look and you can see the tiny stick figures, like ants crawling along the top of the bridge. These are the intrepid bridge walkers, they give you an idea of the true size of this enormous structure.

It certainly is a modern master piece of engineering.

So on that note I will leave you. I am going to explore the Rocks area next, under the bridge, and take a look at the markets. But that will be another post and another day.

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This started off as “Michelle’s Weekly Pet Challenge” but I couldn’t resist sneaking in some more views of Sydney. I hope you enjoyed a stroll around Darling Harbour.