Men at Work in Waratah

A concrete slab is poured over a base (of polystyrene blocks), and at set spaces, flows down between them onto the ground, to form deeper 'ribs'. Steel reo is supported by small plastic fittings or 'bar chairs'and form work sits around the whole outside. A peristaltic pump (aping human physiology) is probably used to pump the cement.
Local men with an Italian background often had a concreting business, afterall, concrete was an important innovative building material used in ancient Rome. Examples are found among its famous buildings and believe these were decorated with paintwork.
Gradually the old built environment gives way to the McMansion, the duplex and the town house which does help prevent suburban sprawl from getting totally out of hand.

Show and Shine 2

Today's Chautauqua: The enthusiast said this is a ZX9 Kawasaki Ninja 900cc with special paint job (Commodore colours) and, what did it for him, an $1800, Yoshimura exhaust.

The Freak, Honda 400EX Quad, making a statement from Bowers for Mag Wheels, Low profile tyres and excellent smash repairs.

Show and Shine

Well nigh perfect. .....(hoon as in hooligan)

American Beauty

Flower show in Hamilton. Bromeliaedes are from the tropical Americas and includes the pineapple.
Environmental concerns around habitat, including that of the endangered, curious Orangoutangs (Malay: man of the woods), who inhabit nowhere else except for two small areas in the islands of Indonesia, are discussed on a site, which also brings, to Newcastle (in May), a Roadshow, which aims to empower us about Climate Change.

Romancing the past at 'The Northern'

Lunch at The Northern

Hotels: The Great Northern, Noah's On The Beach, The Madison - the what?
Can't get away from the cliches but imagine a bygone era and this foyer of the then most classy hotel in Newcastle - the Great Northern. Every town would have its share of old interiors where emptiness dwells and is it possible to make them relevant again with a lived-in feeling or is a clever parody of the style the best solution? The main bar in this one has been altered but, no matter how old fashioned, it would have been impossible to look worse than the 'renovations'

Place of Worship

In Laman Street, Newcastle, believed to be the work of architect, Fredrick Meakins, who designed many notable buildings in the city.

Festival......The Village Wedding.....2

Kurdish Celebrations

Silver cradle, Silver plate,

Silver necklace, Silver face. ...........................the Moon

Fruits of the earth

First things first, the banana crisis is over, with boxes and boxes appearing from Tully etc. FNQ.
Pomegranates from CA. Ancient cultures believed these held mystical powers. To that end, they appear over and over in religion, mythology and art...
Sweet little princess
with a crown on her head
break her open
and her jewels are red.
Uzbec riddle.

In bulk by bulk Carrington

'...Those ...sleepers which cushioned the tremendous travelling weight of trains: they had been axed from the forests of Grey Ironbark (Eucalyptus paniculata)...axemen filled export contracts for the expansion of steam across China, India, British Africa. Most of the sleepers for the Trans-Siberian.. were cut from the forests around Bunyah (NSW) and so - here's poetic justice - carried the weight of thousands of Russians, transported to isolation and worse. Truly, Grey Ironbark is one of the hardest woods available to man...'
from Murray Bail: Eucalyptus 1998 Text Publishing Melbourne.
1999 winner of the Miles Franklin Award and the Commonwealth Writers Prize.

Book Worms

We love reading and this is the new, City Council library, at Wallsend.

Bond Store

Old Bond Store, Newcastle is office space now.

VW Kombi 1

Seen Today

Weird southern land

We are told three metre high, giant kangaroos once hopped around this land. Some people have actually seen these 'roos quite recently and, what's more, they can talk !

Well, that's development.

A large find of prehistoric bones is reported to be those of a new group of very very large fauna. Dinky-di? Are they having us on? Either way, we have to laugh, it's all more than appropriate.

Australia Day

Swagman mythologiser

Surf

Newcastle Beach this evening and not a shark in sight. The special glimmer and shimmer found at sunset along with a certain 'posed' effect was too difficult to capture. Tide low, waves small while the temperature of the surf has risen from the drastic 14 deg C of several days ago the surfies still like to wear their wetsuits.

Some local dudes have been adventurours and have set up a luxury surf charter to 'the last surfing frontier' out of Padang, Sumatra, Indonesia, by fast boat, namely Tengirri Surf Charters

Wicked Backpackers

Campervan rental, each van with a unique design, for hire in Oz, NZ or UK. Parked outside YHA, Pacific Street, Newcastle.

Festival 1

Mobile percussion on an after-dark fantasy ride

McDonalds 2

McDonalds, Grafton Crossroads. Double storeyed and out of flood reach.

It's a jungle out there

Fennel grows well around here and is probably considered a weed (genus Foeniculum) A close variety produces an aromatic anise-flavoured spice and the leaves, seeds and broad lower stems can be eaten. Finocchio is a Mediterranean term.

Anise (Pimpinella anisum) is another flowering plant that smells like liquorice (Wikipedia)

Toiling, morning-light till dusk, to see worthy cause afloat

Watch this space!
This boat, Morning Light, will be fully restored in an ambitious project: "Ship Ahoy". It will be auctioned. Proceeds will go to local youth projects. A Work for the Dole project.
Offer your support. Near PCYClub, Broadmeadow.

Fruit and vegies are vital for health promotion

"We wouldn't be The Fresh Food People without Aussie farming families"

"Woolworths National Drought Action Day 23rd January 2007...we will give our entire day's profits to Australian Farming Families in need"

Nice. But fair returns to the farmer and fair over-the-counter prices remain the priority

The Bounty

The Bounty as pirate ship

Go Sailing

Young Endeavour sailed today for Sydney after spending time on the slips at the Forgacs ship works.
The brigantine was a gift from the UK for the Australian Bicentenary in 1988.
Young people apply to sail on this training ship, who could resist?
It is believed that the ship will be among the Tall Ships on Sydney Harbour on Australia Day on the 26th January and will be moored at Cockle Bay in Darling Harbour.
www,youngendeavour.gov.au

Dance

Gamelan Orchestra and dancers.

Goddess Of The Sea

Touted as the world's largest private yacht, the Athena, (www.yachtforums.com/forums/royal-huisman-yacht) is here for servicing or repair.

Classic, uber high tech with lovely bowsprit and stern, this is a three masted schooner with gaff rigging and more. The masts are clinical looking but at 61 metres high would need to be indestructible and are a different story under sail.


The movie, Master and Commander or The Far Side of the World, is a successful swashbuckling adventure on the high seas and more, the soundtrack is a real bonus and includes works from Yo Yo Ma and his cello.

Lisboa -Dakar Rally

The legends – desert sands, endurance, Gauloises ! The unstoppable Dakar rally is currently tearing onward towards the finish.

Imago is told, this model BMW F650 came out in 1994 with liquid cooled single cylinder and a chain drive for the first time in BMW's recent history . The Funduro. Variations on the theme have emerged and include belt drive.
Currently, KTM (European) is hard to beat

Unbelievable. Comet McNaught was seen by us all this evening. It looked as if cloud would be a problem yet, as dusk fell, the comet became visible for half an hour or so. The Herald, www.theherald.com.au, described the comet as being discovered by an Australian astronomer Robert McNaughton.
The perennial, the amazing, Bohemian Rhapsody was played on Alice Cooper at that very time....thunderbolt and lightning, very very frightning..Galileo, Galileo..

Comet Watching

Customs House

Customs House restaurant. The sphere above the clock tower rises and falls at certain times.

Norfolk Island, lovely home of the pine trees in the photo, is a territory of which we are to the SW. Descendents of the Bounty mutineers and a prison colony are part of its history.
Real ships, the MV Norfolk Guardian or MV Island Trader can be seen embarking from the mighty Clarence River at the small Port of Yamba to supply the islands.

Sunday Afternoon

Scouting Awards, at the Band Rotunda, a corner in King Edward Park Newcastle off York Road and under Norfolk Island Pines.

Names harking back to the Old Country and the Empire.

Hang Gliding

Hang Gliding and Paragliding http://www.air-sports.com.au
mob 0412607815 Off Strezelecki Lookout, Newcastle.




































Strezelecki Lookout is named after a Polish Geologist and explorer whose research of coal deposits and chemical analysis during the period 1839-1845 influenced the development of the Newcastle district.

May he gaze out to sea to the 55 ships waiting for coal.