Archive for July 2011
Day 124 Sunday 31st July 2011
Heart Warming Sunrise
Today, has been an amazing day. Firstly because today, I am celebrating being with my partner for 6 years. We celebrated by spending the weekend away in Jervis Bay and today, we went whale and dolphin watching. We saw several dolphins who came really close to the boat and we saw only a couple of humpback whales – still, better than nothing!! I was so in awe of the bottlenose dolphins that I’m afraid I didn’t take too many photographs of them, so instead, I will have to share this sunrise photograph that I took this morning. It was such a perfect start to the day.
Ah, it’s been such a beautiful weekend away, I wish that it didn’t have to come to an end.
Again, I’m sorry I’ve not replied to comments and viewed others work, I’ll catch up from tomorrow. I am a bad girl!! 
I’ve not forgotten you, it’s just that last week, was my first 5 day work week, since I was ill, so I’ve been snowed under.
Day 123 Saturday 30th July 2011
Paddle Away!
This weekend, we decided to go to a beautiful area called Jervis Bay, which is a few hours drive south of Sydney.
It’s such a beautiful, relaxing place. This was taken towards the end of the day in the small town called Huskisson.
Where these people were paddling, there were a couple of dolphins who were keeping them company.
Huskisson, Jervis Bay, NSW, Australia
Day 122 Friday 28th July 2011
Rainbow Lorikeet
This morning, before work, I went for a beautiful walk, in the park and came across several beautiful Rainbow Lorikeets, they moved so quickly, moving from one branch to another, this one though, chose to stick around a little longer than the others!
Day 121 Thursday 28th July 2011
Oh What a Beautiful Morning…
Todays photograph is very different to the one that I took this time last week. Lat week this field was water-logged and the day was filled with rain and grey clouds. Today, on the other hand was filled with sunshine and blue sky, just a pity that I gad to spend most of the day in an office.
Day 120 Wednesday 27th July 2011
Night
This is a night shot of Manly, that I took on my way home from work.
Day 119 Tuesday 26th July 2011
At the End of the Day
After my day at work, I decided to catch the ferry home, rather than being stuck in traffic. After witnessing this sunset, I’m rather glad that I did!
Day 118 Monday 25th July 2011
The Veins of Life
Today, was the first day back at my new old job.
I left the job back in October last year. I am happy to say that they offered me my job back – so I now have 2 jobs this one – Mon to Wed and my other job, Thu – Fri. You may recall a couple of months ago how I was sad that my other job had reduced my hours. That’s why I am so happy about this new old job,plus, I’ve really missed the people who I worked with.
Day 117 Sunday 24th July 2011
Bare-Nosed Wombat
Today, has been a very special day for me…
We(my partner and I) decided to go to the Hunter Valley, about a 2 hour drive from Sydney (well it’s meant to be, that’s if you don’t take a wrong turn!!).
It’s known for its vineyards and olive groves and beautiful countryside.
We stopped at several places, but the thing that really made me smile today, was after almost 4 years, I finally met my first wild wombat….they are nocturnal animals, so I felt very honoured see this one….
Please allow me to introduce you to my furry new friend; Mothball (I named it after a wombat in a book I gave my niece a couple of years ago – which was all about a wombat, who liked to eat carrots and people’s washing off their washing line – the wombat in the story was called Mothball).
Sadly, I have only ever seen wombats that have been killed by cars. Mothball, was at the edge of a road, eating, and eating and eating some more – grass, He/she seemed quite content and wasn’t bothered by me at all.
Mothball was about 2 and 1/2 feet long. I so wanted to give him/her a cuddle, of course, I didn’t.
For some reason, the wombat had a red mark on its back – it wasn’t blood, I’m not sure what it was, but it gave it a rather punk look when looking at him/her from behind.
I am so so happy that I finally met a real life wild wombat – today, is a day I won’t forget in a hurry.
Sadly, the Bare-nosed wombat is under
threat from habitat loss, urban development, the debilitating infestation Sarcoptic mange and eradication (some consider them pests)
The wombat is a marsupial that has a backward facing pouch, to avoid dirt entering when the wombat burrows. The baby wombat – a Joey, will stay in the pouch for 5 months, where it stays permanently attached to a teat. After 10 months, the joey leaves the pouch permanently, but stays with Mum until they are around 18 months old.
Day 116 Saturday 23rd July 2011
I Got A Brand New Camera!
Today was a very exciting day for me, as today I purchased a new camera. Not ‘the’ camera that I want to get (that will probably be sometime next year) but this one is a stepping stone – a big stepping stone.
The camera that I have purchased is a Sony HX100V which only came out here in Australia about a month ago. It’s 16.2mp with a 30x optical zoom and Carl Zeiss lens.
As I only purchased it late this afternoon, I haven’t really had a chance to play with it, I just took a few photographs before the sun went down – this photo being one of them. This is just a test photo really.
Tomorrow, is where the fun will begin!!
This photograph was taken at North Head, Manly, Sydney NSW, Australia
Day 115 Friday 22nd July 2011
Even More Rain
More and more rain today. It has rained non-stop for the last couple of days now….here’s hoping that it will ease for the weekend!!
Day 114 Thursday 21st July 2011
Niar
For over 24 hours, it has rained here constantly, – and when I it ’s rained I mean it has poured down. I ended up coming home this evening, with shoes full of water.
This photo is of a local field which I try to walk around when I can. Today, it wasn’t really possible as it was more like a paddy field than a sports field. The butterflies that you can see aren’t real – though I wish they were, instead, they are butterflies that are on my umbrella – which was the very first thing that I bought when I first moved to Australia. I bought this umbrella, because it brings a little bit of happiness on miserable days like today. It’s bright blue and the butterflies are vivid beautiful colours. I somehow prefered this photo in black and white.
Day 113 Wednesday 20th July 2011
Opening Night of Exhibition – Insight Out
Tonight was the opening night of the exhibition that I am currently in (along with other artists) called Insight Out at TAP Gallery, Darlinghurst, Sydney. The exhibition is running until the 31st July.
This photo is of 2 of my 3 exhibits.
The opening night was fantastic. A couple of hundred people must have turned up. I feel very proud to be part of something like this.
Day 112 Tuesday 19th July 2011
Beautiful Sydney
Today, I ventured in to the City. It was the perfect day – weather wise for a ferry trip. The ferry journey takes half an hour and I never-never tire of this view – I still have to pinch myself, that I live here – I mean look at it….isn’t it just glorious? What a perfect Winters day.
Sydney, NSW, Australia
Day 111 Monday 18th July 2011
Manly
I don’t really have all that much to say today, other than I love where I live! Short but sweet.
Day 110 Sunday 17th July 2011
Sunset Watsons Bay, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Today was a rather exciting day, as today, I dropped of my pieces that are going in to the exhibition that I mentioned a few weeks ago. The opening night is on Wednesday 20th July 2011. It was great to meet some of the fellow artists who are in the exhibition. I learnt today, that the exhibition is also part of the celebrations of the gallery celebrating its 22nd birthday.
After delivering my pieces, we then went for a drive around some of the areas of Sydney we don’t visit very often. Watsons Bay is one of them. This is where this photograph was taken. It’s a beautiful place, which is located on Sydney Harbour. Although where I live, it’s also on Sydney Harbour – Sydney Harbour is rather large!
Anyway, enough rambling….I hope you like the photo. By the way, for those who I follow, I am ever so sorry that I haven’t had a chance yet to look at your work from the past week, because I’d been in away in Melbourne, I’ve had a lot of catching up to do with one thing and another and to be honest, it’s been rather chaotic. I promise, I’ll catch up. You nor your work has been forgotten. I really enjoy viewing and commenting. Please don’t hate me for the silence! 
Day 109 Saturday 16th July 2011
Find Your Way Here
Today has been a rather exciting day….you may recall my post back in April of when our car broke down over Easter? well, since Easter, we have been without a car…today that changed, as we have now bought a brand new shiny car and it is beau-ti-ful! It also means that I will hopefully be able to take more photographs like this one – of different places, not just of Sydney.
This was taken at a place called Bald Hill, Stanwell Park, NSW, Australia. It’s a place that is rather special to us. A few years ago, I bought my partner, for Christmas a hang gliding experience….and he literally jumped off this very cliff, he hovered like a bird over the ocean and the trees. For several moments, I was worried that I may have sent him to his gloom, but I am pleased to say that there were no mishaps and that they (my partner and the instructor) landed safely on the beach. Not only did I arrange this for my partner, but a year or two later, My Mum was visiting Australia for the first time and I organised (with the same instructor) – for her to hang glide off this cliff also – as a surprise gift to her for her 60th birthday, it was a total shock to her and she totally embraced the opportunity. I have to say that my Mum is braver than I! I’m not sure you’d ever catch me doing something as crazy as this
Day 108 Friday 15th July 2011
Tree Trunk Drama
I love how the outer bark of this tree trunk exposed the beauty within, almost like a stage in a theatre with the outer bark being the curtains to the stage.
Day 107 Thursday 14th July 2011
Abstract
I went for a very long walk at lunchtime and came across this tree which to me, was a living piece of art. This photo is of part of the bark. I loved the shapes and patterns. The trunk of the tree really was this colour.
I am finding that I am taking rather a lot of different abstract tree shots at the moment, it’s funny how sometimes all I seem to take is sunrise photos or waterscapes and then suddenly I find myself drawn to something else.
Day 106 Wednesday 13th July 2011
Splashtastic
The ocean is wild here at the moment, it’s almost a full moon and the tide is high. As I was taking this photograph, I got absolutely soaked from the wave splashing against the rock I was cowering by. Good job that I was using my waterproof camera!
Last night, I was taking more photographs, just as the sun had gone down and I was standing on some steps because the tide had come in so much, there was nowhere else to stand. In the end, I had to make a mad run for it. Once I’d got to a safe area, there was an elderly gentleman who beckoned me over to him. I didn’t know him, however, I ended up standing with him for over an hour…..we were both dodging the tide as it crept up over the sand and we watched the moonlight dancing on the waves.
He was in awe of the water as much as me – if not more. We watched as the waves grew bigger and bigger and both cheered as we saw waves out the back preparing to crash on to the beach. It was magnificent. He drew maps in the sand of where he’d seen big waves the day before. He hopped from one foot to the other, because he was unable to stand still, due to pain in his legs.
With him, he had a tiny suitcase. I’ve no idea where he came from. I enjoyed the company of this dear elderly man. He told me that today – the tide would be even higher and we arranged to meet up again to watch the waves. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see him. I hope that one day, our paths will meet again and we can watch the moonlight dancing on the waves and laugh and cheer as the waves crash all around us.
So even though, I didn’t get to see him today, Richard – this one is for you.
Day 105 Tuesday 12th July 2011
Captivating Wave
As much as I enjoyed my short break to Melbourne, I can’t begin to tell you how happy I was to see the ocean again – even though I was only away for a short time, I really missed being near the water, so it was a wonderful treat for me to see wave after wave like this today. It was almost as though the water was actually waving to me saying hello and welcome back!
Day 104 Monday 11th July 2011
Drawn In
Melbourne is full of lanes, little shopping centres, and hideaway places. This is one that I came across. I loved the old lights that shone all the way through – from one end to another.
Day 103 Sunday 10th July 2011
City Circle Tram, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Today, was another day of walking, catching trains and trams around Melbourne and exploring what Melbourne has to offer.
Day 102 Saturday 09th July 2011
Kanes Bridge
Today, we went to a beautiful park in Melbourne called Studley Park, where this photo of Kanes Bridge was taken. The bridge, which was built in 1929 links Studley Park and Yarra Bend Park.
It felt like we were a million miles away from all the hustle and bustle of the streets, shops and city living. We walked for miles and although it was very cold, it was a beautiful blue sky day, it was perfect weather for walking and with it being so cold, it was also the perfect day to visit lots of cafes to drink coffee (not that I need an excuse to drink coffee!)
Kanes Bridge, Yarra Bend Park & Studley Park, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Day 101 Friday 08th July 2011
A Birthday to Remember
Day 101 – Friday 08th July was my birthday and this photograph means a lot to me as it represents such a fantastic day.
Although getting up at 3:30am on your birthday isn’t amazing, getting up at 3:30am to catch a flight to Melbourne – is!
I have chosen this photo because it’s of the man I love – not because he whisked me away to Melbourne for a birthday long weekend (of course I love him for that) but I love him for so much more. He is my rock, he keeps me sane, he makes me smile and I love him with all of my heart.
This photograph was taken in a fantastic Restaurant in Melbourne that we had been to the year before and it is where I spent my birthday night, drinking very strong frozen strawberry margaritas. Today, I laughed so much that I cried, over so many silly things, such as me unintentionally behaving like a cave woman whilst crossing a road, to reading funny street signs, to just really enjoying each others company. we both laughed – and it was truly wonderful.
This is the first time that I have shown a photograph of my partner, but when I look at this photo – I instantly start smiling and I think about this day and I know that hand on my heart, I will look back on this birthday with so many happy memories and it is thank to him. So even though, today was ‘my day’ – for me, today – it was ours.
Day 100 Thursday 07th July 2011
Tapestry Tree Trunk
I couldn’t quite believe my eyes when I saw this tree trunk – with all the colours that were going on! I found it to be so incredibly beautiful.
Today, I have reached 100 days of this project – I am so happy to reach this milestone.
I also wanted to say that for the next few days, I will still be taking photographs, but I won’t be able to upload them until next Tuesday, as I am going away for a long weekend – to Melbourne, as it’s my birthday tomorrow (Friday 8th) and my partner has arranged this birthday trip. I am so looking forward to going away, this year, hasn’t been the easiest, so it will be good just to go away for a few days.
I will hopefully take some decent photographs that I can share with you upon my return.
Because I am going away, I won’t be able to check your comments or look at your posts – I promise, I will catch-up upon my return.
Sunshine smiles
