newcastle au

2012-02-01T07:37:00.000+11:00

Coffee. Could be Charlestown square.

2012-01-31T08:07:00.000+11:00

dejabrew Is coffee the new opium?
Religion is the opium of the people. The tennis superstars from the Russian bloc wear a gold cross on a neck chain. Curious. Postmodern. What does Putin wear?

2012-01-29T11:01:00.000+11:00

Riverside. On taking a short cut.

2012-01-27T20:16:00.001+11:00

Red white and blue for Australia Day. At Lambton library another bright garden from the city council.
Next door, is another old feature found in the 'burbs: Lambton Memorial Baby Health Centre. Maybe more parents do their own thing around raising their offspring. Never the less, appropriate free support probably goes a long way.
Would seem really useful as a multi-purpose community centre as well.
An internet glitch has stood in the way of the blog these past days.

2012-01-25T07:16:00.000+11:00

Around here, we hardly know what crowds are like.

2012-01-24T00:45:00.001+11:00

Sawmilling by water power. We are right into alternative energy here. Or water torture?
From Melbourne, at this hour, it's torture watching Hewitt take a set off Djokovic, it's stress all round. May the best man win. But we know who's already number one.

2012-01-23T09:37:00.000+11:00

Under a gum - eucalypt - tree and scribbly gum trees. Smooth bark marked by insects.

2012-01-20T08:00:00.005+11:00

Deer are never found wandering around our countryside and deer farms are few and far between and this elderly dear and friend were lining up for supplementary food from the keeper. The animal's eyes are very endearing and the hide is course and rough. Naturally they are kept behind high wire fences. Feral deer probably exist. Interest in unusual animals or crops waxes and wanes, perhaps demand is too small to become mainstream.
Confront a deer and enjoy B&B at Mesopotania B&B just north of Kempsey NSW.

2012-01-18T13:13:00.002+11:00

nonsense act at national museum canberra - slides

2012-01-17T22:38:00.002+11:00

Road Safety! Stop Look Listen!
Pit stop for the brave and unwary? Way out of town on the highway, a thoughtful new strategy, probably during the holidays, is that of setting up portaloos plus a wheelie bin in a number of the parking bays. Roadside areas are not necessarily very safe from passing traffic, imagine if one of these were run into! And do they sway with each passing of a B Double?

2012-01-15T06:04:00.002+11:00

At Toronto on Lake Macquarie. And poster art.

2012-01-14T05:58:00.001+11:00

At Newcastle Baths. Traditional poster.

2012-01-13T05:55:00.001+11:00

Maidens or parents, Italy or Lambton, coffee is shared. And gelato.

2012-01-12T07:12:00.000+11:00

coffee at Kinokuniya - for books international especially Asian cultures

2012-01-09T06:15:00.001+11:00

Refreshments.
Illy Coffee had its origins in Trieste. In the 1930s, the founder invented the predecessor of today's expresso machine and further work on the art and science of coffee has continued from the global company that still involves the Illy family - according to Wikipedia and Illy on-line.

2012-01-08T11:54:00.003+11:00

Why ever do we copy everything that's done overseas? Government-wise. Do we want to end up with the same problems? Be original.
Caffe Aurora Medaglia D'oro is a family business in Australia since 1947 into coffee and tea. Bambino - win a Fiat 500 in their competition.

2012-01-07T14:53:00.003+11:00

Refreshments! Customers order at the counter - so taken for granted now - then at many cafes the finished product is taken to the customer's table .
Unrelated to the above coffee bars, Schibellocaffe.com has photos from the past

2012-01-06T06:41:00.001+11:00

Our latest cars have adopted the shape of a Dakar rally car and this one looks like another contestant or a backup vehicle
SBS TV will take you to Argentina - the new Dakar - to see the rally.
Bereft of those old Aftican connections and ambience -how well do the French rally cars adapt?
It's a man's world.

2012-01-05T07:34:00.000+11:00

Possumbuster.

2012-01-04T13:00:00.003+11:00

Swimming in the Bogey Hole Rock Pool Newcastle.
A very slow video/slides without the rough seas and an adaption of what was intended.

2012-01-04T10:55:00.000+11:00

In and out of a time warp in Morpeth. Old billboard sized signage is fast fading.

2012-01-01T09:21:00.000+11:00

Chippy, the biker and owner film videos as Djrcmach on YouTube.

Here's a Christmas carol new to me possibly one for the motorist.

Child in the manger, infant of Mary;

outcast and stranger,....

Child who inherits all our transgressions,

all our demerits on him fall.

2011-12-30T00:40:00.002+11:00

Cockatoos sure get around and they flock to Maccas. The trees were nice and spruce to start with.
It is just as likely that the Daily Telegraph will be found at the fast food counters. Is that a good or bad option? Something like their coffee brew.
Sydney Herald Christmas Weekend edition offered several faith filled essays unexpected from a daily newspaper. Conventional church press can't match it. What will the demographic make of all that while the paper sees out the last of those who follow print over on-line

2011-12-29T12:13:00.000+11:00

The closest I get to a tube or board riding. Or is it rolled oats swirlling towards the finish? Will it win on a protest?

2011-12-28T00:22:00.000+11:00

There's a certain easy feeling while driving when you think you know your way around a whole lot of the side streets around town. It is miles ahead of getting around in unfamiliar territory.

I've had a Tom Tom device, love the name, for quite a while but managed to remove all the data in an attempt to make the recommended backup. Was good while it lasted. Pages of instuctions were located as to how to reinstall the maps. But an overall map of a region in old print technology is still great value.

2011-12-25T19:30:00.003+11:00

Met a flock of red feathered birds this Christmas. A few cheeky birds are at a camping site. All this is far from a product from a BBC Natural history unit.
More 'carols' from the birds as alluded to several days ago.
Now unleashed via public setting!

What will happen in Red Square? Another brave revolt. What will Putin do?

2011-12-25T08:31:00.002+11:00

Christmas 2011.

A facile post. Where is the 2011 world record held for the most Christmas lights on a private residence? In Canberra, ACT, (according to one interview heard on ABC radio overnites). It has been You Tubed.
Google home page is also lighting up right now with Jingle bells.

2011-12-24T06:31:00.000+11:00

Christmas 2011

2011-12-23T20:33:00.002+11:00

Christmas 2011

Window shopping at Eurolight, Kotara. Crystals hanging about. Also on sale was a light globe that can light-up in a range of any one of about 12 colours that may be selected with a little remote control. Cute.

2011-12-21T17:39:00.002+11:00

A busy 'gang' of white cockies is often seen around Westfields. Today a flock is in Mayfield. Are they having a change of scene after 'pruning' all their favourite trees over that way?

.....where the tree-ferns grow by the river,
...in the gullies Bell-birds are chiming,
....their lyric notes rhyming:
Orana! Orana! Orana! to Christmas Day.
....currawongs chant in wattle-tree bowers,
in the blue rangers lorikeets calling,
carols of bushbirds rising and falling.
Orana! Orana! Orana! to Christmas Day.

Orana is an aboriginal word meaning welcome. by John Wheeler. Copyright by Chappell and Co Australia P/L trading as Warner Chappell music.

2011-12-21T08:45:00.003+11:00

A 'front yard business' in Clarencetown that locally designs and locally builds kayaks. elliottkayaks.com.au. And they're winners, second in the Yukon 1000, the longest canoe and kayak race from Whitehorse to the Alaska Pipeline/Dalton highway. Time to take on the challenges in the streams around Gloucester tops etc. And at the seaside. Into the wild. Along with amazing nature take care over stinging horseflies, sandflies, mossies, snakes and escapee!

Just up the street a big move has been successful. Moved from Sydney, a house clad in shingles is not an everyday sight. Shingles but not a snow flake in sight. Was the house a bargin price or is it considered something special that warrants appropriate finishing details chosen with some care. Time will tell.

2011-12-20T15:39:00.001+11:00

Road works ahead.

2011-12-19T17:19:00.000+11:00

St Peters Bendolba. North of Dungog.

2011-12-17T05:19:00.001+11:00

Typical scene in Hamilton.

2011-12-15T13:06:00.003+11:00

People at Sydney Airport. Slide show. 35 seconds.

If you went to reside in another country would you give up your heritage? Some Aussie ex-pats never venture far into use of a local language or out of their comfort zone. (Granted, language is a difficult task). Others are the opposite and are early adopters.
So many of us just don't get it. 'Newcomers to Australia, should be just like us' etc etc. 'Speak English, don't form into groups''.
What is hoped for, in my estimation, is that newcomers will abide by our laws and have some measure of good will towards this country.
What's the problem? It is not unusual for any of us to have weaker degrees of allegiance and have various opinions as to the worth of local endeavours. And no one is expected to give up their heritage. Around here, we are all entitled to have our own beliefs and customs.
At the same time, one does wonder about correctness and watering down, of our very few established Christmas customs. Does it diminish us? I can see the point, but, like I've said, I am still stuck in the eighteenth century and must adjust.
But, let's have full-on celebrations and acknowledge the full range of customs in a significant manner.

2011-12-13T10:27:00.003+11:00

Evidence is be found that an inate spark of life is not entirely extinguished.
What about the dangerous fugitive in the wilderness who has evaded capture for several years? Where is he?  Surviving in the tall remote forests along Thunderbolts Way. As in Captain Thunderbolt: bushranger!
   Then, an employee is said to have stolen 16 million dollars during his day job at Queensland Health. From his luxury apartment in designer suits he is said to have partied-on and identified with Tahitian royalty when, really, he hails from the land of the long white cloud.

Drawing a very long bow, camping in Barrington Tops still sound AOK? What the heck! Life is full of risk.

2011-12-11T07:55:00.000+11:00

South coast harbour and long line fishing gear. Well, that's my guess - as to what this is.
Rightly or wrongly, images of snagged, drowned Albatross intrude.

What will Putin do? Given enough rope and.....

2011-12-10T07:22:00.000+11:00

Often this pub in Islington is very lively and vocal.

2011-12-08T09:02:00.001+11:00

Glam in Wickham!

2011-12-06T16:44:00.000+11:00

Young Peoples Theatre in Hamilton. Fostering talent.

Richard 111 (and bungy jumping) is playing in Sydney and sparked off some lines of enquiry to follow up.
The old film, with Olivier, as Richard, is very theatrical from 1955, a product of its day with a host of classic English artists of stage and screen to wonder about. The DVD came to light at Video Ezy.
A later version, 1995, stars Ian McKellen as Richard, and looks very interesting set in Britain as a fascist state and is another who's who of actors but will remain a mystery because the borrowed disk was worn out and faulty.
Annette Bening plays Elizabeth and that brings to mind the outstanding film, American Beauty, with Bening and Kevin Spacey.
Al Pacino's Looking For Richard - a masterclass - with good reviews in the 1990s has Spacey as Buckingham. Another mystery because of the difficulty in finding a copy. That's what happens when you're twenty years too late.
(It also came to light that Spacey was in LA Confidential which was a rather good entertainment.)

A Kevin Spacey Foundation exists to support dramatic art and it funds Richard's rampage - an arts entity which spans nine countries. The current touring drama is part of the Bridge Project - a Transatlantic endeavour for co-production by British and US dramatists and devoted to producing large-scale classical theatre for international audiences and Sydney became the latest destination. .So that's what makes Spacey 'tick'.

2011-12-06T15:52:00.002+11:00

Looks perfect from this angle.

2011-12-04T10:29:00.004+11:00

Arcade, Newcastle. Believe it had a small indoor swimming pool once.
Surprises lighten our way. Salute the unplanned!

A day trip provoked surprisng disbelief and humour at the gravitas and ostentation at Westfield, dare I say Arcade, Sydney. A hub for global big name designers who prove that accessories are supreme! Wall to wall marble. Marvel. Minimalism. Sinister. Christmas decor far too crass and tatty. A reality check.
Cross Castlereagh Street for a refreshing change in D J's Christmas display windows where charming puppet-like figures, of character, tell a simple Christmas story.
Back to earth again by another bonus sight, history in the making, the 99% seen in vocal revolt, in a large Gay rights march led by two staid police horses down the slippery slope to the Government's conference in Darling harbour. Weighty Gay marriage considerations were undermined by intersecting with a toy train-ride on a stunning day by the harbour that reflects only good times and enjoyment.
What would Putin do?

2011-12-02T21:12:00.001+11:00

Warning. Macabre subject ahead.
On looking at a birds nest that was blown out of a tree it revealed a little bird tangled up and trapped by its leg where it had perished.
The nest was woven out of scraps of paper, string, threads, a blue hair band and spikey leaves woven around a soft lining that looked like dandelion filaments.

If there is no obsession about keeping the lawn mown it is likely that dandelions will grow to maturity and have bright yellow flowers followed by a seed head in the form of a perfect globe. The custom is to blow the seeds off and the number of puffs needed to blow all the seeds off will give the hour of the day. And believe the leaves are edible in salads and dandelion tea is a brew but don't take my word for it, we all know plants can be poisonous.

2011-12-01T12:44:00.003+11:00

Bella Vista, in Mayfield, is a unique estate in Newcastle. Old establishment on three acres. Spacious lawns, trees and gardens: pleasant but not outstanding. It acts as a wedding venue and function centre and offers accommodation. http://www.bella-vista.com.au/
Q E ll stayed there in 1954.
The estate was built in 1919 for the manager of BHP Steel Works. The manager was a Pittsburg steelmaker who pioneered the first steel making plant in Newcastle according to Bella Vista on line.
Over the years, managers, executives, royalty and important names have visited and slept over.
For some unknown reason a plaque states Bella Vista was officially opened by an MP in 1968.

2011-11-30T07:20:00.000+11:00

Mangroves and Estuary. Throsby Creek Carrington.
Easily the worlds greatest video!

2011-11-27T22:10:00.001+11:00

Saint Andrews Mayfield celebrated 150 years with a festive service and a new representation of Saint Andrew on a wall hanging.
(Tradition has it that this saint came to an unpleasant end in Greece or thereabouts.) Today, the pipe organ was in the hands of an excellent musician. An African community participated with percussion instruments. The rector's cat joined in proceedings at one stage.

2011-11-26T08:59:00.002+11:00

Beyond the headwaters of the might Styx, Tickhole Tunnel may be glimpsed. Yes, Tickhole. Between the stations of the suburb of Kotara and Cardiff.

At first it was decided not to add the idea that a rail crossing in the vicinity of Kotara station would be amazing and locals would find it very convenient.

Ticks, those small blood-sucking insects, are bad news for dogs and if undetected lead to an emergency dash to the vet. They can't be any good for children either.

We came under attack on our last camping sortie by ticks no bigger than a speck that delivered a whopping bite while they hung on. Oh! the great outdoors.

2011-11-25T10:47:00.000+11:00

Lose Your Marbles in Hunter Street East. In 49 seconds.

2011-11-25T10:35:00.001+11:00

In severe weather it is just as well to keep an eye on Styx Creek.
What if the road became impassable and suburbs were isolated by a flash flood?
Be afraid!

2011-11-23T17:15:00.000+11:00

Some Rhode Island Reds would be feeling lucky they're not turkeys at this time of year.

2011-11-23T13:15:00.001+11:00

Stroll along the harbour side and see roadside memorials and a ghost ship as well as the here and now.

2011-11-21T00:29:00.000+11:00

Swaying leaves. That's it. Nothing else.

2011-11-18T22:47:00.001+11:00

Another storm over the Orica works
Koorangang Island is home to an array of large industrial undertakings. A fertilizer company took up the first lease on the Island in 1964 and was probably Greenleaf Fertilizer hence Greenleaf Road. Or was that Incitec who merged with Pivot who may include Orica or is it Hi Fert? No, Orica is Orica and originated as ICI - so it has quite a past.
An old hand spoke of an incident of airborne pollution in the very early days that damaged the paint on the cars belonging to the workers who were given compensation payments. There was no Stockton Bridge or transport. Still no transport? Then the 'smoke stack' was lengthened because of a persistent inversion over the area. Over forty years on and problems continue to occur.
And the company creates the pollution. Not the government.

2011-11-17T10:21:00.003+11:00

Simulacrum captured in stark reality.  Closed doors on the sabbath leave no cafe racers out on display.

The Middle kingdom has no need to feel left out of our strategies whilever they buy our coal mines and real estate whereas, for some reason, the USA, is handed over access in a type of 'window dressing' move.  Yet, today, the US President's gracious winning style almost twisted my arm.
Flattery?  Hey, the Prime minister, today, wore a different styled suit that really flattered her. I wish she would contact the governor general's terrific stylist.

2011-11-16T10:33:00.002+11:00

President Place. Today's pic: a spruced-up ~~nation~~ notion but no spin.

2011-11-14T20:56:00.000+11:00

Binary communications

2011-11-11T11:11:00.001+11:00

Real men drive road trains.
A fabulous mining bonanza has overtaken the Hunter Valley as well as other regions such as McKinlay in Queensland.
Hunter rail transport is crucial so we havn't come to road transport like this yet, but who knows, there's no time to lose before potential environmental restrictions on coal mining kick in.

Details: Road Trains transport lead and zinc concentrate from BHP Cannington mine to rail loading facility at Yurbi.
Overall length 53.3 metres. Gross weight 160 tonnes. Prime mover Mack Titan. Motor 600hp Cummins.
Gearbox 18 speed road ranger. 86 wheels. 4 trailers.
From ICP Craftpress. photography by David Lee.

2011-11-06T08:51:00.002+11:00

visitnewcastle.com.au

2011-10-31T03:08:00.001+11:00

Near death experience.

2011-10-30T15:24:00.000+11:00

Quiet walking track minus any action

2011-10-25T09:59:00.001+11:00

Beach scene. Original art deco painting in Great Northern Hotel, Newcastle.

These 'pages' take a look at Newcastle and other parts of the state and jump from one to another and contain mutterings about all sorts of abstract topics. From 2006 onwards.

2011-10-24T23:07:00.002+11:00

Nobbys Beach Newcastle

The final cut

2011-10-22T16:59:00.000+11:00

Kuta Lines Surfshop, Redhead, where a local legend keeps shop in a unique building using recycled timber from old Lee Wharf on Newcastle Harbour. Large beams, sandstone blocks and other large pieces have found a place there as well as surf-inspired art works and a collection of surfboards from down through the decades.

Kuta Lines surfing goods have gone global after small beginnings in the seventies when two surfing brothers from Newcastle visited Bali and were impressed by traditional Balinese textiles and asked for a few clothes to be made and then worn back here. When other people asked about these it led to the start of the business which involved Balinese workers.
The work of Tony Brown and Kuta is recorded in the National Gallery in Canberra and describes how hooded 'Streaky' jumpers used fabric developed in Indonesia. Traditional ikat weaving and dying techniques were adapted to create a fleecy, heavier weight fabric that would keep surfers warm on cold southern beaches. Streakies came in many colours and became something of a cult fashion item on and off the beach.
It is said that the art of traditional textiles, in Indonesia, is in decline because it is very labour intensive and time consuming and modern conventional textile workshops have taken over and Kuta fashions are still made there.

National Museum, Canberra.

2011-10-20T20:25:00.002+11:00

going going going .........gone!

Driverless transport and driverless video capture! Not a recent effort.

2011-10-20T09:20:00.002+11:00

Outlandish Christmas decor gets the thumbs up. Conventional suburb but never judge a book by its cover. Anything is possible!
The shaped tree on the left is a lovely little work.

Brand Newcastle logo arrived for the promotion of Newcastle. If it had Java script it could be easily published, well, to the extent of what is possible from a computer illiterate. And converting stuff to jpg format. Something to explore one of these days.

2011-10-19T06:50:00.003+11:00

Talking about trees...... blossoming trees seen around Newcastle suburbs this week. Wait all year for one splendid showing. And these pics haven't done them justice. Believe the smallest tree is a mango tree with fig trees in background.

2011-10-17T21:58:00.001+11:00

Complaints department here. What have I got to lose?

The above was, sort of, a unique set of shops, possibly from the thirties or so, original shopfronts, 5 or 6 matching, woodwork and tiled or tessellated entrances. The colour scheme was crap. Never had a chance at this quiet end of the street.
Not anymore. Modernisation has taken over and each shop has been wrecked and given the standard, glassy front treatment and grand new addtions at this end make the premises twice as big as before.
Superficially, these shops needed clever rejuvination in retro style. They were perfect for vintage. A suitable paint scheme would have worked wonders and the shops could have become specially appealing.
But, in the cold hard light of day, any darn thing is tried to make an investment viable.

2011-10-17T07:06:00.000+11:00

Sailing, pets at the beach, Street fair in New Lambton and hugh League match NZ beaten by Aus, there was little time left for serious issues this weekend.

2011-10-16T10:57:00.004+11:00

Back doors and terrace houses that became office space and a legal precinct, as in lawyer. For some reason all this activity seems destined to move to the Civic area.
It is evident that some areas in the city become more popular than others and businesses like to moove into the action but there is still scope for numerous nearby vacant properties to join in the momentum instead of more new buildings if clever and bold ideas were employed.
Cars and pedestrians have non stop turn taking in Steel Street now that new shops have created more activity.

2011-10-15T10:51:00.000+11:00

Behind the scene.

2011-10-14T12:06:00.001+11:00

Change is constant. In King Street, a row of terraces, home of everyday Novocastrians, became shops. Retailing declines and maybe, homeowners will return again to the old terraces.
Commercial activity in the city has freedom to abide where it thinks fit. No particular entity is in control, I imagine. To movers and shakers: go on! radicalise yourselves and find clever arrangments that facilitate the use of our empty city buildings.
At the same time as a brand new shopping centre is squeezed onto a city site, empty disused premises, just one block distant, are left to rot. Can planning exert pressure on commerce who display immunity to the surroundings and ignore what we have here.
Wastefully, commerce just doesn't get it when it comes to recycling building stock and the overall amenity misses out on a golden opportunity. The high costs of adaption become part and parcel of developments. The move to Honeysuckle left a few big casualities in the CBD and is bad exmaple.
Certain radical penalities might be applied to discourge the duplication of shops and offices. Radical yet prudent limitation of suburban developments before consolidation of what we already have is the wildest dream and a red rag to a bull. Image the outcry.
Good as it is, it takes more than opening up crafty shops in response to an impending influx during a festival.
We are not alone, cities everywhere grapple with urban renewal. Try more inventiveness along with pressure.

2011-10-13T09:46:00.000+11:00

Yass Firewood Supplies, Yass. And bagged kindling and bagged coal.

2011-10-12T15:09:00.001+11:00

A timber jinker.

2011-10-11T10:30:00.001+11:00

Firewood.

I am all for community activism but in my opinion this is just faux green martyrdom by selfish, self-important baby-booming chardonnay socialists and their over-indulged progeny.

Surely this comment is wide of the mark! On line comment to the Herald on the subject of fig trees.

2011-10-09T21:41:00.001+11:00

Zombies prowled today and ended up at Tower cinema where short original flicks of their kind materialised.....in the darkness there.

2011-10-07T23:29:00.003+11:00

Real Men Use Chainsaws. The very first branch is cut off the fig trees in Laman Street.

No protest would be complete without some pets coming along. It was hard to believe they included poultry and a rooster wearing a baby's bib and perched on a pram!

For all the countless meetings, the CEOs, mediation processes and negotiating skills, our psychological insights, our higher education and degrees in management and change agent, peace studies and meditation, the zen of the removal of the fig trees has not proceeded smoothly. And I'm not anti-intellectual but it makes you wonder.

2011-10-07T17:18:00.003+11:00

Citizen action when fig trees were about to cut down in Laman Street Newcastle today. The chain saws soon began their work despite the protests to keep the old trees.

Following is homage to elders among the green activists seen during the protest.

Right: J. Sutton. Special edition T shirt.

D. Lithgow.

M. Henry left and J Sutton

D. Lithgow, left and J Sutton.

Major personalities in the current fig tree protest are covered in the media rather than in these pics.

Other citizens at the protest follow in pics below.

subversive flag, protestor in wheelchair

Law keepers.

Mayor and partner on right.

NBN TV

Radio 2HD

T Leahy, Uni lecturer

Fig tree remnants were handed out.

2011-10-07T10:51:00.001+11:00

Horseshoe beach with dog tracks

News of protestors has reached to me, namely http://occupywallst.org/ They seek strange things like fairness, rethink of financial institutions and more equality.
Can someone please start a local offshoot?

2011-10-07T10:05:00.000+11:00

Something nothing. This house usually grabs me because of the Chinese influences or as they say 'references Chinese architecture'.

2011-10-06T11:28:00.000+11:00

The hugh famine in Africa urgently requires generous cash donations. Every donation to the leading NGOs will be matched, dollar for dollar by the Australian government.
We are seriously obligated to provide aid in times of famine and disaster. Otherwise, does aid really do good? Does it do harm? Really, change needs to come from within a country itself. Instead of charity, new trading patterns and clever arrangments that reward a struggling country must be the way of the future and that takes leadership and will. Our 'guest' working visas could be in that direction.
Ties of friendship and good will with folk overseas are wonderful yet limited. Belief in a small catalyst that gathers momentum is a difficult notion. Outsiders impose and establish foreign services that demand hugh long term support that may become unavailable.
And this rant is coming from one who has volunteered and who favours social justice.
How many countries have a burgeoning middle class along with those in adject poverty? In numbers and in affluence these middle classes are far bigger than our own population. In one light it is absurd to undertake charity work in a country that can well look after its own if there was the will to do so. We have hugh potential to establish more equality and overcome poverty and allow a decent standard of living to be extended. What happens in the meantime? Is that where charity comes in?
Will it be change in the West instead of charity? Is the financial crisis lowering our high unsustainable standard of living and making way for others to have a fair share? Then the crisis will not be in vain.

2011-10-05T15:02:00.001+11:00

From crime to clime.
Coastal scrub is in full flower - subtle yet glaring.
Following on from last photo, a grim murder had happened.

2011-10-04T22:30:00.001+11:00

This evening, Police and forensics were on duty at a crime scene in public housing in Waratah.

2011-10-04T09:26:00.000+11:00

In Blackbutt Nature Reserve. A sunny holiday emerged as the wet weather fled away.
A sly Mr Fox would make nice work of these cute little ducks.

2011-10-03T11:11:00.000+11:00

Real koalas are part of the experience at Blackbutt Nature Reserve but these sightseers are hugging a toy koala.
I've only seen koalas in an enclosure once or twice, and twice (not two times) seen a lone koala in a tree top out of captivity and another time suddenly one ran close past me in bushland days after a bush fire that had singed its fur, an encounter not forgotten. The numbers of koalas are declining as their bushland habitat is cleared and pet dogs attack them and other problems.

2011-10-01T11:21:00.001+10:00

Window shopping. Beacon Lighting, Kotara. All that glitters is not gold.

A safe recovery from the economic tightrope that several countries find themselves on could be via the way of the Cup Cake.
A cup cake recovery stimulates a raft of activities and the outcomes are sweet when products, services, the workers, imports and exports are all involved.
The PM knows the wisdom of this with a Fiftieth Birthday Cup Cake Arrangment as a surprise during a school visit where the cup cake had infiltrated.

Infrastructure becomes crucial with strong demand for space age baking trays, giant psudo-cup cake pans, paper patties, tierd cake stands, cake mixers and mixes, themed fridge magnets, cards, toys and adorments, Wedding cakes and parties. At its peak, job creation is just the icing on the cake.
As well, social capital benefits because Cup Cakes are good for self esteem. Trouble with a successful full size cake? From experience Cup cakes are almost fool proof.
Is this a valid policy? On second thoughts, it is most likely, that the cup cake craze began in one of those big countries that is not doing very well at all.
Kids in the Kitchen. Turn a simple cup cake into a masterpiece. A school holiday activity at City branch, Newcastle Region Library. Thursday. 10yrs+

2011-09-29T17:29:00.000+10:00

Blackbutt Nature Reserve is a good idea for things to do in the school holidays. New work is offering more to enjoy there, thanks to Newcastle City Council.
As well, Fantastic Mr Fox is a show on next week or 4 - 8 October. Foxes have attitude but wonder why Mr Fox is fantastic?

2011-09-28T09:40:00.002+10:00

top: The Chaffey Pump. This is the original pump installed by the Chaffeys when irrigation was first brought to the Sunraysia district. The pump is now preserved near the art gallery (Mildura).
From vintage postcards: In 1887, George and William Chaffey selected land in this barren area of red soil and stunted growth. They were Californians. However, with the ample waters of the Murray River at hand, abundant sunshine and a dry climate the area, at the corner where the states of Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales meet, was to turn from land valued at 2/6 an acre into a fabulous district of patterned greenery with values up to five hundred pounds an acre.
Geogre Chaffey, an engineer, knew the miracles worked by irrigation and saw the possibilities in this area. Nowadays, the Sunraysia district consists of a hundred square miles of properties planted to vines, mixed fruits and vegetable growing.

In 2011, the story unfolds with current debate about suvival of the Murray-Darling rivers, water usage and long-term management.
From Nucolorvue Post Cards.

2011-09-26T09:28:00.001+10:00

Wide calm waters of the Murray provide excellent passage way for the paddle steamers. This scene was taken between Mildura and Merbein. (South-west corner of the state NSW.)
Next, dipping grapes at Irymple. before drying.
Vintage post cards by Nucolorvue

2011-09-25T12:20:00.001+10:00

This is how it was. This bridge near Wentworth is typical of many which span the waters of the Darling or Murray Rivers.
Old postcards from Nucolorvue P/L.

2011-09-23T22:35:00.000+10:00

Flannel Flowers growing in the wild.

2011-09-23T05:12:00.001+10:00

Our past and our future. In the background is an extensive new church primary school built in Branxton. It is very large as this is a growth area probably and kids will be bused in.
Pictured is part of the existing old school which is quite reasonable. Easy come easy go.
They say gains and losses are only on paper. A few weeks ago, it would have been possible to cover the cost of once in a lifetime indulgences with this weeks write down. Instead I count my blessings!

2011-09-22T11:59:00.004+10:00

School concert making the most of new school hall built recently by economic stimulus activity.

Assembly halls have sprung up everywhere in the lucky country. Are we appreciative?
The public's response was painfully mirrored on ABC TV ?comedy, At Home With Julia, (Prime Minister) where she was painted as inept.

Mr Wayne Swan, Federal Treasurer, at her side, also finds himself among a nation of whingers even when he is named Finance Minister of the Year slash World Best Finance Minister for 2011 awarded by Euromoney (sic) with a ceremony in Washington (sic).

Far too much is made of personalities. Just give us decent government by expert work from appropriate work groups.

2011-09-22T09:12:00.000+10:00

In transit, potential conversations around the water cooler. How are the office converstations in a Google workplace? Is the water in its original state? According to the Sunday newspaper, Google is voted one of the very best workplaces. Now that's good advertising.

2011-09-21T07:09:00.002+10:00

New retail centre on the other side of the Styx, Tueday evening. They will have to brave any double dip recession although this country is not bearing the brunt.

This is not Thursday night shopping. A textile factory was here once.

2011-09-20T09:48:00.002+10:00

Just imagine how it is to be a radical. I'm still the same old self but my ideas are extreme. Climate change is not happening yet I have been known to mull over the ethics of taking a flight on a holiday whim, considering the hugh amount of fossil fuel that an aircraft burns and exhausts. The act of using a human or a donkey as a beast of burden so as to swan around mountain tops is another question. At least the donkey is not carrying a male bigger than itself. (yes, it is employment, but...) And isn't Nepal riddled with malnutrition?

Prime Minister Gillard has an uphill battle. In my books, she can do nothing better than finalise climate change leglislation. If she has to sacrifice everything and become a martyr to the climate change cause she will be glorious and enjoy the view from the top.

My daughter just loved trecking in Nepal despite the effects of local illnesses, was it the altitude, and she carried her pac.

2011-09-19T05:08:00.002+10:00

The tree of life.
If, say, ten very large fig trees were felled, how much carbon would be released? In terms of carbon sink, what if a suitable financial penalty became attached to felling a tree? And cost cutting is debated. There's no time to lose.
After felling, if the timber were put to a noble use to build or furnish, for instance, the new art gallery, then the carbon would remain sequestrated and we could forever admire, feel good and rejoice over the trees that grew in Laman Street.

2011-09-18T12:16:00.000+10:00

Many many church goers flocked to this sacred site then later the numbers declined. Mount St Alphonsus monastery became empty, pervaded with solitude and changed to a non-denominational wedding venue (according to the signage).
The members of the well know international religious order who built the monastery, came to Singleton in the Hunter as their first port of call in the early days and have recently left the Hunter area possibly for ever.
The large size of the monastery of 1887 makes it unique in Newcastle.
New innovative uses for the building can be imagined if we happened to have a bigger population.
If in doubt, turn it into a wedding venue (or aged care)! Secular society still likes to hark back to vestiges of a church wedding. Same with Christening - some people like the idea - that's it. Baptism can become useful with spin offs to do with church schools and the like.

2011-09-17T17:13:00.001+10:00

Another corner of the coastal nature reserve.

2011-09-16T07:34:00.000+10:00

Dudley Headland south of Newcastle. Suburbs surround a nature reserve. Amazing luck had this sought after land preserved free from McMansion creep.

2011-09-15T11:22:00.002+10:00

Follow the secret path to a wonderful eyrie and hear the hum of bees, wild flowers, birds and shore break.