Many Ethnic groups are found in China, and is this charming image romancing their appeal.......romance........romanisation........ Chinese Mandarin is an ancient living language with pictographic writing and it once underwent Romanisation.
About fifty years ago the Chinese government established a standard official version (called Putonghua or Hanyu - language of the Han people - the majority people.
The amazing written characters were simplified and made easier to write (really!) and Romanisation saw the Pinyin system adopted to express the sounds of the language, for example via vowels etc. Another trick is that tones are used to express the differences in meaning of the same sound.
As well as the simplified characters those seen in newspapers, in books or in headings use slightly different fonts.
Traditional characters are more complex and unsimplified and might be seen used in Taiwan or in Hong Kong and in the global communities - probably used in the printed menu at the local Chinese Cafe. The characters are also seen in Japanese and in some Korean texts and in other instances of which I am unaware.
Each Chinese character is pronounced as a single syllable and has its own meaning. They are combined.
The other decorative cursive styles found in calligraphy make a beautiful art form.
Incredible examples of fine characters carved into stone slabs or steles are found preserved in collections - the Stele Forest is one that can be seen.
It seems that maps and place names underwent modernisation as well and dual versions can exist to test the wits, locations become quite unintelligible on certain maps.

Most of this information is from the book Ni Hao by Fredlein and Fredlein, published by China Soft, Brisbane, 2001. The little symbols for accents etc in above words have been omitted.

http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=189 More complex discussion as to the key to learning Mandarin is on this link.

TAFE College, Tighes Hill: Dog House challenge.
Kennel for sale, suit gypsy hound.

Beating the high fuel prices? Unlike many places, solo bike riders are the norm here.

Mowing the playing fields on a rainy day at Mayfield

A Lookout in Newcastle. Sea views are also found there.

Horse racing. Racecourse buildings come in all shapes and sizes. This funny old building is surely unique hereabouts.The stairway to heaven?

Icons and 'tude!
Scene at a pre-World Youth Day festival in Newcastle.

Strike! The city changes, yet stays the same, business come and go but Super Strike has hung in there for years and years. I think Newcastle has two bowling alleys.

It is disapppointing that we all have to pay for the subprime mortgage debarcle. Can't anyone manage the financial world with any degree of success? Refuse to turn a blind eye to the extremes of exploitation?
The multitude of investment funds are, first and foremost, a commodity for a multitude of fund managers to reap off their benefits, no matter what. And these were my ideas before the downturn. But I'm not complaining!

Light-emitting diode or LED lights.
These small glowlights use only a tiny amount of power.
Bulbs are newer items and are for sale in this display.
LEDs first came on the scene to illuminate readouts and dials or to show that an appliance was on. Diodes abound in electronics and these products exploit their lighting properties and white light has been an advancement.
Technical data exists about developments but, for example, the lights are of some use for interior lighting for a camper van that is dependent on solar or a genny when travelling away on remote adventures. LEDs are used in traffic lights.
Saw the light at Cetnaj P/L Mayfield West.

A flock of Sulphur-crested Cockatoos were 'grazing' in a park. The upswept crest is folded and the yellow feathers are hidden away. Pink crested cockatoos are another variation. Voice: raucous screeches and squawks.

My book is getting old and tattered. Not so much from overuse. First written in 1970, Diet for a Small Planet by Frances Moore Lappe is influential and considers vegetarianism, perhaps grain feed beef and sustainability and especially food combinations in a lot of detail.
It takes a degree of bravery to be vegetarian and my interest has waxed and waned even when it is a delicious healthy option.
In the book, one of the recipes has a simple tasty combination of rice, cashews, raisins, sliced apple, carraway seeds and curry in no less than the Song of India Rice.
Otherwise, the aim is to serve some semblance of balanced nutrition. This means more than the exclusion of meat.

Plastic milk crates are put to all sorts of use and one is fitted inbetween the sandstone blocks made for the renovations to St Andrews Presbyterian Church in Newcastle.



A heritage restoration project on the 1890's Menkins Building is underway. The architect is Suters and E.H. Stonemasonry is on the project.
Financial help is welcom.

Here is an ordinary hedge that is transformed at this time of the year. The new shoots make a big difference to its appearance beside a busy road at Mayfield West.

Yes but no but....The advertisment for blue tongue beer carries another contradictory sign! Seen at the football stadium.
CDPhoto bloggers have reworked the 'no' theme and are seen on the following link - if there is not too much web traffic.
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Here is a new old gothic spire, one of four, grounded and awaiting resurrection onto the heights of Saint Andrews Church in Newcastle to soar above the city for the next hundred years or more.
This church building of note is being restored.

The motoring writer in The Herald, Brent Davison, is not enamoured with the minor idiosyncrasies found in the Citroen C4. And he writes 'Can you dislike a car because some of its basic design points don't work or should that be seen as character-building? I see what he means.
We have always had a succession of cars. Some European carmakers just change the steering over to the right hand side and the controls remain back to front, even the pedals seem offset. Gears are for the left hand anyway.
Against this are all the rest of the cars that are designed with certain conventions for the driver who sits on the right.
Changing between these two style of cars each day or so adds to the driving experience. One obstacle is the motor horn which is just never there where you thought it was and there's momentary helplessness when someone is about to reverse into you or the like but of course this doesn't happen very often but then there's the blinkers etc etc....
Renault cars are in the photo.

No admittance. Is this a boat with a difference or has the paint been stripped? Boats of stained timber are not so common around here.

Just when you thought the path was safe!

Beside the path are seen ancient inscriptions.

More of the path to certainty.

The Path

Centre for Research and Screening into Breast Cancer at the Mater Hospital, Waratah. It was build by funds raised by an NBN TV telethon and possibly by other funding.

Vale Jane McGrath, from breast cancer, 42 years, cheerful mother of two young children and worker for breast cancer services.
Glenn McGrath, the Australian test cricketer is her husband.

Move over Norm Frazer and all the rest. Seen at a custom bike emporium which has a new image and exploits old warehouse-type premises and vintage fittings to match.

This postmodern business is full of illusion. A lift is grounded and goes nowhere and acts as a fitting room, a big eatery is crowded out and, on the serious side, motorcycles adopt a new identity, where, I am told, Yamaha 400 singles and Kawasaki 650s are targets for grand modifications, the Kawasaki itself a copy of an old Truimph. Retro on retro.




Dare (!) Jennings, 58, has created Deus Ex Machina, a cheeky play with words which operates in Sydney in Camperdown. Sunday Life reveals he was also the founder of Mambo (into surfing gear) This is not likely to be Dare Jennings in the photo but is an employee.

The change room lift.
On another note, Casey Stoner has number one grid position in tonights motorcycle race and is hanging in there.

University of Newcastle is in a bushland setting and acres of local plants and trees enhance the environment and is in line with a plan for a natural setting won at the start up of the campus. Roads and paths take you along hills and gullies and through areas of uncleared bushland among the widespread built environment.
Unique landscaping included some permaculture ideas with arrangments of rocky watercourses complete with a succession of small holding ponds. Lawn mowing became unnecessary. However, at last count it was seen that severe pruning and clearing had upended much of those plans. Visibility was a problem no doubt.

The Hunter Building at the University of Newcastle is not shown to advantage yet it has style and while it appears unobtrusive it has a number of levels around courtyards and has interesting twists and turns and is a mini-university all under one roof.

About 1971 the Teachers' College occupied stage one of this site which after a few years became known as Newcastle College of Advanced Education with Griff Duncan as the foundation principal. In 1985 the last links with the Union Street site were severed.
A multitude of buildings were developed and another change of name to the Hunter Institute of Higher Education came about but was in vain. After 40 years of teacher education and an enrolment of over 4000 a White Paper governmental policy led to amalgamation with the University of Newcastle, next door, in October 1989.

Near the Junction is Newcastle Grammar School, off Union Street. In the past these buildings appear to be those used by the Newcastle Teachers' College which moved into pre-fabricated aluminium units in 1952.
The College had been established at Newcastle Technical College at Broadmeadow a few years prior to that.
Before long secondary Teacher Training was introduced there and the Dip Ed and courses continued to expand and in 1961, 800 enrolments were recorded. A music block, a hall and a Library were other additions to this busy institution. Then another move was undertaken.

The Hunter Institute at Tighes Hill showing a small part of the campus which, as a branch of Technical Education, covered the industrial careers of those into steel and riverts and more.
Newcastle University had its origins there and when it moved to its present site the union building, to the right in photo, was retained by the Tech college, so it was the first tech to enjoy such a facility.
The educational experts are in a debate provoked by a new English Grammar text. One writes: there is absolutely no evidence that knowledge of grammatical terminology ...leads to an improvement in students' written communication...but we are concerned if they can't use those categories of words appropriately. (the Australian 16 June 08)
Where will these cultural wars end! How will we learn proper English?
I just discovered a topic about the use of articles and count and non count nouns and it is suggested there is a continuuem of sorts to consider. One could try and sort it out sometime soon.

Nobbys again in winter light.
The extra warmth of woolen clothing can only be tolerated on a few days of the year and this is one of them, ugh!

Bleak outside and a heated pool inside is for swimming and fitness at Mayfield.

Picnics and games at Blackbutt Reserve, in the suburb of New Lambton, or take a walk in the bushland surroundings. A shower of rain soon after had everyone heading for shelter. (Blackbutt is a tree)

Caravaning is popular!

Signs. Any blank wall tempts fate and here in tempera is an urban fresco. It's not Kevin 07.

For more romantic communication try Dvorak's Cello Concerto in B minor. I read he was Czech and themes and spirited rhythms from Slavonic folk unfold in this rapturous concerto. Not forgetting his Slavonic dances and New World Symphony.

Indoors or out? After a very rainy week, today was splendid at Broadmeadow Races. The track was heavy no doubt. A free pass to the races was available in The Herald and it was good to return to the races after a long time. Is a charge usual?
Below is Mighty Atom, a two year old filly in the first race. I noticed she started as a favourite but ended without mention. Her connections said afterwards she lost a shoe in the race. Bad luck?

New homes are getting very expensive to buy but there are always alternatives!
In fact, just imagine the countless folk world wide who would love to have shelter.

Lion says: "Pasha, I know exactly how you feel!"

Both grounded. Photo by MT of the Pasha Bulker stuck on Nobbys at the same time last year.

Deja vu. The city has taken to looking back at THE STORM at this same time last year while today we experience another severe storm and king tides to add to any potential problems.
Aftermath of last years storm and the above car was tied to the post and did'nt get away in the rising waters.
Below, the storm water grew higher and flooded the shops at Mayfield to a small extent and seen as I drove past heading for higher ground after leaving shelter at a service station which was low lying and also looked like getting flooded. This was nothing to the extensive flooding that many experienced last year.

Trees, Autumn leaves and overhead power lines in Mayfield West. The branches are trimmed to leave enough room for the wires.

Moto-kana was at Westlakes yesterday. Sunday driving with a twist.