Christmas Wishes!

Did your letter to Santa go in the box? But did it arrive? Does he know what your wish was?

Did you wish for a new car?

Or was it Dad who needs the new Shed?

Or Mum who is planning a hospital stay in the new year?

Or does the whole idea of Christmas move you?


Take it from one who knows....it is all worthwhile!

Never mind! And there is a solution...... as Albert Einstein said:

Xmas is on the way!

Or should I say The Festive Season is about to start?
Whichever it could be it is taking too long.

These boots are made for walkin...that's for sure!

 But can you guess where these photographs were taken?

A bit of retro photography to break the boredom!

 A western sunset combined with some tunnel vision. Creativity from the West!

Size isn't important!

What? You might ask. It has always been important in my life. Yes...Yes... but think again!

 I just wish I hadn't become so excited when I discovered what these two were up to!

What a bonus in Kings Park!

In front of everyone? Well almost!


The Kangaroo paw did hide them somewhat.


To show that I recovered my shaking I took the wild flowers...and what a success they were!

Whether the Weather...or will it rain?

Sure we in WA have had such wonderful summer days...before the official beginning of summer I might add. But thank God the weather travels east so they...the chosen few...can look forward to break too.

The rain fall over there has been a blessing for some when you think of the bush fires in northern NSW. However rain has been a normal expectation for so long that I have to say that rainfall is not always bad news.
 How do I know? Because in Crete there were rain fall storms passing over us but leaving us laughing ...running for shelter...and admiring each wet and dripping outfit as the individuals clambered back onto the bus.

Yes rain became a source of entertainment for us. Sure we wanted to see historically valued sites but when the clouds changed to grey... off we ran... looking for cover. About ten of us squeezed into a tiny shed thinking it would only be for a short while. Not likely! After 20mins we were forced out beyond cover to straggle towards the waiting bus. What a laugh it was on us.

But as you can see I managed to photograph the amazing landscape.

 Click on the photos to enlarge! You won't regret it!

A Venetian Affair!

Well one could almost think so having been there 3 times now.

But it wasn't until I had read "A True Tale of Forbidden Love in the C18th" by Andrea di Ribilant that I was intrigued and interested to read about 'The Mask'... the symbol of those carefree days.
Robilant described how the mask had been an integral part of Venetian attire like wigs, fans and beauty spots.
Venetians were allowed to wear masks in public from October to Lent...with the exception of the "Novena" the 9 day period before Christmas.
And everyone wore one from the Doge down to the woman selling vegetables at the market.

  So the custom added a little mystery and intrigue to everyday life. However when one reads about the almost endless carnivals, extravagant balls and theatres bursting with spectators and/or Venetians in the grip of a massive gambling addiction...who was piling up sequins and who was accumulating debt...large exquisitley embroidered fans (strings of diamonds and pearls) gossip hidden and camouflaged had been whispered behind cupped hands

among the Venetian Ladies...And so the use of masks can be understood.
Females...tall behives for their hair...drenched in perfume, hairspray and nail polish of all colours, flirted beauty spots in all aspects of makeup...appasionata (in the corner of the eye)...coquette (above the lip)...galante (on the chin)and assassina (the killer in the corner of the mouth).

It is written in the book that high heels had long been out of fashion (Venetian ladies preferred more sensible low evening shoes, often decorated with a diamond buckle) as these although expensive were much more suitable for dancing.
So 2 kinds of masks were usually seen:the more casual black or white 'Moreta' that covered only the eyes or the cloaked masks or 'Bautta' which hid the entire head down to the shoulders.
However as the shop window shows...all kinds are available now.

The greatest natural disaster to strike the ancient world!

When and how? When the volcano in the island's centre ejected tephra for 4 days, burying the city of Akroriri, then collapsing and sending a tsunami throughout the Eastern Mediterranean.

The island of Santorini, Thira, Fira or Thera, was thus formed by one side of the caldera (crator) of a volcano. The central part having been partially submerged by the sea leaving a roughly crescent-shaped land mass which now forms the island.

As it was our second visit we arrived by plane at the airport on the west side of the island. We therefore missed the awe-inspiring sight and geologically intriguing layers of different coloured, dark pumice at the receiving port.

Our view of the caldera was truly awe-inspiring from our hotel even if the numerous steps resulted in our loss of wheel no. 4 on my suitcase.





Also we were there to view the once a year lighting spectacle on the island opposite.

However our antiquity tour helped us concentrate on the Minoan period and the 'lost' Minoan town of Akroriri where painted walls and beautifully carved furniture (in the museum) evidenced the sophisticated lifestyle of the Minoans.

This city had been buried in the eruption of 1500 BC and has been preserved as a kind of "Pompeii". It has recently been opened under its new shelter and its many walkways.

10,000 square metres of the city has been opened up (the French school of Archeology first explored the ravine at Akroriri in 1867 to show that a pre-historic city lay beneath tons of volcanic ash 60 metres thick).






And so the greatest natural disaster struck the ancient world. the last eruption being recorded in 1956. And on average every 20000 years an event like this may occur.

How will you be remembered?

It is a question, silent it may be, yet something that concerns all of us as we slip nearer to the top of the queue.
What have you written to those who you leave behind... when your final moment does come?
Is it your wish that your name remains in eternity?
Well, it depends on your name of course and...what you have achieved in the years of your life.
All this matters!

So of all the sights seen on our last escapade this one does stick in my mind. Was it his foot size? Or did he impress me as the founder of the city we visited...the remains thereof...remains that he made sure in which he would be included. No, he was indeed the founder of the city, TEMENOS, founded in the mid century 3rd B.C. And the founder's name, ARTEMIDOROS of APOLLONIOS from PERGE of PAMPHYLIA. Now wasn't that name worth recalling? One can't ignore his feet either.

So this PRIEST, who in his old age settled in Thera founded a number of sanctuaries embellishing the city. However his open-air sanctuary was chisilled out of the rock by Artemidoros himself. His altars, relief decorations and numerous inscriptions decorate the place today.

 The throne of the goddess of Tyche; the lion of
Apollo Stephanephoros;the eagle of Zeus Olympios and the dolphin of Poseidon Pelasios completes the set with the portrait of Artemidoros wearing a wreath.







We found Dolphins throughout our tour of Crete also.

 Even if you don't discover this history, a visit will fill you with great sights of the local geographic land marks.
Kamari, the volcanic beach resort plus remains of the city on top of the hill overlooking the now present airport feeding the tourist mecca of Santorini will make your visit worthwhile.

Australiana at its best!

So we chose the weekend with the most storms and rain. Of course we had to catch the sun to lighten our photographs but the birdlife and the bushwalks made up for it...not to mention the MUMM champagne but I managed to take a few pictures.

The 4yr.old insisted on paraphrasing or simply copying what was being said at kinder...I hate Koalas...I hate Kangaroos...they are so boring!

And the ducks? Oh I can't play on that grass the ducks will get me...they'll get my ball! Oh dear!

But the adults enjoyed themselves...or at least we did...a great place to catch up with family and friends.

Again the different colours astounded me. It was a very dull day...the sky was grey...and we had to catch a clear patch when we saw it.

 Of course a bit of the abstract had to creep into the photoshoot.

Not much water left what used to be the lake supporting row boats and families enjoying the great outdoors.

Now nothing is allowed on the lake at all. In fact warnings are everywhere to keep away.
But we were able to walk around it for at least 2.5 hours...and then collapse at our room to welcome the many different types of birds who have now taken to nesting amongst the shrubbery.

But a visit to the Koalas in the trees and down the many steps to see the Staglatites made our weekend complete.

Oh...and the bouncing castle of course...that cannot be missed...shoes off!!