Water...water...everywhere...but.......

We were told on the news! Weren't we? Of course we were .....and we believed it.

So off we went to drive to Northam...the waterlogged Northam... and while the road trip via Irish Town road was interesting... some areas blocked by water crossing the road in general it was unremarkable.
Not so when I came home to inspect my photos. So I had an expert change the colour monitor on my computer and low and behold my life changed...on a second visit he couldn't explain to me why all my pictures came out DARK on C-drive yet perfect on Lightroom. Oh well...you decide...because by the time he comes back with a solution the flood waters will have receded and my black photos will be irrelevant. Here goes!



Wow they look almost acceptable! These were taken just beyond the Northam Weir.

 But then Katrine bridge was another story. The road was gone...an extension of the bridge remnants...and the water was flowing at a great pace. My long-term memory tried to adjust to the Avon descent of many years ago when a life was lost in the bridge pylons...much to our panic stricken eyes from the shore.

After a calming lunch we drove back to unremarkable Toodyay...well almost that is...the river was as full as ever and flowing way too fast for anyone to tackle in boats.

But we had to drop our friends back at their farm not far from Toodyay on the Goomalling road... and there it was the ...the damage done by the moving water. Even the work done by them to resurrect access from the last flood a few weeks ago had to be repaired. How frustrating indeed!

Many Happies for the New Year!

It is tough when the Blogger site doesn't speak the Aussie lingo!
Everyone here knows what I mean...you do don't you?

Or do you all feel like you've just been washed up on the beach? Well, you must have enjoyed yourself...really brought that New Year in!








Are you hoping to have everyone playing the same tune...well almost the same?

Sick of the persistent lights in the sky?


No! You can't go back...only forward...so make those resolutions come true!



Delusions or tunnel vision? Whatever! Things can only get better. Think positive and ignore that nagging other...that negativity has no place in this wonderful photographic world! Best Wishes!!!!!!!!!!

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.