Turkish reunion

 It has been almost a year since our fantastic trip to Turkey. Some of the tour members have had the great idea to hold a get together and reminisce over a bite to eat. the hot topic I know will be of one couple Anne and Steven getting married next weekend in Adelaide. Hence I thought this photo most appropriate. I found the characters irresistible when I spied  the picture above our bed in one of the hotels. I don't know the name of the artist but I do know that a sense of humor is essential  in marriage. Whatever you do, Anne and Steven , keep laughing!!!!

Spring in Kings Park

 Surprise, surprise!!! I knew I was capturing a ladybug but was doubly surprised and pleased when on viewing the picture on my computer I found a couple of them creating offspring. What a reward for patience! Of course it is Spring so what is the surprise about that?
 The other pleasing surprise is that 7 of my photographs have been accepted in the National Photographic competition at the Show Grounds in Claremont...the Show starting on the 22nd of September. I didn't win a prize but being accepted is almost as good.
 The grande BOAB...actually this is a young one I couldn't resist...it is situated with a South Perth background COOL!

Nature at work in Pemberton WA

 I can't put a name to these plants but I'll leave that to the better informed. I should have used my telephoto lens but I was too lazy to open my backpack to get it out. This is something photography teaches you....patience and effort...to be able to.....perhaps another time...I wish I was more determined! And particular! And ...and...perhaps another time. It is never too late so I am told.


 There is beauty in all things even if .....

 These are my favourites. With a little help from PICASSA I could transform an out of focus bee at work into a work of art.
 This little bee is in focus...not so much here as in my album but you get the idea.

The Pemberton Spring

 A change from the Spring flowers for you. I discovered the Cascades...and what a win that was. You are the first to see my photos...I hope you like them as much as I do. I do think this is the best waterfall of the three I photographed but it is very subjective of course.
I walked ten kms in the bush with my backpack carrying two cameras and a long lens (just in case) stopping every few minutes photographing irresistible aspects of nature only to end up with shooting pain down both legs. Something tells me I overdid it...the exercise I mean...but as you can see by the pictures it was well worth it.
 The first photograph depicts the lower falls...not as exciting as the ones taken higher up where the waterfall originates.
And what now? I am back in the city and ...waiting ...and waiting. Oh please if you are there God ( I know you are not) help my hardcopies to find me...and soon...no...NOW!
If any one reads this in the Muslim countries...Australia is not America even if we are giving them a helping hand in Iraq and Afghanistan...actually we are sacrificing our young men and women for what? You? So you can blow up our Embassies? I don't think so!!!! Calm...be calm...let the running waters and the colours of the Spring flowers relax you...even if our "wild
flowers" are just that "WILD". MMM! That could be the subject of my next BLOG entry.
Leaving this area blank doesn't seem right. So I will fill it...with...The sorry state of our Boom State! The mining industry is on a downward slide just when we were having a BOOM too. Here I go again...being serious...stop it! I will. I'll write about my latest read..the radio series of our expat in London...Clive James...oh dear and I did enjoy his childhood years in bookform...but this? No, it makes me pleased that he escaped to London. But if he left because Australia couldn't give him what he wanted why does he keep harping on about being Australian? ON! ON! Publisher! ON! ON! I will be patient! Like the rush of the Cascades!

Weekend in Spring!

 I'm back! And what a springy weekend it was! I hope you appreciate these flowers to draw you into the feeling. Actually these photos were taken on father's day in Araluen and what a fantastic presentation it was. I love looking at these pictures. The sight of them is enough to lift my spirits.
Why be so low you might ask? Well I am still chanting the old refrain...waiting...waiting...waiting...yes waiting for my hard copies of my memoir Kin Deep and the inability to mourn...I have been patient for over one week now...please...please let it be soon. Several people have read my novel and come back to me very surprised...you are a great story teller...you must write more...I can't wait till you publish again...I couldn't put the book down...it stopped me from doing my housework! Oh boy! Was I chuffed to hear this! So, if only I could receive my hardcopies I could plan the dates of my book launches. If Only!

"KIN DEEP and the inability to mourn" by Cornelia MacErlean

Yes, this is one of the photos I could have included in my memoir but because some members of my family were not keen to be identified I didn't include any at all. This I regret now. However, whoever buys the book will not be disappointed. We may not have come to Australia in a leaky boat... "but you were invited" a close friend always reminded me, the reader will find all sorts of interesting snippets of survival...Germany 1914-56, the KLM flight losing one engine, the unbelieveable train ride between Sydney and Melbourne, our family meeting the Royal family, our struggles to learn English and much more.
We all survived the journey except for one...my favourite teddy bear "Brumelchen". No, he didn't have an accident or had been left at an airport or on a train...he arrived in my arms to be welcomed to Sydney by the local members of the Press. He disappeared on a 'good will' night when I lent him to the children upstairs. The children's mother came running down the stairs pulling her hair out in frustration. Could she borrow my bear please....please...please! Of course what could I say? I was 28 years old by then and didn't really need him beside me in my bed anymore...I had my own teddy to cuddle...my husband. But when I asked for my bear the next day, "Brumelchen" had gone missing. Just like that with hardly a sorry....
I still miss him.
My memoir by the way is available on I-Pad and Kindle should you prefer an electronic read.

Patience is a virtue!

And I have been regularly testing myself with photography. But I am trying...and trying...and some would say very trying. In this case I would suspect the opinion of my publisher. I have been waiting months now to receive all the hard copies promised of my books so that our relationship could be concluded. Or, in more successful terms, I could start my book launching get togethers. But instead of receiving hard copies I am being bombarded with selling ideas, pamphlets and further contracts for future books to be published. How stupid do these people think I am? They are offering a contract of $11,000.00...what for? So that I can continue to make them richer with my writing skills? After all who spent hours and days infront of the computer to put the stories together? And who spent loads of money to see the printed effort just so that I would make $5.00 every time a bookstore in Australia asks for one of my books? I don't think so! US bookstores ($2.96); UK $1.48; Bookpal $12.15 at least the publisher's price is coming somewhat to reason. But not enough for this writer to be tempted to repeat this publishing road experience. Perhaps photography should be my no. one hobby! ON! ON! Can't wait to see if any of my photographs have been accepted for the National Photographic competition at the Show In Perth.