March of progress

December 28, 2013December 28, 2013 / Robert / 7 Comments

This building in Dulwich Hill, Sydney, NSW, is in the process of being demolished to make way for a development of apartments.

I can imagine a corrugated metal bull nosed roof providing shade for the occupants of a balcony that is adorned with iron lace work.You can see how the former roof has protected the paint from the sun’s bleaching rays, marked by shading of the painted surfaces.

I particularly like the blue French doors contrasted against the yellow wall, it reminds me of the heat of a European Summer. It is a shame that the whole building wasn’t painted with the same colours.

Southern celebrations

December 24, 2013December 24, 2013 / Robert / 12 Comments

A southerly front has cooled Sydney by ten degrees to a comfortable 23oC. Friends from Brisbane arrive tomorrow to join us for the festivities, Christmas lunch at Catalina Restaurant, Rose Bay.

It is too warm to light the fire, we will pretend with candles.

I hope that you have an enjoyable holiday, thank you for reading my blog,

Robert

Newcastle harbour

December 20, 2013December 20, 2013 / Robert / 4 Comments

I took this picture in February 2013 between showers from the balcony of our room at the Crowne Plaza Hotel facing newcastle Harbour. A cool, wet Summer’s day by Australian standards.

Crowne Plaza Hotel, Newcastle

Sparkles

December 12, 2013December 12, 2013 / Robert / 2 Comments

Sunlight sparkling on ripples
Ripples texture on water
Water shapes contours in sand
Sand sparkles in the sunlight

Blooming lovely

December 11, 2013 / Robert / 4 Comments

I am unfamiliar with these orange flowers

The leaves remind me of chrysanthemums

Majestic dame

December 8, 2013 / Robert / Leave a comment

Located next to Luna Park, St. Kilda, Melbourne, Australia, the Palaise is a monument to picture and musical theatre.

When Palais Pictures was built it was one of the largest theatres in the southern hemisphere. It opened on 11 November 1927 with Janet Gaynor in “Seventh Heaven”. Palais Pictures was one of the first suburban cinemas to screen talkies on 3 July 1929.Until the fifties, it was the place to go to the movies.

Written by Palais Theatre Management Pty Ltd, 2013, http://www.palaistheatre.net.au/history.htm/, viewed 8 December 2013

You can see pictures of the inside of the theatre at Palaise Theatre

Out of step

December 6, 2013 / Robert / Leave a comment

We arrived into Tullamarine airport on Wednesday a little behind schedule, that moment was a taste of what was to come. Over the next three days it was as if synchronicity had flown out of the window. We were totally in tune with each other but not with Melbourne. On our own time continuum we enjoyed a memorable anniversary with laughter along the way.

Today the sky cleared, we walked along St. Kilda Road to the beach.

Water

December 5, 2013 / Robert / 6 Comments

The metre of this poem is sadly affected by Chablis, Minervois and Amaro
A water rabbit,
A water tiger,
Go to lunch in rain,
To the Point Restaurant,
Albert Park, Melbourne,
By car not by train.
Sit next to a lake,
White truffle offered,
This time too sublime.
Food wine and service
Totally divine.
Overall we had
Thoroughly great time;
Followed by bubbles
In spa bath growing.

Victorian adventure

December 4, 2013December 5, 2013 / Robert / 11 Comments

I have stayed in converted homes, convents and warehouses, never a car showroom. For our 20th anniversary Mark and I are in Melbourne at the Royce Hotel on St. Kilda Road. This is the closest I have been to being in a Roller. From the sixth floor Royal Suite we can see over the tree tops north to the city skyline. In true Melbournian style it has been raining.

If you visit Melbourne knowing that there can be four seasons in a day you wont be disappointed. It is great for cosy bars, excellent food, elegance and trams. Tonight we went for dinner at Il Bacaro, an old favourite. Where else can you get caught up in truffle mania? Festa del tartufo celebrates the limited availability of the white truffle from Alba, Piemonte, Italy – it was grated and weighed at the table 3 or 5 g.

We began our gastronomic evening with a 1er cru Chablis followed by 2002 1re cru Burgundy and finished with a Hind VSOP cognac.

Related:
Royce Hotel
Il Bacaro

Outsiders

December 3, 2013 / Robert / 5 Comments

Sydney is located on the east coast of Australia, experiencing temperate Winters and warm humid Summers, it is unsurprising that Sydney-siders are fond of being outdoors.