Blue Mountains escape

March 17, 2013March 17, 2013 / Robert / 9 Comments

We have just returned from a perfect weekend in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia. We stayed in Mount Victoria, about 20 kilometres west of Katoomba. The local pub, the Imperial Hotel is a reminder of a bygone era of elegance, motoring holidays and steam trains.

We enjoyed a delicious 7 course degustation lunch on Saturday with matching local wines at Nineteen23, Wentworth Falls. The pictures on this page are views from the terrace.

A chilly 17oC this morning was rectified by a friendly and efficient brunch on the way home at Wattle cafe, Blackheath.

Thank you, Trip Advisor for the good tips!

The drive home was surprisingly smooth taking around 1 hour and 40 minutes, we were welcomed back to Sydney by a blue sky and an autumn temperature of 25oC.

Police brutality in the land of the free

March 6, 2013March 7, 2013 / Robert / 12 Comments

The first verse of the Australian national anthem at times does not reflect the state of being:

Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are young and free;
We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil,
Our home is girt by sea;
Our land abounds in Nature’s gifts
Of beauty rich and rare;
In history’s page, let every stage
Advance Australia fair!
In joyful strains then let us sing,
“Advance Australia fair!”

A recent spate of violent incidents at the Sydney Mardi Gras has highlighted the use of excessive force by police.

Sydney teen in Mardi Gras ‘brutality’ video speaks out

In recent months, we’ve seen numerous cases of New South Wales (NSW) police misusing violent force, stifling investigation, and colluding to cover up their actions.

Here’s a sampling of recent events:

“NSW coroner calls police thuggish over Taser death”

“Lawyer slams police who tasered 14yo boy”

“Closing Ranks” An episode of 4 Corners: “The story of Adam Salter raises many questions, including the issue of how lethal force is used by police. But perhaps the most profound question it raises is: can the police be trusted to investigate themselves?”

NSW coroner calls police thuggish over Taser death NSW Coroner compared the police who tasered a Brazilian student 14 times to the schoolboy savages in Lord of the Flies but found no grounds for action against them.

Inspirational Birds of Paradise Flowers

February 8, 2013March 26, 2016 / Robert / 11 Comments

Before venturing to the Southern Hemisphere, a dear friend gave me painted, wooden, Balinese, Bird of Paradise flowers, they have fascinated me ever since.

I took the above last weekend while visiting Newcastle, the second largest city in New South Wales after Sydney. I particularly like the combination of secondary colours and the shades of green, orange and purple.

After experiencing limited Internet access for the past week, the following have inspired me to get my act together:
“Allow yourself to step away from the madness and frenzy of life and step into balance and awareness”. My Awakening Life

Monthly art celebrating the goddess conceived by, Adventures and Musings of a Hedgewitch

Peace Practice: Everyday Gurus

I’m finding it difficult to accept that my ramblings here deserve to be nominated for the following awards. Thank you to my nominators, followers and likers for expressing the contrary.

Day Dreamer Award by Mental Mystic