A View From The Bridge

After yesterday's depressing post - something far more uplifting! Looking south from the east side of the Story Bridge. Happy New Year to all!


I'm off for a few days. Posting will (hopefully) continue while I'm away.

Boundary Streets

There are a few Boundary Streets and Roads in Brisbane. In darker times, they marked an area of central Brisbane where a curfew was enforced to keep aboriginal people out.

I'm off for a few days. Posting will (hopefully) continue while I'm away.

Bridge To Nowhere...

...for the moment, at least. Hopefully when this footbridge is finished, it will coax more CBD workers and shoppers to get on their bikes or walk into the city. Right now it's a quick and handy link to the city for dare-devil motorcyclists.

Traffic Stopping Art (number 3)

This one is near the Mater Hospital (in the direction of courage, support and hope).

To view the other 2 in this series, click on the "TSBs" label below.

What's The Story, Morning Glory.

The Story Bridge over a glassy Brisbane River early on Tuesday morning. Fab.

Uninvited Dinner Guest

This possum turned up in my garden last night and started getting stuck into the juices from the Christmas BBQ (mostly lamb and chicken). He was too busy to mind the flash from the camera or the 6 people staring at him.

Tree Angel

I found her hanging on a tree in Queen Street... beautiful!
Happy Christmas.

Memorial Wall

This is a memorial wall in a dentist carpark in West End. They had a day in August this year when people could come down and paint a tribute to some locals that had tragically died in the area not so long ago.... sad theme but beautiful mural - it really brightens up the area. Unfortunately I've heard it's going to be redeveloped in a few months and the wall be will be knocked down. Enjoy it while you can!

Garbo and Salvos

I love a man in uniform. And I love an Australian "o-word"
These ones were taken in Queen Street Mall on saturday arvo.

A Stitch in Time...

There is this debate that ebbs and flows in south-east Queensland about whether or not we should have daylight saving. The longest day (yesterday) saw the sun rise over the city of Brisbane at 4.50am and set at 6.42pm. In my opinion if we shunted everything an hour forward it would be a lot more civilised. We'd fall into line with New South Wales, just south of us, I wouldn't get woken up by crows going nuts at ungodly hours of the morning and, most importantly, I'd arrive home from work with enough daylight to have a sundowner in the back garden.
I read somewhere recently that one woman was against it because the extra hour of sunlight in the afternoons would fade her curtains.

Traffic Stopping Art (number 2 )

Traffic signal box art time again. Today's comes to you from the corner of Vulture and Boundary streets. In last weeks' comments, Ory pointed out there was now a book you could buy with photos of all the boxes in it. If only I had thought of this earlier....

Market Day

Saturday is Market Day in several areas of Brisbane. This was taken in my local market by the river in West End - where you can do all your fruit and veg shopping and get your hair cut too in the fresh air. Amongst the sounds of buskers, canvassers, coffee grinders, people chatting, vendors calling, this is a sophisticated little oasis. Tomas, the stylist, is always immaculately turned out while everyone around him is in tshirts and shorts. And check out that leopard-skin gown the customer gets to wear!

Skywatch Friday

Being a Friday, I am jumping on board the Skywatch Friday bandwagon.
Telephone and power lines criss-cross the sky in most of the populated areas of Australia. Brisbane residents have taken to decorating them with pairs of shoes. And it's not just smelly old trainers people throw up there - I've seen strappy high heels too!

Good Will Walking

This is the Goodwill Bridge which spans the Brisbane River. It's a footbridge that was completed in 2001 and has become a favourite with early morning walkers, runners and cyclists. It was built for the Summer Goodwill Games - the last ever of which was held in Brisbane in the same year. By the way - it's a glorious day out there!

Higher, Higher!

I've only lived in Brisbane for 3 years - but even in that time there have been quite a few buildings that have been competing to be Brisbane's highest tower. Some are being built now and some only in the planning stage. The hot air balloon has the Vision logo which was going to be another gigantic tower on the block between Mary and Margaret streets... but due to funding issues, the whole project has been put on hold.... so cling onto that precious sunlight in the CBD while you still can!

Decorating the Tree

Doing this blog has made me notice of things around me much more....like this tree on my road. I have walked under it hundreds of times and never noticed it before - it's stunning! It drops its leaves and then grows these scarlet baubles just in time for Christmas. It's called a Flame Tree and is a native to Eastern Australia.

Queenslander Houses

I love Queenslander houses. This one in particular is round the corner from where I live. Last year there was an application to pull it down and build flats there but the community wrote so many objections to the coucil that the application got turned down. Power to the people!

Traffic Stopping Art (number 1 in a series)

Brisbane City Council have this great initiative going where anyone who resides in Brisbane can apply to design and paint a traffic signal box. This one is by the local primary school. They are all over the city and I think they look fab! There are still a few left if you fancy giving it a go...

Go Nuts!

This was taken in Mick's Nuts - an iconic shop in West End. It's tiny - you can only fit about 4 customers in there at any one time and because it's such a great place, there are often people waiting outside to come in.

Something Wicked This Way Comes...

*****WELCOME TO MY BLOG******

Long-time residents of Brisbane say it used to rain in summer in Brisbane every day at 4pm... we seem to have been having a bit of that lately. This one was taken by Tim yesterday - cheers Tim!