No, no, no.

Entering Suncorp Stadium is a bit like going through an airport. And woe betide you if you brought a camera with a detachable lens.

Bitter? Moi?

Working on a Sunday

I haven't taken any pictures for days and it's surprising how that creeps up on you. I had a bit of a panic moment yesterday while I was at work. I know. Working on a Sunday really is very unsociable. I was wondering what on earth I was going to post today so I had a quick glance around the half-empty newsroom and this is what I've come up with: The vision mixing desk in the control room where they make the news.
Thanks to Troy for being the hand model. 

Rooftop Soirée at Chill Backpackers

You get a nice view from the Palace Cinema foyer...

Riveting Information

Doing a quick internet search, the general consensus is that there are 1.5 million rivets in the Story Bridge.

Cycling past me on the William Jolly Bridge

The Origin Species

 

If you're not from Queensland or New South Wales, there's every chance you don't know or care about the State of Origin competition. It's a good-humoured rivalry if the atmosphere on Caxton Street is anything to go by. Queensland versus New South Wales in a three game Rugby League play-off. Players' "state of origin" is based (I think) on the first team they joined as a professional.

Last night's game was the first of the three and was held at Suncorp Stadium. The next game will be held down in Sydney in June and third back up here again in July. I didn't manage to catch the game. It was a preventative measure as my eyes usually get sore from all the eye rolling.... but it sounds like it was a nail biter. Queensland won! Hooray! 

(This is when you adopt the bulldog stance and loudly growl "QUEENSLANDER!!! RRRRR!")

Homemade Burgers in the Valley

Through The Window

Oblivious I was
Despite my many, contemplative visits
To the forces of nature
Present in the room

To the webbing and vining
And careful intertwining
To the sweet and slow surrender
Of this window to the elements

I was always in such a rush, you see
To leave and get back to my friends
That when I noticed it first
I was half way out the door

I stopped in my tracks
And sighed to myself.
You only get the vista
If you are a mista.

Climbing The Cliffs at Kangaroo Point

 Brisbane has some beautiful cliffs right in the heart of the city rising from the river to the streets of Kangaroo Point. According to a post in the very excellent and informative blog Your Brisbane Past and Present, they are over 220 million years old! Aside from their natural beauty which changes in the light, they are also good for climbing - if you're that way inclined.

Give me a set of steps any day.

Last night's roasted garlic and rosemary lamb at Donna's place

 

It tasted even better than it looked.

Persimmons $3 a kilo this morning...

It must be nearly winter!

Morning Clouds Over the CBD - Skywatch Friday

Today's offering was taken from Kangaroo Point a couple of weeks ago just before 7am.

See others from around the world via the Skywatch Friday portal.

Flood Rebuild Update

We went around to what is left of my friend Bron's place on Sunday. The January flood waters came about 3/4 of the way up the walls of her wooden house causing the floor and the walls to warp. After plenty of to-ing and fro-ing with the insurance company, work finally started in earnest about 10 days ago. The builders are pretty much starting from scratch so while it's something of a shock to see the shell where her home used to be, it's also a new beginning.

Their place is in the 3rd photo down on this post from January.

Good Doggy

Despite the fact that we were strangers, you humoured me by hanging around and glancing upward when I asked. You were patiently waiting as I clicked and messed about with my camera settings. All you wanted was a pat. Thanks for throwing me a bone, nice doggy.

Doorways Of Brisbane

All Hallows School (est. 1861), Ann St., CBD

Your Chariot Awaits...

There's a bit of a hoo-haa (that's the technical word) going on about our cycle-hire scheme. While I have seen more and more people riding on them, some politicians and sections of the media are suggesting they're a complete flop because they are still running at a loss. Well it's only been 8 months. Not nearly long enough to scrap a project that promotes less traffic congestion, a cleaner environment, a healthier, fitter and more gorgeous population.  AND with their banana daquiri trim, (yes it looks like iced tea but I'm sticking with the daquiri) the bikes themselves even have a sort of kitsch style about them.

Postcard From The Edge

Taken last night at 5.56pm from the northern end of the Story Bridge. I think I managed to get one star - just above the curved green building. I like the glittering lights from the distant cranes on the left of the shot. That's the new Mater Children's Hospital site. The white and red stripe on the water at the bottom left is a passing CityCat with it's blinking orange light.

It was the last (and best) in a series of about 40 shots that I took with the sun going down. As time passed I played around with the shutter speed and aperture. I also chose to set the white balance to cloudy for a less blue/more orange glow to the reflections in the water.

For anyone who's interested, this was shot with my Nikon D40 on a tripod
aperture: f9
ISO: 200
shutter speed: 5"
focal length: 26mm
white balance: cloudy

Eagle Brothers

Riparian plaza, Brisbane's tallest building (for the moment) reflected in it's brand new neighbour, 111 Eagle Street.

 This one's part of  Weekend Reflections. 

Walking The Dog

Walking the dog on the walkable side of the river at this point. This photo shows parts of the Riverwalk on the opposite side. During the floods in January, a large chunk of it (length of a football field) broke off and floated for 5kms down the river, heading for the Gateway Bridge. Luckily the bridge was saved by the heroics of a tugboat driver. No mean feat. There's some footage of it here.

It used to look like this.

Narnia

 I was busy taking photos out the front of Box Vintage when the guy who runs it invited me to have a look at the walls in the back yard... brushing past the faux-fur coats and maxi-dresses jam-packed in the back room, I emerged into a yard where the walls were adorned with all sorts of spray-painted creatures and characters by different artists. It was bit of a Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe moment.

Oooh look! A pearly snapper and a curly flapper.

Box Vintage threads adorning Vulture street in the late afternoon sun.

D7EL?

Any ideas? This is what appears to be a piece of Lego art stuck on the remains of a building on Brunswick Street. Only the facia wall of the building remains - through those windows is open air. I've got no idea what D7EL might mean so if anyone has any clues, I'd like to know more.

Under The Bridge

Mothers' Day

I don't like to dwell too much on the down side to my little family's emigration to Brisbane from London back in 2005. So many positive things have come out of it but... I really miss my mum!

Happy Mothers' Day to everyone out there and especially to those whose mothers can't be with them.

Here's a nice view...

Here is Gardens Point as seen from Lower River Terrace on the south side of the river. The City Botanical Gardens spills over the bend on the river with the city behind it. If you ever go and see a band at the Riverstage, it's tucked in, just the other side of those mangroves. You can do a walk all through the mangroves and there are little information plaques telling you about the life that is supported within them.

Those familiar with the Brisbane River in it's present state might be a bit suspicious about the colour of the river in this shot... I may have played with it a little :-)

Samford Stole Our Thunder! - Skywatch

This was the storm front that moved in from the south on Tuesday afternoon. It looked very ominous and there was a bit of battening down the hatches going on in our place (well... we closed some windows and congratulated ourselves for being inside). The wind blew, big raindrops splashed down and then... well then it just sort of petered out. We had a little bit of rain and a rumble of thunder and that was about it. Checking out the weather radar online, It appeared that the storm swerved northward towards Samford at the last minute.  I suppose we've seen enough rain recently but even so I must admit to being a bit disappointed. What about my drama?!*

Skywatch Friday

*subject to conditions

B.U.M.S. on seats

Well I had a great night at the Brisbane Ukelele Musicians Society jam night last night. There would have been 100 people there - this picture is only about a third of the room - all strumming their ukeleles and having a good laugh at the same time. They had a projector with all the chords and lyrics on it so everyone could read the songs and by the end we were all singing pretty loudly and playing more or less in time! Amazing really for such a wide range in skills and experience. I've got sore fingers now but I'll definitely be going again next month.

Last Minute B.U.M.S. Practice!

So over the past few months I have been toying with playing the ukelele. When I went camping at Easter I became a bit more competent and was able to strum along to a few songs. Tonight I'm off to my first night at the B.U.M.S. (That's the Brisbane Ukelele Musicians Society incase you were wondering - visit their website if you are interested). They have a jam every month at the Coopooroo Bowls Club and last month there was well over 100 people that turned up to play along! I can't even imagine what that would sound like but by the end of the night, with any luck, I'll find out and get back to you tomorrow.

Story Time

It's been a while since I've photographed the Story Bridge. This is a new angle for me. I've never been to the little park under the bridge on Kangaroo Point before as it's a dead end and I don't know anyone who lives around there. There's even a beach! (sort of) 

Perfect Autumn Morning

This morning's sunrise was an absolute belter. I sacrificed my public-holiday sleep in so I could get out there and show you. I hope you like it!

May Theme Day: Mailbox

Today is the first of the month which means it's the City Daily Photo Theme Day and as you can see, this month's theme is "Postbox". I've chosen a close-up look at one of Australia Post's thousands (? surely) of public street post boxes.

The picture near the letter slot shows a variety of brightly coloured squares. Stuff you're not allowed to put in the post from a public mailbox in Australia... *sigh* it's just no fun anymore.

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