Saluting The Sun

Loads of people turned up on Sunday morning in Orleigh Park for a marathon 108 sun salutations as part of Yoga Aid. They'd been at it for about 2 hours when I got there and they were still going strong. Not sure of the significance of 108 but pretty sure that these lot were troopers to do it all in 30 degree heat.
Later, I saluted the sun in my back garden with my feet up and an ice cold beer.

One Year On...

Today marks the one year anniversary of the storm that ripped apart The Gap in the western suburbs of Brisbane, tearing roofs from homes and ripping trees up from their roots. It was the worst storm to hit the area in 25 years. My daughter's teacher and a colleague at work were without electricity for a week. Other friends only moved back into their houses a month ago. MaryAnne, who took this photo as the storm approached, sent me her account:

I took this photo on that fateful Sunday afternoon, but believe me I was not outside, I was on a ladder in my garage, and I took this through, my garage window, have a look at it, one can clearly see there are two storm fronts approaching and what amazed me is the area in the middle of these two "rotating storm cells" looks like the map of Africa!

I live in such a lovely neighbourhood! When the storm had passed I wandered round with my camera and many of the residents in my street and in the neighbouring streets, were walking around with a glass of wine in one hand and also checking if everyone in the immediate vicinity was ok, and any help that was needed was offered!

To add to everyone's concerns, my daughter and I, flew out for Sydney the next morning, and we had no electricity, we ate cold meat and cold spaghetti for dinner that evening, and got up in the cold and dark, and were ready for our cab to the airport at 5am, having packed in the dark or by torch light the night before and without having had showers the previous night or that morning.

Driving past the 'Gabba

Woolloongabba is home to The Gabba - Queensland's main cricket and Aussie rules ground (cricket in summer, football in winter). The West Indian cricket team arrived in Brisbane on Friday to kick off their series against Australia starting at the end of this month.

Traffic Stopping Art (number 34)

Welcome back to our series of Brisbane's painted traffic signal boxes. This one sits on the corner of North Quay and Adelaide Street. It shows the view (painted in 2005) from South Bank looking across Victoria Bridge. It's by artist Daniel Worth who has dozens of boxes to his name all around Brisbane.

So Much Sky!

The highest hill in Brisbane is Mount Coot-tha. I'm not sure it's technically a mountain but I think people aren't really bothered with the technicalities. On a clear day you can see for miles. It's only 7kms from the centre of town but it feels in places like you are out in the wilderness, surrounded by the sounds of Laughing Kookaburras and Sulphur-crested Cockatoos... and the invigorating smell of tea tree oil from the Paperbark trees.

For other skies to brighten your day, visit Skywatch Friday.

Crystallized Ginger

We've had some much needed rain over the past few days and the garden has suddenly started to perk up.

This is one of the few gardening successes that I have enjoyed recently. It's a Costus Barbatus or Spiral Ginger and presumably thrives with limited attention... my speciality.

299 And Counting

A different type of remembrance for today...

At the start of this year, the Queensland government and police service set the target of the state's annual road death-toll to below 299 in 2009. Unfortunately, according to the police, the number is set to pass 299 in the next few days.

In recognition of this and to try and raise awareness, yesterday 299 people converged in 6 different locations across the state and stood in silence for a minute at 1pm. This photo was taken just after that in King George Square.

Cheers to my colleague Mark Johnstone who went out and took this picture for me while I was at work.

Mary Steps Out

It's 100 years since Mary MacKillop died and to celebrate, there was a re-enactment performance in City Hall on Sunday. She arrived in an old Cobb and Co. coach and stepped out into the King George Square sunshine.
Did you know she's on her way to being Australia's first saint? Read all about her saintly ways here.
Thanks to MaryAnne Bland for the photo.

Kurilpa Bridge at night

Here's Brisbane's newest bridge in all it's glory. Some say it's like ships' masts bobbing in the breeze, others say it's ugly and far too busy. Personally, I'm a fan. Not just from an architectural point of view but also because it provides a car-less link between West End and the city.... with plenty of pit-stops along the way to admire the view.

Caro Mio

If you like a high tea or a clairvoyant reading...or perhaps a combination of both.. then this is the cafe for you. Caro Mio in Stanley Street Woolloongabba. It's got some really nice art deco fixtures including a grandfather clock and little fanned wall lights... but this lamp by the cash register was my favourite. Fantastic.

William Jolly Projections (2)

There are a range of different patterns set up to project onto the William Jolly Bridge. This one is some sort of crest but I can't make it out... any ideas?
Here's another...

We Were Robbed! Skywatch

One of the things that is most exciting about Brisbane weather is the storms. Last night, at home, we had the Bureau of Meteorology website up with the radar showing 2 approaching storms, one from the north and one from the west. They merged into one front at around 5.30pm and headed towards Brisbane. I grabbed my tripod and headed to Kurilpa bridge hoping to bag one of those really impressive lightning fork shots but the storm just sort of fizzled out.
What an anticlimax! We did eventually get some very bright lightning and loud thunder but it wasn't the biblical maelstrom I was hoping for.
I suppose I should be careful what I wish for... Out west, they had 7cm hail. Ouch!

This was taken from Kurilpa Bridge looking east at Victoria Bridge.
Check out more skies worldwide at Skywatch Friday.

Parklife

Orleigh Park sizzles at the end of another hot day... yes, that is onions you can smell drifting over from barbeque on the right hand side... and that hiss is an ice cold beer...

Traffic Stopping Art (number 33)

Did you pick a winner? I think mine's still running.
Yesterday was Melbourne Cup day when people all over Australia go a bit hose-racing mad and drink their weight in champagne. In Melbourne it's even a public holiday. We don't have that luxury here in Brisbane but there's still some of that holiday atmosphere going on. Eagle Farm racecourse has a big meeting and thousands take the day off to attend. Those of us who have to work still manage to watch the race, with many workplaces dishing out food, drinks and the ubiquitous sweep-stake.
This is the traffic signal box outside Doomben racecourse in Ascot - painted by Justin Mcleod.

For other painted signal boxes, click on the TSBs label below.

Ultimate Troopers

It was about 26 degrees on Saturday - an average mid-spring day by Brisbane's sub-tropical standards - but for some reason, It was absolutely baking hot down at The Gap where a charity Ultimate Frisbee tournament was under way. For those not in the know it's a 2-team, 7-a-side game where the aim of the game is to pass the frisbee from one end of the field to the other, with a team member catching it in the end zone. These teams played game after game all day from 9am until 6pm. I was sweating just watching a little part of it.

Come up to the lab and see what's on the slab...

Halloween night in Caro Mio cafe in Woolloongabba attracted an assorted bag of Rocky Horror fans for a night of tapas and tranny-appreciation. Despite it being a good few years since I'd seen the movie, I still knew most of the words and had a brilliant night. This group were among the best dressed with Mark (I hope I've got his name right), second from left, getting a bottle of champagne on the house for his Frank'n'furter efforts.

November Theme: Doorways

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Happy Halloween!

I know it's a bit grainy but you have to factor in that a) I'm a Londoner and don't have full control of my faculties when I encounter any kind of large insect in this country and b) there was a small child holding open the lid of the dustbin who was sort of in a hurry to get it back on.
It's a big huntsman spider mama and all her little babies living on the inside of a rarely used garbage can.

Flame Tree Skywatch

Oh the flame trees will blind the weary driver
And there's nothing else could set fire to this town

- That's from the song "Flame Trees" by Aussie band Cold Chisel. It's a great song and also has been covered beautifully by Sarah Blasko. I think my favourite version is by the Sacred Heart School as heard in the film Little Fish... it's just gorgeous.

Blue skies have returned after a couple of days of much needed rain here in Brisbane easing the fire restrictions... and the flame trees are exploding into a riot of crimson.

Light up your life today with other skies posted at Skywatch Friday.

Forme Del Mito

This is Forme Del Mito (Forms of Myth), an artwork by Italian artist Arnaldo Pomodoro consisting of four bronze sculptures, each symbolizing a character and force within the Ancient Greek play Agamemnon. This pyramid-shaped one represents Agamemnon and Power. And the one in the background that looks a bit like an upside-down ice-cream cone with millions of little legs is really Clytemnestra and Ambition. (Or a gold Dalek).

You'll find them guarding the bottom of Jacob's Ladder on Turbot Street. Pretty imposing!