I’m missing

I love blogging and checking all your blogs but something has to give at the moment, and unfortunately it’s blogging.

Being an old man, I’ve got a dodgy left knee which has been giving me grief since mid-August. The physio is really enjoying herself in making me do minimum 1 hour of exercises everyday, which after I visit her, increase in intensity.

Ugly El Niño is wreaking havoc here in Aus, with fires threatening us this early in the season. I am not prepared and nor is anyone. Some suspect arson, maybe, but we need to catch one in the act before we all point the finger. El Niño is also causing major disruption in my job as well.

Our little Jack Russell, Maya, is 50 days pregnant and we found out today she has 6-8 puppies! Lucky I have 2 weeks off as of 4/12. Then Jo can take over.

I think I’ll add a photo just for fun, why not a few

 

 

Faces

I dig faces, but they always see the camera and get all shy …or… pose 😦 or to be honest, I’m not patient or quick enough. Added for Ailsa’s Faces.    Chiang MaiThailand

Bangkok

On the train to the “Bridge over the River Kwai”

Grand Palace, Bangkok

This baby elephant’s name was James Bond

Collecting lotus flowers at the Emperor’s tomb in Hue.

In my garden today

Today is a beautiful sunny day and I am doing my best to delay destroying it with the sound of a motor-mower. But this must happen soon.

Callistemon

Hand over all your lupins

Yes, another callistemon

Luminous

I didn’t think I had any photos for this luminous subject. But there are a few.

Chiang Mai

Hoi an lantern shop

By the fire at Wilson’s Promontory

In our garden, Melbourne Cup Day

A public holiday for a horse race – why not? I spent some of it in the garden, mainly cutting grass as I have quite a lot of it. But I noticed this callistemon that I had never seen in flower before. I dropped everything and ran in to grab the camera.

Birds

I’d like to take more photos of birds but I lack mainly 2 things; patience and the right gear. We have some beautiful birds visit us here at home. At the moment we are surrounded by families of blue wrens. They are tiny birds, the male having beautiful blue colouring, usually together with harem of light brown females. One has been pecking continuously at our toilet window; fluttering from side to side, often with one of his girlfriends. He can see his reflection and thinks it’s a rival. This makes aiming a bit more difficult while been fascinated by the bird (sorry – too much info)These photographs weren’t the easiest to take. The birds have made a mess of the window and I had to over-expose to overcome the silhouette effect. No, it is not snowing outside.Jo has since removed the garden cage, cleaned the window and painted on some whitewash. The screened window still lets in light as he could not see his reflection there. Now he can have a bit of a break from his rival. The girls are saying “where’s he gone?”Here’s a pic of another male on the north side of the house.

10CC Une nuit a Bendigo

Last night it was an absolute pleasure and thrill to be entertained by the 70s rock/pop band 10CC at the Ulumbarra Theatre in Bendigo. The theatre is an ex-gaol, saved from complete demolition at the last minute and converted to a fantastic musical venue. It has seating capacity of 1500; small enough for everybody to see, but I would avoid the balcony which was empty for this show. The stage is large and the lighting modern. 10CC were a little loud; my ears are still ringing, but I have tinnitus and and notice it more after a battering.

For me it’s a 100 km drive to Bendigo, picking up David on the way. However, no traffic or parking hassles and some nice samosas and aloo paratha to eat before the show.

I was teenager when 10CC were at their peak. After commencing work at a photographic processing lab, I used one of my first pays to buy this record for $5

I played it a zillion times. I know this record intimately. Luckily for me they played about half the songs off it, including ‘I’m Mandy, fly me’, and they played it note perfect.

http://www.theguardian.com/music/video/2012/nov/22/10cc-im-mandy-fly-me-video

The original band comprised of Graham Gouldman, Eric Stewart, Lol Creme and Kevin Godley, all equally talented in my view but Graham is probably the most prolific songwriter. After Lol Creme and Kevin Godley left the band in 76, Rick Fenn and Paul Burgess joined the band. Graham, Rick and Paul were all there last night, playing and singing absolutely beautifully. They were joined by Mick Wilson, plays everything and sings so well, and Mike Stevens on keyboard.

If they come to your town and you liked their music, go see them. They’re fantastic.