Haunted

 

I devoured the book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and the image of the trees and garden stuck with me. I see it everywhere....or I try to create it...

I was less taken with the movie but I think that's because the book put such strong images in my head, so the movie seemed 'all wrong'.

Does your imagination ran away sometimes?

Linking with #SundayBest #KeithsRamblings  #WWOT #WWOAT #WordlessWednesday

Festival Season

It's not quite summer but all the festivals are dropping their line ups so it's pretty easy to get excited. This weekend kicks off with Sam Feldt (not a festival but one of my fav DJs). Stoked about Meduza at Field Day! I'm hoping we finally get Alan Walker and Bakermat but I somehow doubt it...

Anyway, dancing shoes and attitude primed and ready to party!

Australia's Festival Season is nothing like the European one, but for now, it's all I got! Do you have summer plans?

Note - this pic was taken a Pub Choir the other night...as the festivals are yet to happen.

For those that don't know Pub Choir, it's like this and travels around the world (to UK and US at least) as well as all over Australia and NZ. Great fun.

Linking with #KeithsRamblings #WordlessWednesday #WWOAT #MondayMusicMovesMe #WordlessWednesday  #SundayBest #TheRandom

What's been on my calendar...travel edition

It's been an amazing month, I've had 4 trips in 3 and a half weeks.

The first was to Singapore for the F1 Night Race. A favourite thing to do. I always have so much fun exploring the city and then hitting the track late afternoon or evening. I had a friends from Brisbane also there but we only met up for a few minutes before the race as we were on different combination passes so always in the wrong area trackside, and during the day, different sightseeing. I did however catch up with the in Sydney the night before they flew out to South Africa for a safari. I was there with a friend of a friend and it was good to show her my Singapore and get to know her a little more.

Back for 4 days and then off to Tahiti to swim with whales. At least that was the plan. We were told boarding the flight that the connecting flight was cancelled. We went to Auckland anyway to be told we had to spend two nights there. The Hilton in Moorea were amazingly helpful in rebooking our room. We made the most of Auckland but it did turn our holiday into 5 days travel for 2.5 days holiday. A very expensive trip for 2 days. That said, it was beautiful and swimming with whales was breath-taking and unforgettable. It's a truly remarkable experience to be so close to mammals so big.

I returned home for 2 days and was then back in Auckland for a concert. I stayed 2 nights for some sightseeing and had a blast. This trip was solo but it's such a luxury to suit yourself after accommodating everyone else. I really crammed a lot in 48 hours and the concert, Grace Petrie, was wonderful as always. Long time readers might also remember I went to Melbourne to see her. She seems to always perform in my neighbourhood when I'm away so I use all my points to take an indulgent break away...

I returned early evening but was back at the airport the next day to met husband and friends at Sawtell. A really beautiful (brief) getaway but alas no aurora for me as it was cloudy. One night there and then the long drive home...

And back to reality.

That's what's been on my calendar. How about you?

For those that don't know Grace Petrie, she's currently about to tour Canada so check it out if here or UK next year here. (Note there is a swear word in this so maybe NSFW but you can barely hear it)

Linking with #WaterThursday #HappyNow and #HappyTuesday because all the travels made me very happy! #TravelTuesday #WednesdayAroundtheWorld (Literally) #MCOW #WBOYC 

Street art in Bellingen

We were up in Sawtell and had dinner in Bellingen. I got such a buzz when I saw this art. It's our very own from Chippendale!

I love it when you recognise artists work. It makes you feel sort of connected, or part of something.

I was also very taken with this one, and great to see country towns getting the great street art too.

Linking with #MuralMondays  #TheRandom

Piha Beach

I'll be out most of this weekend, and leaving early Sunday morning to walk the 28 km of 7 Bridges for Cancer Council. (Well, really for myself but raising money for cancer council). 

While in Auckland, the first thing I did was head to Piha Beach, based on a photo in Ali Wong's Instagram when she visited while on tour. It did not disappoint, but more on that to come in a more detailed post....

However, this picture make me smile for the wow factor and the memory.

Linking with #KeithsRamblings  #WWOT #SundayBest #GMAlinky #WeekendReflection #Skywatch #GaleriaHimmelsblich #WaterThursday #WordlessWednesday

Here & There

 

While in Singapore, I took my friend to Gardens by the Bay, the glorious domes scattered with plants and art.

We discussed both Chuhily (currently at the South Australian Botanic Gardens too) and Bruno Catalano. 

Linking with #WeekendReflection

A week later I visited the Sculptureum in Auckland, and guess who I saw?

It amused me no end that the two artists I singled out to my friend were also pride of place at the next 'garden' I visited.

Linking with #GardenAffair #TrafficJamReboot #WordlessWednesday#TheRandom #WWOT #SundayBest #FloralFridayFoto

F1 season

Long time readers will know that September is F1 season for me - I dash off to Singapore for the fabulous Night Race. I then book and plan the next year's trip. Alas this time, there's no next year trip as we're doing a reno and with interest rates, we just won't have the money. But I'm trying to win a trip as I'm mature like that.

I did look at Melbourne but the ticket prices are nuts, so Singapore (or Suzuka) are still the better options.

In recent years I sat opposite Yuki's garage for Qualifying, but never quite managed a good photo of him.

I am sad not to have a race trip planned to look forward to, but I'm hoping some miracle changes that....a lotto win, a competition win....who knows.

Linking with #WWOAT #ThruMyLens #WordlessWednesday

Just one more....