of quietness and beauty

I've been told that the photos I take have a certain quietness about them.

I'm not quite sure.

I think that I miss the bigger picture with much of my photography. I realised when I came back from Geraldton and Greenough that I was so caught up with the details that I had hardly any overall pictures of places I visited. Shame.

I think for that reason, of being overly engaged by the details, that maybe I omit the 'noise' of the scene.

Here's a random collection of photos taken recently. I would really love to know what you think. Drop me a line.

Location: Claisebrook, East Perth

Location: Somewhere between Perth and Meekatharra

Location: Playground at Rob Evans Senior Citizens Centre, East Perth

Location: Sheep shed, Glengarry

Location: Floor finish made of hewn logs, in worker's quarters at Glengarry

note: for parity, these were all taken with my iPhone. No fancy camera work. No graphic manipulation.

As promised...

...photos of my trip to Geraldton and Greenough.

The HMAS Sydney Memorial on Mount Scott, Geraldton. The story behind the seagulls in the sculpture is that during the last strains of the Last Post during the dedication of the site for the memorial, a large flock of seagulls flew overhead.


We visited Glengarry. Part of this estate is the house in which Edith Cowan was born. (Edith Cowan is featured on the Australian $50 bill) The mud brick house has just been recently been re-roofed. I have a fascination with old stove ovens. I do so love them very much. I wish I had an old style stove oven in my kitchen.

In its hey-day, Glengarry was world renown for breeding studs. This is the stables and that circular space is where they broke the horses.


The interior of that circular space.

The shearing sheds at Glengarry are still in use. The shiny floor boards inpregnated and preserved by lanolin.

Greenough is famous for its tress that grow bowed to the ground. This one was at Central Greenough at the Greenough Hamlet.

Greenough school, in the Greenough Hamlet. The interior was recreated with desks and chairs of the era complete with holes for inkwells and names scratched into the timber surface.

Of all the wonderful buildings I visited during my trip, it is this image that I take with me:

The serenity. The green of the grass, the blue of the sky and the fields dotted with hay bales.

The textures of Geraldton and Greenough

Oh, I long for the wind swept, rolling hills of Greenough with its trees growing bowed to the ground and its wind turbines, majestic and steadfast.

And for Geraldton, a far cousin of my little humble hometown, Port Dickson.

Being in Geraldton really made me miss the place I grew up in. I had some time to myself one of those days in Geraldton so I went walking on the beach. The lapping waves, the smell of the ocean and the feel of the sand between my toes reminded me of "home" home. Perth's beaches don't bring such memories of home. Maybe because it is open seas. In Geraldton, the calm of the bay is very similar to the calm of the straits.

I am SO looking forward to spending some time on the beach when I am back in PD in December.

I've just returned from...

...Geraldton and have loads to share but haven't got the energy to as I've been out of the office and work is piled high.

I promise to share photos and stories soon.

Extraordinary Mondays - The Perth Royal Show

We go to the Perth Royal Show every year without fail, at least once. This year was the first year that Zach altered the way we experienced the show. We took a horse drawn coach ride, a camel ride, spent lots of time looking at the animals. It was also his first year experiencing kiddy rides. Oh, how he loved the teacup ride!


One of the mandatory stops every year is the Super Doughnuts store. Pierce, a really good friend of ours, co-owns the store with his brothers. It is the only doughnut store on the showgrounds that makes doughnuts fresh. If you haven't tasted one of their freshly made doughnuts, you haven't tasted a good doughnut yet. Check them out next year at the show. They are located immediately on the left if you enter through the railway station gates.

Can't wait till next year, I wonder if Zach will be up to the kiddy Purple Dragon Roller Coaster ride?

Oh, for the love of our children...

...we go to such great lengths:

1. After much trial and error, we have found one of the sources that have contributed to Amelia's eczema: her formula. We have changed to Nestle's Nan Gold HA and her cheeks cleared out 90% overnight!! It no longer weeps clear fluids. No more inflammation. Still a little rashy but nothing like before.

2. We have a great big 8-foot trampoline complete with its enclosure sitting in our living room. After initially hating the idea of the trampoline in the house, I really like it. Zach gets to play in it rain or shine, morning or night. Who says trampolines are outdoor play equipment?

3. After much searching and researching, I have ordered and am eagerly waiting on the arrival of three Klean Kanteens. One for Amelia, one for Zach and one for me! Klean Kanteens are stainless steel containers with BPA-free tops. I ordered a stainless steel top for myself to be completely plastic free. The little ones come with a top that fits an Avent sippy spout. I'll tell you how they fair.

Queen of the Murchison

I must admit I was apprehensive about the trip to Cue. It was a work trip, essentially a site visit. However, prior to the trip, I had not been to the Australian Outback and didn't know what to expect from the local shire and the people I would be meeting to discuss the proposed works in Cue.

Don't get me wrong, I was excited.

The plane trip up to Meekatharra was on the smallest plane I have ever been on. It was almost surreal. It was a turboprop that carried approximately only 20 passengers, all window seats! It was so tiny, I could reach out and rest my hand on the shoulder of the guy across the aisle from me! The flight was interesting to say the least with the stormy conditions in Perth as we took off.

Landing in Meekatharra was as if we had traveled to a different country. The weather was BEAUTIFUL! The drive down to Cue was even better. What a beautiful, vast landscape! The salt lakes, the big skies, the red earth. Simply amazing.

We went straight to work in Cue and walked down its main street, Austin Street. Oh, what a gorgeous selection of buildings literally out in the middle of nowhere!

Police station and post office

Former Bank of New South Wales

However, my favourite was not one of the state registered heritage places but rather this collection of shops, formerly a lounge and parlour. I found them simply delightful, with the dark timber joinery and the leadlights still with its original shop signage. I could just imagine the comings and goings in its hay day!

Some other eccentricities that enamoured me to the little town:



We managed to finish what we had to do on the first day so we were free to roam the countryside and we did just that literally. We visited the former Great Fingall Mine Office which sits precariously on the edge of a mine pit.

Former Great Fingall Mine Office

We went searching for a house that the CEO of the shire had mentioned but couldn't find it. We also went treasure hunting in the dump site of Cue. I found a part of a rusted tobacco tin with WD & HO Wills on it. Personal significance here as I was involved in the refurbishment of the WD & HO Wills warehouse in Perth. Some other treasures found by my companions included a glass bottle that used to hold nugget polish and a really old Penfolds wine bottle, empty of course.

Broken pieces of crucibles and test tubes used in the gold industry found in dump site.

When it was time to leave for Perth, I was reluctant as there was still so much to explore! So much more beautiful landscapes to capture. I came away with such a love for the outback. I wanna go back!