12 of 12 for June 2010

Well it's been a really long time between posts but I'm still kicking. For those of you who still keep tabs on me, I thank you for sticking with me not only when I'm posting the most boring post ever but also when I get to regal you with my amateur photography. I think I said a few months ago that this is probably going to end up being a photo blog. I just don't seem to have the time to sit down and type something and then at the same time make it interesting. At least with my pictures I can amuse you with a little colour.

Anyway, here are this months 12 of 12 photos. I took all of these shots within five minutes walking distance from my house. I live in a very beautiful part of the world and I know that I am so very lucky to be able to enjoy what the world has to offer right outside my doorstep. I must mention that 12 of 12 would not be possible if not for this man. Check out his blog and you can also check out some of the other blogger's photos that participate in 12 of 12. Enjoy....

Right outside our front door. They are usually more colourful but since we are officially into our winter months a lot of things don't flower as much, but the pots are nice.

The other side of our front door...

Even though there are no blooms right out side our front door. I can always find things like this hibiscus blooming in our garden pretty much year round. We also have orange, yellow and deep red ones

Mr Frog sits at the entrance of one of the small rest and relaxation garden. We basically have three garden spaces two up front and then the backyard pool area. This one is made up of ferns and lots of shade but also very airy. It' a nice place to sit on a hot afternoon.

Just an interesting plant that suddenly bloomed theses little cluster of greenish flowers. I just think it looks nice against the fence, but to each his own...

A nice place to sit and relax with an angel to keep you company

Just one of many thousand palm trees around but this one is really old and as you can see vey big.

In December 1914, Duke Kahanamoku, the world sprint swimming champion, was touring Australia. He selected timber from a Sydney firm to fashion a board modelled on those used in his native Hawaii, and during a demonstration to the press, introduced surf board riding to Australia at Freshwater Beach (This is where I live) on Thursday 24 December. It was the first recorded time that anyone had surfed the clean waves beyond the break in Australian waters using this Hawaiian-style surfing technique.

It was so popular that a second spur of the moment demonstration was given on a Sunday in January 1915. Duke topped the performance by taking a local young girl, Isabel Letham on the board with him to surf the waves. Isabel went on to become a pioneer of Australian surfing. The board has been kept in a display in the Freshwater Surf Club since 1952. There is now a statue of Kahanamoku on the headland at Freshwater.

The big building used to be an old monastery and then it was an all boys catholic school and now it is a culinary school.

A bottle brush

There's always someone trying to get in a little surfing

...and there is always or almost always someone fishing off the rocks around the beach. Every year they have at least one person who gets caught up in a sudden swell and the get knocked off the feet and they get swept ot into the water. Here's hoping this guy can swim...

Stay tuned...

Hey ho one and all, long time no post. My new position is keeping me very busy. So that's why you've not heard much from me. And although it means I don't get as much time on the net as I would like I am at least able to pay bills which is a good thing. Anyway, I just wanted to say that June's 12 of 12 will be here soon and as I promised I'll be posting to make up for last month. So stay tuned and I hope I'll have some really good photos for your to view at your leisure. Until then take care stay well and enjoy life where you can. See ya soon...

No 12 of 12 for May 2010...

Hi everyone, yes it's me again. I know I don't post regularly and I'm sure what few readers I had have dropped me as part of their regular blog reading but I will keep posting when I can and hope someone will read what I write. It was inevitable to lose a few readers but in the end I am comfortable with that outcome. However, I did decide a few months back that maybe this blog will become more of a photo blog and using the 12 of 12 project, that was the brainchild of this man, gives me the opportunity to present to those that are interested, a look into my life through the lens of my camera. I truly enjoy taking the pictures each month and have the hardest time picking out the just 12 pictures to submit each month. I usually take around 160 pictures so the filter process is a bit difficult but I think that it also is part the fun for me doing the project.

Anyway, the main point of this latest entry is to very sadly tell you that I won't be able to do the 12 of 12 for May 2010. But, there is a very good reason for this unfortunate event. "What is that good reason you ask?" My answer is "I got a job!" Yes that's right, after 15 long months and more then 70 applications sent out of looking for gainful employment, I finally snared myself a job. I will be working for a company called International SOS. I am so looking forward to starting, which is on the 10th of May. Maybe my new work environment will provide me with some raw material for a few good post. We will wait and see. I want to thank everyone that supported me through the job hunting process. I really appreciate all of your kind words and encouragement. It meant a lot to me.

There is one more reason for this post and that is to show you the two pictures from last months 12 of 12 that will show you where I got the close up shots of the parts of the two different fountains. So here there are...

This fountain sits in the middle of Sydney's Hyde Park. You cab see the two horse head on eacj side that I took the closed up of one of them.

This fountain sits in the courtyard of Sydney Hospital, which is the oldest hospital in Australia. A note of interest the hospital is still in service and will continue to do so as long as there is a need. In fact my husband just got a new job there working in the Emergency Department. Anyway, I'll keep in touch so I hope that you will keep watching this space and I'll definitely see you for the 12 of 12 for June 2010. See ya...

12 of 12 for April 2010

It's that time of the month again and no it's not the visit from my special friend. What it is, is time for the 12 of 12 photo blog post. I took these photos from around the city and by city I mean Sydney. I'm going to let the photos speak for themselves. So, to you I say enjoy. Oh and as for the mystery photo from last month the photo is that of a close up of a glass block. anyway as I said enjoy the photos. I hope you like them as much as I liked taking them...

OH! A huge apology to Chad Darnell, the man who started this project. I feel terrible for forgetting to tell everyone about him. Anyway. the 12 of 12 is Chad's idea and if you want to know more about the project or about Chad himself you can find everything you wanted to know right here.

Just part of a very colourful fountain

A very old gas lamp that has been converted to electric

Artwork carved into some sandstone

One of many street fruit and flower vendors

Did you forget something for your work day, do you just need a quick snack, or want the latest gossip magazine? Whatever it may be these downtown street vendors probably have it.

This is a very cool piece of artwork that hangs from the side of a building and I liked the way it looks like it is floating over the coffee shop

This is this months mystery photo. so take a guess and as usually I'll let you know the answer next month

Another cool piece of artwork hanging in the lobby of an office tower

I have lived in this city on and off for approximately six years and i have never seen this sculpture but how could I have missed that colour?

Part of a very large fountain that sits in the middle of Hyde Park

Another piece of the same fountain. I have a thing for fountains this month. I'll make a separate post to show you the entire fountains that these partial pictures were taken

I think these guys are hilarious. They are lawyers and that is what they wear in court. some of them are judges and depending on their experience the bigger the white wig. Well that's it. I hope you enjoyed and I'll see you next month.

Lookee here...

Well, it's been a month to the day and guess what today is??? That's right it's the 12th and you know what that means. Right again, it's time for the monthly 12 of 12 photo post. Maybe, I should rename my blog to to "Being Normal - Pictures" I'll have to think about that one for awhile. Anyway, I really love taking the pictures for this monthly endeavour and can't wait to see what I find today to feed into the lens of my camera. We will just have to wait and see. It's early morning on this the 12th day of April and I am about to head in to the city (Sydney, Australia) to take this months photos. So, stay tuned and I'll see you later today. Wish me luck...