Blue Mountains Almost Daily Photo

A night with Pugsley Buzzard

2010-03-30T10:07:00.004+11:00

On Saturday night Pugsley Buzzard (like a cross between Fats Waller and Tom Waits) played at the Paragon in Katoomba. Most in the audience dressed in gangster or burlesque fancy dress.

He is a great piano player and was accompanied by a tuba and drums.

strange Fruit pt 3

2009-11-03T12:34:00.003+11:00

When the bees swarm out of the new hive and settle in a nearby tree, repeat steps 1-4.

Strange Fruit pt 2

2009-11-01T23:31:00.002+11:00

How to catch bees.

1. Don the funny suit.
2. Ready yourself with bucket and whacking stick.
3. Give the branch a confident whack.
4. Ask bees nicely to enter their new home... which they did for a while, but then...............

Strange Fruit

2009-10-31T23:43:00.003+11:00

Woke this morning to find this large, buzzing ball hanging from one of our plumb trees. Luckily we know some people who are into bees.

More on the "Saturday wasted catching bees" tomorrow.

A walk to the Falls

2009-08-25T17:55:00.005+10:00

We recently had some Dutch relatives staying for a few days. We took them for a stroll down to our town's eponymous Wentworth Falls.

Sometimes we forget there are places like this within walking distance of our front door.

Slightly Aphrodite?

2009-08-03T16:19:00.003+10:00

I was looking for ages for a mannequin that I could mosaic tile some clothes on and put in the garden. When we found this we thought it was too good for that so it lives in the hallway pretending to be a precious Greek antiquity. We like it, but I often wonder whether people think it's a bit odd having a naked shopfront dummy in the house!?

Just to be sure she doesn't get too far above her station she is occasionally put to work as a hat stand.

Winter Rain

2009-07-31T22:27:00.004+10:00

Hard to believe in a few months we'll be hiding from the summer sun under this, as yet unfinished veranda roof.

Garage slab formwork

2009-06-16T20:29:00.002+10:00

We're building a garage at the back of our place, and this is some of the extravagant formwork for the concrete slab. More pics here.

2009-05-25T17:35:00.004+10:00

Thought I'd show some of my REJECTED application to Sculpture By The Sea before I go back to proper City Photo stuff.

Oh well, better think of something better for next year.

Another perspective on yesterday's photo

2008-12-01T23:46:00.004+11:00

This gives a better idea of the size of the thing. The smaller bit of chain in the foreground above is the start of what may (?) be an extension of the flower stem.

The conveyor chain I managed to get free from work, now I need some stainless rod for the stamen.

Stainless Flower

2008-11-30T22:13:00.003+11:00

This is a flower I'm making out of stainless steel conveyor chains. Maybe it'll be ready for next year's Sculpture by the Sea!

You're Fired!

2008-11-18T22:46:00.006+11:00

Pat was on the money last week when she rightly suggested a Raku firing. I've been learning a bit of pottery and this was the culmination of the first term. I'm not that in to the Raku look, but I guess it's a good idea to learn a bit of everything.

A hole was dug for the fire on the property of a friend of our teacher. It was really in the middle of nowhere, only accessible by 4 wheel drive . The owners live in a converted shed with solar power, gas fridge and tank water. A beautiful spot.

An Archeological Dig Or...?

2008-11-11T22:52:00.002+11:00

Theme Day: Books

2008-11-02T07:13:00.004+11:00

Haven't posted for a while, partly out of laziness, partly because the computer power supply went pop and had to go to computer hospital for a few days and partly 'cos we were in New Zealand for two and a bit weeks. So here's a Theme Day photo and an excuse in one hit.
Have a look here for some NZ holiday snaps.

Yes I know, it's not the Blue Mountains - but you can't see that far from Canberra!

2008-09-26T12:52:00.002+10:00

Went to Canberra (which surprisingly to many foreigners and locals is the capital of Oz) on the weekend. While there, had a quick look at Floriade.
photos by Tanya

Speakers in the Domain

2008-09-24T17:59:00.003+10:00

Another trip to the AGNSW to see the Dobell drawing prize. For the first time in what seems like ages there were speakers across the road at Speaker's Corner in the Domain. But while they were addressing their crowds of one, no-one seemed to notice the large rock that had quietly landed in a tree nearby.

Tree Fella

2008-08-30T15:05:00.002+10:00

Photo by Tanya

2008-08-10T22:44:00.002+10:00

Came home this evening (Sunday) to find a light dusting of snow. It may not seem much to you Northern Hemisphereians but it's kind of exciting to us. It hasn't snowed properly here for a few years so after this afternoon's sprinkle we're hoping tonight will be the night. Weatherzone says 0-7 degrees with snow showers for Monday. Fingers crossed!

Apple Store

2008-08-05T15:13:00.003+10:00

One of the reasons for yesterday's trip to the Big Smoke was to check out the new Apple store.

Photo by Tanya

Anzac Bridge

2008-08-04T16:09:00.004+10:00

Coming home from Sydney on Sunday. This is a view from the car window of the Anzac Bridge which links Sydney's CBD to the inner western suburbs.

Photo by Tanya

August Theme Day

2008-08-01T12:25:00.011+10:00

The City Daily Photo theme for August is Metal.

This time last year we arrived home from a weeks driving holiday to find our (metal) shed a wee bit smaller than when we left.

This is a metal dog (pig?) that I made in said shed when it (the shed) was not so flat.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Photos by Tanya and Richard.

Winter Garden

2008-07-30T15:34:00.009+10:00

The view from our back deck.

Photos by the lovely Tanya.

Mysteries Under The Shed

2008-07-29T12:21:00.001+10:00

A trip to the football

2008-07-25T12:03:00.007+10:00

Sydney's ANZ stadium.
Our family's first trip to the AFL was taken a couple of weeks ago thanks to some free tickets.

Delightful Decay #1

2008-07-18T15:52:00.003+10:00

Signs Of Life #2

2008-07-10T00:43:00.005+10:00

Signs Of Life #1

2008-07-07T23:46:00.002+10:00

The Basic Necessities

2008-07-04T23:53:00.002+10:00

Food, art, shelter.

Aggh!!!F*&%####FT!!!

2008-07-01T15:21:00.004+10:00

The subject for City Daily Bloggers July Theme Day is signs with the word "no".

After much ado finding this brilliant "No" picture, I logged in yesterday to find I was too late to register!!! Oh well, here it is anyway.

Katoomba from the highway

2008-06-30T16:12:00.004+10:00

The big building in the background is the Carrington Hotel built in 1882.

One More

2008-06-24T16:41:00.006+10:00

More Winter Magic

2008-06-22T11:11:00.002+10:00

Photographer John Tylka makes a subject for the rest of us.

Winter Magic

2008-06-21T22:48:00.008+10:00

Every year on the weekend closest to The Winter Solstice the Blue Mountains celebrates with the Winter Magic Festival in Katoomba. The main street is closed off for stalls, street performers and a parade. Lots of people get into the spirit of things by dressing up in something zany for the day.

Ever wondered where London buses go to retire?

2008-06-21T01:06:00.007+10:00

Australia of course!

And this is from where the photo was taken. A recently taken over cafe called Mountain Ridges. Very nice guy running the place who wanted to know our opinion on how the place looked and was very enthusiastic. We didn't read his business card till it was too late to ask what he meant by "vibrat and warm". Not sure if "vibrat" was missing an "n" or a "e".

A Little Leather Anyone?

2008-06-20T11:44:00.004+10:00

You can get your clothes made to order on Gang Gang St in Katoomba. Apparently if you're into skinned cows this is the place for you!

Katoomba Poster Pole

2008-06-19T00:43:00.006+10:00

About three years ago several of these poles were installed along Katoomba street for people to promote their stuff, instead of using other people's walls.

Art gallery of NSW

2008-06-07T23:20:00.004+10:00

Went to Sydney today to the Art Gallery of NSW to see an Adam Cullen exhibition. We're not exactly fans of his, but like they say "art is only what you can get away with."

Dry Friday

2008-06-06T23:08:00.002+10:00

Wet Week

2008-06-05T20:36:00.006+10:00

It's rained most of the week so have been kinda stuck inside.

Even Roger the wooden dog has got cabin fever!

Roger was brought to life, Frankenstein style by local artist Ian Swift who makes things mostly from old railway workshop patterns.

Back to work

2008-05-30T09:01:00.002+10:00

You can see why I'm happy to travel so far to work. A nice quiet, air conditioned, soothing environment...not!

Over the fence

2008-05-27T10:48:00.006+10:00

This is the view over our side fence. Many houses in Wentworth Falls are 80 to 90 years old, having been built soon after the first world war. They are predominantly weatherboard walls with tin (corrugated iron) roofs. Unfortunately ugly red brick and tile houses started to replace the old places in around the 60's. The weatherboard houses are now much sought after, especially by retiring or "tree changing" Sydneysiders.

Morning Ralph.

2008-05-21T17:08:00.003+10:00

No, this is not the Blue Mountains, it's where I work at a brewery in Lidcombe which is about 15 minutes from the centre of Sydney. It's an hours drive for me each way. I'm on night shift this week (10pm-6am) so I had a bit of a wander during my breaks to get a shot or 2.

Wentworth Falls Shops

2008-05-20T16:09:00.001+10:00

Every day we take our 13 year old, deaf and blind Jack Russel, Sally for a walk around the shops. Despite her age and ailments she is physically fit and still enjoys a good sniff. Like any older lady she has trouble sleeping if she doesn't get her exercise. The shop you can see is Rotate Interiors which deals in antique/second hand furniture.

Where better to start than the front gate?

2008-05-08T19:38:00.000+10:00