Old Bus Sign

This is another picture you will see on the buses here in Newcastle. The series of posters are titled "Safe Travel for Seniors," as you can see. This one is my favourite because of the first tip: "ask the driver to wait until you are off the bus." What else is the driver is gonna to do? And, what do they want the drivers to wait for? These are my questions. I have spent much time on public transit pondering this. I hope to find an answer soon. 

You Too Can Help

This is what is posted on the buses now, amongst the ads above the windows. I had to have a chuckle over it, even though it's sad to think that your neighbours would report you to the "authorities" for working in the garage at 3am, fixing your car or making that spice rack your partner has been bugging you for. They even have these signs at the bus stops, replacing the movie posters. I couldn't imagine Canada posting things like this, but then I haven't been there in a while, so things may have changed. 

Roo sans Poo

As promised, here is a picture of Bella, Jackie and Jamie's baby kangaroo. She's cute. She poops. She hops and she's a beaut. In this photo bella is sucking on her toe. She sleeps in a soft, little cooler bag (or "esky" as they are called in Australia). 

Lake Macquarie Monster

Last weekend Edith and I had dinner with our Friends, Jackie and Jamie (J+J), who live close to Lake Macquarie. It's the largest inland lake in the southern hemisphere. We went for a nice sunset walk and watched Jamie throw rocks into the water for their doggy (right now her name eludes me so I will call her Lady) to chase after. I took many photos of Lady chasing after the rocks and I like this one the best, just because the doggy looks like a surfacing Lake monster.

We had a lot of fun at J+J's. Jamie cooked some wonderful BBQ, including steak, sausages, zuchinni and peppers. There was lots of wonderful conversation and we ended the evening by smoking some apple tobacco on their Hookah Pipe. Also, I can't forget to mention, we got to play with their baby kangaroo, Bella (I remembered her name. I hope Lady doesnt take this personally). She's very cute and poops a lot. I will try to find a picture to post for you - of the kangaroo, not the poop. 

Cloud Burst

Being here in Australia I am missing the perpetual rains of Vancouver. In Newcastle, we have had some rain, but nothing that compares to what you get at home. These photos are from the week before last. This is what I consider to be a typical Newcastle storm.


In Newcastle, the rain is very busy. It doesn't have time to hang around all day. Clouds quickly roll in and all of a sudden you are caught in a huge downpour. The water falls so fast that it feels like you are in the bathroom shower.


The water accumulates so quickly that in a lot of places the water on the road comes up above your ankles.


Then, sometimes as quick as 5-10 minutes later, the rain stops and the sun comes out. Most of the time, the rain bursts are quick, but you get just as much rain as in a day in Vancouver - or at least it feels that way.

I know you have been having rain for weeks on end, back at home. I thought these photos would show that the sun doesn't always shine in Australia. In fact, we had a big hail storm a few weeks back. Some of the hail stones were as big as golf balls (no joke). The cars out on the street had a lot of hail damage. Some had broken windsheilds and all had body damage. Car dealerships have been having "Hail today, gone tomorrow" Sales. On some cars you can get up to $9,000 off the tag price, just because of the hail damage done to the body.

Also, just so you know, Yesterday the temperature was 38 degrees celsius. And at 9:00pm, when Edith and I were coming home from work, the temperature was still 30. At home, in our apartment, it is really hot. Our landlord took our bug screens to be fixed - they had holes in them from the hail storm - so our windows are closed. There are too many bugs to even consider opening them. We should have the screens back in a couple weeks. Til then we will just sweat it out. 

Federal Bikers

This is another pic for Kendall. A while ago I requested a photo of mail to see on his website. I told him about the postal services here. The letter carriers deliver mail on motorbikes. A few times I have seen them travel in a pack, like the hell's angels, but with dental. Kendall, asked me to take a picture of the mailmen/women on mopeds and post it. But, since he asked, I haven't seen them together, just like public toilets and the police, they're everywhere til you need one.

I figured I would put this one up, until I snap a picture of them in a pack. I took the photo from my bedroom window - notice the window ledge in the bottom right of the photo. I crouched down in the corner and tried not to draw attention to myself. I felt like a secret-agent; it was so exciting. Anyway, this is the resulting photo.

Also, notice the piece of fabric hanging from the back of his helmet? That is so his neck doesn't get burned in the summer. Obviously it gets really hot, and the sun is very harsh here. They all wear them. 

Night Traffic

I realize this photo doesn't have any technical merit, but I am putting it up anyway. Mainly for the simple fact that I like the lights from the cars in it. When I was taking the photo a car came down the street and decided to turn right (notice how the light starts in the left lane - that's Australia). Then another car started coming from the side street. So, the camera captured the lights, and not the cars. I think that's neat. Plus, to me, it looks like a scene from Tron was put into the photo. That's why I like it.

Actually, I just wanted an excuse to tell everyone to go look at Kendall's way better, and so much more professional night-time photo. So, go look at it, and see how night photos are supposed to look.

Just so ya know. This was taken on my street. Our apartment is on the corner, where the headlights begin on the right. I took it on the way home from work tonight. 

Bar Blues.

This is the view from the exercise yard at the Lock-up in Newcastle. This is what the inmates got to see when they went out into the exercise yard. I liked this photo because I couldn't imagine what it would be like if this was the only view of the sky I could see. The building on the right is one of the old government buildings from the 1860s, built when Newcastle stopped being a convict settlement. I think it's the old courthouse.

I took the photo last week. I have been working on a small publication with the Hunter Writer's Centre on the cell wall scratchings. We were down in the cells re-shooting some of the photos. The project is close to completion. We have laid out the book and written all the text for it. Now we need to find a cover, and a printer.

Nobby's Head

This the beach at Nobby's Head. It's one of the main beaches in Newcastle. It's a very nice beach. The sand is nice, the water is cool and the waves are strong, real strong. We were actually really surprised at their power. I was suprised some of the parents weren't more concerned about their kids; the waves could easily knock you over if you aren't paying attention.

I decided to post this picture because it has been 36 degree celsius for the last few days. I wanted to go to the beach, as a reprieve from the heat, but Edith has been doing homework all weekend. I thought looking at pictures of the beach would help, but it has only increased my yearning to visit it. On a side note, today it was 20 degrees celsius, a normal temperature for this time of year. Apparently the last few days were a "freak heat wave" they are blaming on La Ninia. I just hope this isn't an omen of the summer to come, though it probably is. 

The pigeon market.

This is from our trip to Melbourne (pronounced "melban"). We were at Victoria Market, which is a a big open market where you can buy everything form vegetables to clothes to tools and everything in between. It is very famous here. Edith was happy because it is just like the markets in Romania.

At the market you could actually buy pigeons. Judging from the price, they aren't a huge seller. What would you use them for? When I was there, a group of teenagers bought them just to let them go. I figure that is a good money making scheme. Pay the local kids to run around and catch the city pigeons. Then sell them to naive tourists and teenagers to set free. And then, have the kids go out again and bring the pigeons back. I bet there's a metaphor for life in there somewhere. 

Opera from the Bridge

Alright! Here it is. The obligatory photo of the Sydney Opera House. This was taken from the harbour bridge. We wanted to take a picture that was further down the bridge, where you would have gotten a better profile shot. Unfortunately, when you get to the middle of the bridge, fencing blocks the view. A huge, thick fence runs from the cement to right above you, making it feel like you are walking through a tunnel. I guess it's meant to keep people from jumping. They even have security guards that walk the length of the bridge. They must be a deterrant for jumpers too. Seems like a lot of people want to jump. I think, if so many people want to jump off the bridge, they should set up a bungee jumping program for the emotionally unstable. They could call it: "Jump to Happiness - Jump Down and Turn That Frown Upside Down."

Art of Picasso

This is my attempt at being artistic. We went to Melbourne in July and saw Fiddler on the Roof, with Topol, who played the lead in the film. While we were there the art gallery had a collection of Picasso's works on display. It was too expensive to get in, so I took this photo instead. The windows of the Gallery have water streaming down them, giving this weird reflection of the outside sign.

We enjoyed our time in Melbourne, it's a great city. The play was wonderful. We sat in the 5th and 6th rows, those were the only seats left and they weren't together. Luckily, they were the same seat numbers. So being the gentleman I am, I let edith sit in the 5th row, while I peered over her head from the sixth row. The seating arrangement wasn't ideal, but we will remember it forever becasue of our seats and the great play. 

Bowerbird Blue

This is another picture from our weekend on the farm. I have made many attempts to put this pic online. I kept having trouble figuring how to explain what this picture is of. Well... I will try again. Only this time I am clipping the explanation from Wikipedia, just because I think it is so interesting and thought you would like to read it too.

The U-shaped grass in this pic is called a bower. A bird called a Bowerbird uses it for attracting females. In fact, the little blue objects littered around the bower are a part of the mating process. The bird will spend hours carefully sorting and arranging each blue object, with each thing in a specific place. If an object is moved while the bowerbird is away he will put it back in its place. No two bowers are the same, and the collection of objects reflects the personal taste of each bird and its capability to procure unusual and rare items (going as far as stealing them from neighboring bowers). At mating time, the female will go from bower to bower, watching as the male owner conducts an often elaborate mating ritual, and inspecting the quality of the bower.

The best bower will attract the most females. If I built this bower, I would probably add some neon lights, racing stripes, and maybe some flames down the side. 

The emblem of their land

"This here's a wattle. The emblem of our land. You can stick it in a bottle. You can hold it in your hand..."

This wattle hasn't bloomed yet, but when it does the little flowers will be a nice golden yellow. Australia gets its national colours, which are gold and green, from this shrub. Well... not this exact shrub. You know what I mean.

This is another photo from our stay on the farm in Yarramalong. I have to say it again, we had such a great time while we were there. 

Ollie's Ball

We spent the weekend in Yarramalong on a small farm, with about 22 acres and 3 horses and 3 dogs, with our friend, Lisa, and her parents.

This is Ollie. She loved chasing her blue rubber ball. You could throw her the ball, then she would chase after it, bring it back to you, drop it at your feet and then wait patiently, just like this, until you threw it again; hence, the photo.

We really enjoyed ourselves that weekend. It was nice to be away from the suburbs and spend some time in the country. Plus, our hosts were very nice and made us feel at home. 

Post number

Here is the number of post that the previous photo is from. You know... just in case you want to go to East Gresford one day and see it for yourself.

Textures of an old post

I am back. I haven't been online for months, since I started looking for work. I finally found a job and I start on monday. I am so relieved and now I can start posting some pictures again.

This is a picture of an old post. At least, I think it was a fence post. I took the photo in a small town called East Gresford. And it really is a small town. It consisted of a Hotel (which is a pub), an IGA grocery store and some other small businesses, and that is it. I went there with a committee member from Catchfire Press. We were invited to give a talk to the local book club about the publishing house and our next publication, which will be called Through The Valley. It will be an anthology of writings about life in the Hunter Valley, where Newcastle is located. You can look at the website if you want to see their other publications. 

For Kendall

After reading Kendall's post, I decided to post this as a sign of support.

I don't take many pictures of flowers. But, I was in Brisbane for the last three days, visiting friends. We went on a tour of the XXXX (pronounced "Fourex") Brewery. I know what you're thinking, "but you don't drink." Still, my friends do and they wanted to go, so I had the "non-alcoholic" version of the tour. I saw these flowers outside of the brewery. I took the photo just because I liked them. I don't know what type they are or anything, but, just like in art, I may not know flora but I know what I like. And I like these.

So, Kendall, keep posting what you want. If it looks good, go with it. Don't let a critic's wind steer your boat - they will always lead you to the placid waters of mediocrity.

Feeding Time!

We went to a Crocodile Farm in Queensland. On the tour, the guide fed the crocs while we waited, somewhat safely, behind the fence.


I realize the fact that these photos were taken from behind a fence removes the National Geographic, feral feel of nature in the wild. Still, even with the fence seperating us, I felt uneasy about being so close to them.


The guide accidentally dropped the first piece of meat in the water. Smartly, he didn't try to retrieve it. Instead he tapped the croc on the snout, teasing him - to me, not very smart.


Then he tossed a different piece of meat to the croc. Factoid: Crocodiles can go a year without eating, if they have to.

This particular croc came from the home of a private resident. The original owner raised him in their bathtub. He eventually got too big and the owner had to get rid of him, much to his wifes relief. The croc was fed only fish. As a result, when the farm got him, he was calcium deficient. So much so, in fact, that when he would bite something hard his jaws would bend around the object, rather than breaking it.

Also, because he'd been a lone male in a bathtub for his whole life, he didn't know much about girls. When three female crocs were put into his pen, to breed, rather than seducing the croc chicks he killed them. It took him, I think, about three years to learn that the girls were his play pals, not prey.

Emu Eye

I'm speechless. I don't know what to say about this photo. I just liked the colour of the eye. I wonder if he/she gets compliments on it all the time? 

A Crab's Balls

This is one of the little crabs we tormented at the beach in Gladstone. We weren't able to pick him up though. He was too quick with his pinchers.


Apparently the crabs make these little balls. The crab in the photo above may have even been the creator. I don't know how, or why they do it. Maybe they just have an inherent need to create. I think this one is a portrait of his friends, starfish and squid. Can you see them?

If you see something else, leave a comment. I would love to know what you see. 

Brisbane at Night

This is the Treasury Casino in Brisbane. It used to be the actual city treasury until it was relocated. They then gutted the building and made it into a casino.