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.