Dawn Archibald fountain Sydney

Archibald Fountain at dawn

Yackandandah Street Parade

I love Yack, down here for the annual music festival. They kick off with a street parade, this year's theme - circus.

Fremantle wharf

A recent trip to fabulous Fremantle, Western Australia is simply a beautiful place full of friendly people. I want to move there!

Sydney cafe with water view

My favourite cafe on a Sunday morning - Th eBoathouse, part owned by Andrew Robb Federal Minister.

Bistro Boulevard in Avalon

Owned by a young French couple this is the best spot to eat in my home town.

Tasmania - a great holiday destination

Arrived at Australia's most southern capital city ... Only an hour an a half flight away is Hobart, capital of Tasmania.

Sweet sign

One of my usual haunts closed for a holiday, I do not blame them as it is cold. (Can't wait for spring) But I like their sign.

Taylors Point Wharf

Sitting on the dock of the bay ...

Cafe with Courtyard

Zubi - even the name sounds funky. On a Sunday morning, out the back in the garden, bacon and egg broiche, funky young jazz band (with James Morrison's sons, newspapers... heaven.

Nude Sydney

The boxers in the gardens - looking towards the Renzo Piano building - one of my favourites.

The best swimming pool in Sydney

No doubt about it - 'the Boy'

Best place in New Zealand

The Milford track in the South Island, one of the most beautiful parts of the world I have visited. Pristine. Part of the CDPB theme day for the national day of NZ. For other posts click here.

Concert in The Domain

Every year on Australia Day there is a public concert in the people's park - The Domain. A beautiful balmy evening, a friendly crowd and as usual the 1812 Overture to finish the program. A fitting end to a beaut Straya Day. Also nice to see we also have a new Australian citizen amongst the many - Mirian Margolyes. Welcome.

Here is the program: ROSSINI: Overture to La gazza ladra (The Thieving Magpie)

BEETHOVEN: Symphony No.9 in D minor, Op.125 (Choral): Mvt.2, Scherzo

PURCELL: March & Canzona for the Funeral of Queen Mary, Z.860: Mvt 1, March

BACH: Concerto in C minor for oboe, violin and strings, BWV1060: Mvts. II & III Adagio & Allegro

ROSSINI: William Tell:Overture

[interval]

SHOSTAKOVICH: Suite for variety orchestra: Mvt 7, Waltz No.2

BARTÓK: Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta: Mvt.3, Adagio

KHACHATURIAN: Suite No.1 from Gayane: Mvt. 7, Gayane's Adagio ELGAR: Pomp and Circumstance – March No.4 in G

TCHAIKOVSKY: 1812 – Festival Overture, Op.49

Beach Cricket Rules

Australia Day coming up this weekend and here is a true Australian scene - beach cricket on Clareville Beach. Some suggested rules: 1. ball hit in the water = 6 runs and you are out. 2. one handed catch after one bounce and you are out 3. tip and run ... of course 4. can be bowled out first ball 5. no LBW! Further suggestions welcome

Lucinda Park Palm Beach

Named after a famous event that occurred here. The boat Lucinda hosted an important meeting that preceded the Federation of Australian States.

Australian War Memorial Canberra 7 FINAL

The setting sunlight over the AWM and parts of the HMAS Brisbane. Back to Sydney tomorrow.

Australian War Memorial Canberra 6

The gun mount of the HMAS Brisbane outside the AWM. HMAS Brisbane (1966) was the second vessel of that name to serve in the Royal Australian Navy. She was the third of the RAN's American-built "Charles F. Adams" class guided-missiles destroyers. Brisbane undertook two tours of duty with the United States Seventh Fleet off Vietnam, in 1969 and again in 1971, and was the last ship of the RAN to serve there.

Australian War Memorial Canberra 3

Afternoon light. After the 1939-1945 war, the charter of the Memorial was extended to encompass all wars in which Australians have died. Today, the Memorial’s collection is divided into the following areas: Art (the Memorial has an extensive art collection), Military Heraldry and Technology, (including flags, uniforms, guns, aeroplanes and so on), Photo Sound and Film, and Printed and Written Records.

Aboriginal shelter

Hidden from the general public is this magical rock shelter. Research has found that it was inhabited for 10000 years. It is facing north and is well sheltered from the elements.

MItchell Library reading room

The main reading floor. The Mitchell Library holds Australia’s greatest documentary record of cultural heritage. It also holds the world’s most significant collections of Australian and Pacific material, including the original journals of Abel Tasman, James Cook and Matthew Flinders.