Even though daily life activities here in Victoria are being expanded day by day, restrictions eased, doors opened that have been shut for months, we are still not able to travel long distances so I’m still reliving trips away to places far far from home. I’m thinking armchair travel is going to be a way of life for a little while yet.
I once saw the climate in Melbourne described as Temperate but quite variable…known for its changeable weather patterns …lol four seasons in one day isn’t far from the mark. It can be hot and dry, it can definitely be cold and wet but what it isn’t is tropical…..except on some really hot humid days we might get in the summertime 😎
So one of the things I look forward to seeing when we are out and about in Queensland ….because I’ve never seen them growing in Melbourne and they just seem to shout out Tropical ….are the beautiful Bougainvillea which seem to grow like weeds, they are everywhere. Bright bursts of colour climbing over and around anything and everything reminding me of the big climbing Banksia roses that do well down south.
This week I’ve been reminding myself of some seen on a trip in 2009 I hope you enjoy them as well
We saw this lovely pink and white bush in a car park of all the places at Winton. all on its own and looking a little out of place amongst the natives. Maybe self sown
The actual flowers are the little white ‘bits’ in the coloured bracts
But what I did like was the way some businesses used it decoratively. This was a lovely white strain growing up an archwayin front of a cafe in Longreach It had a really nice cool look to it and there didn’t seem to be any thorns on this one. which is possibly why it was placed so very strategically in front of the cafe
You can see the little flowers more clearly here
Now this to me was the most appealing of all Mountains of colour at several spots along the main street of Bowen One side of Herbert Street is higher than the other and there were several of these fabulous covered crossings along the street. (sadly removed during a ‘street renovation’)
A beautifully shaded area under those enormous Bougainvillea shrubs Those bench seats looked so inviting
Thank you Kay (at Musings) for the inspiration……for this post. To enlarge click or use the two finger slide
You’ll discover things will change right in front of your eyes!
October is birthday month for both of us so more often than not we have ‘lunch at the golf club to celebrate ‘. (sadly not this year though)
Lunch at The Golfers favourite home away from home in Healesville (a short 30 min drive up the road) is always special The food is good – the views from the terrace even better. A table at the window a must.
October 2016 ……at 12.43pm we saw blue skies along with some cloud build up over Mt Riddell and the nearby ranges (which are part of The Great Dividing Range)
Eating, drinking and enjoying ourselves we didn’t notice what was happening outside This was the scene at 1.16 pm – just half an hour later Big black storm clouds overhead changing the look, the mood and the outside temperature
And here we are one hour later (2.26 pm) misty grey skies. very wet underfoot but much calmer. (don’t you love being able to know exactly…to the minute….when photos are taken)
I’ll tell you what though….I was really glad parking was under cover when we finally left for home it was pouring again
I’ve had great fun discovering all these old photos….these are from 2010 (Taken for an online ‘photo challenge’ – things beginning with E)
On one of those (now rare days) when I had to go up to the city – with lots of time to spare before my train home – I was able to have a look at (and photograph) some of the landmarks in the city known in the late 1800s as Marvellous Melbourne
Flinders Street Station One of our most easily recognised ‘Entrances and Exits’ right on the intersection of Flinders Street, Swanston Street and St Kilda Road.
For many years this was the place to meet ‘Meet you on the steps under the clocks’ was the saying. The clocks are those above the entrance and related to each of the train lines giving the time of the next one on that line as well as the platform it would leave from ‘In the name of progress’ they have been replaced by an electronic board inside the forecourt
Diagonally across the road on one of the corners of Swanston Street is St Paul’s Cathedral
Now just inside in the lobby was this banks of doors – are they entrances or exits?? Of course they are for the Lifts ( Elevators in other parts of the world)
Imagine waiting there and being able to admire the handiwork of the doors as well as the mosaic mural of the shield and motto of the company.
Then it was back across the road to Collins Street I wanted to see the heritage listed Regent Theatre with its glamorous wide stepped entrance foyer
We’ve been to many shows/performances here and it is a grand feeling walking up those stairs admiring the chandeliers and the striking set of windows going through the big double doors then making your way into one of nicest theatres in town
Time to make our way home and for some its time for a drink. Well not for me – but right acoss from the station is the heritage listed pub. Young and Jacksons
Nicely situated, ready to quench the thirst of many a worker on a hot day Home to Chloe
I could see the reflection of the station across the way In the door windows and wondered how many had walked in ‘Just for a quick one’ before crossing the road to catch their train home
I’m also wondering just how long it will take for our beautiful city to once again be known as Marvellous Melbourne !
Still Waters 