Portugal Part 1

I took so many photos on this trip that I can't possibly show you all of them, but rather an edited collection which I know will still make you want to visit Portugal.

These are some photos I took in Lisbon, where we spent the first three days of our trip.

Lisbon is built on a hill so it has lots of steep steps,

also lots of little alleyways and arches...

and roads barely wide enough for the tram.

The wider avenues have very intricate patterns in the cobblestones,

and the older houses are often decorated with beautiful tiles.

You can't visit Lisbon without checking out this sardine shop - all it sells are tins of beautifully packaged sardines!

Holiday Time!

I'm off on a trip to Portugal, Ireland and Istanbul so I will have lots of photos to share when I get back.

An Easter full of Curiosities

Maybe it was the full moon, or maybe it was just because, but we had an Easter weekend full of curious sightings.

We set off at 5am to try and miss the traffic.  The early morning mist gave the rising sun an eerie glow.

The Sculptures by the Harbour exhibition  was well worth a visit.  The name is a little misleading as the sculptures are actually in the harbour just in front of the Albany Exhibition Centre.

On the Saturday night we ate outside using a cooking technique that a family friend had seen on a recent trip to China.  You cut sections of green bamboo and fill the hollow centres with a combination of finely chopped meat, rice, vegetable and spices, you then plug the hole (we used carrots) and put the bamboos into an open fire, turning them over at regular intervals.  When they start to sizzle and/or the carrot shoots out you know they are ready.  Then comes the tricky bit - you have to split the bamboo open without losing the contents.  This is where a very very sharp knife (or machete) comes in handy.

We were observed closely by the resident frog and skink.

Then just when we were having a quiet coffee by the beach the next morning, and things seemed quite normal .....

along comes a local with his friend to get a takeaway coffee!

Happy Easter

Have a great Easter weekend everyone.

Things to do with old paper

Old maps and old sheet music are great for making things.  The paper folds well and is always interesting to look at.

Here are some things I have been making:

Portable Herb Gardens

Just like you would occasionally move cushions or pictures around in your house to change the look of things, it's nice to be able to change the look of your garden without having to involve shovels, wheelbarrows and lots of heavy lifting.

This summer I made some portable herb gardens.  One is in a large terracotta pot, the next is in an old wooden box and the newest one is in an old motor oil stand that has seen better days.

You can move them around your garden easily, and they make a great gift.

Somerville Outdoor Cinema

It wouldn't be a proper Summer in Perth without a trip to the Somerville.

It takes a bit of organising, as it has become a very popular venue, but we went to see the much acclaimed French movie Amour a few nights ago.   It was a picture perfect night and a full house.  My photos don't do justice to the amazing backdrop of the Norfolk island pines but there is something magical about the place as the daylight dwindles and the trees are in silhouette against the evening sky.