Saturday 31 March 2012

Boiling pot (2)


When the sun is shining and the water is so inviting, what better way to cool down than jumping into the 'Boiling Pot'. 

Friday 30 March 2012

Boiling Pot


This small inlet of water is called The Boiling Pot, aptly named as the sea washes in and out, stirring up a lather.

Thursday 29 March 2012

Tea Tree Bay


So, here we are on a walk along the coastline of Noosa National Park. Noosa is a small town, very popular with locals and tourists, about 140kms north of Brisbane. This chunk of dramatic rocky coast jutts into the ocean, dotted with sheltered beaches and coves, and a backdrop of tranquil rainforest, open forest, scrubland and grasslands. If you think the picture has been 'doctored', forget it! The ocean really was this clear and blue.

Wednesday 28 March 2012

Into the Blue


The weather is glorious. The humidity has dropped and the sun is shining. The title of my blog also says "...and a little bit of Queensland", so I'm going to take you for a little trip out of Brisbane and north along the coast.

Tuesday 27 March 2012

Monday 26 March 2012

In The Eye Of The Beholder


Obviously it's a functional modern building, but why do they all have to look like boxes and be so damn ugly? This is the Brisbane City Council offices, with the city library below (in the coloured portion).

Sunday 25 March 2012

Saturday 24 March 2012

Let Them Eat Cake!


Well, perhaps you don't want to eat these cakes...they are soap, very nicely stacked and displayed, looking like macaroons. Happy weekend.

Friday 23 March 2012

Time Warp


When you are in the city and you want somewhere quiet to linger and soak up some 'old world' gentility, you can't go past "Room with Roses" Cafe in the Brisbane Arcade. I've never been, but apparently it is;

"one of the most individual dining experiences in Brisbane. Room with Roses offers distinguished high teas and delightful ‘take home goodies' inspired by our own family recipes, for breakfast, lunch or treats at any time of day".

Built in 1923,this Art Deco arcade is the only one left in it's original form and sits slap-bang in the middle of the city immediately off the main thorougfare, Queen Street.

Thursday 22 March 2012

Old Beelzebub


So, here he is...another devil, sitting on the parapet of the former government printing office. I like to think that rather than being satanic, he has a rather roguish, mischievious grin as he looks down on everyone going about their daily lives. Hope you all have a great day and avoid any imps!

Wednesday 21 March 2012

Better The Devil.....


I always like to keep my eyes open when walking around places and many times you will see me with my head looking skyward. Last week I came across this devil of a chap over the doorway of the former government printing office in the city. Apparently there are seven devilish images on the building, (I only saw three), and some have said that they are a representation of the politicians of the day. Nothing seems to change, does it? Come back tomorrow and I'll show you a different one.

Tuesday 20 March 2012

Queen's Land


As expected, with a building that was constructed in the colonial days of the British Empire, there had to be some reference to Queen Victoria, and here it is in the form of a stained-glass window that sits at the back of Queensland's Parliament House. As nice as it is, I prefer the lower doors. This is the last look for now inside Parliament House.

Monday 19 March 2012

Seeing the Light


Other than being the seat of government here in Queensland, Parliament House is a heritage listed building with some magnificent architecture, beautiful stained glass windows, colonial furniture, and these dazzling glass chandeliers. Imagine going to work every day in a building like this.

Sunday 18 March 2012

Seat of Power.


Having started with the Queensland Parliament building yesterday, I thought I'd stay with the theme seeing as we are in election fever, and take you on a little tour of some of the inside of parliament. Here you can see the beautiful main chamber and you might just be able to make out the desks on the left where the Premier and Deputy Premier sit.

Saturday 17 March 2012

Powerhouse!


A few days ago when I posted a picture of 'The Mansions', http://lincolneye.blogspot.com.au/ noticed the corner of this beautiful French Renaissance Style building. This is the home of the Queensland Parliament, the present building started in 1864, and is Australia's only unicameral State Parliament Here in Queensland we are coming into the last week of electioneering for the state government. Next Saturday it will all be over and done with and we will have either a new government or the current one will be re-elected.

Friday 16 March 2012

Friday is Fish Day


Going to school in England, school lunches were provided, and Friday was always fish day. For most kids it wasn't a problem but I hated fish. It was always deep fried, covered in batter with pockets of fat caught in bubbles and always loads of bones. Times have changed and I can now enjoy eating some fish. Obviously no deep-fried delights for these guys as they head out to catch their lunch. Happy Friday everyone.

Thursday 15 March 2012

Final Reflections


Today we have our last look at 'The Mansions' perfectly reflected in one of the modern office buildings. I wonder which building will still be standing in years to come.

Wednesday 14 March 2012

A Cat On A Hot......!


Well, it's not exactly a "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof", but it certainly would get very hot sitting on the edge of 'The Mansions' in the blazing Queensland sun. I wonder if any of you noticed the cat seated at either end of the building in yesterday's photo. There seems to be no information regarding the significance of these feline friends, but here they sit, one paw resting on a ball of wool, surveying their corner of the city.

Tuesday 13 March 2012

The Mansions


This magnificent terrace of six three-storeyed houses called 'The Mansions' was built in 1889. They are, thankfully, heritage listed so we can only hope that they will be around for many years to come. One of the famous inhabitants was Dr Lilian Cooper who was the first female doctor registered in Queensland.

Monday 12 March 2012

Flying Home


Well here I am again after my week away overseas. Flying into Brisbane yesterday it was a cloudy arrival, but at least clear enough for a nice view over the city. I love the way that the Brisbane River snakes it's way right through the CBD and out into Moreton Bay. The airport is just to the upper right. I can see it, so hope the pilot can too!

Sunday 4 March 2012

Hopping Away


"G'day mate. How's it going?"
"Not bad...but I'm tired just standing around here every day"
"Yeah, I know what you mean."
"I'm going to take a short break tomorrow. They've got this airline here that's got one of us on the tail!"
"Oh you mean QANTAS...the Flying Kangaroo"
"Yep, that's the one."
"OK. Great idea. When you coming back?"
"Fly out first thing and I'll be back next week."
"That's great mate. Well, can't stand around here all day. You'd better hop to it!"
"OK mate. Catch ya next week."

Saturday 3 March 2012

Gum.


The weather is terrible today...very un-weekend like I think! Torrential rain, heavy grey skies and horrendous humidity. These flowers are of one of the many eucalyptus or gum trees that can be found in Australia, and are extremely tough, coping with just about anything the weather throws at them.

Friday 2 March 2012

Golly Gosh


Little could Florence Kate Upton have known the controversy that her character, Gollowogg, would cause years later after he first appeared in her children's story "The Adventures of Two Dutch Dolls And A Golliwogg" in 1895. At that time there were no negative connotations associated with the golliwog. Golly has appeared in several popular forms over the years, namely in Enid Blyton's stories, where he was mostly naughty and wasn't portrayed in a positive light. British readers will be familiar with the Robertson's jam golly who appeared as the brand's mascot on every jar of jam or marmalade. Recent years has seen a decline in the golliwog and he has been removed from jam labels and has been re-created in story books, racism being cited for the reason.

So, imagine my amazement when I was in the city and saw a shop window full of golliwogs. It wasn't just one window either! Bold and brazen, smiling out at the passing public. Obviously political correctness hasn't reached this shop. I wonder what you think about them? (For the record, I don't feel offended by them or see them as racist)!

Thursday 1 March 2012

Seasonal Protection


Sitting in the southern hemisphere, March 1st ushers in the first day of autumn, not that you'd know it by the late burst of hot dry weather we are having. Whilst walking through the city the other day I noticed this decorated tree in King George Square which needed closer inspection. This is the Martenitza tree, a gift to the city and people of Brisbane from the Bulgarian community and is significant on March 1st, Martenitza's Day. The first of March is a celebration of life, hope and good spirits, and this tradition can be traced back 8000 years to the Balkan region.

Red is the colour of fire, blood and the symbol of life associated with the woman. White is the symbol of purity, the colour of the cold snow, foamy waters, the clouds, and also of man's wisdom. The twisted red and white threads of the Martenitza bring health, happiness and protect from evil according to the ancient tradition.

Hope you all have good health and happiness, wherever you are.