Sunday, November 11, 2012
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Photos and passion
I know I promised to explain why Shuffle nosed sharks are gay but first, I think I need to post some photos. This is one thing that has given me much joy & emptied my bank account almost as quick as my daughter.
Some shots from all over the place. Sorry to be dull but all the photos I blog, I reserve all rights, national & international (see ** below).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spotted this great guy on the Bridge to Brisbane run August 2009.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sleeping rough in a park in Brisbanes suburbs & having a good go at whatever drink he could find. This guy was really photogenic. I liked him a lot. He used to work in Aussie tv apparently.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ahh. Cruising the Pacific around Fiji. June 2009. Note the absence of shuffle nose sharks.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Celtic played Brisbane Roar in a friendly last year. 24000 Celtic fans appeared & got drunk. Fantastic day out, the way a match should be enjoyed.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brisbane's Story Bridge at night. The city in the background. Small cutesy city really and as everyone knows here, only just stopped being a town.
All the better for it I say.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Moreton Island. The sun setting on continental Australia in the distance. This astonishing Island will be the subject of its own blog as I was there over Christmas. This is Brisbanes best kept secret, just an hour away from the city.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
A grass tree? I mean, come on, a f***ing grass tree? Who was so bored not to come up with a more imaginative name? Still, interesting thing around Kilcoy.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
When we first arrived, we rented a rock star type place on the canals in Newport. Amazing sunsets over the Glasshouse Mountains. The owner was & is a complete c**t. She gave us a hard time when we left with her picky arguing. Analy retentive the agent said. Should eat more bran then. Bitch.
Still, this pic shows the view into the stunningly still water at dusk. That is sea water - no movement. Not a shuffle nose shark in sight.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Polar Bear at Seaworld (Gold Coast) shot through glass with an old one touch. I love bears & could spend an entire day just watching them. This one was playing with two others and fell into the water for a bit of a float around. Circa 2007
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is one blessed place for nature lovers. Whale watching off Moreton Bay.
Wacthing these stunning creatures breach & put on a show is as awsome as it sounds.
Special.
This one just disappearing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally from South America, the Jacaranda tree blazes lilac all over Brisbane in Spring. A park in Caboolture November 2009.
For all you Northerners, spring is in November. Still messes with my head a bit that.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
One more from Moreton Island. I love this sand Island. A photograpers dream as the light changes all the time & nature abounds.
You ever seen nature abounding? Its good I tell you.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can climb the Story bridge in Brisbane at dusk & this shows just that.
But why the f**k would you?
OK, so I'm scared of heights. Having been a coal miner, I am all good with depths - just not heights. Been trying to figure out how I get the depths skills onto my CV?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
OK, I titled this Photos & passion.
Alright the passion bit was a ruse to get you to look at my stuff. Apologies to anyone expecting otherwise.
However, just for the few, some pics I enjoyed taking below (no I dont do the other kind of photos my wife tells me).
Next up, sharks & sexuality.
** For the avoidance of doubt, all photographs on this post & blog have been taken by the author unless otherwise stated. Phtographs may not be used without the express permission of the author. The Author retains all rights to images other than those referenced. The Author can be contacted through this blog.
Some shots from all over the place. Sorry to be dull but all the photos I blog, I reserve all rights, national & international (see ** below).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spotted this great guy on the Bridge to Brisbane run August 2009.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sleeping rough in a park in Brisbanes suburbs & having a good go at whatever drink he could find. This guy was really photogenic. I liked him a lot. He used to work in Aussie tv apparently.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ahh. Cruising the Pacific around Fiji. June 2009. Note the absence of shuffle nose sharks.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Celtic played Brisbane Roar in a friendly last year. 24000 Celtic fans appeared & got drunk. Fantastic day out, the way a match should be enjoyed.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brisbane's Story Bridge at night. The city in the background. Small cutesy city really and as everyone knows here, only just stopped being a town.
All the better for it I say.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Moreton Island. The sun setting on continental Australia in the distance. This astonishing Island will be the subject of its own blog as I was there over Christmas. This is Brisbanes best kept secret, just an hour away from the city.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
A grass tree? I mean, come on, a f***ing grass tree? Who was so bored not to come up with a more imaginative name? Still, interesting thing around Kilcoy.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
When we first arrived, we rented a rock star type place on the canals in Newport. Amazing sunsets over the Glasshouse Mountains. The owner was & is a complete c**t. She gave us a hard time when we left with her picky arguing. Analy retentive the agent said. Should eat more bran then. Bitch.
Still, this pic shows the view into the stunningly still water at dusk. That is sea water - no movement. Not a shuffle nose shark in sight.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Polar Bear at Seaworld (Gold Coast) shot through glass with an old one touch. I love bears & could spend an entire day just watching them. This one was playing with two others and fell into the water for a bit of a float around. Circa 2007
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is one blessed place for nature lovers. Whale watching off Moreton Bay.
Wacthing these stunning creatures breach & put on a show is as awsome as it sounds.
Special.
This one just disappearing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally from South America, the Jacaranda tree blazes lilac all over Brisbane in Spring. A park in Caboolture November 2009.
For all you Northerners, spring is in November. Still messes with my head a bit that.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
One more from Moreton Island. I love this sand Island. A photograpers dream as the light changes all the time & nature abounds.
You ever seen nature abounding? Its good I tell you.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can climb the Story bridge in Brisbane at dusk & this shows just that.
But why the f**k would you?
OK, so I'm scared of heights. Having been a coal miner, I am all good with depths - just not heights. Been trying to figure out how I get the depths skills onto my CV?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
OK, I titled this Photos & passion.
Alright the passion bit was a ruse to get you to look at my stuff. Apologies to anyone expecting otherwise.
However, just for the few, some pics I enjoyed taking below (no I dont do the other kind of photos my wife tells me).
Next up, sharks & sexuality.
** For the avoidance of doubt, all photographs on this post & blog have been taken by the author unless otherwise stated. Phtographs may not be used without the express permission of the author. The Author retains all rights to images other than those referenced. The Author can be contacted through this blog.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
A Brit of a move
Hi, I am Adrian. I moved to Brisbane from the UK in 2007.
Why?
Because I didnt wan't my kids growing up speaking creole. I want better for them than tolerating the druggies at school, better than the expectation that things are generally crap & and occasionally, life throws you a break.
So we came here. And bl**dy splendid it is.
Mostly.
There are statistics that show crime figures similar to the place I still call 'Home' Home - Nottingham (you pies). I can find the headlines in the local rag that match my home town and point you at some tasty places around Brisbane like Logan (they have an Ikea there - some may spot irony in this statement).
But the scale is stunningly different. I'll give you a flavour.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brits queuing for immigration across the gateway bridge all the way to Brisbane airport. One in every 100 people in the shot is a creole interpreter - innit.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Any given Sunday, I take a walk with my good lady along the sea front at Redcliffe, North of Brisbane. There is a marked out 15 KM walking & cycling track around the peninsular that takes in beaches, a pier, cafe & restaurant stretch, boat launches etc. There are toilets every 2-3km. They dont stink like three tramps had a pi**ing competition in them. The seats are still in place, toilet paper always stocked.
No, I'm not George Michael and no the bladder still works after 47 years - just. Stay with me there is a point.
The track is tree lined and grassed in front of the beach. Families turn up from 07:00 onwards with their cool boxes (heskys) and picnics & set up for the half day or all day. There are many covered seated areas that have free barbeque hotplates (it is about 28 degrees at that time in summer).
They do not have to wipe the human excrement from the kiddies slides before they can be used. The specially tended trees double as climbing frames, the built climbing frames are clean, there are no needles or 'sharps' to worry about.
The parking is free along the sea front - as it almost aways is, even at the train stations. The beaches are clean - but dont be fooled. The aussies will tell you these are C or D grade beaches. They are right. You can drive an hour North or South & be on beaches that we constantly dreamt about when 'Home' home. Like the Carribean, beautiful and barely used.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Australian Customs lady welcoming migrants on Redcliffe Pier.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
However. The beaches at Redcliffe give Skegness a decent run and theres no oil slicks. I have very fond memories of Skeg & will be complimentary later I'm sure. But this is decent stuff.
There is very little graffitti and a built 'safe' kiddies pool nestles next to the Pier and cafe strip.
I would have killed for this kind of thing when mine were young. Best we used to get was some hand painted, freezing cold annex in some manky pub claiming kids meals. Usually cremated lumps of gristle doing a Chicken Nuggets impression. this would usually end up costing 60 quid for the four of us and we were herded in & out in an hour or so. Sunday afternoons - Shudder.
The boy now plays guitar on the beaches when he can - surrounded by cute aussie girls, I am sure his last two years at school will be infinitely more interesting than mine.
Meanwhile, my Daughter is going to the University of the Sunshine Coast. I Mean, come on! Do I need to spell out what thats like? Jack smit to do all day, and on the bloomin Sunshine Coast!
Sunshine Coast Uni - Derby Uni, Derby Uni - Sunshine Coast Uni? Strewth! (though I'd throw in a strewth case any Aussie readers are looking in, just keeping it real).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Skegness Donkey
(http://skegnessvideo.com/2008/09/nuttalls-skegness-beach-donkeys/,Skegness Magazine)
Redcliffe - er - camels.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Where was I, oh yes, I never make this walk, in any direction, without making the above comparison to some of the f***ed up dog holes masquerading as recreational areas at 'Home' home. Some of the recreation areas (recks to us Midlanders) I used to see were constantly screwed over by, well, er, our own kind. Or their kids anyway. Smashed equipment, renewed every now & then in the knowledge it would last hours, days at best. Graffitti, human waste of one type or another, condoms used & otherwise, needles & drug paraphanalia. Play areas stripped back to nothing to minimise the impact of the 'locals'.
I could never put the beautiful, innocent and trusting thing that is your child in such places without wondering what had gone wrong. They seem so incompatible.
Mind you, Redcliffe isn't a posh area. Not a West Bridgeford if you come from where I did. Not a Knigtsbridge full of well to do's although they unsurprisingly have some of those.
This is fairly typical Queensland. I specify Queensland as I cant speak for the other states.
When I say states, this is one of the many things you learn when you get here.
This is one big place.
My company has offices in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. I can frequently attend meetings in either state although Brissie (yes they shorten everything) is my home.
Melbourne is 2 - 3 hrs flying time.
About the same as East Midlands to Madrid, or North Africa, or Greece. Further than Southern Spain, Southern Italy or anywhere in France or Germany.
And when I say meetings, I mean fly down from Brisvegas to say Melbourne, do the meeting, fly back same day. Christ. Imagine Madrid & back for a three hour meeting!
Big.
Bl**dy big.
Innit.
Please don't think I am trying to paint this as utopia though. I have been on a route march of a project in the city and have worked as hard as I ever have.
Get it straight. Work life balance occurs in an agreeable manner if you have the right job and enough money.
For an Engineer on civil infrastructure projects, there is no change from the macho cr*p we can get anywhere in the world. You are likely to work as hard here as anywhere. The nice beaches become a distant memory in the 12 hr days when the work is on. However, that is my choice - & happy at that. Just want to dispell any rubbish thrown the way of would be migrants about lying around & catching a fish for lunch.
So - why this blog? Good question.
I thought it would be good crack.
Why?
Glad you aksed (sorry asked - been watching Eastenders).
Well, I dont smoke anymore. In doing 'not smoking anymore', I have to do 'not drinking anymore'.
So what? you good christians say.
Well, I was brought up in a mining town. Drinking is what we did. Cannot say 'do' as the little towns I grew up in are no longer anything to do with mining and mostly the druggies have moved in stuffing up the lives of lots of good people with one blow (no pun intended).
I had no real problem with booze mind. Just cant do it in any seriousness and not smoke. Rubbish I know.
So in doing neither smoking or drinking - well I get a bit of cabin fever. I had taken to blethering on on my facebook thingy but in truth, I use it for jack smit else. While I love that my kin can follow my doings & thoughts, I dont especially like the tool.
So, I thought, how else can I express myself, have a bit of a laugh and even help the odd type who wants to come this way?
Seems this is it.
So here I go.
This is not intended to be a guide to Aus. Or a comic take on life although I will try & do some of that.
Its just me doing stuff on the net when I have a spare moment & hopefully you will find some of it interesting.
Next up - shuffle nosed sharks are gay.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Redcliffe peninsular. The red 'A' marks the spot where I found five dollars on my 2nd day here. I know its not in the blog above but I bought an ice cream with it. Happy days.
(Google maps)
Why?
Because I didnt wan't my kids growing up speaking creole. I want better for them than tolerating the druggies at school, better than the expectation that things are generally crap & and occasionally, life throws you a break.
So we came here. And bl**dy splendid it is.
Mostly.
There are statistics that show crime figures similar to the place I still call 'Home' Home - Nottingham (you pies). I can find the headlines in the local rag that match my home town and point you at some tasty places around Brisbane like Logan (they have an Ikea there - some may spot irony in this statement).
But the scale is stunningly different. I'll give you a flavour.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brits queuing for immigration across the gateway bridge all the way to Brisbane airport. One in every 100 people in the shot is a creole interpreter - innit.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Any given Sunday, I take a walk with my good lady along the sea front at Redcliffe, North of Brisbane. There is a marked out 15 KM walking & cycling track around the peninsular that takes in beaches, a pier, cafe & restaurant stretch, boat launches etc. There are toilets every 2-3km. They dont stink like three tramps had a pi**ing competition in them. The seats are still in place, toilet paper always stocked.
No, I'm not George Michael and no the bladder still works after 47 years - just. Stay with me there is a point.
The track is tree lined and grassed in front of the beach. Families turn up from 07:00 onwards with their cool boxes (heskys) and picnics & set up for the half day or all day. There are many covered seated areas that have free barbeque hotplates (it is about 28 degrees at that time in summer).
They do not have to wipe the human excrement from the kiddies slides before they can be used. The specially tended trees double as climbing frames, the built climbing frames are clean, there are no needles or 'sharps' to worry about.
The parking is free along the sea front - as it almost aways is, even at the train stations. The beaches are clean - but dont be fooled. The aussies will tell you these are C or D grade beaches. They are right. You can drive an hour North or South & be on beaches that we constantly dreamt about when 'Home' home. Like the Carribean, beautiful and barely used.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Australian Customs lady welcoming migrants on Redcliffe Pier.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
However. The beaches at Redcliffe give Skegness a decent run and theres no oil slicks. I have very fond memories of Skeg & will be complimentary later I'm sure. But this is decent stuff.
There is very little graffitti and a built 'safe' kiddies pool nestles next to the Pier and cafe strip.
I would have killed for this kind of thing when mine were young. Best we used to get was some hand painted, freezing cold annex in some manky pub claiming kids meals. Usually cremated lumps of gristle doing a Chicken Nuggets impression. this would usually end up costing 60 quid for the four of us and we were herded in & out in an hour or so. Sunday afternoons - Shudder.
The boy now plays guitar on the beaches when he can - surrounded by cute aussie girls, I am sure his last two years at school will be infinitely more interesting than mine.
Meanwhile, my Daughter is going to the University of the Sunshine Coast. I Mean, come on! Do I need to spell out what thats like? Jack smit to do all day, and on the bloomin Sunshine Coast!
Sunshine Coast Uni - Derby Uni, Derby Uni - Sunshine Coast Uni? Strewth! (though I'd throw in a strewth case any Aussie readers are looking in, just keeping it real).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Skegness Donkey
(http://skegnessvideo.com/2008/09/nuttalls-skegness-beach-donkeys/,Skegness Magazine)
Redcliffe - er - camels.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Where was I, oh yes, I never make this walk, in any direction, without making the above comparison to some of the f***ed up dog holes masquerading as recreational areas at 'Home' home. Some of the recreation areas (recks to us Midlanders) I used to see were constantly screwed over by, well, er, our own kind. Or their kids anyway. Smashed equipment, renewed every now & then in the knowledge it would last hours, days at best. Graffitti, human waste of one type or another, condoms used & otherwise, needles & drug paraphanalia. Play areas stripped back to nothing to minimise the impact of the 'locals'.
I could never put the beautiful, innocent and trusting thing that is your child in such places without wondering what had gone wrong. They seem so incompatible.
Mind you, Redcliffe isn't a posh area. Not a West Bridgeford if you come from where I did. Not a Knigtsbridge full of well to do's although they unsurprisingly have some of those.
This is fairly typical Queensland. I specify Queensland as I cant speak for the other states.
When I say states, this is one of the many things you learn when you get here.
This is one big place.
My company has offices in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. I can frequently attend meetings in either state although Brissie (yes they shorten everything) is my home.
Melbourne is 2 - 3 hrs flying time.
About the same as East Midlands to Madrid, or North Africa, or Greece. Further than Southern Spain, Southern Italy or anywhere in France or Germany.
And when I say meetings, I mean fly down from Brisvegas to say Melbourne, do the meeting, fly back same day. Christ. Imagine Madrid & back for a three hour meeting!
Big.
Bl**dy big.
Innit.
Please don't think I am trying to paint this as utopia though. I have been on a route march of a project in the city and have worked as hard as I ever have.
Get it straight. Work life balance occurs in an agreeable manner if you have the right job and enough money.
For an Engineer on civil infrastructure projects, there is no change from the macho cr*p we can get anywhere in the world. You are likely to work as hard here as anywhere. The nice beaches become a distant memory in the 12 hr days when the work is on. However, that is my choice - & happy at that. Just want to dispell any rubbish thrown the way of would be migrants about lying around & catching a fish for lunch.
So - why this blog? Good question.
I thought it would be good crack.
Why?
Glad you aksed (sorry asked - been watching Eastenders).
Well, I dont smoke anymore. In doing 'not smoking anymore', I have to do 'not drinking anymore'.
So what? you good christians say.
Well, I was brought up in a mining town. Drinking is what we did. Cannot say 'do' as the little towns I grew up in are no longer anything to do with mining and mostly the druggies have moved in stuffing up the lives of lots of good people with one blow (no pun intended).
I had no real problem with booze mind. Just cant do it in any seriousness and not smoke. Rubbish I know.
So in doing neither smoking or drinking - well I get a bit of cabin fever. I had taken to blethering on on my facebook thingy but in truth, I use it for jack smit else. While I love that my kin can follow my doings & thoughts, I dont especially like the tool.
So, I thought, how else can I express myself, have a bit of a laugh and even help the odd type who wants to come this way?
Seems this is it.
So here I go.
This is not intended to be a guide to Aus. Or a comic take on life although I will try & do some of that.
Its just me doing stuff on the net when I have a spare moment & hopefully you will find some of it interesting.
Next up - shuffle nosed sharks are gay.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Redcliffe peninsular. The red 'A' marks the spot where I found five dollars on my 2nd day here. I know its not in the blog above but I bought an ice cream with it. Happy days.
(Google maps)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
