In The ‘Hood

As usual, there are lots of things to see in my neighbourhood. This baby seagull looks extremely well fed. Well, he is hanging around the Fish Markets. Lots of grub there. I think he’s quite proud of being so chubby!

I love the shape and form of an arch and when I see a lot of arches together as in this railway bridge/viaduct at Jubilee Park I get a kind of happy feeling. When you think about it an arch is an incredible thing – offering all that support to an often very heavy structure. Ingenious.

I really like azaleas, they’re such pretty flowers. The white ones are especially striking. I’d like to put lots of white azalea bushes in my garden. They are so elegant.

I couldn’t resist this Magpie Lark perched on the fence by the canal. He’s ready for the bird masquerade ball with his black mask and tuxedo on.

Rmember how I used to love chimney pots? Well, I still do but I have a new love  – a very lofty, reaching for the sky kind of love. Yes, it’s true. I love cranes. So functional. Such clean lines. Such strength. I love seeing them against the sky. Moving things. Helping build things. I understand why little boys stand and look at cranes saying to their Mums – ‘Look at de cranes. Look at de cranes.’ I do the same thing.

I think I have house envy again. What must it be like to live in such a grand house? Do you have to get dressed up to use the bathroom? Is it mandatory to have a butler? I suppose I’ll never know but it is nice to think about it.

Thanks for coming on a tour of the ‘hood with me.

30 thoughts on “In The ‘Hood”

  1. Funny, I’ve been thinking of doing a photo shoot / blog about all the cranes here in my own city. We’ve been talking about them lately – what a fixture they seem to be on our city’s vista. They are like some exotic, silent, slow moving creature, aren’t they?

    (that house is amazing – would look wonderful with azaleas near the front door though)

    Like

    1. Jennifer, you and I are so alike I think you might be my Canadian twin separated at birth. Haha. Most women I know are not interested in cranes at all but I have always loved them. They are like exotic, silent, slow moving creatures. Beautifully expressed. That house would look nice with the azaleas by the door. LOL.

      Like

    1. It is known as the Witch’s Hat house, slpmartin. It was built in the late 1800s and there is a whole row of them in the street. From what I’ve seen of some of the New England churches I can totally see what you mean. In fact, there is a religious connection because one of the houses in the street is called ‘The Abbey.’ I wouldn’t fancy the heating bills either. That’s what puts me off buying a castle in Scotland. Heehee.

      Like

  3. Hi Selma,
    The bird in the first photo is really get looked after. 😀
    I love the photo of the house, it is actually a little unusual the way it was built, it does get the mind wondering on formal dress in the formal dinning room etc. 🙂

    Like

    1. You really couldn’t just wear shorts and a T-shirt in that house, could you? I think I would really feel the pressure of having to get dressed up. I would love to have a look inside. Apparently the ceilings are 15 feet high. Can you imagine? Very, very grand!

      Like

    1. I don’t know why, Gabe, but whenever I stand by that viaduct I think of ancient Rome. I fully expect a hunky guy in a toga to walk by (or maybe that’s just my pervy, middle-aged woman wishful thinking. Marcellus Imperius, where are you???)
      Oh and #iwantabutlertoo.

      Like

  6. Wonderful pictures! I especially love the plump baby seagull – I am always amazed they look so clean, if I were wearing white I’d be grubby in minutes! 🙂 and that house is really spectacular isn’t it!

    Like

    1. That’s what I think too, Susannah. They are pristine. Maybe seagulls clean themselves a lot, I don’t really know, but they are always super-white. And the house is fantabulous. I hope who lives in it fully appreciates it!

      Like

    1. Oh yeah. No more pics of ravenous looking crows. I am steering clear. I don’t want to be hexed again…..

      I Love that you are now Heather Brooks Ray. What a cool name. You sound like an artist or a famous singer. Love it!

      Like

  8. He does look like a proud well feed seagull. All those shrimp eh? This is what I love about you; you photograph the same stuff that I would too if I had them around me. Simple things but the interesting & beautiful things.

    Like

    1. Thank you so much for saying that, Roshan. That’s what photography is all about for me – simple, everyday things that are beautiful. There is so much to see!

      Like

  9. Lots of cranes are supposed to be a sign that the economy is doing well. Arches are brilliant feats of engineering, I agree. And their use goes back hundreds of years which I find amazing. I love the bird and the house that looks like a church, lol. Your photo’s are really good, Selma.

    Like

    1. I’ve heard that about cranes too, Adee. There is always a lot of building work going on in Sydney but whether or not it makes any money in this economy is another story entirely. The house does look a church, doesn’t it? One of my dreams to see inside it!

      Like

  10. Lovely pics, Sel. Precious baby seagull! And the little tuxedo birdie, so cute. Is that a window in the steeple of that house, or just a decoration? Either way, the first thought I had was, “Oh, Sel could write a great story about THAT place”. 🙂

    Like

    1. I’m not sure about the window in the steeple. Wouldn’t it be cool if it was? You could really get a bird’s eye view of everything then, Steph!

      Like

  11. I love the seagull. He gives new meaning to the phrase “puffed up with pride.” I love the house too. The windows on the right side… is there a magnificent view over there?

    Like

  12. Thanks for another fabulous tour in pictures and words – the seagull is a classic.

    “Do you have to get dressed up to use the bathroom?” – you crack me up, Selma 😀

    Like

    1. Can you believe how chubby that seagull is? I laughed when I saw him, he looks like a cartoon character, Bluebee. If I lived in that house, Bluebee I would at least need to wear a silk bathrobe to go to the ‘loo. And maybe some Gucci loafers 😆

      Like

  13. It’s so nice to see you back to your old haunts and showing us such lovely pics. We really need the colour in the grey drab of early winter here. Not cold enough to snow where I am, the xmas lights help but I love seeing pics you take!

    By the way I totally had a dream about that house the other night lol All I remember is entering through the front door with Jenn and it was more like a 15th century castle than a house but the facade was what I remember and what made it into the dream. We were simply walking through in order to get to the back outside where there was this incredible blue pool of water and not a pool pool but more like a small lake. It seemed imperative that we reach it and join the other people already there sunning themselves and dangling the’y’re feet in.

    If nothing else your pics are giving me tons of things to file away in my subconcious to entertain me while I sleep! lol

    Like

    1. WOW. That is amazing you dreamt about that house, Cathy. And it had a lake? That would make a fantastic story. A magical lake in the middle of the city. Now you’ve got me thinking…..

      Like

    1. Some of those houses are meant to be haunted, Meleah. There is a whole row of them. I have heard lots of creepy stories from the locals. I keep looking for ghosts but haven’t seen any yet!

      Like

  15. Great to see your writing and love your tour of the neighbourhood. Those cranes — are they the ones down by the waterfront? If they are, it’s good there is a remnant of the old working harbour still working, and it’s good that it is noticed. So thanks for the photos and comments about your new love.

    Like

    1. JOHN!!!!! So great to hear from you. What a treat. How’s life in The Rocks? Yes, those cranes are down on the waterfront. There are quite a few of them down there. It has made my day to see you 😀 😀 😀 😀

      Like

Comments are closed.

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑

%d bloggers like this: