fruit for breakfast

One of our favourite fruits in Vietnam was pomelo, and we hadn't seen any since we've been back in Australia. I had to buy one when we saw them at the Fyshwick markets. Vietnam, 30 cents, here, $8. Worth it though. 

Brindy rainbow

Saturday morning view

wetland creation

At Lake G, the inlet opposite the skate park is undergoing a transformation. There used to be a bridge which allowed you to cross the lake and not have to walk past Lake G school, and said park. Now that area of the lake has been drained, and we've heard that it's going to be turned into a wetland. The draining of water has revealed about 50 shopping trolleys, numerous school chairs and even a bike stuck in the mud. The other day when I walked past it didn't smell too good either. The transformation will be interesting. 

wrinkly armpits

No, not the retirement expo, but a walk in Aranda. We did the Frost Hollow to Forrest walk, admiring the snow gums, yellow box and red box. Apparently, you can tell scribbly gums from brittle gums by their armpits - scribblies have the wrinkles. 

wrinkly armpitted scribbly gum

Plenty of 'roos around this morning

egg and bacon plant

Aranda grassy woodland

national alpaca week ended today

You mean you missed it? Shame!

sunrise of the week

Saturday morning, deep frost. 

oh bicicletas!

Feeling pleased with myself today, as I rode to work and back, around 30k. And still fine this evening. I saw some funny sights on the bike tracks too - someone riding a (homemade?) unicycle that had a normal bike sized wheel. How did he get onto the thing? And he was riding it up a steep hill - good on you, unicycle guy. 


The other rider I saw was on a recumbent bike covered with a green perspex casing. It looked very strange and hilarious and was turning heads around Lake Burly Griffin. 


There are some pics of something similar here: http://www.retrothing.com/2011/01/pedal-cars-for-adults.html


Apparently they are also called velomobiles. 


So it wasn't just the exercise endorphins that had me laughing on my way to work. 

Me encanta mi bicicleta

Yesterday we had an epic ride to the Parliamentary Zone and back (31k round trip) with a lunch stop at the Portrait Gallery. The weather was mostly kind. 

The temperature was around 12 degrees and sunny, but the westerly headwind on the way back was a good test of resolve. I did have to walk part of the way passing Black Mountain when it got a bit much. But I was fine today. Obviously generated enough endorphins for me to want to get up and ride this morning, even though it was minus 4 and a heavy frost.

Brindabella rainbow

On Friday morning there was a magnificent rainbow over the Brindabella Ranges.

Hard to see in my photos, but the rainbow sported the full spectrum. What a pity I had to go to work instead of having more time to admire the view. 

supermoon

Went for a walk yesterday morning before work, and enjoyed the super moon still hanging around. 

Spanish has started again so I'm making flash cards - numbers at the moment. We used to know the numbers reasonably well - but it's mostly all gone. Use it or lose it! At one of the garage sales in Sydney we bought a beginner's spanish kit (book and cds) and another book 'instant spanish' - all for the massive amount of $1. Perfect timing. 

natural Sydney

M noticed this lovely grevillea while we were walking to brunch on Saturday morning. 

market madness

We managed to get to three markets over the weekend: Surry Hills (first Saturday of the month at Shannon Reserve), Paddington and Rozelle. Paddington has artists, designers and mostly new things, while the other two are second hand heaven. 

Bonsai at Paddington Markets

bright lights, big city

A visit to the big smoke over the weekend was excellent fun, and a whole lot warmer than a Canberran weekend. 

We had views of the Sydney Opera House - well, Opera House glimpses. 

crunch

First real frost since we've been here...supposedly it's minus three this morning. 

Everyone knows it's wintry

The idea of enjoying a 'real' winter after seven years of tropical weather is growing on me. The scarves, gloves, hats and earwarmers have mostly been located. Not sure where my footy beanie is but I'm sure it will turn up. 


Some mornings have been completely foggy but on clear mornings the clouds look great. 

On the way to work I saw someone practising for skiing season travelling on long skates down the bike track. Seems like they're called skate skis and the person I saw had poles too. 
Can't see any snow on the mountains as yet. Of course it is only Autumn. 

holiday home art

There should be a separate genre for holiday home art - sometimes so truly awful it's kind of cute. 

Maybe it's some kind of toothbrush holder?? 

Actually, I love the kitchen cabinet decoration.

Highway 1 sightings

On the way back to Adelaide we saw a Japanese cyclist, and also stopped to take a few pics of some of the protest sculptures sitting in paddocks on the side of the highway. Apparently they were erected to demonstrate against a rubbish dump near Dublin (Dublin SA that is)  - which then went ahead anyway.