COLOURFULWORLD

Wednesday 20 February 2019

My February Wrap-up

After all my posts about our trip to the Philippines to attend our daughter's wedding, I'm back to the present days.

Every month I look through the Event calendar of my local library in Riverton to see if there are any talks/workshops that might interest me. 
They are good to meet people, to occupy any spare time I might have and I always learn something.

On Saturday 2nd of February I attended a workshop entitled "Roar with Passion - how to bring back the joy" by Natalie Martinovich.  She's a life coach and the talk was very interesting and inspiring. Sadly life coaching sessions are very expensive... Has anyone had some coaching and did it help with your job or life situation?

The modern looking Riverton Library and a mural at far end (top photo)



The library where I hadn't been for over 1 year had been remodeled and was light and fabulous. The former counter is no longer there and now the staff work from standing stations, there are lots of comfy sofas, an outdoor courtyard, and even a mural!

In the afternoon I took out my paint brush and Chalk paint and painted the chest of drawers and bedside tables in my bedroom. 
I just painted the outer area and left the drawers unpainted and top unpainted. I still need to paint the mirror frame and will eventually decide if I leave it as is or if I paint one drawer for example or all drawers...



On Sunday 3rd I joined a few Portuguese friends for a picnic organized by the Codfish Academy of Perth on a park by the beach near Fremantle and on the way home spotted a new mural by Brenton See (coming next Monday). Can't believe I didn't take photos...

On Tuesday 5th, after work I joined fellow blogger Iris and husband Ingo  in the city.
They are in Perth visiting from Braunschweig, the town where we lived during almost 6 years in the early 1980's. After lunch at Grill'd we took a free Cat (central area transport) bus to Queens Gardens. 

Queens Gardens - trees, flowers, Peter Pan statue, the bench from the film "Notting Hill" and a bridge over a lake 
From the park we walked over the Matagarup pedestrian Bridge to the new Perth Stadium area.

Matagarup Bridge and Perth Stadium

On the other side of the Canning River, the Burswood Casino and hotel (white building) and the Crown Towers Hotel

The Stadium and bridge across the Swan river, a new cement seating area on the bridge and black swans frolicking 





  At The Camfield across the Stadium we enjoyed a drink and chatted in the outdoor area. 
Later we walked to the nearby residential area of East Perth and caught the Cat bus back to the city and caught a train back home. 

The Camfield Bar

On my day off work, Friday 8th February, I picked up Gill, a retired ex-colleague and we drove south to Dudley Park, a suburb of Mandurah (about 60km away) to visit Jan, another retired ex-colleague who moved there. 
After having coffee at a small coffee shop near the canals we returned to her house for lunch.

My colleague Gill also mentioned other Brenton See murals near her house which I photographed after I dropped her home.

Art in a park, beautiful flowers and iced chocolate at the coffee shop by the river
Dudley Park cottages, Man-made canals running through Mandurah
In the early evening upon my return home and after a change of clothes, I drove to Bull Creek station where I left my car, and took the 10 minute train trip into the city centre where I met up with bloggers Iris and Grace and their husbands.
We had dinner at the Twilight Hawkers Market in Forrest Place (every Friday until end of March). 

At Brookfield Place in St George's Terrace, we came across various Chinese dragons for the commemoration of Chinese New Year.
We had coffee at the Dome Cafe across the Old Perth Boys School, where the pink and purple dragon stood.

Various Chinese dragons at Brookfield Place and a beautifully decorated piano for the players out there
After coffee we walked to Kings Park to watch the "Boorna Waaginy" - the trees speak festival that ran continuously from 8 to 11pm.

Some of Perth's buildings at dusk on our way to Kings Park
On the bridge over the Kwinana Freeway that runs from the Southern to Northern suburbs
In Kings Park, through a 1,5km journey from Fraser Avenue and ending with a light installation at Pioneer's Women's Memorial, projectors transformed the trees and told the Noongar stories with the blooming of flowers, flocks of birds, bush fires, rain, the people, bush animals...
Very emotional, colourful and truly magnificent!




The finale - light installation at the Pioneer's Womens's memorial
It was the first time I visited Kings Park (Botanic Gardens) at night, and I took the opportunity to take some night photos of our beautiful city.




On Saturday 9th, I joined my son, daughter in law and grandson at Kwinana Adventure Park (Walgreen Crescent, Calista) about 20 minutes south from where I live.
I had never heard of the park, but the sign at the entrance declared it Australia's best park!
I don't know all parks, but this massive fenced adventure playground was certainly fabulous for kids and adults.
It has a water splash area, flying fox, tree walk, slides, swings, and lots of other things to keep kids busy for a few hours. It also has lots of shade with plenty of trees, and we enjoyed a picnic with food my daughter in law had taken. 
There is also a covered area that can be rented for parties with fridge, microwave, gas barbecue, tables and benches.

Kwinana Adventure Park - Australia's best park - the gated entrance, pelican statues over the water playground
My grandson walking in the water playground

Saturday 16th, Grace, Iris and partners came to lunch at my house.
In the evening I joined my ex-colleague Gill at the movies to watch "Green Book". We both loved the film and the story line.

On Sunday 17th, I once again took the train into the city to join Iris and Grace for the Lunar New Year Lantern festival in the suburb of Northbridge.

I spotted this big 3 sign that had popped up in the last week or so. Not sure what it's about but just today I saw an advert on tv about the MSWA 3 million grand prize lottery, (Multiple Sclerosis Society of Western Australia) and it had that 3 sign.


The festival on the closed off William Street in the Chinese Quarter was full of colour, and lots of young kids enjoying themselves on the street.



Check out the people relaxing on chairs scattered on the street (bottom left) and the young Mom pushing a vintage pram (bottom right)


After an early dinner with delicious burgers at Grill'd, we walked back to the Perth Underground Station where we bade our goodbyes as I boarded the train to the southern suburbs and Iris, Grace and partners went north.

PS: Sorry for the overload of photos, and you might have seen similar photos in Grace's and Iris's recent blog posts already ðŸ˜‰ðŸ˜‰.


37 comments:

  1. You were very busy!!!
    That is wonderful.
    Live life to the fullest.
    : )

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    1. Thanks Catarina, I like to be occupied, but sometimes I'm lazy other times I do a lot :)

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  2. You sure pack a lot in to your days Sami 😊 Was fun catching up at Kings Park, was the most amazing light festival, like yourself I felt quite emotional. The lantern festival was good also, there's certainly a lot going to on in the city these days!

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    1. There sure is plenty to do around town :) It was great catching up for these events Grace.

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  3. Belissimas fotos de belos dias!

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  4. The projections on the trees really stand out beautifully!

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    1. Thanks William, they were really beautiful.

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  5. You've been ever so busy. You've taken some great shots too. So lovely and colorful.

    I love what you did with redoing your furniture. I like.

    Have a fabulous day and rest of the week. ♥

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    1. Thank you Sandee, have a wonderful week too.

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  6. We have wonderful programs at our local library as well.

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    1. That's great Marie, it's a great initiative and specially good for retirees.

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  7. Wise words, I think I need to print it out and finally get started!
    I've never been to such an event, maybe I really should!

    Wow, it does make a difference with the colors on the drawers! Especially with just the frame,I think.

    Oh, those were only 6 years in Braunschweig? Thought it was longer. It was a fun day,thank you!

    Again an oh! I wanted to "sell" the beautiful piano as mural! ;-)

    Wonderful shots of Kings Park, too. Not sure if I need a new camera or more talent!

    I missed that "3", very cool.

    And no: I think it's fun, after all you took pics (either better or) from another angle.

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    1. I liked those words too Iris.
      Yes just 6 years, we were longing for warmer weather by then :)
      Please use those piano pics as murals, a lot of people just visit on Mondays for the murals.

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  8. Beautiful Australia.
    Se a minha filha Mariana for para aí estudar (Melbourne) vou andar sempre cá e lá.

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    1. Que bom Pedro. Se quiser visitar Perth diga :)

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  9. I really like those dragons

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  10. Did I see Twiggy in that "before" photo with the dresser?

    I have a psychiatrist friend who also does life coaching. She charges $499.00 (USD) for six one hour sessions. However, I have no idea who her clients are, because that is confidential, I suspect.

    Goodness, you certainly have taken us all over Perth and beyond. Did they ever fix the problems with the Stadium Bridge? Is it safe?

    Beautiful and fun Chinese New Year celebrations. Looks like they go all out there, too.

    LOVED the black swans. I can never get enough of them, since we only see them in zoos in the states.

    You have really been busy and having fun, too. Thanks for sharing your city and beyond with us.

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    1. Well spotted Elizabeth, it's Shelley who loves to lie by the window to check what is going on outside.
      The life coaching sessions were a lot more here.
      The bridge is safe, they were still working on it, but most of those early problems have been fixed. They have now put two of those cement seating areas and were putting some overhead covering over some benches.
      We have a big Chinese community and Northbridge has a lot of Chinese shops and restaurants, so Chinese events are well celebrated.
      Sadly one of the swans decided to duck :) :)

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    2. Somehow the lighting was bright, because I thought Shelley was too light. They really ARE twins!

      Forgot to mention how much I enjoyed seeing your grandson at the water park, and how beautiful the Pioneer Woman show was.

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    3. Shelley is a bit "bigger" than Twiggy. Thanks Elizabeth :)

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  11. A Austrália no seu melhor, gostei de tudo o que vi principalmente a biblioteca, aproveito para desejar a continuação de uma boa semana.

    Andarilhar
    Dedais de Francisco e Idalisa
    O prazer dos livros

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    1. Obrigada Francisco. A biblioteca ficou uma maravilha depois da remodelacao :)

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  12. You have been having a busy life, my friend! And I'm a little envious that you got to meet Iris and spend some very good times with her! It looks like loads of fun, everything from the motivational talk to being motivated to do your painting of the chest and then all the fun group activities. I have to tell you, you couldn't pay me enough to walk on that bridge!

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    1. Why not walk on the bridge Jennie, it's a new pedestrian bridge :) I firste Iris on her 2015 visit to Perth and then in 2017 again. Have a lovely weekend Jeanie.

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  13. My normal response would be to suggest the drawers would look better if painted, but I am not so sure really. The units look quite good. Lots of lovely and interesting photos taken during your interesting outings. The night time festival looks amazing, in both your and Grace's photos.

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    1. Thank you Andrew. I'll live with the drawers like this for a while and then see what to do next :)

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  14. I just can't get over the idea that it's actually summer anywhere. :-)

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    1. Almost the end of summer unfortunately...Luckily our winter is short and mild. Have a lovely weekend.

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  15. Our local library hosts some good events, and I always enjoy visiting. It's soon to be refurbished and will close for two months while the work is being done.

    But goodness, you certainly like to be busy!
    Fabulous photographs and I like your mosaics.

    Have a great weekend.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Sometimes I am busy and other times not so busy. Thanks Jan.

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  16. Dearest Sami,
    Wow, that was quite a long post. Love the night shots from your beautiful city with great sky line.
    As for Life Coaching... I shake my head!
    Sure don't need that as it is easy to find the balance between body, soul and mind if you live healthy love deeply and BELIEF!
    It seems that religion is being replaced by all sorts of so-called gurus that tell you how to do better at work, in your relationship etc.
    Our Grandmothers would shake their heads in disbelief!
    May the world come to its senses again and see the beauty around us in the little things and to love our dear ones; not choking them with gifts and things.
    Guess those Life Coaches at one time will have to look back onto their lives and admit that they took a lot of money from others; for nothing.
    Glad I never needed a 'coach'...
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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  17. The library looks great, so comfy and inviting.
    Last year I went on a program to learn how to deal with stress and it turned out to be more like life coaching. I learned a lot and became definitely much more effective at work and in everyday life. I agree that these kind of things are expensive, which is too bad because we could all benefit from them. Luckily, my program, which lasted for 6 weeks, was paid by work.
    Your busy social life sounds great :)

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    1. That course sounds interested Sara. Lucky it was paid for by the company.

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