BRISBANE MAGISTRATES COURT

A few weeks ago we went to "Open Day" for Brisbane Buildings. Some buildings were open for public tours. We chose to visit the "Brisbane Magistrates Court". We would have liked to have seen more of the others but the rain chased us home.

The architect was our volunteer tour guide. He explained how they used a lot of open spaces, as it is supposed to make people more at ease, especially if they can see outside.

The court rooms go off from the open space.

A general courtroom.

A Murrie (aboriginal) Courtroom. The magistrate sits at a round table with tribal elders and the accused to make it more like their traditional ways of settling disputes. There is the rainbow serpent in the middle of the table. (An icon of their Dreaming Culture.)

The Murrie Courtroom had aboriginal art inside and out.

A Criminal Courtroom, with safety glass. We enjoyed the tour.

How to Beat a Letter Box Vandal

On my morning walks I got interested in the different varieties of letter boxes.
One day, I noticed that the garden gnome was missing. It used to sit under this letter box on the little platform.

The next day I saw that it had been replaced with a snail.

The next day it went missing too. Some days later I saw that a new letter box was being made. This one looked solid enough to deter vandals.

A few days later. The finished masterpiece.

CRITTERS ENCOUNTERED IN CANADA AND ALASKA

 Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel

 BBQ licking Brown Bear

 Harbour Seal

BUDS ARE BURSTING

Spring is warming up and the native flowers are prolific. Here are some Grevilleas from our garden.

The bud. (It probably has a scientific name but I don't know it)

Opening

Almost fully open.

Coconut Ice

Fire Sprite

Honey Gem

A TALL (TREE) STORY

We have been warned that cyclone season will soon be here and this year many have been predicted. So sensible residents check their yards to make sure there are no dangerous trees, which may fall on a house if there is a cyclone.

Our neighbours (J&K) at the back of our house have such a tree. However, it was right on the border of their land and their neighbour's (L&A). The cost to remove the tree would be about $5000 so there became a little hesitancy for the neighbours L&A to agree to pay half. Besides they liked the tree and didn't think it was dangerous.

At first they weren't convinced that the tree was on their land so a surveyor was contemplated. There were actually two trees together and both had to go to be safe.

After many months and discussions L&J agreed the tree was dying and offered to pay half of the cost of removal.

So the tree loppers were hired and in between showers they managed to get the tree down without damaging power lines, houses, gardens and each other.

Bit by bit it was dropped to the ground and

fed to the noisy mulcher.

Our house is the green roof in the front left hand corner of the photo. We are on the other side of the road, but if that tree had fallen during a storm it would have torn down the power lines and could have possibly hit our roof, so we are glad to see it go. 

It was a lovely tree once but recently it got attacked by termites and was dying. It took them all day to get most of it down.

The following day they had to return to get the biggest part of the trunk down. This looked awfully dangerous. One guy sawing and the others pulling it towards them.

They knew what they were doing and all were safe and no fences damaged. Now we will be safer if a cyclone comes but I hope we don't get one. They don't usually come this far south, but weather hasn't been usual this year.

LUCKY LIZARD

While walking around the headland, I spied this water dragon lizard sunning itself and enjoying the view. 

What a life!

Gazanias as far as you can see.

The pesky Ibis which has multiplied into pest proportions. Councils are forever devising ways to eradicate them without killing them.

Link to Camera Critters

PARTY and PORTRAITS

A reunion one day and a birthday party the next. That is how it was when we were on the coast last weekend. Our good friend, Lyn, turned the big Six O. Lyn is married to Ben, who migrated with Bill from Switzerland back in 1967. Even though the boys went their separate ways after a while, they both ended up marrying Aussie girls and remaining in contact.

Ben and Lyn organised a BBQ in the Community Recreational room and swimming pool area in their estate. There were many friends and relations. 

Lyn with some of her grandchildren.

I wanted to practice taking portraits as I am not happy with most of my people shots. So here goes.

Lyn's mum is doing well in her nineties.

Niece

Grandson

Colleague

Neighbour

 Daughter

 Sister

An old mate........heheheheh 

(Ouch I'm gonna be in trouble)

We had a feast of steak, sausages, rissoles. salads, cheeses, nibblies and cakes.