Macro Monday: Shells

The Australian Museum is showing the Wildlife Photographer of the Year winning entries.  The photography is stunning and if the exhibit comes to your town I recommend a visit.  Sadly for Sydneysiders it finishes today.  Sorry about the late notice ... if you run now you might still make it.

The exhibit includes a photo studio where you can mess around with your camera and take some macro shots of shells, bugs and some long dead stuffed birds.  I managed to elbow the kids out for the way to take a couple shots.

A good photographer would have taken the time to find out the type of shell.
I didn't bother.

Don't forget to visit Macro Monday at
Lisa's Chaos to see more macro and close up photography.

Sunday In My City: ANZAC Day

It's appropriate today is grey and rainy.  It creates a solemn and reflective mood for Anzac Day. Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand.

The name Anzac originally comes from the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I.  The name has now broadly refers to all those who died and served in military operations.

A small suburban war memorial 

A cross indicates Killed in Action

Rain collects on the floral tributes.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young. Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow. They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted, They fell with their faces to the foe. They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them.

Australian Flag hangs heavily in the rain.

Visit Unknown Mami for more Sunday in My City

Remembering

ANZAC Day 2010

Both my Grandfathers fought in World War II. Happily they both survived the war and lived full lives. It's been many years since they passed away and life seems to move on so quickly. ANZAC day is this time when I find myself thinking about their experiences during the war. To my shame, I know very little about their service history. I know that one served in New Guinea and Borneo but the war was never discussed by my family.



Other members of my family also fought for my country or took on war time roles but ANZAC day always makes me think of my Grandfathers. I wonder if I would have the strength to go to war if my country needed me. I feel deep gratitude for their contribution.

Macro Monday: Rain Drops

Rain Drops on Frangipanis doesn't have the same musical ring as Rain Drops on Roses but I've managed to murder all my rose bushes, so frangipanis will have to do.

Catching the morning sun after a shower of rain.

Lots of good stuff to be seen at Lisa's Chaos. 
Go there now.  It's worth the visit.

Scenic Sunday: Milford Sound NZ

I'm having some mobility issues after my fall this week so this weeks Scenic Sunday comes from the archives.  This photo of Mitre Peak and Milford Sound was taken a on a trip to New Zealand's South Island.    It had been raining heavily all day and I had about 5 minutes between storms to grab this shot.

Visit Scenic Sunday for a spectacular view of the world

Perspective

Warning: Self Indulgent Post

It's been a tough few weeks.  Two elderly relatives are no longer able to look after themselves and dealing with this has pushed me waaaayyy outside my comfort zone.  This had been coming for some time but they couldn't be convinced that they needed to think about the future.   They were determined to stay living independently in their home and wouldn't consider other options (would I be different?  Probably not).  Sadly it took a health crisis to change this view.  I can't provide the level of care they need so I have been trying to find a path through the maze of the Aged Care Health system.

For the uninitiated, the Aged Care System is a scary place.  English is not the primary language and for the last few weeks I have been trying to put all the pieces together.  Yesterday was a breakthrough day.  An incredibility helpful lady from the Aged Care Assessment Team put everything in place for me.  I now know what the next steps are.  They're not easy steps to take and it will take time to achieve the solution needed, but it's a huge relief to know what needs to be done.

someecards.com

Through all of this I have been feeling sorry for myself. I didn't realise how traumatic this would be and I wasn't ready to deal with this situation. I tried to escape for a night out last night out with friends, but it wasn't to be.  Add to this I'm still in pain after my spectacular (and funny) fall earlier this week (previous blog) and I am wallowing in self pity.

This morning things are in perspective.  I subscribe to the NY Times blog Lens.  This is a photojournalism blog that feature photographs from current events around the world. The photography is always stunning but today featured the rescue effort in China after the earthquake: Picture of the Day: Rescue Efforts in China

This was my reality check. Things don't seem so bad now and I can deal with whatever I need to do. I'm good.

 

 While you are there, have a look at the stunning photos of the landscape around the volcanic eruption in Iceland :

Images of Iceland's Vast Landscapes.

With a 9.75 Degree of Difficulty...

... the next contestant in the "Bite the Gravel World Championship" is ...
Vicki!  * Crowd goes wild! *

I'm really good at falling over.  I can manage to turn the simple task of walking down a path into an acrobatic masterpiece that would make Cirque du Soleil green with envy.  A couple of somersaults and a half pike mid stride? Easy. I always bounce back quickly, dust myself off and keep walking (hoping that nobody noticed).  Not today. Today I stayed down.

I can trace my crappy day back to 5:20am this morning when the alarm went off.  The only things louder than the alarm at that time of the morning are the screams in my head saying "Are you out of your mind??  Go back to sleep, fool woman".  Resisting sanity, I dragged myself out of my nice warm bed.  In a moment of weakness I had agreed to play golf at 6:45am and I can't reneg on an agreement no matter how badly I wanted to.

At 6:45am it was a little chilly this morning and I was regretting not wearing long pants.  Not as much as I regretted it shortly after.

First hole:
    - Stunning drive down the fairway.
    - A few mediocre shots onto the green.
    - Spectacular 10m putt into the hole.
a good start for me and I was feeling pretty pleased with myself.

Second hole:
    - First tee shot goes deep into bushes on the right.
    - Second (provisional) tee shot goes deep into bushes on the left.

At this point I had a choice - do I look for the ball on the left or the right?  I chose the right.  I chose poorly.

On the right side is a steep uneven gravel path full of pot holes and exposed rocks.  I tripped on one of the rocks.  Any other day this would be a small recoverable stumble.  Not today.  I got the death wobbles.  With arms (and legs) flailing I looked like pelican trying to land.  Gravity took control and I ended with a roll in the gravel.  I lay in the dirt doing a damage assessment:  Lots of things hurt and there was bloody bits.

I had a flash of a mental picture of how comical my fall must have looked, and I got the giggles.  While others were frantically rushing around calling for a medical evacuation (green keeper in a ute) and trying to make me comfortable, I was pissing myself laughing. 

I'm now sitting at home on my deck with an ice pack on my ankle and spots of Mercurochrome all over me and I'm looking for sympathy.  So far I have received the following sympathetic comments:
   "I laughed (just a little)."
   "You were due.  You haven't had a clumsy attack for a while"
and the most helpful:  "Will a bottle of red wine reduce the pain?" (damn straight it will)

Footnote:
I did manage to get the last laugh:  One of the cats was feeling a bit playful and thought attacking my ice pack would be a fun thing to do.  With my foot elevated, she attacked from below, ruptured the bag of ice and drenched herself in melted ice water. The gods of stupidity must have thought I needed another laugh.

Two belly laughs before lunch - not such a crappy day after all.