Being hopeful …

This week, Patti hosts the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge with the topic of HOPEFUL. I am linking this also to Becky’s SquareRenew In my ripe ol’ age of 60+, there are still many things in life that make me hopeful… witnessing simple acts of kindness, seeing progress in the world, and maybe experiencing personal growth by learning new…

New Blooms, New Beginnings, a Renewal

In a garden, petals open up, embracing the morning sun. Each bloom whispers tales of renewal, reminding us that even in endings, there’s always the possibility of new beginnings. I am linking this to Becky’s SquareRenew Debbie’s 6WS and Cee’s Weekend FOTD

Indoor seating

Walking back to the hotel in Liverpool, I saw this window then I saw the seats that were like on display. A bakery in Porto with the gorgeous Azulejos tiles as back drop. Looks like rabbit chairs which I saw at the Art Gallery NSW in Sydney At a fish & Chips shop in Tooradin,…

Doors in the area of Rua das Flores

We discovered the charm of this 18th Century walking street sloping down from Porto’s San Bento Railway Station to the Duoro river. Known as “Rua das Flores,” or “Flower Street,” it earned its name from the beautiful gardens that used to line the houses along the way. Sadly, those gardens are now gone. Love the…

The Rebuilding of the Forest Glade Gardens

This is the history of the Forest Glade Gardens in the Macedon Ranges Originally, the land were two properties with orchards and large paddocks. In 1941, the Newton family bought and expanded the land to create a beautiful garden. Later, Cyril Stokes bought it and made the gardens even better. __________________________________ Sadly, the Ash Wednesday…

Tuesday Streetart, Bronik in St Kilda – 39

ST KILDA, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA Ever since I saw Bronik’s work in Barcelona, I was immediately captivated by them. Mainly because of its lively colours and by her use of the colour purple, which is my favourite. You can read more about her here. I messaged her a few months back telling her how I love…

The Magic of Porto

TRAVEL DIARY: PORTO 4 Due to the persistent rain in the morning and looking like the same for the following days, we opted for a two-day hop-on-hop-off bus tour, conveniently stopping near our airbnb. From the top seats of the double decker bus we saw some amazing misty sceneries and public art. By the time…

Old Lady By the Window – 2

BATALHA, PORTUGAL Encountered another fascinating scene near Batalha Square … a lady by the window, lost in thought. This is part 2 of the series capturing such moments. There’s a certain charm in observing people by windows, and she held my attention for what felt like an eternity. I am linking this to Ludwig’s Monday…

The flower is burgeoning

Not my usual choice of word that I would use for flowers growing rapidly, but now I’m using it for Becky’s SquaresRenew challenge. I don’t even know if I used it correctly, but here goes… Also linking it for Cee’s FOTD Weekend challenge and for Cellpic Sunday Here is a pink Dahlia that I found…

Ah … to be young again!

Ah, to be young again! Running freely, without a care in the world. Exploring the world with wide-eyed wonder, filled with endless curiosity and excitement. I have three nieces, Korina, Ella, and Franceska. They each have two kids. I enjoy birthdays and special occasions because that’s when I get to see my grandkids and hear…

Bookbar

The colourful seats outside the Bookbar in Islington, London. Bookbar is an independent bookshop. It is a welcoming place where anybody can sit together and read a book or have a meal or drinks. I am linking this to Xingfumama’s Pull Up a Seat Challenge

Autumn Leaves

It’s Day 3 of Becky’s SquaresRenew and here is a symbol of change. The autumn leaves on the ground symbolize the beauty of transformation and renewal, as nature undergoes its seasonal cycle of change.

Tim

“Behind every young child who believes in himself is a parent who believed first.” – Matthew Jacobson In my July 2021 blog post, I spotlight my daughter Pat’s interview with Notion Magazine. Conducted by James Robinson, the interview delves into what it means to be a “creative” in today’s world. If you’re curious, you can…

Vicinity of Dom Luis Bridge

This was me and Hubby walking on our first day in Porto and seeing these doors in our walk from our Air Bnb to the Dom Luis Bridge. The Dom Luís Bridge is a double-deck metal arch bridge that spans the river Douro between the cities of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia in Portugal….

Philippines Moving Forward

It’s Day 2 of Becky’s SquaresRenew and I am featuring something that is close to my heart. As a Filipino migrant residing in Australia, every time I see something “Filipino” like these trams in Melbourne and in Sydney….I feel so excited. I’ve often wondered why discussions about Southeast Asia frequently overlook the Philippines, mentioning countries…

Moving Up

Life’s a journey, it may not be always moving forward … it may be moving up. Since I am a Streetart person, i will start with a Streetart stencil of Banksy which I saw twice… once in Barcelona and this one is from Sydney. This is entitled “Girl with a Balloon”. The message of this…

Life is too short…

Do you have a quote you live your life by or think of often? Life is too short … be happy … make the most of it … be kind … so try to travel more (haha I really had to include this) … be thankful with what you’ve got … say I love you…

2018 is special

What is your favorite holiday? Why is it your favorite? *** Being an Australian, i am defining holiday as not going to work or it’s also a longer break from work such as taking time off to go on a trip somewhere. In 2018, I embarked on an unforgettable journey through London, Prague, Vienna, and…

Tuesday Streetart Festival in Mordi -38

Wall to Wall Festival in the Mordi Village, is curated by Juddy Roller, bringing vibrant street art to life from April 26 to 28. It is the first time back since 2019. Ten walls transformed into stunning murals during this weekend-long celebration. It is my first time visiting while the festival is still ongoing so…

Still wandering in Porto

TRAVEL DIARY: PORTO 3 BACK STORY: This is a continuation of my previous blog and this day, as I’ve said, it was pouring rain. While exploring, we stopped for lunch at a unique McDonald’s in downtown Porto, Portugal. Surprisingly, this restaurant, known as the McDonald’s Imperial, is housed in a historic café adorned with stunning…

Old Lady by the Window – 1

PORTO, PORTUGAL This is in an apartment by the Praca Ribeira in Porto. I wonder what she was thinking about? I am linking this to Ludwig’s Monday Window Challenge

Happy Anniversary to ME!

It’s incredible how time flies, isn’t it? I now reflect on how much has changed in both the world and in my personal pursuits over these past four years. What began as a way to fill my spare time during the start of the pandemic, has evolved into a meaningful dedication, shaping not just my…

Music under my Umbrella

This week, Egídio hosts the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge with the topic of Music to My Eyes. Let me take you down memory lane with songs about autumn rain and umbrellas – “Autumn Leaves” has become a jazz standard and it is one of the most recorded songs by jazz musicians. My favourite version though is by Nat King Cole. The…

A Blue amongst the Purple Hydrangeas

CLOUDEHILLFARDEN & NURSERY, OLINDA It is strange to see only one blue Hydrangea amongst a field of purple flowers … strange but oh so pretty! I am linking this to Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge and for Debbie’s Six Word Saturday

Benches in Watsons Bay

A ferry from the Circular Quay took us to Watsons Bay. Watsons Bay is a lovely village at the tip of South Head in the east side of Sydney. We discover a perfect mix of hidden beaches, scenic coastal paths and old-world charm. They are tiny in this photo but there are lots of benches…

The Sydney Opera House

Nestled along the Sydney Harbour’s edge, it stands as an internationally renowned architectural marvel, celebrated as a masterpiece of the 20th century. Designed by Danish architect Jarn Utzon, the Sydney Opera House has been recognised by UNESCO as a masterpiece of human creative genius. We went on a walking tour of this historic building. I…

“Lest we forget“

Borrowed from a line in a well-known poem written in the 19th century, the phrase ‘lest we forget’ means ‘it should not be forgotten’. We say or write ‘lest we forget’ in commemorations to remember always the service and sacrifice of people who have served in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations. ANZAC stands for Australian…

Succulents

This is a photo taken on the 14th of April while my sister and niece were still here in Melbourne having a holiday. These are succulents at the Cloudehill Garden & Nursery. For Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge – FOTD

Wandering in Porto

TRAVEL DIARY: PORTO 2 Since we were in Porto, we started our day with, you guessed it right, Portuguese tarts. Had it in the cafe right in front of the Livraria Lello. Livraria Lello is celebrated for its stunning blend of Neo-Gothic and Art Nouveau styles, making it a must-visit. Established in 1906, it’s among…