TRAVEL DIARY: COTSWOLDS After our European holiday last October 2023, Jack, Tim, and I embarked on a six-day road trip to visit my cousin in Edinburgh. With my son’s commitments sandwiching our travel dates, we had to keep it brief, but having Tim behind the wheel amidst such stunning scenery made it all worthwhile. En…
Category: challenges
A candlelight journey
Thanks Becky for the Square Challenge for this month of May. And as my last entry to SquareRenew… A candlelight’s glow invites us to meditate and embark on moments of silence and renewal.
Our last day in Porto
TRAVEL DIARY: PORTO 6 Before leaving our Airbnb, I suggested to my husband that we visit this church I’d seen on Instagram known for its stunning azulejos. Luckily, it was close to where we were staying. The Capela das Almas, an 18th-century chapel on Rua Santa Catarina, boasts a striking blue façade adorned with over…
The school kids striving forward
The primary school near our place has newly decorated the front parking space with beautiful square tiles adorned with powerful words. This will be an inspiration to the children to strive forward and pursue their goals in life.. I am linking this to Becky’s SquareRenew
A clown by the window – 5
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA The image of a clown can evoke varied reactions. While some find them amusing, others may feel uneasy. Personally, I’ve noticed a sense of unsettlement when encountering clowns, much like the discomfort I feel when I see eerily human-like antique dolls. How about you, what do you think? This is a clown…
Florals
“Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food, and medicine for the soul.” – Luther Burbank This week, Sofia hosts the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge with the topic of FLORAL. I am linking this also to Xingfumama’s Whatsoever is Lovely Challenge and to Cee’s FOTD challenge. Hope you get well soon Cee. Flowers,…
One two three four five six
6 Burgeoning dogs sitting beside each other. I am linking this to Debbie’s 6WS and to Becky’s SquareRenew
A Brand new Day in Square
As the gloomy days fade, sunny skies bring cheer and light to renew our spirits. I am linking this to Becky‘s SquareRenew
Day Trip to Aveiro
and to Costa Nova do Prado TRAVEL DIARY: AVEIRO & PRAIA DE COSTA NOVA Though the days were totally wet, we couldn’t pass up the chance to explore beyond Porto, so we opted for a day trip to Aveiro. The train journey from Sao Bento to Aveiro, lasting about an hour and twenty minutes, was…
New Growth
Here’s a lovely photo of my daughter during our stay at a charming Airbnb on a working farm in Castlemaine, Victoria. We were allowed to handpick veggies from the garden and the owners were so nice to bring us a daily basket of fresh fruits. I’m sure, soon enough, new growth will emerge from where…
Fluffy Dog by the Window – 4
It is fun to see through my car window a dog enjoying the sun and wind on the adjacent car. I am linking this to Ludwig’s Monday Window
Delicate
This week, Ann-Christine hosts the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge with the topic of DELICATE. I am linking this also to Xingfumama’s Whatsoever is Lovely Challenge and to Cee’s FOTD challenge Delicate is something easily broken or damaged and the first thing that came to mind is the fragility of flowers… Plants, delicate but at the same time resilient….
Walking forward
Exploring the streets with a tour group is always an adventure. In Girona, their expressions were intense as they walked forward, fully immersed in the stories being shared by the tour guide. I am linking this to Becky’s SquareRenew.
Wooden Sculptures Squared
When my sister came to Melbourne for a visit, of course we had to take them to the Twelve Apostles. On the way, we stayed the night in Apollo Bay. Here we discovered Apollo Bay’s wooden sculptures, showcasing local artists’ talent. This is a permanent exhibition of wooden sculptures along the Apollo Bay Foreshore. This…
Monochrome Windows of Montsalvat
I don’t regularly join Leanne’s Monochrome Madness Challenge and it is my first time joining Dawn from the Day After blog, with the theme of Windows. I just happened to see Sarah’s post from Travel with Me … so here I am. Here are some window images from Montsalvat in Victoria. Montsalvat is an artist…
Electricity Boxes Reimagined
You’ve probably seen one and stopped and maybe even smiled because it is hard to miss a large, cheerfully painted metal electricity box on the streets. I know, because there are also some here in Melbourne and is becoming a trend in many modern cities around the world. Last week, I showcased doors from Rua…
Tuesday Streetart 40 – Under Construction
The last time I visited Melbourne CBD, the roadside was undergoing construction, presumably for renewal, reconstruction, or extension. Surprisingly, instead of typical signage, it boasted charming street art featuring Australian animals. Adorable, isn’t it? I am linking this to Becky’s SquareRenew
Misty Adventures in Porto
TRAVEL DIARY: PORTO 5 We took the Hop-On Hop-Off bus for the second day and our first stop was the Porto Cathedral. Perched on a hill overlooking the Duoro, Se do Porto is the most important cathedral and religious building in this city. Construction began in the 12th century and is mainly Baroque architecture but…
A Chef by the Window – 3
Still in Porto … I was walking down below and saw this window on the second level. I thought, this is so cute. I am linking this to Ludwig’s Monday Window Challenge
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