Faraway Friday with Raffle on the Side

Fiona Uncategorized

A couple of weeks ago Ducky suggested a “slides evening” where we can share our favourite travel slides. Well, this is your chance, Pubsters.

The way I suggest we do it is for you to send me your jpgs. I will put the jpgs into the library asap, and will send you the html for each one. You can then put up a comment with one or more of the pics, plus some information about your visit.

There may be a delay from time to time, as unfortunately Maestro CK Watt’s laptop has gone on sulk, possibly permanently. So I will look after the raffle too.

Very few of my travel slides have been digitised, so I have hunted on the web for images of some of my favourite foreign places looking as near as possible as they did when I first saw them. However, the travel theme is NOT restricted to non-Australian places!

From the Grand Tour of November 1978 – April 1979, then, I give you a street in St Paul de Vence, not all that far from one of CTar’s preferred places:

(Image Credit: Matyas Dubal)

The Coliseum in Rome (my first glimpse of it was from this angle, but further away, and it was one of those jolt to the solar plexus moments of recognition.

My first glimpse of the Alps was – once again – more distant than this. For a moment I couldn’t work out why the clouds on the horizon had such peaked tops . . .

Heather Whelan)

We had two goes at visiting Greece. The first time – during our month in Italy – the Brindisi ferry sailors were on strike. The second time – nearly at the end of our three months in continental Europe – we did a mad sprint by various trains from Paris to Brindisi. This time the ferry did sail, and we had four days in Greece, including one at Delphi. Another of those moments of recognition.

(Image Credit: University of Texas)

The Grand Tour started and ended in England (well, it was winter when we arrived, and a very cold and late spring for the final month of our time). We spent the first month staying at a B&B in Bloomsbury, spending most of the time exploring London (almost entirely by foot) during the day, and exploring the theatres and concert halls by night. (We also managed day trips to Brighton and Oxford). For our final month we hired a car – a Mini (all we could afford) – into and out of which 6’4″ OH had to shoehorn himself. Unlike the Minis in Australia, the driver’s seat did not go back very far, and he was most uncomfortable. So he was generally reluctant to stop and look at things, because of the agony of getting out and then back in. I did persuade him to stop at Stonehenge, however. It was late in March, blowing a gale; we were the only humans there, and this was way before the days of the fence, the Visitors’ Centre, and all the other paraphernalia now there. It was a truly haunting experience.

(Image Credit: Stonehenge News and Information)

Later this evening I will put up some more images of my travels before and after the Grand Tour (if I have time).

280 thoughts on “Faraway Friday with Raffle on the Side”

  1. ” Does this remind you of anyone?”

    Rather ; “Anything”…yes..: Art…..the creative impulse of life.

  2. Geez!..it’s good and , I suspect, very beneficial to have a few decent wines every now and then…It makes thing seem so clear..you know?

  3. Fiona, in the morning,

    My Library is better than the one on your pic.

    It has a like shelves and books and something that warms around you for its proximity. You will be hard pressed for significant history and issues not available chez nous.

    I have photographic evidence, should you want.

  5. We have just watched the first episode of Lewis Series 8. Up to quality. An elegant transition from the relevant positions of the two main protagonists.

    For fans of Clare Holman, she is is there again.

  7. King William Street Adelaide, 2015.
    Taken with a Samsung Note 3 smartphone. I was waiting to catch the tram to the railway station. I sat the phone on the top of the pedestrian barrier at the tram-stop in the middle of the street.

  8. Good morning Dawn Patrollers.

    Oops! A monster cock up by Woolworths.
    http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/consumer-security/woolworths-leaks-1-million-of-gift-cards-in-massive-data-breach-debacle-20150530-ghd8wl.html
    Surely Abbott and Dutton have gone troppo. A terrible way to “govern”. And they apparently have 37 similarly thinking back benchers (I bet George Christensen is one of them!)
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/julie-bishop-downplays-cabinet-leak-showing-split-on-national-security-20150530-ghd5ti.html
    Pharmacists who sell homeopathic products should have no right to be regarded as medical professionals.
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/julie-bishop-downplays-cabinet-leak-showing-split-on-national-security-20150530-ghd5ti.html
    And here’s a good editorial on the subject.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/smh-editorial/time-to-beef-up-natural-health-product-regulation-for-safetys-sake-20150530-ghcoc3
    Peter FitzSimons’ weekly contribution.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/it-coulda-been-shoulda-been-us-leading-the-way-on-samesex-marriage-20150530-ghcfk9
    A concerning performance from the Hurstville Council.
    http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/hurstville-councils-alleged-big-brother-tactics-20150530-ghcbx1
    How organised crime has been exploiting the 457 visa program.
    http://www.theage.com.au/national/organised-crime-rorts-457-visa-program-20150530-ghcl80
    Are Gen Ys dumb ass drivers?
    http://www.smh.com.au/national/lack-of-car-maintenance-putting-lives-at-risk-before-long-journeys-20150530-ghcdqr
    Will Abbott do it again and effectively deny party members a conscience vote on marriage equality? Will he swap a captain’s call for a confessor’s call?
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/can-tony-abbott-again-deny-his-party-a-conscience-vote-on-same-sex-marriage-20150530-ghc6jw
    Peter Martin on why marriage equality matters.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/more-than-vows-why-gay-marriage-matters-20150530-ghc43j

  9. Section 2 . . .

    It’s not the Senate that’s digging a budget hole, it’s Abbott and his unacceptably unfair policies. The Senate is doing its job as a house of review.
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbott-still-struggling-to-get-senate-support-for-budget-measures-20150530-ghchmo
    Mem Fox takes on the private schools.
    http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/mem-fox-says-private-school-spruiks-false-advertising-20150530-ghcfil
    An example of the high cost of obesity.
    http://www.theage.com.au/national/health/obesity-epidemic-weighs-down-hospitals-20150530-ghcfqr
    The president of the AMA is giving more and more grief to the government.
    http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/may/30/australian-medical-association-lambasts-government-over-doctor-rebates-freeze
    David Donovan tells us why Abbott is almost certainly a dual citizen. He won’t let this story go.
    https://independentaustralia.net/article-display/tony-abbott-is-almost-certainly-a-dual-citizen–and-heres-why,7773
    Annabel Crabbe praises the US for sorting out FIFA.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/fifa-corruption-god-bless-america-for-showing-red-card-20150530-ghcobu
    Yeah sure, Sepp!
    http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/may/30/sepp-blatter-vows-steady-fifa-ship-criticises-us-arrests
    What a tangled web of deception and fraud!
    http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/how-a-crash-unearthed-australian-motor-finances-multimilliondollar-fraud-20150530-gh80bv
    The problem with work is the work itself.
    http://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace-relations/the-biggest-problem-with-the-workplace-is-the-work-20150530-ghdb15.html
    According to this “shaggability” need never be lost.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/your-last-shaggable-day-need-never-arrive-20150530-ghaf5u
    Mark Knight goes shopping with Gina and the kids.

  10. Lashings of the old vino last night!…oh well..I needed it…apologies if i got a tad too “poesy” though…one does tend to drift into the “atmosphere” when the wine kicks in!

  12. Congrats to the winner of Friday’s raffle, well won.

    Many happy happys to the birthday people, hope you celebrated well.

    I enjoyed the slide ‘night/day’, keep them coming Pubsters.

    Also for the political reportage, it is so good here, I feel I have been able to keep up with most of it.

  13. BK, in an age where a new motor vehicle can have a 7 year warranty period, a lot of Gen Ys don’t have any experience of vehicle failures. My series of Minis and Datto 120Y etc, not to mention learning to drive on a 1927 Chev Truck taught me one or two handy skills. Mind you, buggered if I know what to do under the bonnet of any new car I’ve had!

  15. Razz and I have come to the conclusion that Hunter must have come from a family with little children. He had a fantastic time with my cousin’s grandchildren, five of them under 5. He has done nothing but sleep since we returned home.

  16. fridge
    Gone are the days where a screwdriver, an adjustable spanner and a good ear could fix most things!

  18. Very cold here. Fire is on:

    What would we do without trees? Down the road a bloke got rid of some pine trees, so we bought a big load. Pinewood is beautiful to look at and burns really well with a whiff of Xmas.

  21. Gravel,

    I’ve had the privilege of meeting both Mr Bushfire and Mr Elder, and they are definitely two different people.

  23. http://blog.jxeeno.com/nbn-fttn-limited-to-121-mbps-during-transition/

    http://www.news.com.au/national/cardinal-pell-keen-to-confront-royal-commision-allegations-friends/story-fncynjr2-1227373360023

    http://www.theage.com.au/national/health/obesity-epidemic-weighs-down-hospitals-20150530-ghcfqr

    http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/east-west-link-policy-may-be-dumped-by-liberals-before-next-state-election-20150530-ghd23l.html

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02sb20p download the MP3

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/03/01/this-is-the-best-explanation-of-gerrymandering-you-will-ever-see/

    http://www.theage.com.au/national/legal-challenge-to-tear-up-cosy-deal-between-coles-and-shop-union-20150530-ghce7n.html

  24. Come on down Warren Entsch! Theresa Gambaro is also a possible co-sponsor.

    Bill Shorten ups pressure on Tony Abbott to allow free vote on same-sex marriage

    Opposition Leader Bill Shorten will call for a Liberal MP to step forward and co-sponsor Labor’s same sex marriage bill, in a move that will put more pressure on Prime Minister Tony Abbott to allow his team a free vote.

    Deputy Labor Leader Tanya Plibersek is offering to remove her name from the bill, paving the way for a government member to take her place and make the legislation bipartisan

    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/bill-shorten-ups-pressure-on-tony-abbott-to-allow-free-vote-on-samesex-marriage-20150530-ghd3bw.html

    From the other day –
    http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/sarah-hansonyoung-confirms-talks-with-warren-entsch-graham-perrett-about-tripartisan-samesex-marriage-bill-20150529-ghc7kz.html

  27. Beijing doing well on this one

    Beijing will ban smoking in restaurants, offices and on public transport from Monday, part of new curbs welcomed by anti-tobacco advocates, though how they will be enforced remains to be seen.

    Health activists have pushed for years for stronger restrictions on smoking in China, the world’s largest tobacco consumer, which is considering further anti-smoking curbs nationwide.

    Under the rules, anyone in China’s capital who violates the bans, which include smoking near schools and hospitals, must pay 200 yuan ($32.25). The current fine, seldom enforced, is just 10 yuan ($1.60).

    Anyone who breaks the law three times will be named and shamed on a government website. And businesses can be fined up to 10,000 yuan ($1,600) for failing to stamp out smoking on their premises.

    http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/31/last-cigarette-beijing-stubs-out-public-smoking-from-monday

  28. This little black duck

    Curse the rise of the educated middle classes. ‘Tis the sort of thing they do. Just as they kicked up about pollution in china and have forced changes . No wonder the plutocrats in the West have been working so hard to eliminate them here.

  29. kaffeeklatscher,

    Our (mis)government is certainly doing its best to de-educate Australia.

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