Old Owl's photos

A very Happy Bench Monday to all. This is the Mandurah estuary: ahead is the Indian Ocean; to the right is Mandjar Bay and then the Peel Inlet; to the left is one of the residential canals of Halls Head; behind them (and the photographer) is the War Memorial. These people are looking at the part of Mandurah which borders the marina and Dolphin Quay. It is a sunny day. All is well. Have a great day and I hope your week is pleasing to you.

Have a great weekend. Spring is truly here in the land of Aus - or at least in this western part of the continent. Warming days, cloudless skies, cooler nights, occasional rain. Life is grand.

May I wish you all a Happy Fence Friday. This fence is next to the walkway across the estuary in Mandurah; the mural is one of a number on the bridge and in its surrounds. Public artwork is a major part of our city and brings joy and smiles to us regardless of the state of the world in general. Sometimes joy and smiles are all we have. Have a delightful day and a restful weekend.

The flower known as Pigface (Carpobrotus) grows freely on the coastal plain of WA. Indigenous Australians found that it had many medicinal properties and used it to treat bites and stings. It also (when mixed with water) alleviated stomach upsets and mouth ulcers. It's cool that the name Pigface is used for a bookshop, which provides wide-ranging medicine for the soul.

A very Happy Wednesday Wall to all of you. May the day and the rest of your week be to your liking.

Mandurah Surf Rescue tower on Town Beach.

A Happy Bench Monday to all. Let's hope for a good day and a fine week. This bench rests next to a statue by Claire Bailey called "The Drover's Dog". It stands on the street, outside where there was a pub and boarding house in the late 19th century. The story is that drovers gathered at the pub and left their dogs tied up outside whilst they ate and drank (particularly the latter). The pub has moved premises and the original building is a real estate agency; thus the dog waits outside an eyelash salon (!) - "o tempora, o mores".

Have a fabulously Happy Fence Friday. This was once the garden centre of the Bunnings hardware store, which moved to new premises about six years ago. The main store is no longer a Bunnings outlet and now sells beds and furniture but this nursery area lies empty, unwanted and unloved. I hope your weekend is full of promise and that you are wanted and loved. (Note for non-Australians: Bunnings is a large retail chain selling hardware, DIY tools, plants and gardening equipment. It is like an Aladdin's Cave for grown-ups. Unfortunately over the past twenty years the chain has driven almost every independent garden centre and hardware shop out of existence. Mandurah has a population of more than 80,000 people and the two Bunnings stores are the only game in town. The big guys always win, don't they?)

I hope you have a delightfully Happy Wednesday Wall and that the rest of the week meets your hopes and expectations.

Benches and tables at a local primary school, used for children eating at lunchtime as well as for lessons or just chilling out at recess. Simple and functional, but not without charm. Have a great and Happy Bench Monday, everyone. I hope your week begins well and gets better as next weekend approaches.

Murray Street, Perth. Bigger is brighter. Please press Z.

Murray Street, Perth

A Happy Fence Friday to everyone. Although the glass is empty, let's make sure we fill it again with something fresh and new. Have a great weekend.