Glowering Skies.

Yesterday, we too our Daughter J & SG, with us on a trip down to visit our Son B. The long trip passed happily enough. I had plenty of clenches to work out the pelvic floor, & SG happily declared we were "Up in the Rain Clouds!"

We were certainly up among the mists & clouds, that hung low over the F3 Freeway. We have been getting much needed rain, so we could not legitimately grizzle about it, but it does make driving a little more 'fraught'.

Gom had the windscreen wipers on most of the trip. When it wasn't raining, the tyres from other vehicles spattered the slick onto the windscreen. As we got down into Sydney's busy, thronging, suburbs, traffic slowed to a crawl on the Pacific Highway. SG was most concerned we were lost. "Where are we? Do we know where we are Gom?" I gave him the UBD book of road maps to look at, & he spent a happy half hour 'reading the maps'. Saying, "Look Mum, this is all our world!"

It was our first visit to our son's new residence. I tried to take a nice pic of the beautiful Jacaranda in the yard, but the day was so dull, it hasnt turned out very well. The Jacarandas are all in bloom, (except our ungrateful tree, which refuses to flower, & has just produced a crop of leaves- yet again)The whole of Sydney is showing bursts of these beautiful purple trees in full flower, & it makes for a lovey panorama, if there is only time to look at it all in the hurried harried life of City.

The suburb our Son lives in, is very old, & used to be working class. Now of course, because of it's proximity to the city centre, & the nearby wharf, for quick ferry rides to the Quay, or Darling Harbour, it has become trendy & much sought after.

It is with shock, that I realise our Son has lived there for 20 years now, & he loves it. It is certainly a very unique place, with a wonderful mix of people, & very fashionable unusual shops. And many many cafes, offering any cuisine you could ever wish for.

These fearsome stone lions stand guard at the front gates to a huge old dwelling. The garden is like a huge jungle, & at night the garden is lit from below, with bright lights, giving an eerie glow to the plants.

The wrought iron is a feature of much of the area, with many terrace houses being lovingly restored with wrought iron balcony trims, & laces purely for decoration.

I would have loved to spend the day just wandering about taking photos, & have visited the area often over the years, but never time for picture taking.

There are many different people out & about in the streets, & the Long Darling Street which runs down to the Harbour & Darling St Wharf is filled with interesting boutiques, food venues, & wonderful purveyors of the odd & artful.

Dogs are welcome in this bustling area, with many shopkeepers providing water bowls for thirsty canines as they travel the street with their owners.

Many cafe's have tables on the footpath, so diners can be seen with their dogs tied safely to the table or chair, sharing in the day's outing.

Many old terrace houses have been converted into business premises, & they nestle among more recent large buildings.

Among the items for sale, were these bright floral mats for you front doorstep, to welcome you visitors, or more likely, encourage them to wipe their feet before entering.

This shop seemed to also have a collection of porcelain penguins for sale, among other trinkets & treasures. There are many shops such as this, & if it is something unusual you require this is where you just might find it.


I loved the huge bright displays of flowers, to took some pics to share the wonderfu colour of them, on such a dull grey day.

These were displayed at the front of the fruit & vegetable shops, & I would have liked to take pics of the produce inside, but time really did not permit.

These photos barely do the colours justice. The gerberas were almost electric in their vibrance, & intensity.

Pedestrians were most helpful & polite as I stopped to snap, either waiting politely, or walking carefully around me, so they didnt spoil my pics.

SG enjoyed his day out, & his wise mother had packed snacks, & then there was our hasty lunch to eat in the car on the return. Where he chatted happily away, & fell asleep. A nice day out, in spite of my nervous disposition at being a passenger, but I think have some company helped dispel the anxiety.

It was just a shame our Granddaughter had to work, or she could have come with us.

Of course, my mother's heart was gladdened to see our Son's new residence, & now I can picture him at home.

Don McLean, Empty Chairs.