Saturday Urban Life and Farming

Saturday Urban Life in the capital of Norway, Oslo, can offer a variety of activities. Within a few hours we will use the beautiful sunshine today for a city stroll, including a glass of wine at Aker Brygge which is only 30 minutes away.
Urban life with the advantage we feel, having a cottage almost in the middle of the city, can also give us time to relax, time to be close to nature, time to make paintings, knitting production, BBQ activities (Grilled Trout today) and harvesting the Growth of the Soil although not dreaming to be Isak and Inger.
Everything here are Organic food The red and black currants are almost mature and ready for eating directly from the bush and home made jam production.
From the top of the trees the apples have started to drop to the ground making repeatedly documentations of Newtons headache when hit by one of the falling apples, and got the idea of his theories about Universial Gravitation
The plums are also in the late maturing process, and will be ripen in the beginning of September. Large yellow sweet plums with a name I have forgotten.
These photos are taken yesterday after the first autumn storm has passed and are my contribution to the meme
Visit Luiz Santilli Jr for the home of Today's Flowers.

Verse And Worse

Random Wit, Errant Rhyme. Not A Literary Crime

Just when you think you’ve got all the answers
You find you’re not one of the world’s best dancers
You can twist, waltz and tango and master the jive
But failure at the limbo means there’s no high five

Verse And Worse

Random Wit, Errant Rhyme. Not A Literary Crime

Just when you think you’ve got all the answers
You find you’re not one of the world’s best dancers
You can twist, waltz and tango and master the jive
But failure at the limbo means there’s no high five

Friday night

With Venus in the south, we say goodnight to the blogger world.
Tomorrow the urban farmer is on the line again.

Ha, Ha Monica

For Me, This Performance Struck A Poignant Note

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Sometimes a face just stops you in your tracks. Then, despite the fact that you have a camera around your neck and media credentials in your wallet, the debate begins. Do you have the right to intrude? I always ask the person if it’s all right to photograph them. Always.

When I photographed a harp player in Quebec City, it was with his permission. When I photographed a pavement piano player in Melbourne, it was with his permission. When I photographed a costumed belly dancer, it was with her permission. When I photographed a blind busker, it was with his permission.

So when I saw this street performer in Singapore two years ago, I asked if I could take some shots of him and he nodded his assent.

Just for the record, I wasn't in his face when I shot these images. My normal lens is a Sigma 18-125mm, so I always have plenty of options. Both these images were shot at the maximum focal length, so I wasn't even within touching distance when I photographed him.

If only I’d had an interpreter, I would have asked many questions.

I really wanted to know how old he was and why there was such depth of emotion in his eyes. Yes, he had a funky haircut. Yes, he had a great shirt. But I wanted to know why he sat there in the tropical heat, apparently without any teeth, playing the harmonica as if it were his only outlet for creativity.


Visit TNChick's Photo Hunt. Today's theme: "Entertainment''.

Ha, Ha Monica

For Me, This Performance Struck A Poignant Note

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Sometimes a face just stops you in your tracks. Then, despite the fact that you have a camera around your neck and media credentials in your wallet, the debate begins. Do you have the right to intrude? I always ask the person if it’s all right to photograph them. Always.

When I photographed a harp player in Quebec City, it was with his permission. When I photographed a pavement piano player in Melbourne, it was with his permission. When I photographed a costumed belly dancer, it was with her permission. When I photographed a blind busker, it was with his permission.

So when I saw this street performer in Singapore two years ago, I asked if I could take some shots of him and he nodded his assent.

Just for the record, I wasn't in his face when I shot these images. My normal lens is a Sigma 18-125mm, so I always have plenty of options. Both these images were shot at the maximum focal length, so I wasn't even within touching distance when I photographed him.

If only I’d had an interpreter, I would have asked many questions.

I really wanted to know how old he was and why there was such depth of emotion in his eyes. Yes, he had a funky haircut. Yes, he had a great shirt. But I wanted to know why he sat there in the tropical heat, apparently without any teeth, playing the harmonica as if it were his only outlet for creativity.


Visit TNChick's Photo Hunt. Today's theme: "Entertainment''.

It’s A Good Thing They Had Plenty Of Dough

Is It A Citroen Or A Ferrari?

Two friends have crossed a Citroen 2CV with chassis and engine of a speedy Ferrari F355 Berlinetta - and produced a bread van which can do a staggering 180mph. The bizarre hybrid took the pair five years and cost more than £150,000 to put together. It goes from 0 to 60mph in less than five seconds.

FOOTNOTE: Van go.

It’s A Good Thing They Had Plenty Of Dough

Is It A Citroen Or A Ferrari?

Two friends have crossed a Citroen 2CV with chassis and engine of a speedy Ferrari F355 Berlinetta - and produced a bread van which can do a staggering 180mph. The bizarre hybrid took the pair five years and cost more than £150,000 to put together. It goes from 0 to 60mph in less than five seconds.

FOOTNOTE: Van go.

Magnolia, Peony, Paris

The Kari Herer Photography portfolio consist three of my favorite things: Magnolia, Peony and Paris. Her gorgeous Magnolia series is well known in the blogworld, appearing on Oh Joy!, Cup of Jo, Decor8 etc...

But her other pieces are just as stunning, here are some of my favs

Happy Friday! This was a busy but fun week for me & I have a busy weekend ahead!

(photos from Kari Herer Photography)

Sky Watching and Bandar Raja

"At Chitradurga in Karnataka, they call me 'Kothi Raju', meaning the Monkey King in English or 'Bandar Raja' in Hindi. I got this name when I started imitating maneuvers of monkeys while jumping and climbing up trees and walls," says Jyoti Raju.Maybe some of the other Sky Watchers this Friday would try to copy these watching positions shown on this Video.

Please visit Sky Watch Friday's own site for more.

Post Of The Day

Today's joint winners are Med Kamera Pa Tur with Sky Watch; Fireblossom with Tales Of Shocking True Crime and French Fancy with Yes, I Once Stole. The other top contenders were Cooking Blind with Some Of This Is True; And I Still Think So with Those Sultry, Sticky Tennessee Williams Days; San Merideth with Dreaming It Forward; Jenny Mac with Sculpture: It's An Art Form; Powell Power with A Helpful Letter ...; Heavenly Housewife with Liberty Cream Tea; Incense And Peppermints with In Which I Humiliate My Mother; RedMummy Rambles On with About Not Being Menopausal At All; Saturday's Child with Blue Hairs Returning To School; Nikon Sniper with After The Storm and As If C'est What with Gordon Waller. Do pay them a visit and leave a comment if you have time.

You can nominate a post too. Just leave a comment here with the URL or link - and tell us the name of the blogger you are nominating. Righty-o, then, it's over to you ....

See my photography at Images Sans Frontiers and Red Bubble.

Post Of The Day

Today's joint winners are Med Kamera Pa Tur with Sky Watch; Fireblossom with Tales Of Shocking True Crime and French Fancy with Yes, I Once Stole. The other top contenders were Cooking Blind with Some Of This Is True; And I Still Think So with Those Sultry, Sticky Tennessee Williams Days; San Merideth with Dreaming It Forward; Jenny Mac with Sculpture: It's An Art Form; Powell Power with A Helpful Letter ...; Heavenly Housewife with Liberty Cream Tea; Incense And Peppermints with In Which I Humiliate My Mother; RedMummy Rambles On with About Not Being Menopausal At All; Saturday's Child with Blue Hairs Returning To School; Nikon Sniper with After The Storm and As If C'est What with Gordon Waller. Do pay them a visit and leave a comment if you have time.

You can nominate a post too. Just leave a comment here with the URL or link - and tell us the name of the blogger you are nominating. Righty-o, then, it's over to you ....

See my photography at Images Sans Frontiers and Red Bubble.

Verse And Worse

Random Wit, Errant Rhyme. Not A Literary Crime

Columbus declared the Huns were too clannish
And even worse, "they couldn't speak Spanish"
But amidst admiration for the joy of migration
He applauded each nation that conquered inflation

Verse And Worse

Random Wit, Errant Rhyme. Not A Literary Crime

Columbus declared the Huns were too clannish
And even worse, "they couldn't speak Spanish"
But amidst admiration for the joy of migration
He applauded each nation that conquered inflation

Head Start

The Great Aussie Salute

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

The word "G'day" is instantly recognisable around the world as the quintessential Australian greeting. Over the years, I’ve seen many great depictions of the word, but this one was unique. I was at the Temora Aviation Museum in early June, watching an air show, when I noticed this person in the crowd ahead of me.

Have you ever tried taking a photograph of someone’s head when they’re watching fighters go screaming past in the sky? Let me tell you, it’s a mighty tough gig. It’s a bit like trying to do the same thing at a tennis match, when people’s heads constantly move side to side.

The weather was foggy at the start and the light wasn’t great later on, when the pilots got the all-clear, and to add to my problem, this gentleman was actually sitting under cover and a long way away from me. However, I had a long lens (70-300mm) on the camera, so this is as natural a shot as I could produce in the conditions – and it’s as Aussie a sight as you’ll ever see.

And to answer your question, G'day is simply a contraction of the phrase "Good day".


Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.

Head Start

The Great Aussie Salute

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

The word "G'day" is instantly recognisable around the world as the quintessential Australian greeting. Over the years, I’ve seen many great depictions of the word, but this one was unique. I was at the Temora Aviation Museum in early June, watching an air show, when I noticed this person in the crowd ahead of me.

Have you ever tried taking a photograph of someone’s head when they’re watching fighters go screaming past in the sky? Let me tell you, it’s a mighty tough gig. It’s a bit like trying to do the same thing at a tennis match, when people’s heads constantly move side to side.

The weather was foggy at the start and the light wasn’t great later on, when the pilots got the all-clear, and to add to my problem, this gentleman was actually sitting under cover and a long way away from me. However, I had a long lens (70-300mm) on the camera, so this is as natural a shot as I could produce in the conditions – and it’s as Aussie a sight as you’ll ever see.

And to answer your question, G'day is simply a contraction of the phrase "Good day".


Visit MamaGeek and Cecily, creators of Photo Story Friday.

Bench of the week (19)

Some may say that this week's bench is not a bench, but a seat - indeed a row of seats. But is not that the definition of a bench? However that may be - this is what I have chosen to present today. It may at the first glance look like an ordinary row of seats at some kind of ordinary sports arena. Nothing could be farther from the truth, as will become clear as you scroll down.

It is in fact from an outdoor theatre: Agder Teater-Fjæreheia.

This theatre is situated outside the town of Grimstad, Norway. One unique feature is that it is built in a closed quarry, where a characteristic red granite was mined. Before WW2 there where several small quarries here, but Albert Speer, Hitler's infamous "Minister of Armaments and War Production", dedeceided after the Nazi invasion of Norway to use this granite to build a new gigantic stadium in Nuremberg. Thus a new quarry was opened and much stone was mined, but none of it reached Germany before the war was over. Instead it was used in various local constructions after the war.

Agder Theatre bought the quarry in 1995, and in the summer of 1999 built a new amphitheatre with 1000 seats. Since the opening in 1999 there have been many different types of arrangement at Fjæreheia. There has been everything from musicals such as Jesus Christ Superstar to film presentations and readings of the poem "Terje Vigen" and rock concerts. (Wikipedia) .

If you look closely at the photos you will see actors and dancers practising on ledges and ladders before a performance. You really have to look before you leap in this theatre.

And that the granite is red is obvious from these steps.

My own interest in benches stems from the site published by PERBS and Kerri and the site published by Malyss. Also, others have shown an interest in the subject, so I have started to take photos of benches when I "stumble" across one and post them on Fridays. It is not a "proper" meme, but if anyone else would like to join me in publishing benches on Fridays, they are of course welcome to do so. Give me a hint and I'll come visiting - summer permitting :-)

Sign, Along The Dotted Line

The Concept Is Up In The Air

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

These two shots weren't really planned. They were shot a couple of weeks ago when I was walking towards Southbank in the afternoon. I was squinting up at the bright sunshine, to see which way the cloudbanks were moving.

As I did so, I noticed that I was on the "wrong" side of this giant sign above the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, so of course I had to take a shot because the quirkiness of the lettering appealed to me.

And in case you're wondering, this is what the sign looks like if you're on the "right" side looking up at it.


For other participants in Dot’s concept, go to Sky Watch HQ.

Sign, Along The Dotted Line

The Concept Is Up In The Air

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

These two shots weren't really planned. They were shot a couple of weeks ago when I was walking towards Southbank in the afternoon. I was squinting up at the bright sunshine, to see which way the cloudbanks were moving.

As I did so, I noticed that I was on the "wrong" side of this giant sign above the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, so of course I had to take a shot because the quirkiness of the lettering appealed to me.

And in case you're wondering, this is what the sign looks like if you're on the "right" side looking up at it.


For other participants in Dot’s concept, go to Sky Watch HQ.

Wild And Woolly

I've Got A Trombone To Pick With You

Classical composer Gustav Holst was once ticked off by a Cotswold farmer for playing his trombone too loudly and making his sheep lamb early, researchers have discovered. They revealed: "An irate farmer came rushing up to him and said, 'You are causing all this trouble with our sheep. They are lambing too soon, with this noise going on'."

FOOTNOTE: Very sheepish.

Wild And Woolly

I've Got A Trombone To Pick With You

Classical composer Gustav Holst was once ticked off by a Cotswold farmer for playing his trombone too loudly and making his sheep lamb early, researchers have discovered. They revealed: "An irate farmer came rushing up to him and said, 'You are causing all this trouble with our sheep. They are lambing too soon, with this noise going on'."

FOOTNOTE: Very sheepish.

Day Trip to London & Windsor

Some photos from my day trip to London & Windsor earlier this week, didn't take too many photos as the weather was mostly grey ( as expected...)

St. Paul's Cathedral - taken while on tour bus!

Buckingham Palace - The Queen wasn't in, apparently she's in Scotland at the moment

Inside the British Museum

The Windsor day trip, Windsor Castle

changing of the Guards at Windsor Castle

outfit photos to follow :)

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if you are in the mood for a Fashion post, check out my guest post at Simply Hue

(photos by me)