OUR WORLD - Somewhere along the way . . .

Murray Bridge station, as the name suggests, on the banks of

the 'Mighty Murray'. My suitcase waits patiently for the Overland

to Melbourne, connecting Adelaide, the capital of South Australia

with Melbourne, the capital of Victoria, one of our neighbouring

states 8 1/2 hrs away.

It was still a fair wait after a couple of goods trains had passed

and the weather moved in and favoured everyone with a drenching

since the station and all facilities were closed.

It is a long time since there was a manned railway station here

as can be seen by the unfortunate state of the station master's

house on the other side of the tracks.

I had things other than photography on my mind as we pootled

along at the sedate pace of 80km. My thoughts as grey as the

landscap, I would have much preferred to be clambering amongst

the rocks of that shadow clad outcrop.

A break in the clouds lit up an occasional spot of gold

that had not yet gone to seed.

A country road taking someone home to the farm sheltered

amongst the pines

and with these peaceful sheep on a paddock in the vicinity of

Ararat, nearer my destination. Only an hour and a half to go . .

I hope you will forgive me if I cannot visit you all this week,

life has a way of intruding on the fun of blogland.

Do show us what is making your particular corner of OUR WORLD tick.

Shadow Shot Sunday - Shadow Lace

Sweeping staircase at a Melbourne suburban shopping centre.

Enlarge for detail.

Click on the Logo and join Shadow Shot Sunday for a fun time

dancing between the shadows.

Weekend Reflections - Shopping Centre

Look down to look up . . .

the cupola above a shopping centre in Melbourne recently,

reflected in a gleaming red sports car that was being raffled

off on the second floor. How they got it up there I don't know

but it made for great reflections.

Happy weekend every one! . . . and do link to Weekend Reflections.

SkyWatch ~ Crepuscular Clouds

Walked into my sister's house, saw out the balcony window

and grabbed camera . . . snap, caught my breath briefly and

snap, just look at whoever is looking out of that sky!

Half close your eyes and see the mean, angry face in the

middle of the clouds . . . scary what?

Enlarge if you wish . . .

But, whether you enlarge them or not, click on the Logo and add your

skies to SkyWatch!

World Bird Wednesday - Stalking an Egret

Last week, while staying with my sister in Melbourne, I had a

chance to check out the wetlands in Rowville near the golf course.

Actually, I was just stretching my legs with a camera trying to

capture some suburban birds when I spied this guy far across a

swampy meadow. A 135mm lens is not the ideal weapon for

shooting at this range, so I lined myself up with the scant cover

of the bush at right and squelched my way down until I was right

behind it.

Even before I was in position, I felt him watching my progress

and when I broke cover for a better shot,

he was decidedly skittish -

and took to the air just enough

to land again near the reeds. This is an Intermediate Egret,

as far as I could tell, Ardea intermedia. Unfortunately his

mate was killed and now he mourns his loss and lives a

hermitic existence since egrets usually mate for life.

Click to enlarge.

Next week I'll give you a short burst of the common suburban birds

in the area.

This is one of my favourite memes , you too can join it by clicking

on the Logo on my side bar.

MY WORLD ~ Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne

The Royal Exhibition Building was completed in 1880 for
Melbourne's first World Exhibition which was a great seccess.



It has a splendid ballroom where in my university days I even
got to dance with the Governor of Victoria a somewhat more
pleasant occasion than sitting for my matriculation exams
with a thousand other nervous student.

The Logo takes you to the rest of the world.

Thanks to the MY WORLD Team, we can all show our corner of this world.

Nature Notes and SkyWatch ~ Moon Magic

Hot, steaming summer night, sleep, that elusive rogue has fled.
I toss and turn, defeated I follow reluctantly into the moonlight
drenching the liquid air with gold.

The night so still, watched over by enchantress moon holds
promise yet of mystery and wonder. Gentle rustling in the bushes,
a possum intent on feasting on my rosebuds.

I listen rapt, waiting for I know not what when in the park a
solitary note, yet unmistakable, breaks forth.
It holds me rooted to the spot, not breathing lest it hide away its
fellows ... when there it is again, now stronger as with cadence sweet
she breaks into her lilting warble - a Nightingale as I live and
breathe!

Perhaps my guardian angel sent me out to hear this wonder of the
night. The world asleep and only i priviledged to hear once more
what I had given up as lost forever. My hungry soul laps up each
as it rises and falls. No sleep for me this night, the unexpected joy
is far too great.

Nightingales are imported birds known to exist in Melbourne, some

500 miles away across dry and burningly hot country. In South

Australia, the driest State in the driest Continent, they have been

unknown until this night unless it was a phantom singing solely for

my delectation.

*

To you all my dear Bloggy friends I wish a wonderfully healthy and

successful New Year! See you next year!

*

With thanks to Michelle of Rambling Woods for Nature Notes,

and our wonderful SkyWatch Team.

*

Both memes can be accessed by clicking on the relevant Logo.

*

SkyWatch ~ 53 Turbulent Melbourne skies

All photos enlarge with a simple click.

The skies held magic as we spied Melbourne from
the main highway from Sydney.



Normally this country mouse is not too happy in a
city environment but Melbourne is a city dear to my
heart, after all we lived there for twenty years.



The city centre is almost unrecognizable from that
we left in 1971 but it is very alive and growing.
Heading along a 6 lane highway at 110kph shooting
was not perfect but the clouds certainly were.



Arrived at my sister's house we celebrated my
birthday and even the sky got in on the act by giving
us a glowing sunset.



Click on the Logo and join the meme or just enjoy the skies.

Thanks to Klaus and the skywatch team we see wonderful
skies every week.

SkyWatch ~ 48 Melbourne and Vicinity

For more effect and greater enjoyment, please ENLARGE.

Coming into Melbourne, Victoria from the east, the sky
looked threatening as I wielded my camera while the
Prof. drove at a steady 110kph .



Getting out of the car at my sister's, the sun lent a
golden glow to the houses on the other side of the road.



The dark clouds and slanting light brought out the
red in the recently cut Eucalyptus branch seen from
our bedroom window.



Heading home along the Western Highway next day,
we passed Ballarat and caught a glimpse of the rainbow



over the completely dried out Lake Burrumbeet. Although
the water levels have often fluctuated in this lake, in our
40 years of driving past it and having picnics there, we
have never seen it in this dessicated state before.



This last drought was definitely no joke.

To fly to other skies or join in, click the Logo.

To Klaus and the SkyWatch Team, thanks guys for this great meme.