Day 242, 30 Aug 2017: I love my port, but...

Day 242: ...the beach, THE beach

This morning, up bright and early, with breakfast tucked away, I walked to the beach. Actually walked. A friend has a newish house and it is walking distance, just a couple of blocks and a main road. The best. 

And not only that, it is near the beach that is nearest to my favourite, Moffat. And you know what that means, dear reader...

Beach pics. Wave pics, Sand pics. Sun pics. Surfer pics...

Excuse me while I just click away.

Break

Rocks

Shore break

Clear

Clearer

tidal

Just passing

Puffed

DOLPHIN!

Jelly

Paddler

Froth and bubbles

THE headland

perfectly still

And a dolphin! Not a bad way to start the day, eh. I love my port at Ariake but nothing will ever beat Moffat Beach.

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 7.33am-7.55am; 30 August 2017]

Day 241, 29 Aug 2017: Back to the old school...

Day 241: ...just one more time

So, a colleague asked a favour of me last year, and a repeat dose for this year and that was to head up to my former university to give a special lecture about Japanese politics to students taking one of my former courses. 

And so I did. 

The plan after the lecture was to head to the beach but a funny thing happened on the way to the car park. Instead of an early mark, it was a coffee with colleagues, bumping into others passing by, an interview on ABC radio Brisbane (on the phone) and then finally off a to friend's place for dinner, chat and catch up.

That left a waltz by the old lake, scene of many a #project365 pics in days gone by...still looked the same in the fast-fading light...

Sunsetting, no filters

Reed

Duck

Surface

...oh, well; the beach tomorrow, perhaps. 

[Camera : Lumiz TZ-85, 4.55pm-4.56pm; 29 August 2017]

Day 240, 28 Aug 2017: Blue skies...

Day 240: ...only in Brisbane

And so today, on of my 'holiday' staples, a trip to Bris to catch up with good friends who share ABC, chocolates, photography and lunch, sometimes in that order, sometimes all at once, sometimes in a slightly different order. 

After lunch, there is always a chance to stroll through South Bank, which I miss while I'm away. Well done Brisbane, it really is a gem.  And today, Brisbane turned on one of its extra special blue sky days, a stunner for a few pics. 

The wheel, for comparative purposes

One Story

That skyline, that river...

New building

Spring looking

Something old, something blue

Home

'is'

Now here's a show, with footprints

Behind the scenes

Then off to finalise a few details like new glasses, only to find the optometrist shop had different ideas about delivery on time compared with my recollection. 

So if there are any spelling mistakes here tonight...the glasses weren't ready...

Oh well, can't have everything, and truly, this blue sky...and those boots! 

...I'll manage. 

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 1.52pm-2.13pm; 28 August 2017]

Day 239, 27 Aug 2017: If it is a holiday...

Day 239: ...it must be another lunch day...

Holidays. Plan your day around food. And why not. Today it was the grocery shopping, and lunch. And the plan was a Mexican restaurant over on the Isle of Capri. We were there a few months ago and it was very nice. 

Ah, the Gold Coast. There one day, gone the next. No Mexican restaurant, empty-ish shop instead. That's not uncommon I guess. At least the supermarket was still there. 

We switched to the seafood restaurant overlooking the canal.

New Gold Coast

Very Gold Coast

Reflection

New skyline, and old

Funny thing about this now 'ritzy' shopping centre is that when we first moved to the Coast back in the seventies, it was just an ordinary little shopping centre; mum worked in the doctor's surgery and we made our way there every day after school and hung around until she finished. Sometimes I had hockey practice across the road and the one-time mayor and local member for Surfers Paradise, Sir Bruce Small had his offices there. 

Mum and I reflected on the history here today in between courses. The more things change...etc and so forth. 

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 2.17pm-3.00pm; 27 August 2017]

Day 238, 26 Aug 2017: All the shopping...

Day 238: ...and then home

Another busy day, another holi-day passes. 

One of the jobs I usually have to tackle in my short trips home is to go into town to do shopping 'essentials'...as every girl does of course. There are clothing necessities I need that are a little difficult to get in Japan--shoes are the main thing. Work clothes are another. 

So it was off to Bris, and off to shop with best friends...and that can take some time. 

Shoes, pants, shirts and suits later, and lunch, afternoon tea and catch up gossiping,  some hours later it was hit the highway and back to the coast. 

Hello Bella

You're back

Tulip

Chrysanthemums

All that shopping and, I didn't get to take any pics. Good thing the dog, Bella, was happy to see me. (And some flowers for my my mum, while they last.) 

All ready for work again. 

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 7.46pm-7.50pm; 26 August 2017]

Day 237, 25 Aug 2017: Popping out for lunch...

Day 237: ...and a little gardening

Holidays. Funny thing about them is that you can sort of forget your daily rituals. Though I guess that is the point. Next week is a bit busy with different appointments so this week is really about trying to do, well, not much. 

Lunch with mum today, down the road at a fave restaurant and then some shopping. 

Then home, and the pool. 

In-between

Pool

Bonsai ponytail

Stones, turned

Not that I went swimming, it is just a bit too chilly for that, for now; and the little garden features around the place...definitely home. 

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 1.45pm, 4.12pm-4.13pm; 25 August 2017]

Day 236, 24 Aug 2017: Up too early...

Day 236: ...ya galah

Early start, and probably not to be beaten for today. Galahs. One of the things I do miss in Tokyo is all our colourful birds (except for the occasional descendants of the Sri Lankan parrots) and an early shower -- of rain -- this morning had some galahs doing some tight rope walking along the telegraph lines.  

Crowded house

Settled

Flight

Balance

hello, I must be going

Comin' atcha

Your friend? Nah.

They were a bit of a distance away, and through some trees, but it has been a while since I've seen them and it was a joy to watch. Just what the project can (sometimes) be about. 

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 7.13pm-7.17am; 24 August 2017] 

Day 235, 23 Aug 2017: Lotsa blooms...

Day 235: ...all the azaleas

One of my favourite things at my mum's house is the azalea bush out the front. And it just so happens to be in full bloom...along with one or two other little observations.

Streak

In close

Sunlight

Going home

Magenta

Casting a shadow

overlap

Reach out

It is nice to be just sitting around doing very little, for now, until next week at least. It almost feels like...I don't know, is this what a holiday feels like?

[Camera : Lumix TZ-85, 3.36pm-3.43pm; 23 August 2017]