The benefits of retirement

It's still hot in Sydney

Summer is having its last hurrah, but the pool is deserted in the middle of the day...just a few conscientious lappers come and go. It's heavenly.

Into the woods

We walked home through the local park tonight. Football training was underway under the lights. It cast a glow through the avenue of oaks.

Why? Market Street

After the theatre

Ferries at dusk

Romance

Sunset reflection

1 boat, 2 boats, 3 boats. Circular Quay

Jet boating preparation

From Circular Quay Station tonight

Leichhardt Fire Station

Harbour Bridge and Luna Park at dusk

Wharf Theatre, Walsh bay

Go to a performance of Sydney Theatre Company at the Wharf Theatre at Walsh Bay, stroll along to the bar and restaurant at the end, and here's the view.

Terrific adaptive re-use of historic finger wharves.

Shark Beach, Nielsen Park

One last look at this beautiful beach on Sydney Harbour

The net

Nielsen Park's beach may be called Shark Beach, but there's no need to worry about having a swim - it's netted during the summer months. Th floor of the enclosure. e bottom of the net sits on the sandy

Nielsen Park Cafe and Restaurant.

The cafe/ restaurant at Nielsen Park dates from 1914.

The verandah is a particularly pleasant spot to sip coffee, and watch dolphins travelling up the harbour.

Inside there's a lovely dining area as well.

Website here.

Floating

This woman was having the best time floating around in the swimming enclosure at Nielsen Park.

Nielsen Park - looking west

Another view from the water at the swimming enclosure at Shark Beach, Nielsen Park, Vaucluse

View from the water, Nielsen Park

Floating, looking back at the cafe/restaurant at Nielsen Park.

Shark Beach, Nielsen Park, Vaucluse

Continuing the Nielsen Park Series. See yesterday and the day before. Trees are also a feature of this lovely setting. 

Shark beach, Nielsen Park, Vaucluse

Continuing a series started yesterday from Nielsen Park. This is one of my favourite Sydney harbour pools (though it is hard to choose!)

The beach is called Shark Beach, but no need to worry, it's protected by a shark net in the summer months.

Read more here. 

Shark Beach, Nielsen Park, Vaucluse

Feel like a dip? Come on in, the water's great at Nielsen Park, Vaucluse. This is one of my favourite Sydney harbour pools (though it is hard to choose!)

The beach is called Shark Beach, but no need to worry, it's protected by a shark net in the summer months.

Read more here. 

Millers Point from Observatory Hill

Some of the houses in this area are amongst the oldest in Sydney. They have been owned by the government as public housing, but, controversially, the government has evicted long term residents and is selling the properties. People are being rehoused elsewhere. What is clear though, is that what were once 'slums" are now highly desirable, multi-million dollar properties, and the poor are no longer welcome.....

NB - I do not know whether the houses in this photo are amongst those being sold.

View north from the Museum of Contemporary Art

Overseas Passenger Terminal, Circular Quay

Cruise ships are getting larger and larger. They are regular visitors to Sydney, often only staying a day - long enough for people to have a wander around the circular Quay area, maybe walk across the Harbour Bridge and to the Opera House, and say they have "done Sydney".

Circular Quay from the Museum of Contemporary Art

Observatory Hill looking towards Barangaroo

Sydney Observatory, Observatory Hill

And another one pivots on a sixpence!

...and narrowly misses the Opera House...yet again!

Circular Quay

Taken from the northern foyer of the Concert Hall at Sydney Opera House, looking back a Circular Quay.

Cliffs, Little Bay

Little Bay cliffs

Cliff rock platform Little Bay

Ring of rocks pool, Little Bay

This beach was a private beach for the people who used to work at the old "Coast Hospital" - Prince Henry's - above. This pool was constructed to provide nurses with a safe place to bathe. Read more here.

Little Bay swimming

"Tied to Tide", Pirrama Park, Pyrmont

This is an artwork located in Pirrama Park at Pyrmont. The artists are Jennifer Turpin and Michaelie Crawford.

This is what they say:

"The winds and waters of Sydney Harbour choreograph a lively performance of maverick planks and renegade ladders between the boardwalk and the seawall at Pyrmont Point Park.

Tied To Tide is a kinetic artwork activated by the natural forces of tide, wave and wind. Hinged to the boardwalk, floating planks and airborne ladders combine with the ever-changing elements to perform an aquatic dance on the harbour. Conceptually, the artwork adopts and transforms the maritime language of the site’s timber boardwalk and access ladders. Free of their prosaic constraints, they play with rather than stand against nature. The ordinary becomes the extraordinary as timber boards hover over the water balancing tilting ladders like unwieldy acrobats in a harbourside circus.

Connected by a float to the water, the timber beams translate the eternal return of the tides. High tide lowers the beams whilst low tide raises them skyward. They bob gently on calm waters and dance staccato in a choppy swell. The wash of passing boats unwittingly choreographs sequences of frenzied motion. 

Vibrant maritime-orange ladders pivot in a seemingly impossible balance at the end of timber beams. They offer a metaphor for journey, collaborating with the elements to inspire a reverie of the imagination. A breeze gently sways them whereas wild gusts will spin them through 360 degrees.

Tied to Tide elucidates the complexities of nature through its simple engineering. Its interconnected axis create a myriad of responses to the action of tide, wave and wind. It is an installation in a constant state of flux, endlessly transforming itself with the elemental forces of Sydney Harbour."

Website

Timbers

These timbers have been removed from an old flour mill at Lewisham West which is being adapted as an apartment building. From the look of them they are iron bark, which are incredibly hard. We had them in the building I used to work in.

Anzac bridge and boat, Blackwattle Bay

Seated Woman II

A sculpture in Blackburn Gardens, Point Piper. Seated Woman II by Sam Harrison was unveiled 14 March 2013. It was commissioned by Woollahra Council as part of the Women in Woollahra project, which recognises and celebrates the contribution of women.

Blackburn Gardens, Point Piper

Between the road and Murray Rose Pool, behind the Woollahra Council building and public library is the beautifully restored heritage garden called Blackburn Gardens.

Red leaf

Before being renamed Murray Rose Pool (see previous post), this harbour pool at Seven Shillings Beach was called Redleaf. Perhaps I found the red leaf?

Splash!

It's fun to jump from the boardwalk at Murray Rose Pool, Seven Shillings Beach.

Tightass Tuesdays at Bondi