Swimming lessons

Yesterday I showed the calm before the lessons storm began.  10 mins later and it's all go! 

Since 1954, NSW public primary school students in Years 2 to 6 can attend free swimming lessons every year. They are eligible if they are unable to swim 25m in deep water, unaided, with confidence and style. 

Lessons of 45 minutes duration are held over 10 consecutive school days.  

Calm before the storm

Every child in Australia should learn how to swim, given our relationship with water. Most do.
November is swimming lesson season for school kids all over the country. It's towards the end of the school year, and the weather is warm to hot.

Here at the public pool where I swim laps, Roselands, the onslaught is gathering .... a few calm  moments between morning and afternoon lessons.

(taken on iPhone)

Sandstone restoration, Hyde Park

Sydney City Council is restoring and repairing the sandstone perimeter wall and features of Hyde Park, including stairs, pavements, plinths, and the wall. 

I came across these workers installing caps along the wall. 

Meanwhile, the NSW state government is planning to privatise public works heritage services. These skilled craftspeople have been responsible for much of the restoration of Sydney's unique sandstone buildings and features over recent years, including the Queen Victoria Building, Hyde Park Barracks, Central Station. 

Where will the skilled tradespeople come from in future? They won't be home grown, if the state government has the final say. 

Good night, buses.

Sprinter

From time to time there is discussion about the inappropriateness of the 'four seasons' model in much of Australia. It's certainly not appropriate in Sydney. Spring started in my garden at least a month ago.

Aboriginal people around the country had different seasonal models (see link below).

Dr Tim Entwistle of Sydney's Botanic Gardens proposes a five season model:

Summer: December, January, February, March
Autumn: April, May
Winter: June, July
Sprinter: August, September
Sprummer: October, November

Read more here.

Mosaic

Spring trees

TAFE College building, Mary Ann St Ultimo

Frank Gehry comes to Sydney

renowned American architect, Frank Gehry, is making his presence known in Sydney with this building-in-progress for the University of Technology, Sydney.

Merchant of Venice

Meet maria, who has a shop at Leichhardt called the Merchant of Venice.

She sells beautiful, authentic Venetian-made masks, and costume jewellery.

You can find Maria in the entrance t the Italian Forum, just off Norton St.