Tuesday, April 28, 2009

My World; The Phoenician; Broadbeach;


I rather think of The Phoenician on Broadbeach as a building from One Thousand and One Nights. If you click the picture you will see Scheherezade waving from the balcony; (If you are lucky.)
BTW this is not her car.)
click here to fly on a carpet around the world.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Grandparents' Day;

Invitation to Grandparents Day at Somerset International school;


It was my youngest grandchild's first Grandparents' day. It was also Easter, so she posed with the Easter bunny and painted for me a ....


....colourful Easter egg. We had lunch together and shared the goodies the nice, helping ladies have put together in a basket for the visitors.

Somerset College click here
Photos TS

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

My World Tuesday; Roots;

In September, the cows who have spent all summer long up on the alps are coming down to the village into their winter quarters. It is like a folks festival . There are stalls where people can try the different cheeses made on the alps. A competition is held to determine on which alp the best cheese has been produced. There are many different cheeses to try and to judge. Unfortunately the weather gods did not play along with a blue sky and kept he mountains shrouded in gray.

My World Tuesday click here

Video TS.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Poetry; Alfred, Lord Tennyson 1809-1892

Who has not been intrigued and captured by the great Ballad; The Lady of Shallot.
At the same time grumbled about learning the verses and not wanted to hear more about her.


Willows whiten, aspens quiver,
Little breezes dusk and shiver
Through the wave that runs forever
By the island in the river
Flowing down to Camelot.
Overlook a space of flowers.
And the silent isle imbowers
The Lady of Shalott.





The Lady of Shalott" is a Victorian poem or ballad by the English poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–1892). Like his other early poems – "Sir Lancelot and Queen Guinevere" and "Galahad" – the poem recasts Arthurian subject matter loosely based on medieval sources.

Tennyson wrote two versions of the poem, one published in 1833, of twenty stanzas, the other in 1842 of nineteen stanzas. It was loosely based on the Arthurian legend of Elaine of Astolat, as recounted in a thirteenth-century Italian novella entitled Donna di Scalotta (No. lxxxi in the collection Cento Novelle Antiche), with the earlier version being closer to the source material than the later.[1] Tennyson focused on the Lady's "isolation in the tower and her decision to participate in the living world, two subjects not even mentioned in Donna di Scalotta."[2]
Source Wikipedia.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

My World; Ecovillage;


My view onto the pretty Ecovillage.

This village is build to standards friendly to the enviroment. If you would like to read and see more about it click here



Please click the pictures to enlarge.


Interesting and wonderful places around the world; click here


Photos TS.



Tuesday, April 7, 2009

My World; Stingers;



Marine Stingers (Jellyfish)
There is an array of jellyfish (also called 'marine stingers') in Queensland's tropical waters.
Stingers are of particular concern in waters between November to May/June. In Tropical North Queensland, we call this period 'stinger season'




Ellis Beach North Queensland;



The most dangerous species that may be present in North Queensland waters during stinger season is one of the species of Box Jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri). It can cause fatalities.
There are also jellyfish commonly known as Irukandji Jellyfish. This name is used to encompass a group of jellyfish that can cause Irukandji Syndrome. Irukandji Syndrome is a painful reaction to a Irukandji sting and may require hospitalisation.





Vinegar station;


Many beaches have a bottle of household vinegar provided on the beach. If you are stung, pour vinegar on the sting and then seek medical attention.



Look for and observe warning signs. Don't swim when beaches are closed.
During stinger season many beaches in Tropical North Queensland have stinger-resistant enclosures (stinger nets) to help protect swimmers from jellyfish. Stinger nets afford a high degree of protection, however, they are stinger 'resistant' not stinger 'proof'. To avoid Irukandji stings check with the beach lifeguard / lifesaver.
Do not interfere with stinger nets or sit on floating pontoons. During stinger season it is advised to wear protective clothing (wet suit or lycra 'stinger suit') when swimming in the sea (beach and reef). Enter water slowly (Chironex Box Jellyfish will often swim away from people given the opportunity and time).

(The beaches in South East Queensland are free of stingers. )


Source : Health Queensland Gov.
Photos TS.
click her for pictures and stories around the world.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Poetry; Paul Laurence Dunbar;

One of my favourite poets; Paul Laurence Dunbar; 1872-1906;



AS a quiet little seedling lay within its darksome bed,

to itself it fell a-talking, and this is what it said:


"I am not so very robust, but I'll do the best I can;"

And the seedling from that moment its work of life began.


So it pushed a little leaflet up into the light of day,

To examine the surroundings and show the rest the way.


The leaflet liked the prospect, so it called its brother, Stem;
Then two other leaflets heard it, and quickly followed them.


To be sure, the haste and hurry made the seedling sweat and pant;
But almost before it knew it, it found itself a plant.

The sunshine poured upon it and the clouds they gave a shower;
And the little plant kept growing, till it found itself a flower.

Little folks, be like the seedling, always do the best you can;
Every child must share life's labor just as well as every man.

And the sun and showers will help you through the lonesome, struggling hours,
Till you raise to light and beauty virtue's fair, unfading flowers.
Photos Flowers TS.