Looking for Santa

Sometimes the absurdity of scanning the sky watching for a bloke in red wooly underwear flying along behind a bunch of reindeer gets to me.

I know Santa doesn't come in the daylight, but if he did, wouldn't he be even the slightest bit tempted to stop at Dicky Beach for a bit of a dip on the way through?

Dicky Beach


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Waiting for Christmas Cards

Even without junk mail the box will have plenty of things to sift through as Christmas Card season gets into full swing.

I should have been at the night markets this evening, taking lots of interesting shots, but in typical style for this time of the year, visitors are at influx level, cramping my style!

Dicky Beach
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Waiting for the crowds

Empty chairs at a beach house in Dicky Beach enjoying the solitude while they can.  I suspect that after the weekend they will have no rest as holiday makers start to make their presence well and truly felt.

Only half a dozen shopping days till Christmas you know.

Dicky Beach
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Seven More Sleeps

There are but seven more sleeps till Santa comes again, but I wonder if his visitation is a bit precarious this year.  He seemed to be having such a seriously good time at the beach that its hard to imagine how he'll tear himself away for a night of hard slog, lugging heavy presents through the snow.

Sorry kiddies, I'm just thinking out loud!

Moffat Beach
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This queue for doggie treats.

No prizes for the photographer, with his own shadow in the way, but the photo does provide a snapshot of the way we live, our national dress and for those currently starting to feel the chill in the northern hemisphere, please note that it was just after six am, and already starting to get a bit too warm to be out without a hat.

Moffat Beach
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Santa

The tenth Moffat Beach Dog Christmas Party was held on the weekend, complete with pictures with Santa, and personalised tennis balls for all the "kids".

Moffat is an off-leash beach between 4:00pm and 8:00am every day, and I doubt that one would find a more congenial bunch of dogs and owners anywhere else on the planet.

All funds raised at the party went to support the Sippy Downs Animal Refuge, and without counting heads, I can happily report that there were scores of attendees!  It's enough fun to make me want a full time dog - but for now the grand-puppy will have to do!

Moffat Beach

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Finding a parking spot

Parking is at a premium on the beach as well when there's a surf carnival happening.

Dicky Beach
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Textures

Most elements in this photograph provide some textural connection to the seaside.  The greying of the timbers the rust streaks near the bolts, the sun hoods of the buildings all combine to prod some distant memory and elicit beach-side memory responses.   At this time of year however, the silky blue sky is the only thing of interest to they who have their holiday bags packed ready to invade us.

Checking out the forecast, I suspect they may be in luck, after a few showers, the coming weeks promise quite  a lot of clear blue in the sky.   I hope they bring their sunscreen.

Kings Beach

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Walking a crooked mile

I wonder if it's difficult to build things without stringline or plumb, or whether the guys working on the job find it liberating.

I suspect it's harder than it looks.

Kings Beach

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Looking up

The pandanus is one of my favourite plants, from any angle.

Kings Beach
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Green is a Christmas colour too.

It's amazing how easy it is for some to demonstrate flair and ingenuity with simple everyday problems.   Here, by cutting fence palings on an angle, the fence ends up with a little interest in it that sets it apart from all the other horizontal ones in the street, and it's painted green, so that once a year it can look festive!

Dicky Beach

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Spot the holiday flat

I suspect that one of these apartments is permanently occupied by its owner and the other is kept for weekends and holidays.   Can you guess which is which?

Kings Beach

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The crowds are building

On any beach, the crowds are starting to arrive.   School is over for some already, and by next week they'll all be upon us, the holiday makers that is.

Take heart though, there is still some space available, but be quick.

Bulcock Beach

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Christmas is getting closer...

I think the thing I like most of all about Ray and Helen's Christmas lights is not the collection of nodding reindeer, nor the helicopter bearing Santa Clause, but that their house is in the bush, well away from prying eyes, or even curious passers-by, so the lights are for their own enjoyment, not in any way to show off to the passing crowd.

We know that Christmas is on it's way when Ray turns on the lights.

Peregian
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Christmas is Coming!

Not my best work, but count the hints that Christmas will soon be upon us:

1) There's a delivery truck ready to cart stuff to your house!
2) The sky is clear and cloudless, and will be that way for days on end until a storm builds in the South West, and then it will be clear and cloudless again
3) There is a Sale on.  (Remember the days when things were sold at full retail price before Christmas?)
4) And this is the clincher: MANGOES!  Yes, the mango stands are starting to appear, along with the illicit-looking trucks with cases in the back of them and we need no other sign.  Mangoes and Christmas go together like, well, like mangoes and prawns.

Kawana.



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Christmas is coming

Christmas is coming, and in the absence of mistletoe, or a santa suit, anything red is your friend.

What is that about?

Flower
Dicky Beach

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Mystery Object

Perhaps one of the Turtle Protection volunteers will log on and enlighten us.

I think it's a protection cage for a turtle's nest.  Along the length of the coast, volunteers stake out the beaches at night, watching for turtles laying in the dunes, recording and protecting their eggs as they do so and monitoring the health of the clutch.

Turtles have a terrible time in our populated areas, often falling prey to foxes and any number of human interferences.

I think this cage is marking a nest.  If so I have concerns for it as it is barely above the high tide mark and certainly will be inundated if a storm arrives before the hatchlings appear.

Thanks Turtle Watch people, for the work you do and in advance for enlightening us!

Moffat Beach.

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Walking on the moon

Is this what it looked like?

Early morning, and yesterday's footprints have not washed away by the tide, but they will.

Moffat Beach

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Sunrise over Tooway - 2

No, I didn't get up two days in a row, I just took a second shot yesterday!

Amazingly the golden glow lasts just a few seconds, but when it's there it's a joy to be alive!

Tooway Creek

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Sunrise over Tooway

It's just after sunrise, well before five a.m. and the small fluffy grand-puppy and I have the beach to ourselves!  

I suspect that I can be forgiven for not being here often at this time, but when I do make the effort I often can't believe the sheer beauty of the light!

And all those sleeping wives, daughters and grand-children missed it!

Tooway Creek

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