Hazard Reduction in Sydney

Took part in a hazard reduction (backburning) today in the northern suburbs of Sydney.  Very exciting.  Hadn't been to an HR before. 

I was really impressed with the professionalism of the volunteer firefighters.  A lot of planning goes into these HRs ... from community consultation to the technical requirements of hose and hamper.

The seasonal fire cranes ("Elvis") have not arrived yet from faraway places, such as the Olympic fires in Greece and California (where they are still in real action), so we made do with a local "firebird", a Bell 407 for the aerial ignition, which basically involves dropping ping-pong balls of fuel with an ignition spike onto the target fireground.  A job of precision, particularly in rugged country laced with power lines.

This is very dangerous, rugged country, with steep slopes, rocky outcrops and long drops for the hoses down to the creeks.  Apart from the obvious physical danger to the firefighters, the other objective is to secure the safety of the nearby built-up areas of homes and property.

Kitchen Carpet - Final

Where : Turramurra

When : 4-30pm, Thursday 20th August 2009

Weapon : Panasonic DMC-TZ3

The carpet is finished.

At Narrabeen

Where   : Narrabeen

When    : 2-30pm, Wednesday 19th August 2009

Weapon : Panasonic DMC-TZ3

Narrabeen is about 16kms north east of the CBD and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.  Of course this is the South Pacific you can see - on a calm mid Winter's day, although a bit breezy !  23 degrees.

These beaches extend north of Sydney for 30kms, from North Head.  The surf beaches include Manley, Queenscliff, Harbord, Freshwater, Curl Curl, Dee Why, Collaroy, Narrabeen, Warriewood, Mona Vale, Newport, Bilgola, Avalon, Whale and then Palm Beach (where they film the TV soap Home and Away).

Great names aren't they ... some English but a good smattering of dead neat anglicised aboriginal words.

"... and don't you ever come back !"

Where   : Wollombi Road
When    : Not so long ago
Weapon : Panasonic TZ3

Yes, her cries can still be heard across the vineyards.

Anyone who can assist with enquiries, please contact Crime Blusters
here.

At this stage, it looks like a case of trying to scare off unwelcome attention, however the prize may have eluded the pretenders.

The answer is pretty scary .... Stone the Crows !

LFB Queen of Prawns

Where   :: Sydney Fishing Wharf

When    :: 11-30am, Sunday, 9th August 2009

Weapon :: Panasonic DMC-TZ3

Sydney fish markets ... not quite the romantic fishing boat bobbing sea of Laugharne, in fact 12,000 miles away, but no doubt similar vessels, real working fishing boats and prawn trawlers. They dress up well for thew little fishes in their splendid blues and rusts. Here are a few LFBs (Licenced Fishing Boat) trawlers ready to sail tonight, back on Wednesday night, two nights at sea.

It all reminds me of course of the "dab-filled sea where the Arethusa, the Curlew and
the Skylark, Zanzibar, Rhiannon, the Rover, the Cormorant, and the Star of Wales
tilt and ride."

Here we have the Kylie, Koala, Queen of Prawns and Kookaburra ... all getting ready for another trip into the South Pacific looking for snapper, bream, ocean perch, gemfish and flathead on the sandy bottoms.

Hot Pashun'

Where   : Turramurra
When    : 12-30pm, Monday 3rd August 2009
Weapon : Panasonic DMC-TZ3, Leica Lens

This passiflora specimen is taking over a trellis on my garden fence.

You can never have too much passion.

The passion here is triggered by and comes in the form of passiflora cinnabarina.

The passion in this case is actually referring to the Passion of Christ, rather than any damp bits.

In Praise of Fish

Where   :: Sydney Fish Markets, Ultimo, Sydney
When    :: 11-oopm, Tuesday 21st July 2009
Weapon :: Panasonic TZ3

Here we are at the Sydney Fish Markets.

It's more of a tourist attraction now - gone are the days when when big men called Guiseppe, Salvatore, young Joe Musomeci. Vincenzo and da Costi splashed about on tiled floors in their wellies and rubber aprons, chucking dead fish into skips full of ice. Now it's all Ying, Tamara, Xing Nol, Weng Chiang and Yazza, Chan and Xue-Li.  Not that I mind, I don't ...

... but I do miss the water spewing all over the place, the guts in the gutters, shark fins on the line and the fish-heads in the futtocks.

We used to come down here, grab a bag of chips and just wander around. Ah well, some of the magic is still here.  This is a shot of what's left of the local fleet ... the Francesca, Kirrawa, Fat Bottomed Girl, The Jodie Ann, Immacolata, Maybelle 2, Fishfinder, the Zanzibar and FB 109.

Rough Arvo in Narrabeen

Where   : Narrabeen
When    : 3-50pm, 21st May 2009
Weapon : Panasonic TZ3