Green Poles: Nature imitates art

The Green Casurina Poles of Russell Wharf

Jackson Pollack's Blue Poles

I have been on the ferry from Russell Island to the other Southern Moreton Bay Islands an average  at least once a week in the last 13 years. That's about 700 times that I have walked past the scraggy mildewed castings that struggle to grow next to the busy ferry wharf. Never thought of them as worth focussing on them.
But, today in the light rain dulled day their luminosity pulled me up abruptly. It was the natural equivalent of one of my favourite paintings of all time, Jackson Pollack's enigmatic 'Blue Poles', a feature of the Australian National Gallery in Canberra.
Once again Henry David Thoreau had it right in  his book Walden :
“It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.” 
―



Posted from Lee Shipley's phone

Worse things happen at sea

It is always sad when a boat, especially a large and fashionable yacht of it's time, dies.
At leat this one that had burnt to the waterline off Redland Bay made it to the salvaging truck before it completely sank. It did not, as so many do, another marine hazard leaking pollution into the Moreton Bay fishing grounds and marine park.
Meanwhile around the other side of the bay, yesterday was a 14' tinny complete with its 30hp Mercury engine locked in the down position, bashing it's heart out against the seawall. The anchor was out but obviously dragged. It was packed to the gunnels with camping equipment and a very nice depthsounder GPS clearly visible. The Police were informed
Again remember that the arthritis don't necessarily know about strange sights like these. Always consider having a chat with the Brisbane Office of Marine Safety on 07 3632 7500. Who knows, you could be saving a life or someone a lot of financial stress.

Posted from Lee Shipley's phone

Little joke could be a big problem

I do get the joke. Someone has turned this sign on the Esplanade near Auster Street, Redland Bay, so it describes the open bay rather than the overhead wires on the street. Haha!
However, strikes by masts that have been accidently left up on trailer yachts is no laughing matter when they blackout suburbs.
I have treated the joke as it should by sending the picture, the location and why it is important to rectify to the Redlands City Council (rcc@redlands.qld.gov.au)who is responsible for the maintenance.
Can I urge anyone who sees a problem with public property that could lead to serious injury or inconvenience  (downed trees, graffiti and potholes) anywhere in Redlands to do this. The Council is very good at redirecting to whoever is really responsible and, usually, response is quick.
If you know who the local councillor is for the area, it helps to cc them too.



Posted from Lee Shipley's phone

Jazz on Macleay

Organised by the Macleay Arts Complex, Michael Mills played "Pure Piano at Sunset" on the foreshore last night.  

People bought their own seats tables food and wine. Michael supplied the calm improvised jazz.

Trained in both classical and jazz, Michael chatted between numbers about his development as an improvisational pianist and composer. He believes that music is a “journey of the heart”, and that improvisation is the purest form of musical expression. He likened his spontaneous improvations to “musical painting”, a sentiment that was felt by the quiet, appreciative audience soaking up his notes.

Michael Mills plays jazz into the dusk of a beautiful autumn day on Macleay

Michael's opening number was the often asked for "Misty"--then he got down to some serious improvs.

The perpetual question of people from the mainland and from the other islands answered by a thoughtful notice by the organisers.  The Arts Complex is at the top end of the island, about 4.6km from ferry terminal in the south.

Mysteriously dead foreshore trees still make for dramatic photos

La grande dame: what would good jazz be without good wine.

To give you something of a taste, here is a previous performance he did of another standard "The Girl from Ipenema"
And finally, you can pay and download his albums from his website

Macleay Island Canoe Classic

Neville Prosser has put together a rather nice video of this year's event. The 'classic' is becoming just that and a credit to the people on Macleay who have made it so.
https://youtu.be/Qo1F9HmpIhU

Posted from Lee Shipley's phone

Things I will miss #3

Frankly I hate getting down and dirty with the local council sponsored Bushcare. It is hard work and usually accompanied by some nasty scratches and bites...but the satisfaction of seeing an area of bushland coming back to life is amazing. Four years ago, the lush marshland atwitter with birds was had to be regularly slashed. Tractors doing the work were always in danger of bogging. Now that is unnecessary and the Council can concentrate it's assets on other problems. What made all the difference were the Council officers taking the time to trainspotting us locals on Russell Island to understand what was necessary to do the change...and throwing a decent sized grant our way to do the hard stuff better done by machinery. This was the second area we had revived along the length of Merson in the last decade. I will miss being part of the next campaigns.

Posted from Lee Shipley's phone

More on the way of the rubbish.

"Reusable" bottle just another part of the trash stream.

Coconut water joins the rubbish stream in Victoria Point.

I continue to pick up other people's discards on my rambles. A particularly rich view is along the heavily trafficked roads and vast spots parks of the middle-class of Victoria Point.  These are areas obsessed with physical self improvement with six gyms and a well equipped YMCA doing well. And the proponderence of empty sports drink bottles littering the streets show it. Self improvement does not mean public improvement.
But at least they are good obedient consumers: the latest US craze on sports drinks, Coconut Water, has hit the rubbish stream.
And, as usual, the product's benefits in aiding your efforts, are overstated. To quote WebMD http://www.m.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/truth-about-coconut-water
"Coconut water is fine for recreational athletes -- but so are plain water or sports drinks. In general, most adults don’t exercise strenuously enough to need sports drinks or coconut water because good, old-fashioned water works just fine."
The carnival grinds on.
PS

Posted from Lee Shipley's phone

Things I will miss #2

Autumn sunset

It is hard not to love the Southern Moreton Bay Islands in the Autumn. The savage rolling rain banks of late Summer are suddenly replaced by a cold azure still sky. the masses of mosquitoes peter out and the constant buzz of the lawn mowers do much the same. On go the jackets and the pleasant smiles: the heat and humidity are gone and the really chilly months are still a long way off. We linger and take the time to watch the stars appear in the dusk.



Posted from Lee Shipley's phone

Things I will miss #1

Brown Sugar's Strawberry and Mango Salad

Ok, you have me. No mango in the picture. It is out of season but tons of all the other ingredients that make an exhausting midday run/walk from the Victoria Point Y, to the Brown Sugar Café, a few streets away on Colburn , worthwhile. Think about it: a little well seasoned chicken on a bed of strawberries, grapes, blueberries, cucumber, avocado, two types of lettuce tossed in a ginger, lime and coriander dressing. A little sparkling mineral water on the side cuts the sharpness. Predominantly outdoor seating, shaded in Summer, warm in the winter sun so you can watch the passing parade. Sigh, these are the kind of gentle pleasures of living in the sub-tropic Redlands.



Posted from Lee Shipley's phone

The Way of Rubbish

Write your own story.

Deep in preparation for walking the famed Pilgrim's Way over 800km from the French-Spanish border to Santiago de Compostela   next month.  But that is not important right now.
What is important is one of life's little mysteries that appeared on my hard three-hour, fully-laden forced march this morning.
Being a compulsive goody-two shoes, I nearly always pick up roadside rubbish on my Redland walks. I have gotten used to the sad fact that so many smokers take the time to crush empty packs before throwing them out of windows. Beer and mixed drink cans are usually uncrushed while energy drinks are quite often discarded half full.
Subway wrappers tend to be numerous but lonely McDonald's tend to be a whole family worth stuffed into a paperbag bursting in the next downpour. I usually score a shopping bag an hour.
Today the monotony was broken by some unused but discarded items. First. an expensive can of Asian beer, then only 20m further on a second, then, to complete, a full unopened pack of condoms. Write your own story.
 



Posted from Lee Shipley's phone

The spirit of 100th ANZAC

Flying high on the myth: what is being remembered?

Rear window sticker

 Buddhas heads and solar lights decorate a house entry
Old milk can recycled as mailbox on manicured lawn
Rotting ship of dreams on rural property
Fear
Charity of the affluent consumer

The true spirit of ANZAC

Get 'em while they're young.

Discarded fake cigarette packet on Redland Bay street. First manufactured by Fyna Foods of Victoria in 1943 as "FAGS" and shaped as a cigarette complete with glowing red tip, it was pressured into a name change to FADS in the 1990s. Manufacture is now outsourced to Columbia...the world's drug capital but the illustrations are non-sexist if decidedly weird with the sugar fans and nose balancing!

Posted from Lee Shipley's phone

Redland Bay warm autumn

The seasonal changes in South East Queensland are subtle. The heat of the day still burns but the wind is less fierce. The late afternoon casts longer, cooler shadows but the light is still harsh. More often than not the water mirrors the fishing boats. The persistent waves of spotty rain make the ground soft and mushrooms abound. Sub-tropical flowers bloom in defiance of European ideas of Autumn.  It is a good time by the water.

Walkabout in Brisbane

Hanging shoes under bridge

Easter holiday.  Brisbane empties.

River Traffic

Mirror windows

Walking

City Hall

The eyes have it at the Roma Street Law Courts

Posted from phone