Boeing 737-8FE – VH-VOK Operated by Virgin Australia
We made a short visit to the viewing area at Perth Airport, on our way back home, after travelling up the coast for lunch. The viewing area is ideally placed for capturing photos of planes as they take off. Unfortunately that placement isn’t so good for incoming flights as they slow down and taxi away before coming anywhere near the end of the runway. But I guess you can’t have everything.
Airbus A330-243 – VH-XFE. Operated by Virgin Australia. Believed to be en-route to Melbourne.Airbus A380-861 – A6-EET Operated by Emirates – Final approach to Perth Airport
Some incoming flights do become visible towards the end of the runway, especially if they are big. An Airbus 380 is big, and it uses more of the runway than most other planes.
Airbus A380-861 – A6-EET Operated by Emirates
The A380 visits Perth on a, once, daily basis.
Boeing 777 – 9V-SQL Operated by Singapore Airlines
It’s a shame most other airports don’t embrace the publics enjoyment for aircraft observation in the same way as Perth has done. As a boy I had visited Gatwick to watch the planes. Had a fabulous time watching noisy Vickers VC10s, Hawker Siddley Tridents, BAC One-Elevens and even a Lockheed Constellation.
That last just goes to show how old I am. The point is back then we were encouraged to go and watch. Now, at most airports you can only see aircraft if you are departure side of security and if you are stopped anywhere around an airport perimeter or on top of a multi-story car park you are likely to be moved on rapidly.
So, that just leaves air shows and, with this years disaster at Shoreham, even they are under threat.
I’d just like to point out that not every member of the public is a ground-to-air rocket wielding lunatic.
If you were in the Perth, WA vicinity it would have been visible this evening from around 8:43 PM, for around 6 minutes. According to NASA the ISS would track across the sky, appearing 10° above NW. Reaching a maximum height of 84° before disappearing 11° above SE.
Of course, all of the above assumed a clear sky.
Had you been in the Perth area today you would be aware that today has been a scorcher, with clear blue skies, all day.
So all looked set fair for a great evening for celestial viewing.
Imagine my thoughts when I stepped outside at 20:30 to see the skies obscured by broken clouds.This is typical of my luck regarding all celestial events. Blood moon scheduled to make an appearance, I go to the top of Portsdown Hill but its cloudy. The Perseids meteor shower makes an appearance. Not in any sky that I have access to.
Still, ever hopeful, I settled in to see if my luck had improved. Gerry, Steve and Denise all came out to join me and after a couple of false sightings, the ISS appeared in the sky. Tracking from the far corner of the garden, as expected, and passing almost directly overhead. The bright “star” passed rapidly across the sky, disappearing from time to time behind the clouds. It couldn’t be mistaken for anything else, traversing as it did in an apparent straight line.
We all waved to Tim Peake, the British astronaut, wishing him Merry Christmas. Did you see us Tim ?We commented on what a special achievement the ISS is and that Tim has joined a very unique group of people. It s a very small group that have actually travelled to outer space and Tim has also joined an even more select group, those that have spent Christmas in space.
So we wish the folks up on the ISS all the very best, good luck with their missions and of course wish them safe return.
As has been posted elsewhere on the interweb and by fellow bloggers Boxing Day is typically a day when the leftovers from Christmas dinner get consumed.
Steve suggested, that we avoid the leftover trap, and make Boxing Day a seafood day. This idea was grasped wholeheartedly by all. So, on Christmas Eve Eve we headed down to Curullis Seafood Market to see what they had on offer.
With quite a large selection of fresh and cooked seafoods we were spoilt for choice. However, twenty or thirty minutes later we were away with our bags of treasure. Half a kilo of scallops, half a kilo of green prawns, six large salmon fillets and two trays of oysters.
We deposited the seafood into the car and made a commando raid on the nearby bottle shop . Where we picked up a few supplies to see us through the next few days. A couple of cartons of Millers Chill
Millers Chill
for the girls. Some One Fifty Lashes
One Fifty Lashes
for the boys. A couple of bottles of Shiraz and some sparkling wine for general consumption.
On Boxing Day the plan was to not have one big blow out but to just have a several snack like meals.
Herb & Lemon Roasted Salmon on a Bed of Roasted Potatoes
First up was the salmon, or rather I should say “Herb & Lemon Roasted Salmon on a Bed of Roasted Potatoes” This was lunch and our only formal meal of the day. Basically this dish comprises salmon fillets that have been infused with a lemon/herb marinade. Scalloped potatoes, that are pre roasted, to which the marinated salmon is added. The salmon is then roasted. The spinach and pine nuts are then sauteed. The cooked ingredients are then layered on plates, spinach first then the roast potatoes, and topped off with the salmon.
After a suitable period, to allow our food to digest, we retired to the pool as the air temperature was rising.
A couple of hours later and suitably refreshed, it was time for a light snack. Step forward the oysters, which were magically transformed into Oysters Kilpatrick
If the idea of raw oysters, or nude as I saw them described recently, do not appeal to you, then perhaps this is the recipe that may entice you to try. Very simple to prepare, the oysters are arranged on a bed of sea salt, cubed bacon and Worcester Sauce are added and the oysters grilled for five minutes or so until the bacon is crisped. Very tasty and the Worcester Sauce infused liquor certainly has a bite. These were accompanied by well chilled beers although, perhaps, we should have washed oysters down with a sparkling wine. I should point out that there are many different variations on this recipe and we ourselves were discussing the possible alternatives. Including chilli, horseradish, paprika, cheese, the options are endless.
As the afternoon ran into the evening our thoughts turned back to food and the prawns.And, no, they didn’t get thrown on the Barbie.
OK, I know it says barbecue but the prawns were sautéed. It seemed a waste to fire up the barbecue when the prawns were only going to take a couple of minutes to cook.
A marinade is made with olive oil, lime juice, lime leaves, lemon grass and fish sauce. This is added to the prawns and they are left to infuse.
The mayonnaise is created using fresh root ginger, coriander and honey all added to whole egg mayonnaise.
Once the prawns are marinated they are sauteed (barbecued) until cooked. Served in a bowl close to the mayonnaise. This dish was enjoyed so much, especially the mayo, of which there was quite a bit remaining after the prawns had disappeared, that I was dispatched to go and saute the scallops.
I can’t remember what we had planned for the scallops. I guess that recipe will have to wait for another day.
So, no prawns on the barbie, which will no doubt disappoint those of our UK friends and family who think that Ozzie cuisine comprises nothing more than tossing prawns and snaggers onto a red-hot barbecue.
I’d like to think that our Boxing Day seafood fest was the healthy option. I suspect, however, that the oils used to roast, saute and marinade have pretty much negated the healthier aspects of seafood.
Do I care ? Am I bothered ?
Nah !!
I do, however, hope you all enjoyed your Boxing Day.
Out of the blue, a phone call from our grandson, and an offer of an evening trip up the Swan River, on Christmas Eve. Being our wedding anniversary, what better way to round off the day. Few details were provided other than that we needed to be present at the East Street Jetty for around 19:00.
Swan River – View upstream from East Street Jetty – Fremantle WA
The trip was being provided by my grandsons partner who runs a charter business.
Arriving at the jetty, we soon found other folks, similarly awaiting the arrival of a boat.
While we waited Steve and I started to scout out the area as a possible fishing venue, having already noted the presence of several anglers. After chatting with one guy, who was packing up, we have added the jetty to our list . Easy access with parking very close by and straight into deep water.
It wasn’t long before our transport appeared upstream and was tied alongside ready for boarding.
MV Cygnus – Approaching East Street Jetty, Fremantle, WA
MV Cygnus is a fully licensed 53′ Catamaran and is apparently capable of catering for up to 60 people. I think that might be a tight squeeze, however we weren’t that many so had room to meander.
Posh Pads – Swan River, opposite East Street Jetty, Fremantle, WA
Shortly after boarding it was time for a little something to moisten dry throats. Make the most of the next photo. It features yours truly which is a rare occurrence as it’s not often that I step in front of a lens.
Gerry and I – Swan River Cruise, WA
By 19:15 we were underway, heading up river and it was time to point the lens outside of the boat. Having made a similar daytime trip, several years ago, we knew we would see some very nice properties along the river banks. At least while the sun was still up. However, an evening trip was going to be somewhat different.
Fremantle Dinosaurs !!
These cranes, silhouetted by the setting sun, look somewhat like prehistoric creatures heading to the river to drink.
Water Police Base – Fremantle, WA
My grandson is a member of the Water Police. This picture shows some of their toys. Am I jealous ? , go on, ask me.
Down here in Oz it gets dark very quickly so photography on a moving platform becomes something of a challenge. Here are some “snaps” taken once darkness had arrived.
At some point we tied up to a buoy, so that the hot food could be cooked on the huge BBQ at the stern. We sat swinging at the whims of the river currents and the wind, just offshore from Mosmans Restaurant.
The crew laid out quite a spread, with steaks, chicken drummies and prawns cooked on the BBQ, supplemented with a variety of salads and roast vegetables followed by fresh fruits and cheeses.
Food consumed, we were then of further up river until the city came into view. Time for some more snaps but, several beers in, I wasn’t really up for the challenge.
Blame it on the Little Creatures – That’s my excuse, not sure what theirs is.
Yes, that’s twice I’ve been in front of the lens on one single occasion.
Here is the best of a bad lot …..
Perth City Skyline – Viewed from the Swan River
It would have been nice to have cruised right up into the city, but that was as close as we got. Still looks good though.
There was a disco on board and we did get up to dance, a bit. Well that’s perhaps a very loose description of the gyrations I was making. I am pleased to say that there are no photos of that brief interlude.
All too soon we were heading back to the East Street Jetty. Just a short distance, from the jetty, is the Left Bank, bar and restaurant.
This place, The Left Bank, was having a Xmas Eve party. It started at Noon and was going on till 2 am . From the jetty we could see that they had swarms of hi-viz jacketed security outside. We could hear it from the river as we cruised by. Call me an old fart, but any pub that requires that level of security is not a place I would want to frequent. Having said that we did have a nice early evening meal there a few years back.
So there you have it, our trip up the swanny.
There are many interpretations of the phrase “up the swanny”, including ballsed up, stuck in the mud, tits up, up shit creek, up the creek without a paddle and so forth.
None of these are applicable. We had a great time and our thanks go to Kate and her crew for a super evening.
This is only my opinion, but, The BEST, THE VERY BEST, fruit cakes ever were made by my mum and dad. Of course I may be a little biased. My dad’s boozy Christmas cakes were second to none. What with the fruit being marinated in spirits prior to mixing and baking. Then the cake being fed alcohol regularly prior to being iced and decorated.
Finally, served up with home made brandy butter.
Of course, if anyone would like to try and change my perception, I am willing to sample any challengers. Just send your contender to …. No, I am just kidding.
This Australian Celebration Cake is not in the same league as Mum and Dads yummy cakes and it really should not be compared with other typical Christmas fruit cakes.
But, it is so good. Packed as it is with fruit and nuts. Just look at the ingredients list…. glacé fruit, sultanas, pineapples, apricots, dates, cherries, pears all steeped in brandy and mixed with cashew, brazil and almonds.
There is barely enough room left for the traditional cake mix i.e. the mortar required to bind all that goodness together.
Rest assured it is there but it is just that, mortar.
A lot of commercially made cakes are all cake and little fruit.
I have only been down here in Oz for just over a month but we are half way through our third cake.
From their website, the Yummy Kitchen folks claim that this cake is available pretty much worldwide and, via Tesco in the UK.
My recommendation is, give it a try. Even if you don’t like traditional fruit cakes, this may be the one for you.
Please excuse the play on words. It may be Christmas but, down here in Oz, it is the height of summer, in fact Monday was the longest day. Being the longest day may have a different meaning for the various folks involved in fighting the bush fires raging across the country. With temperatures up in the mid to high thirties these folks will be sweltering dressed in their safety gear while they fight to close down these fires.
Earlier yesterday (Monday) afternoon, we had noticed that there was a lot of aerial activity and had seen helicopters and fire fighting (air attack) planes buzzing across the sky.
Planes similar to the following..
Attack Aircraft (Air Tractor AT-802A)
It transpires they were probably headed for a bushfire which started on Brentwood Road in Wattle Grove area of Kenwick, a Perth suburb, just 10 kilometres (6 miles) away from where we are.
My granddaughter, returning from the gym, had asked if we had seen the smoke while we were out earlier. Apparently, this local bushfire was just a short distance away from where her friend lives.
The following picture shows the plume of smoke visible from the front doorstep.
Smoke Plume – Bushfire – Brentwood Road, Kenwick, Perth WA
Later in the afternoon, while I was typing this post we became aware of a fresh plume of smoke, this time in the exact opposite direction from the original fire.
Smoke Plume – Bushfire – Near Waterperry Drive, Perth WA.
This fire was near Waterperry Drive just under 4 kilometers (2.4 miles) away.
The wind was blowing the smoke directly over our heads and down into the garden along with ash from the fire. As soon as we noticed the ash, Steve had the air-con turned off. Apparently fires can be transferred by hot embers being sucked into the air-con and entering the roof space.
First of the Water Bomber Helicopters. – Bushfire – Near Waterperry Drive, Perth WA. (Airline: McDermott Aviation Aircraft: Bell 214B-1)
Soon there were more aircraft in the skies overhead. A helicopter from Channel 7 News was sat up high, make slow circuits round the site of the fire. This was then joined by a small biplane, assumed to be a scout for the emergency services. Through the tree lines I saw at least two of the “attack” aircraft heading into the fire zone. Shortly after, two helicopters entered the fray.
Helicopters – Bushfire – Near Waterperry Drive, Perth WA.
These aircraft are Bell 214B-1 operated by McDermot Aviation. They carry water in “the ‘Tsunami” Belly Tank” slung between the skids. You can also see the “elephants trunk” hanging below, which they can dip in any nearby water source and use to refill the tank.
The two choppers were making regular circuits, flying off to refill, then returning to douse the fire. Out of site from my viewing point I assume there were many fire fighters active on the ground. I could hear sirens for the emergency service vehicles from my location.
Later in the evening you wouldn’t have known that there had been a fire. The skies were totally clear of any smoke from either of the bush-fires, although they were still the subject of active alerts.
Thankfully, according to the local news, nobody was harmed in either incident. Though, some property was lost to the fires.
This is, apparently, the closest fire to their home that my daughter and her husband have experienced. Lets hope there are no more but, with the temperatures set to rise in the next two days, we won’t be holding our breath.
There is also a suspicion that at least one of these fires was started deliberately. Given the monetary cost, and the potential risk to human life, should either case be found to be arson then the full weight of the legal system should be brought to bear.
I am addicted to dash cam videos so this is appropriate. “Merry Christmas everyone” … Please visit Dash Cam Owners Australia Facebook and Dash Cam Owners Australia YouTube for more videos.
Just a guess but I assume this general reduction in nutritional content is also reflected in the flavour. I have been saying for years that many of the salad vegetables, such as cucumber, celery, radish etc. etc. have less flavour. I had assumed it was due to the vegetables being forced so that we can have them out of season. I was brought up on home grown vegetables and fruit and the passing of the milkmans horse drawn cart was an opportunity not to be missed. All that dung dropped in the road, was collected by us kids, and was distributed between the vegetable patch and the rose beds.
MCNBC Full Report Nutritional value of fruits, veggies is dwindling!
Conventionally grown produce isn’t as healthful as it was 30 years ago and it’s only getting worse. The decline in nutritional value in fruits and vegetables was first reported more than 10 years ago by English researcher Anne-Marie Mayer, PhD, who looked at the dwindling mineral concentrations of 20 UK-based crops from the 1930s to the 1980s.
Biochemical Institute at the University of Texas led a team that analyzed 43 fruits and vegetables from 1950 to 1999 and reported reductions in vitamins, minerals, and protein. Using USDA data, he found that broccoli had 130 mg of calcium in 1950. Today that number is only 48 mg.
Selective breeding and synthetic fertilizers decrease the ability of produce to synthesize nutrients or absorb them from the soil. Another reason to grow your own ‘Heirloom’ garden and harvest your lovingly cared for vegetables.
WrAnTz 