Serene sound of silver bells from dawn to dusk - Bellbirds in the Blue Mountains and Cutrock Lisarow - NSW

Photo: Chris Chafer

Bell Miners (Manorina melanophrys) are honey-eaters and live in colonies of a few birds to many hundreds in the wet eucalypt forests of south-eastern Australia.
They are commonly known as bellbirds, for their call is a single metallic “tink” that sound like bells ringing in the forest.
Although reasonably common, colonies are widely separated geographically. Their green colour can make them notoriously difficult to find in tree tops and even more difficult to photograph.

Original drawing by artist Elizabeth Coxen – Bell Miner birds -‘Birds of Australia’ 1848 by John Gould

Many are unaware that John Gould’s artist wife Elizabeth Coxen (1804-1841) produced hundreds of the early drawings from the time of their marriage in 1829 until her untimely death at the age of 37, following the birth of their eighth child.

Our National Health Service is to be reduced to a national insurance provider only; those that can afford to pay extra will receive preferential treatment - UK

The National Health Service was set up in 1948 to provide health care for people all over Britain

• services provided free at the point of use;
• services financed from central taxation;
• everyone eligible for care

Cutrock and Ourimbah - New South Wales

Camellia at Cutrock

Silver moth at Cutrock

Ourimbah Post Office saved by luck!

Tree Dahlia (Dahlia imperialis) at Cutrock

Herbaceous perennial, 3-5m tall. Native to South America

Rio the old tomcat

Cutrock Gums

Our 4WD ‘Molly’ undergoing repairs at Cutrock - New South Wales

Under tarpaulin at Cutrock

Original Disc brake rotor

New Disc brake rotor and brake on front left wheel

New Disc brake rotor on front right wheel

Brake fitted on right of disc brake rotor.

Alan had trouble with the above front wheel hubs when sliding everything back together! After much anxiety, gnashing of teeth,finally found that the new oil seal rings were the problem! Replacing the new with the old oil seal rings resulted in a perfect fit - whew!

Our National Health Service in the UK

Right now, the UK government is pushing through damaging changes to our health service. They claim they are holding a "listening exercise", but on the ground the changes are still being pushed through.

Experts warn that these changes would break the NHS up, handing power to private health companies, and wasting money at a time when funding is already being squeezed.

Picasso and the Tibouchina

Tibouchina lasiandra

Picasso - Young girl sleeping - 1935

Brisbane Water – New South Wales

Kookaburra at Pearl Beach – Brisbane Water

Scaevola aemula

Westringia

Cafe artwork for sale

Brisbane Water taken from President Hill

For thousands of years Brisbane Water was the home of the coastal Guringai (Ku-ring-gai) people. Their country extended from the northern side of Sydney Harbour, along the coast, to the lower reaches of Lake Macquarie.

The Guringai lived upon the natural resources of the area, collecting shellfish and fish, and occasionally catching possums, birds, reptiles and other small animals. Vegetable foods from fern roots and wild figs were used. Hunting implements included single-tipped spears, and multi-pronged fish spears tipped with fish teeth or fish bones.

Spear throwers, boomerang, club, stone hatchets and net bags were found in Guringai tool kits.

A Sunday morning walk at Cutrock Lisarow - New South Wales

Cutrock

Trigger plant

Eucalyptus in flower

Autumn fungus

Bridget the labrador

Morning shadows

01-05-11 - May Day celebrated by workers around the world

Sydney – Hyde Park - Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union at start of the march!

London – Trafalgar Square gathering at end of May Day rally!

Istanbul – Taksim Square - May Day rally!