Brian Haw peace campaigner aged 62 died 18-06-2011 - UK

Tribute to Brian Haw – his chair facing Parliament

Gone but not forgotten: Peace campaigners Eric Levy and Bunny Easton sit in Mr Haw's spot

In 2005, the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act was passed, which restricted the right to protest in designated areas around the Houses of Parliament. How was Haw involved in "serious, organised crime"? It wasn't a crime to begin with. Parliament had to make a "law" to try to stop him, and others like him.

May Westminster Council forever fail in their attempts to move the camp. May Haw never be forgotten.

Refugee Week 2011 19 June to 26 June 2011

Refugee Week 2011 marks the 60th anniversary of the UN Convention for Refugees, which was created after World War II to save the lives of people at risk in their own countries. Throughout the week, people across the UK will celebrate the lives saved by the convention since 1951, and the contributions many of those refugees have made to British society, though a UK-wide programme of arts, cultural, and educational events.

Refugee Week Ceilidh

An evening of dancing and music with all proceeds going to the Refugee Council Day Centre. This event will be held in Clapham UK.

For more information on Refugee Council events in the UK for Refugee Week or our 60th Anniversary visit our website: www.refugeecouncil.org.uk

Fifty years of Amnesty International 1961 - 2011

The famous Amnesty logo of a candle circled by barbed wire was designed by the British artist Diana Redhouse at the request of Peter Benenson, who was one of the founders of Amnesty in 1961. He wanted an image to illustrate an old Chinese proverb: "It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness."

1994 Defenders of Women Created by AI Egypt for an international campaign, the poster reads: Human rights are women's rights.

At the time, Egyptian women were not allowed to travel abroad without the permission of their husbands. At this moment Saudi Arabian women are not allowed to drive and also not allowed to travel without the permission of their husbands.

2000 Picasso for Amnesty International - A keen supporter of human rights, Pablo Picasso donated this design to be used as a general poster by Amnesty International. The lithograph was called "The Prisoner and the Dove" by the artist.

The post-war peace movement adopted Picasso's "Dove of Peace" as an emblem of hope and freedom from fear.

Feral exotic - Pincushion flowers near Redbanks Conservation Park South Australia

These photographs were taken last November and I have only just discovered their origin, common name, and botanical name!

They spring from Eurasia, called Pincushion flowers (Scabiosa atropurpurea) and are related to the teasel family.

We found them growing happily in grass verges as well as at this camping spot. They come in an amazing variety of colours from deep almost black purple through to pale pink and the occasional white flower.

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!