Snowflakes and Photos

[margaret_r]

Well, I turned into a bit of a snowflake with the snowflake_challenge  and melted, maybe next year I'll try again with a bit more success! Some of the Challenges just weren't for me though, but then others were quite interesting.


This lot is a bit of a departure from the normal mass of native birds and animals because when family managed to get here for Christmas we did a couple of day trips out and, of course, I photographed the experience.

So, first up we did a tour of the Old Adelaide Goal. It was built in 1841 and ceased operation in 1988, now it's a museum and there are ghost tours because apparently there are a lot of ghosts that hang about in the corridors and cells. And no, that's not a ghost going out for a breath of fresh air.



A view between the inner and outer wall, where most executed prisoners were buried, and the execution tower.



Barbed wire

         

And a typical prison cell



And on to something a bit more cheerful, I mean we found the prison very interesting but there's a limit to the amount of interesting photos you can take of prison cells etc.

Australia seems to have this thing about big things. We have The Big Pineapple, The Big Boxing Crocodile at a place called Humpty Doo  (don't you just love it!) and The Big Banana amongst a plethora of other 'big' attractions in just about every part of the country. Here we have:

The Big Rocking Horse



It includes toy factory that makes all kinds of wonderful wooden toys and other touristy stuff. That's my son-in-law just about to throw my oldest grandson from the horse's back. You can go right up to the top of the horse's head.

There's also a small animal park attached with some quite interesting animals in it.

Goats

     

The Australian white ibis, which also goes by the unflattering nickname of 'bin chicken' for its propensity to act like an overgrown seagull and scrounge around rubbish bins for food, even taking food right out of your hand, which can tend to be a bit dangerous (to you, not them) as they are not small birds. Oh, and in large groups they smell terribly. But I think they look quite impressive.



This was a chick following its mother with great determination and mum was getting a bit fed up I suspect.



A couple in flight
   

There was a male peacock in all his glory

  
 
and a female with her babies






The little ones were gorgeous







Last but not least, there were kangaroos



My son feeding one and giving it some love.






I'll leave you with the moon through our leylandii tree and a pink sunset cloud





And Misty cat, who got so tattered and matted that she had to have a complete make over, e.g. completely shaved apart from her tail and legs so that now she looks quite like she is wearing legwarmers and a rather strange hat.



Her pre-shaved look cuddling with Ari

Comments

[smallhobbit]

Great photos. I think the ibis are lovely to look at from a safe distance :)

[margaret_r]

Glad you like the photos. They are quite attractive birds, just have some rather unsavoury habits*g*

[moth2fic]

I loved that picspam!! There might be a limit to how many photos you can take of prison cells but they were all fascinating. I also loved the ibis because I have based a sentient bird in my WIP on the ibis. Also, although I have seen plenty of peacocks, I have never seen chicks or at least not in close-up! And I'm glad I persuaded you to share the picture of Misty with her new haircut!

[margaret_r]

The prison itself was fascinating and I did take a lot of photos but wasn't sure how interesting they would be without a sort of history to them. Hope your ibis isn't as greedy as the ones we have!

I was delighted that there were baby peacocks, I've never seen any before either and they were so cute. Misty's hair is starting to grow again:)

[dreamersdare]

I think that's one of the joys of Snowflake. If you're a completionist, you can battle your way through it, but if there's challenges that just don't appeal, you can ignore them.

That picture of the moon kinda makes me want to write werewolf fic; it's beautiful, but I am most excited by the pictures of kangaroos. Because kangaroos. Kangaroos are awesome (although, nowadays they always make me think of Mira's Grant's Newsflesh books, because prior to reading those, I had never considered the possibility of zombie kangaroos, and now I can't not!)

[margaret_r]

Kangaroos really are awesome and there are so many varieties! However, as far as I know there are no zombie kangaroos XD So, after reading your comment I, of course, had to dash off and look up Newsflesh books and, my, they do look interesting. Now the concept of a zombie kangaroo, or koala even, has taken hold. A zombie koala would certainly give credence to the stories of our fabulous drop bears.

But I digress. I did miss more than I did of the Snowflake Challenge, but the beauty of it is that you can take it or leave it. And yes, the moon picture is rather evocative of werewolves, I feel maybe a fic should be in there somewhere.

[dreamersdare]

...a fic about werewolves and zombie koalas?

:D

[margaret_r]

LOL that would be a thing of amazement, I'd have to give it some thought*g*

In the meantime perhaps this could be inspirational?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpueTOCRrxc

[dreamersdare]

Bwahahaha.

I mean, I am assuming public information video, because as far as I can work out Australia is the world set onto hardcore survival mode, and Australians are just badasses.

:D

[margaret_r]

Definitely badasses here, we have to be with all the life-threatening species out to get us - deadliest snakes and spiders in the world, marauding sharks and of course the ubiquitous drop bear of the video; the photographer risked their lives to get that footage out to the public ...

*snigger turning into hilarious laughter*

[ci5mates]

What great picspam! My youngest was a tour guide at the jail for a short while, she had some very interesting stories to tell and my eldest acquired the jail for a tv show film location and she said locking up at the end of the night was, well... interesting and spooky.

I enjoyed your photos immensely even thought I have visited the jail and live just down the road from the gigantic rocking horse *g* I must get there one day for a look see!

Amazing photos as usual and how sweet to see Misty and Ari snuggling up together at the end.

[margaret_r]

The jail does have a very spooky feel to it, it's a bit like the walls have absorbed the despair that must have existed there - yes, I know, very fanciful! But I can imagine how much more that would be at night. Daughter did say she felt very chilled when she walked into the condemned cell where the prisoners were kept before execution. It's just a very sad place really.

What! You've not been to The Big Rocking Horse! You'll have to go;) It's really a place more for kids but the animals in the little 'zoo' are nice.

Glad you like the photos. Misty and Ari had a row last night, Ari walked all over her when she was asleep on the dog bed and Misty was not impressed, or forgiving. She hissed at her for the rest of the evening*g*

[fionaglass]

I've never seen a baby peacock/peahen before - how gorgeous are they?! Love the old prison too although it looks like a very sad place. I can well imagine it being haunted...

[margaret_r]

The prison has a very sad atmosphere and there are a lot of ghost stories associated with it, so many a book has been written. The babies were so sweet, all gathered dutifully around mum, we were delighted to see them.

[fionaglass]

I love atmospheric places like that although some can be very sad. I remember visiting a Cold War nuclear bunker in Cheshire and finding it quite upsetting...

[margaret_r]

Yeah, some places are like that, the history gets to you. For me it was Dachau Concentration Camp, the aura there is profound and so sad.

[fionaglass]

I take my hat off to you for visiting one of the concentration camps - I honestly think it would be beyond me. I've read that not even the birds sing at Auschwitz...

[kat_lair]

Firstly, thank you for the lovely birthday card. I have done no work today and only like 1h yesterday (virtual open day thing that couldn't be skipped) and overall LESS than my contracted hours this week, so success!

Secondly, as always, very much enjoyed the picspam. Mostly because it was clear evidence of you getting some family time with your kids and grandkids <3 The baby peacocks are super cute!

[margaret_r]

You're very welcome and I'm pleased that you've had a whole weekend (well, nearly a whole weekend) to just enjoy yourself:) Like the less hours as well, you need more of that;)

It was a lovely Christmas with the grandsons. Still haven't had time with granddaughter yet due to older son's work commitments, but hopefully that will change soon. And, tomorrow we head off to Victoria for a few days with the grandsons again. We are very lucky that our restrictions have eased so much and the borders are open again.

Glad you like the photos, yeah, the peacock chics are adorable, we obviously visited the rocking horse just at the right time to see them:)