Out & About

At the park at Newington Armoury. Bright, lovely day and the kids had a ball around the water fountain and on their bicycles. Very busy with lots of families making the most of a lovely winter Sunday in the school holidays.

Untouched by time...almost

I like this photo- taken at the recently re-launched Lake Parramatta Reserve because it could well be one taken thousands of years ago- pristine wilderness now in the middle of the Western suburbs.

What a hunk!

The view is not bad either!
















In Himachal last year on the way from Chail back to Delhi, we came to this thela-walla facing the glorious view above. He made us some chalu omlettes bread toasted on the tawa and chai. Heaven! Not another shop or building within kilometres of this guy- don't know how he get enough clients to run his business.

Exploring the neighbourhood

Tucked away behind some commercial and industrial buildings is the entrance to a small reserve which we stumbled on to by accident. Saira and I went there with our bikes one day and came to a large water weir sort of thing. It was empty then but is a key part of the floodwater management measures taken by the the Upper Parramatta River Catchment Trust after the flooding that took place in the area 1990 and 1999. The picture above is of interest as it shows that someone actually designed the small sign you see over the graffiti! Did not have much effect!

They tell us that

this project involved the construction of a 30 metre high flood retarding basin wall and in an environmentally - sensitive bushland reserve within 100 metres of several homes. The project also included several ancillary environmental measures to reduce major flooding to North Rocks, Northmead, parts of North Parramatta and Rosehill overcome degradation of bushland and reduce stormwater pollution of the creek. It is the largest basin in NSW and successfully integrated flood mitigation and environmental objectives.

Another photo below and some more from the trust are here.

Kids sprouting from the rocks!

There's a quality about the poses of the kids that makes it look like a kids clothing catlogue photo- dont' you think? Clockwise from bottom left are: Jordan, Cody, Saira, Indi and Joshua.

Chest Out Tummy In

That was the instruction for this snap. Both the girls got it but the boy...I guess boys have to be boys!

Taken at the newly rejuvenated Lake Parramatta Reserve nearby.