Having been without the camera for about two months I of course had to find something to photograph, but what? Tuesday was a very, very wet day. I think we had something like two inches of rain. After leaving the physio we detoured to the nearby Phoenix Shopping Centre. As it was so wet Phil told me to stay in the car and he'd pop down to the shops on his own. There wasn't much we needed so no need for me to get my walker out (then it would have to be put back in the boot) and prolong what for Phil would be a short trip. One doesn't want to be a hindrance, particularly on such a wet day.
We parked in the upstairs car park under cover so I lowered my window several inches and out came my camera and I began taking pictures. I reckon there are enough signs here don't you? This is the entrance to the car park and opposite is the dental clinic where I had an appointment later that afternoon. The trees were bending in the wind as the rain deluged down. I'm not sure if you'd want to bother but these pics can be enlarged to give more detail (of the rain if nothing else).
While I watched the rain and the trees being blown around I began to wonder where do all the birds go when the weather is like this? There wasn't a bird in sight, not even a seagull and they are pretty hardy. I know feathers are waterproof to some extent and so I guess the little creatures huddle somewhere and keep as safe as possible. I love this type of weather but usually I am safe and sound and warm indoors but not so the poor birds.
Just as Phil came back to the car the rain was even heavier and the wind was blowing it under the roof of the car park and I had to close my window quickly as I was getting a little damp.
We set off home and travelled north along Stock Road (it is part of National Route 1) and we were very glad there were no very large trucks on the road that day. This red one was just a normal enclosed truck but semi-trailer trucks use this road constantly everyday and can hold the traffic up to some extent.
We then turned left into Forrest Road where they too now have underground power:
and then we arrived at the corner of Federick Road where we turn off and head for our house:
I thought I did rather well (perhaps not so well in the last pic) to take these shots and miss the windscreen wipers.
Ours is quite a leafy suburb and there are buffers left on the main roads so it is pleasant still to drive along with trees on either side of the road. More or less gives you 'out in the country' feeling.
If you check next to that large palm tree you will see a bus shelter. Nearly a year ago I contacted our Council and told them it is a traffic hazard as it blocks the view of oncoming cars when you turn out of Frederick Road. The Council contacted Main Roads who said there was nowhere else they could place the bus shelter and I was told a new one of different design would be fabricated. They said it would take 16 weeks for it to be made and it would be installed when it was ready. As nothing had been done by March this year I again contacted the Council and was told that apparently BP has an oil line right under the bus shelter and before the new shelter can be installed something has to be done by BP. I wasn't told what that would be and personally I've never heard anything so ridiculous. After all it is only a bus shelter and if they could put the first one up then why not remove it and replace it by another? Have heard nothing further so think it is time to talk to the Council again and see what is going on.
The problem with the junction is, if you are turning right or even left, there is a bend in the road and even with the speed limit set at 60km/hr there are drivers who will insist on speeding. Trying to see around the bus shelter (there is also a stand with a timetable on it that doesn't help matters) makes it very difficult to be sure you are safe and we've on many occasions had to slam on the brakes to avoid a collision. If a bus is parked there it is impossible to know if some idiot is going to suddenly swing around the bus so you have to wait till the bus has moved off.
Other people take beautiful pictures of animals or birds or their gardens and here I am taking pictures of a rainy day but to me there is beauty in winter so hope you don't mind me bringing rain into your life here.
P.S. We have just had another half inch or more so we are doing well this month for rain.
