DID YOU KNOW?

The SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE (which is the same age as me) is a steel through arch bridge across Sydney Habour that carries rail, vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic between the Sydney central business district and the North Shore.  The dramatic view of the bridge, the harbour and the nearby Sydney Opera house is an iconic image of Sydney, and Australia.  The bridge is nicknamed "the Coathanger" because of its arch-based design or is simply called "the Bridge". by Sydney residents.

Under the direction of Dr J.J.C. Bradfield of the NSW Department of Public works, the bridge was designed and built by British firm Dorman Long and Co Ltd of Middlesborough and was opened in 1932.  The bridge's design was influenced by the Hell Gate Bridge in New York City.  It is the sixth longest spanning-arch bridge in the world and the tallest steel arch bridge, measuring 134 metres (440 ft) from top to water level. It was also the world's widest long-span bridge. at 48.8 metres (160 ft) wide, until construction of the new Port Mann Bridge in Vancouver was completed in 2012.

At each end of the arch stands a pair of 89 metre (202ft) concrete pylons, faced with granite.  The pylons were designed by the Scottish architect Thomas S. Tall, a partner in the architectural fim John Burnet and Partners.  This pylon contains a public lookout tower.

Some 250 Australian Scottish and Italian stonemasons and their families relocated to a temporary settlement in Moruya, NSW, 300km (164 miles) south of Sydney, where they quarried around 635,664 cubic feet of granite for the bridge pylons.  The stonemasons cut, dressed and numbered the blocks, which were then transported to Sydney on three ships built specifically for this purpose.  The Moruya quarry was managed by John Gilmore, a Scottish stonemason who emigrated, with his young family to Australia in 1924, at the request of the project managers.  The concrete used was also Australian made.

There is so much more to learn about this bridge on Wikepedia if you are interested.

I only spent a few hours in Sydney in the 1980s en route home from New Zealand and we spent most of it on the harbour taking in the sights which were very beautiful.  I didn't much like the city itself as there were far too many people for my liking as back then Perth was still quite a sleepy hollow, unlike it is now.

WEDNESDAY WISDOM

There is so much truth in this.  It is always good to try and find the funny side if you possibly can.

MONDAY MIRTH

Hope this brings a smile to your face that will stay with you through the week to come.

My dad always said the funniest thing was to see someone slip on a banana skin.  You would laugh first and then ask them if they were OK afterwards.  I think my dad had a weird sense of humour.  (*:*)

SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT No 9

I was sorting through some very old bits and pieces the other day and came across a couple of poems.  No author and I have no idea where I got them from.  I thought them both quite amusing and here is one I will share with you.  Hope you get a laugh out of it as I did.

A school bus driver stood at the Pearly Gates
His face was scarred and old.
He stood before the man of fate
For admission to the fold.

"What have you done" St Peter asked
"To gain admission here?.
"I've driven a school bus, sir" he said,
"For many and many a year".

The Pearly Gates swung open wide
As St Peter touched the bell.
"Come in" he said, "and choose your harp
You've had your share of hell!.

ABOUT NOTHING AT ALL REALLY

I was scrolling through iPhoto and came across these two photos of my frangipani enjoying the wonderful rain we had during the week.  Nearly an inch fell and boy, was it welcome.  This is Cotton Candy:

This gives an idea of how large the individual flowers can be.  This is George Brown:

We only have the 8 potted plants but I am hoping to perhaps get another 4 by next season.  We can't plant them as we'd hate to leave them behind should we have to move but being potted plants, my daughter would take them as she is a frangipani fanatic as well.

FRIDAY FAVOURITES

I have always hearing Perry Como sing "And I Love You So" and this was going to be my offering today.  I then discovered, while scrolling through YouTube, that Elvis Presley also sings this lovely song so decided to offer you his rendition.   If you've heard Perry Como sing this song I wondered how you compared the two.  Would be interested to know your opinion.

DID YOU KNOW?

PETRA, originally known as Raqmu to the Nabataeans, is an historical and archaeological city in the southern Jordanian governorate of Ma'an that is famous for its rock-cut architecture and water conduit system.  Another name for Petra is the Rose City due to the colour of the stone out of which it is carved.

Established possibly as early as 312BC as the capital city of the Arab Nabataeans, it is a symbol of Jordan, as well as Jordan's most-visited tourist attraction.  It lies on the slope of Jebel al-Madhbah (identified by some as the biblical Mount Hor) in a basin among the mountains which form the eastern flank of Arabah (Wadi Araba), the large valley running from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba.  Petra has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986.

The site remained unknown to the western world until 1812, when it was introduced by Swiss explorer Johann William Burgon.  UNESCO has described it as "one of the most precious cultural properties of man's cultural heritage".  Petra was named amongst the New/Wonders of the World" in 2007 and was also chosen by the Smithsonian Magazine as one of the "28 Places to See Before You Die".

Pliny the Elder and other writers identify Petra as the capital of the Nabataeans and the centre of their caravan trade.  Enclosed by towering rocks and watered by a perennial stream, Petra not only possessed the advantages of a fortress, but controlled the main commercial routes which passed through it to Gaza in the west, to Bosra and Damascus in the north, to Aqaba and Leuce Come on the Red Sea, and across the desert to the Persian Gulf.

Excavations have demonstrated that it was the ability of the Nabataeans to control the water supply that led to the rise of the desert city, creating an artificial oasis.  The area is visited by flash floods and archaeological evidence demonstrates the Nabataens controlled these floods by the use of dams, cisterns and water conduits.  These innovations stored water by prolonged periods of drought and enabled the city to prosper from its sale. 

 I have seen several documentaries about Petra and have never failed to be amazed how the people built this city in rock and also controlled their water supply.   There is a lot more information on Wikipedia if you are interested, far too much for me to include here.   Petra at night: