The little dude is living with us while his real people are forced to be dog free. He pretends he sleeps next to the bed, knowing he isn't allowed on it but I never fail to wake up with him on my feet. Cuteness is his only salvation.
About fifteen years ago we overplanted with a whole bunch of native plants. They all had about a ten year life expectancy and they mostly outlived the ten years but this front garden has seen a lot of death over the last little while. We are slowly replanting but will probably put less in and stagger it a bit so there are no more mass exits.
The bouganvillea on the other side of the steps thrives.
Only a few minutes drive from us is M1. This road follows the coast (sometimes closer than others) all the way around Australia. This section of it is the main north-south route through suburban Sydney and I follow it anytime I want to head north as well as most of the times I head west.
As I follow the road north I usually go past the cemetery without stopping. In fact, in a lifetime of living in Sydney I have only been inside the necropolis once before but today i decided to misrepresent my day :)
You would never believe this "parkland" is right next to a major thoroughfare. It's quite lovely and as the largest cemetery in the southern hemisphere, it could stand a lot of exploring.
Overlooking the Jewish section, with the Chinese section behind that. I might be romanticising my city but I suspect this would be a fairly unique sight.
This memorial was quite large, it was also inexplicably gated.
I could have explored the cemetery for a lot longer but I had set out to buy the weeks fruit & veg so I moved on. The markets would be an ugly concrete jungle if it wasn't for the colour and movement from produce and people.
I am a bit shy about taking pictures with all those people about but that means there is plenty of subject matter for another time.
And then the drive home. I managed to snap this just as the lights went green. I don't know what it is about urban decay but I find it almost beautiful in some instances.
I do love cemeteries - and have always loved the phrase 'crook as Rookwood'.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, some urban decay is beautiful. Except when it is shopping centres.
My Dear Kylie,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for taking me along with you on this adventure! It was wonderful! Your juxtaposition of living and dead intrigued me: referring to your garden plants and in stopping at the Necropolis on the way to the Market. The parallels lent a thoughtfulness and depth to these precious ordinary acts in life. The Holocaust Memorial placed death (the natural inevitable) alongside genocide (unnatural death at the hand of man's evil intention). I wiped away a tear or two as I reflected. I also noted that you shared the facade of your home, sweet, home and then snapped an abandoned house. Your artful eye has delighted and touched me. I can't wait to see more! Oh, and that pooch is A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E. Thanks for taking me along. I loved it! I only wish we were sharing a cuppa at the close. :D
Loved your little adventure! I have always enjoyed walking through cemeteries, seeing the different types of headstones and reading the various descriptions. It makes the past seem so real somehow. I can't wait for future posts! :)
ReplyDeleteEC,
ReplyDeleteCrook as Rookwood is a great phrase! We seem to be losing some of our great descriptive phrases and proverbs, do you think?
Language seems to be simplifying, you know, like not in a good way?
Debbie,
ReplyDeleteYou give me way too much credit, my artistic eye is mostly not conscious :)
I wish we could have a cuppa, too. Hawaii is midway, isnt it?
Elizabeth!
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting!
I usually look at how long a person lived and then wonder what they saw in their lifetime. Everyone has a story, right?
Thank you! All these years of knowing you and this is the first time I have gotten a really good taste of the moments of your surround. Fascinating, the Jewish & Chinese graves...
ReplyDeleteLeah,
ReplyDeleteI had thought my blog contained glimpses but maybe this time it's a little more mindful.
xx
Hindus cremate so there are no cemeteries worth spending time on but our old Colonial time cemeteries are fascinating places to visit and wonder about some names repeating in rows. Most are still well maintained, particularly the cantonment ones and when I can I try and spend some time wandering in them. Somehow the Indian Christians and Muslims do not do much of headstone work!
ReplyDeleteThese are all interesting photos, but I like the first one best, and next to it, the one of your house, and next to it, the one of the Necropolis sign. Maybe the Jewish memorial was locked due to problems with Jew-hating vandals. Is there much of that where you live?
ReplyDeleteP.S. Funny they would warn active thieves (as opposed to reformed or retired thieves) to lock their cars. I guess they don't want to have all that stolen merchandise re-stolen, forcing the thieves to steal even more.
ramana,
ReplyDeletewho needs headstones when you have things like the taj mahal!
snow,
ReplyDeletethe dog had his hair cut the day after that pic was taken and a window at the front of the house got broken, too!
i'm sad to say i think that anti-semitic vandalism is the only good reason for the memorial to be locked up. i wouldnt have said there was a lot of that around but of course it only takes one or two incidents before it makes sense to lock up.