Calendars and other stuff available NOW! %)% to charity to Dec 31

Gentle readers if you have enjoyed the photos I have been sharing please let friends and family know these images and other designs are available on calendars and other products from these two online shops.

My Red Bubble Gallery which has prints cards and calendars

or

My Cafe Press Shop Voxy's Visions

Thanks for any help with PR?

Thank this man if you see him!

This is the gardener at Hornsby Park

Thank him if you see him!

My Christmas Wishes to All and Sundry!

It's okay to download this to share with friends and family if you like it!

Variegated Bottlebrush

Lets thank the gardener!

If you're visiting Hornsby Park this summer don't forget to spare a thought for our hard working gardener who has to put up with people stealing plants. Don't steal the plants! You may or may not be paying rates and hence his wages but the Park is not a free nursery!

If you do see the gardener thank him for all those magificent roses and other flowers he tends!

Three Pinks

ENJOY!

Magnolias gone but not forgotten

this bush is a mass of leaves now but a few months ago ... enjoy !

Rose Garden

Want to see more gorgeous rose images? I'll be sharing some here but I have a whole calendar called Rose Garden up on www.redbubble.com/people/scholara/ along with prints and cards and cards.
If you know any rodophiles do pass on the link

Jacarandas Galore!

Not the most artistic of photos but it  does show that unique jacaranda color so well! Enjoy!

I'm compiling 200 dpi versions of some of the images I've already shown you.

I f you'ld like to see them in a calendar please visit

www.redbubble.com/people/scholara/calendar

Have a great weekend!

Hornsby TAFE STUDENT ART Shows

NOVEMBER 29 to Friday Dec One ?@ anyway From Monday if you're staff and all week open to the pulbic Fine Phtotogrpahy Prints Drawings Ceramics Graphic Design on show and sale in K block at Hornsby TAFE. Come and take a look and grab some bargains too!

Photos next week!

something cheerful after the rain A VERY RED ROSE

I'm afraid to inspect Hornsby Park or my other favorite walking area for fear of seeing what damage teh constant recent rain and wind has done to my favorite gardens and plants however here's a very red rose for you to show. Please be aware I hold copyright and a larger version of this 72 dpi image will be appearing in a calendar soon. Meanwhile enjoy!

Need Persian Food? Niavaran is Open

Thought I'ld bump a local that's only been open for a few weeks. It's next to the Hanaya restaurant on Pacifc High way. If you know anyone who identifies as Persian or Iranian let tehm know about this sotre. Tell Afghanis or Indians too.

CWA Fans guarding Hornsby Park

I wonder what will happen when the demolition crew arrives and how the pigeons will react?

They seem to like the CWA building? Mmm?

Blessed be our local bakery

Blessed be our local bakery! Okay its NOT Pattison's and the local Baker's Delight has a wider range of wholemeal and mixed grain breads but they do a great soft flat white bun and shell rolls and I recommend their blueberry and almond pies and the chocolate slices! MMM!
They's on th eeast (MAIN MALL) sid eof the station right near the ramp and the Quality Butchers.

Finally on special occassions they do a great medium and family size pull apart damper bread!

Sometimes you want and have to eat WHITE Bread! Say with burgers or sausages.
Perhaps you have some one inhte house who cant eat hard bread ?

Do try their buns.

The best recommendation.

As  a local I so often see people carrying a white bag of rolls and I know they've been at Joseph's!

***********

P.S. It's okay to use the comments box if you want to recommend other local Hornsby Shire Bakeries!

A followup to the Mystery House Post

I've noticed over the last few weeks the "mystery" house in Pretoria Parade has had most of its front yard at least cleaned up so hopefully my previous post motivated someone to tidy up or help the occupant tidy up?

Best wishes whoever did help?

New Japanese Restaurant coming to Hornsby

Looks like Hornsby is getting a new Japanese restaurant called KIMONO in Coronation St sometime soon?

I was walking back from TAFE and saw the sign going up the other day.

Mori in the same street and Asahi around the corner will be getting competition.

Let's hope the owners have something new to offer ?

Hornsby also has Hanaya further up the highway and 4 Japanese / Korean shops in the food court at Westside plus Tokyo Ramen and 2 more sushi takeway places downstairs on the bottom level.

Should be interesting to see what they have to offer? More sushi or something different?

Occupy Hornsby Park Protestor

Copyright J. Vaux 2011

Lately we have been seeing Occupy London and Wall Street and Sydney but we already have resident protestors in Hornsby park! This resident protestor for avian rights was occupying the pergola over the walkway and carefully watching me watch him or her with my camera!

I wondering how the demolition and construction crews for the Pool and CWA will cope with a flock of irate cockatoos? I doubt the mob of sulphur crested cockatoos who come up from Galston Gorge or wherever it is they roost at night will be very pleased to see the park altered. It's one of the places they visit for grass seed. Then again maybe the workers might feed them and that'll stop them chewing on people's outdoors timber furnishings trim and other woodwork?

Actually given that the park is using as a bus stop by interstate and country buses I'm surprised no one's thought of setting up a bird feeding station for the local pigeons, cockatoos, and other birds, as a tourist attraction?

followers however few forgive gap in posts had ISP and other problems last week

oh that westfield food court "ambiance"

To the joy and horror of shoppers at Westfield Mall in Hornsby the food court is being given new ambiance!

At least that's what manangement calls it. Ambiance however apparently means LESS seats than before. Seats with padded backing ripped out and EVEN less seats for single dining since people in groups grab the chairs and move them to larger tables. Oh there are a few more tables but ... the school holiday crowding is even worse now!

Well I went down to the office to complain. They claim .... hard to believe ... that school holidays and xmas are the only time they could get the tables and seats "upgraded". On the positive side they did say more seats have been ordered. Meanwhile it takes twice as long to find a seat and with the bad weather we've been giving.

NOT HAPPY HORNSBY WESTFIELD!

Tafe's Magnolia

Copyright J. Vaux 2011

There are three magnolias I try to take good photos of each August when they're in bloom.

One is in fornt of the Centrelink office. There's aother excellent one in Pretoria Parade and a smaller but beautiful one in front of Hornsby TAFE. The flowers are gone now but other spring blossom is out and I'll be sharing more photos over the long weekend to keep your mind off the winter gloom!

I'll probably be doing a calendar of some of these photos in October.

Hornsby now has an APPLE Store!

Hornsby finally has an APPLE store. For weeks now MAC tragics have probably wandering past the signs wondering when it would open. Well it opened yesterday!

No longer the long hike to the CBD to drool over the shiny techno bling things.

Now if I can just earn the last 500 dollars I need to buy a MacBook Pro 15" screen ...

Okay I'm sounding very MAC tragic but seriously check out the new store.

They're offering FREE workshops!

... and it will be sooo interesting to see how JB HIFI and Dick Smith Electronics respond to the competition?

A Hornsby Park Resident

I've not been blogging much lately cos I've been waiting for the Amazon Associates app to be fixed .

It's looks like its STILL not fixed so I apologize for my inability to fine tune ads.

Hornsby Park Rose

Copyright J. Vaux 2011

Another Rose picture for you to enjoy while we wait for the park roses to bloom again!

Mmm Danny's Poppy Twist!

Is this the best Poppy Seed Twist Pastry in Hornsby or the Upper North Shore!

I think so and the other cakes and pastries at Danny's Patisserie on the West side are great too!

But I have a special fondness for this particular pastry which sadly I can not allow myself to induge in too often!

If you're shopping on the West side or coming to or fro from TAFE or the P.O. I recommend this cake shop! Oh they also do rum balls tarts donuts and other goodies!

Hornsby Park View

Growing Old Fashioned Roses: In Australia and New Zealand (Growing Series)

I don't know when construction will start on the new pool but until then I'm taking as many photos as possible in case they tear up any of the flower beds!

The white roses planted in Hornsby park are old fashioned Picardy Roses.

Enjoy and I hope this brings you happy memories!

The Burra Boys

Another shot of the Burra Boys.
Yes I think that is a lizard sticking out of the mouth of the younger smaller burra!
The Boys are being very co-operative with the camera this spring.
Maybe I can do a Burra Boys calendar next year?

Let me know if you would like to see one?

At the Mall this August

The camera batteries are being recharged!

Have you noticed this at the mall?

One of the vacant ground levels stores now has APPLE on the outside.
Is Hornsby finally getting a APPLE store!?

New cupcake store on the basement level!
Lovely store design!

The magnolia season is over! Petals are shedding and being replaced with bright green leaves!

Shingle Cafe Opening soon! Oh yes westfield of course the mall needs another cafe especially in a spot where once there were FREE seats for tired shoppers who didnt feel like buying coffee!

Be interested to see how long they survive the competition with Tea for Two being next door?!

Finally what's unsettling the local burra clan?
My avian visitors keep sitting on hte railing and staring into the distance.
Is there an impending turf war for spring nesting sites approaching?

Dear Bruce Lyon

Dear Bruce unfortunately your family name is not Wayne otherwise you'ld probably being doing the right and philahthropic thing and donating a certain patch of land? Which piece of land? Yes Bruce I'm talking about that over valued vacant lot in Dural street that you or some one you represent owns and has left vacant for a couple of years now!

Yes readers the developer behind Inspire Planning and Dural Nominees appears to be Bruce Lyon.

see http://www.brucelyon.com.au/

his office is in Epping and his firm has Facebook and Twitter sites!

Apparently though he has no female relatives in the CWA?

Bruce I seriously doubt a couple of cafes are going to create a lot of employment opportunities and regarding housing ... yes another 22 storey strata title building may possibly create housing for people with upper middle classes wages but not for actual workers?

Unless perhaps you were going to donate some of the tower space as affordable housing?

Bruce after this week's stories in the Advocate and the Bush Telegraph if you really still want this development in any form I suggest you

a) donate floor space for a new home for the CWA and other community organizations

b) donate another vacant property for a temporary home for the CWA and other groups

c) reduce the height of that tower block

d) be very very very polite to the CWA  remember all of them and the many other groups who use that building have many friends and relatives living in the Hornsby area.

Tiny Citizen

Today the sun is out and if unlike me you don't have to tend to drying clothes washing perhaps you've gone for a walk and spotted some of Hornsby's tiniest citizens sunning themselves? Enjoy!

Absentee Landlords

Absentee Landlords.  Like Dural Nominees?
Is this what is behind the Westside problems?
And the several vacant properties I've seen in Hornsby?

Hornsby residents who read the Advocate hopefully noticed the page 3 story on Inspire Planning and Dural Nominees.

Well I googled them. Dural Nominees are registered in WA?

I wonder who really owns them and how many other vacant properties they own in Hornsby?

Much as I would like to see buildings and housing in Hornsby not built by Meriton I'm sure a 22 storey building right next to Hornsby Park doesnt solve anyone's problems?

This plan certianly explains why there's an entire ART DECO style bank building that could be converted to a shop or gallery or a community arts centre near the corner of Dural Lane.

Have Heritage buildings converted for community use such as a new home for the CWA?

Nah not when over priced condo units with high rentals could go there and add to the impending destruction of large chunks of Hornsby Park!

Shame on you Dural Nominees!

Look down at Your Feet!

Do you ever look down at the footpath? Obviously don't do this in rush hour but take the time if the footpath's not crowded to look at the cracks and crevisses and the contrast between the plants and pavement? sometimes you'll just see weeds. Other times maybe a moment of beauty?

My entry for the digital photo competition recently held by Hornsby Council.

Burrawatch

Ever had that feeling you're being watched? Well it may not be a magpie with nesting psychosis about to swoop down on you ! It may be one of the local Burra Boys! They love a high vantage point!

The Burras have gotten used to my attempts to photograph them and will let me get within 5 or 6 feet!

Enjoy!

What Dural Lane Access?

Some People seem to be under the impressions Dural Lane runs all the way to the swimming pool?

Sorry folks but that's NOT a solution not unless Council owns this vacant lot and can include the cost of draining and leveling this area ?

Anyone know who does own this piece of land?

Whatever option is used part of Hornsby park will have to be destroyed !

Let's just hop the CWA is rehoused in a decent office / room while the rebuilding goes on!

A Sunday Flower for You

I actually took this photo ( Copyright to the Poster ) in Galston but that's in Hornsby Shire! So Enjoy!

Next Week Dural Lane access to the Swimming pool Site. Er Have you actually seen Dural Lane?

Empty space in Hornsby

Here's one PRIME example of the many vacant spaces in Hornsby.
Okay I know some time in the future units and shops are suppose to be going up on this site but this shop has been empty for months!

Today in the Advocate a representative of the CWA was quoted about the problem of finding empty community space in Hornsby. No the problem is the word COMMUNITY.

Apparently whoever owns all these vacant unleased properties would rather have them stand empty then offer them GRATIS or at a LOW rent to COMMUNITY organizations.

The landlords certainly are not reading the Advocate?

Who owns this building? Why can't you offer a temporary lease to the CWA or some other LOCAL community organzation ?

There are plenty of vacant properties home and business available for rent and sale in the Hornsby area that I see advertised over and over again in the Advocate.

I suspect a great deal of housing and small business problems would be solved if rents were a lot lower? Yes landlords you are entitled to make a profit but how can you from empty space?

Next time probably a flower photo !

Hornsby's Mystery House

HORNSBY'S MYSTERY HOUSE

is on Pretoria Parade.

Can you help solve the mystery!

Remember the recent story about a body found in Surry Hills and the discovery of a body in a gully behind houses in Hornsby?

Frankly I'm worried this house might have a deceased occupant or someone living there who needs help badly?

Now some one clearly visits occassionally and clears out the mail box and sometimes trims back the plants near the path to the front doors and during evening walks I have noticed there seems to be a light in the back of the house that shows as a dim orange glow.

It could simply be the case that the house is untenanted due to legal issues with a deceased estate or one in guardianship and the landlord or owner or state trustees have ahd a light installed with a timer? If that's the case my apologies! HOWEVER ... what there's an elderly or disabled person living there who doesnt know there are community services that will provide garden and home help?

Are you a neighbour or the agent or owner? Do you know them?

What's the story and is there a person in there who needs help BEFORE there's a tragedy of neglect? Can anyone tell me who I should contact to check if a social worker or the police can be sent to check? How do you check on such things without intruding or trepassing?

I have left the street number off this post in respect for the privacy of the owner.

Whoever you are do you need help?

Hornsby Bike Path still not QUITE finished!

Did you know we have a bike path in Hornsby?

Running down behind the buildings in College Crescent?
Well we would if the Council or someone would just finish the last section!


Go into the Baptist Church car park ... the unpaved part between the cottage by the railway and the main building and walk down hill and turn right.


If you walk to the end of the gravelly stony rubble patch and turn left you 'll see the view on the left: the finished part of the bike path!

This path is suppose to join up with other roads and paths and run down to Normanhurst and beyond.

You're supposedly to be able to cross over Pretoria Parade and follow the roadway up behind the Jubilee and Polaris and other buildings then go up the lane to rejoin the main road to the station.

I've been following the VERY slow progress of this path since it was first announced.

Maybe this year the last section will be FINALLY paved?

If you're willing to walk over the rubble section its a pleasant cool shady walk down the back of the apartment buildings.

At the rate its be worked on over the last DECADE yes Decade! you shouldnt have to worry about being bowled over by skateboarders or cyclists any time soon!

I'll let you know if and when it's finished!

New Bookshop in Hornsby

The good news is that there's a new bookshop in the Westfield Mall on the top floor.

The semi bad news is that its a small discount type bookstore with limited stock.

However all the stock is apparently $5 each?

Check it out but don't forget we have an excellent second hand store on the Westside and a larger store next to Gloria Jeans !

Readers would you like Twitter alerts when blogs are posted?

Let me know and I'll do a twitter account linked to this blog!

Whether you live in Hornsby or beyond I hope you have a great weekend.

Okay its raining as I type but Hornsby is blessed with 2 cinemas and bookshops for you to visit!

A final view of the Hornsby CWA?

Well that depends on when or if demolition starts?

You certainly willn't be seeing any roses for a while whatever happens as the gardener has pruned them all back for winter.

Once again you can see the laneway and how even if they spare the CWA at least one tree the bus shed the pergola behind it and part of the rose garden will probably go.

This also wipes out a shelter used by local people during the day for lunches and watching the park pigeons.

More on this issue after the Council meeting.

Today you get double blogs as I have a news flash!

See you there!

A Rose for You

Since its cold and gloomy today

I'm just going to post a flower image.

Next post Friday or Saturday!

ENJOY THE FLOWER !

The Hornsby CWA Problem

For those of you who never or rarely go past the CWA in Hornsby Park I thought I would put up some photos so you can judge for yourselves.

On the right and centre you have two shots of the lane that currently runs down past the CWA building. As you can see it could take a truck but not a large crane?

The lane could possibly be widened but that would mean removing the tree to the right and possibly the bus shelter and the pergola behind it.

On the left you can see the land that runs down the northern end of the park. That could be widened too but even more trees would have to be removed.

What I can't show you in a photo is why they need front access. The back of the pool is supported on concrete pylons and the land slopes down very steeply to the valley below.

If I had tried to take a shot all you'ld see is trees and weeds since I couldnt find a safe advantage point to take a clear shot from above or below.

Two issues that also need discussion!

ONE the problem of where to move the CWA to if the building has to come down. There's this lovely recently renovated bank that's gone empty for months further up the road . Is there any chance the council can do a deal with who ever owns it of rate reduction in exchange for housing the CWA? Probably not? There are also other empty untenanted shops?

TWO What about the disruption to TAFE staff and students and people coming and going to the Court House? A continual stream of trucks coming and going will disrupt pedestrian and car traffic to TAFE and also the Post Office and there's going to be the possibility of some nasty competition for the limited parking near in front of and behind the shops and Court House?

Finally a reminder for people who don't get the Bush Telegraph or forgot to check the Advocate.

JULY 14 Hornsby Memorial Hall next to RSL.

Public Meeting starting 7PM

Hornsby Views One

Hornsby Views

This bloom is one of the many magnificent roses grown in Hornsby Park.

Come and enjoy them before DEconstruction of the Pool commences!

In the next posts I'll be discussing the CWA problem.

Join me soon!

Please note this photo is copyright to the photographer.
I do have permission to use it.
Reproduce for personal usage only.

Finding Centrelink Two

Finding Centrelink Two

I have not been able to figure out how to get more than one photo in the post yet. I'm not used to this template yet.

If you can see the view on the left and just crossed a driveway look to your right.

Centerlink is in Randall house.You're there!

Finding Hornsby Centrelink

Finding Hornsby Centrelink.

I sometimes get asked by people where Hornsby Centrelink is.

So here's how to walk to it from the Station.
Exit on the left side. you will see a charity kiosk between a ramp leading to the overhead bridge on the right and a path leading to a pergola on the left.

Take the path to the left. You will see steps and a ramp leading down to the street.

Continue up the street to the traffic lights.

Cross over. Follow footpath. Ignore pedestrian crossing on left.

Cross Pound Road a short street curving downhill. Continue.

Now check the photo above.

Can you see a green and white sign in the distance?

You're getting close!

Two more photos in the next post!

How to Find George Street! The One in Hornsby!

So you need to find George St and get it mixed up with the Old Pacific Highway?

Here's some travel tips that will provide details GPS Street directories and Map Apps don't. There's a map further down too!

As a local resident who often gets asked for directions by lost visitors
I find the problem seems to be people taking a wrong turn coming out of Hornsby station or driving up the Old Pacific Highway.

If you are coming up the Pacific Highway by car  when you see the sign for Edgeworth David Avenue only turn right if you're trying to get into the parking for the shopping centre.

You want to go up George St. Go straight ahead due north.
Do not turn left over the rail bridge!

Be aware if you're trying to get to one of the small shops or businesses there is no left hand side parking.
You may have to turn into a side street to park or go around a block so you're in the southwards lane.

Did you turn left and continue on the Old Pacific highway? Don't panic!
You should be able to turn right at Bridge St and back onto George St.
Just continue past the Courthouse the Park and TAFE.

Are you on foot and coming from the station?

Where are you going? TAFE? The shops? The Westfield mall? Centrelink?

For the Westfield mall turn EAST and go over the foot bridge.

For the Westside shops TAFE and the Courthouse or Council Chambers turn WEST.

Do not go up the street where the taxi rank and buses are.

You will end up at the back of TAFE and in Jersey Street.

Use the pedestrian crossing. you are now next to a real estate agent on the corner.

Turn right. Keep walking. When you see a cafe called Armeros that's Coronation Street.

You should now be able to see the Park and TAFE.

Stay on the Post Office side if you are heading for the Court House or Council Chambers.

Heading for TAFE admin to enrol? Cross over to the left side.

NEXT TIME HOW TO FIND CENTRELINK!

and photos so you have visual landmarks to help!

This is the first blog in a series.

Please posts on this topic will not all follow each other.

Posts on other topics will be mixed in!

Introducing That HORNSBY Blog

Why follow That Hornsby Blog?

Well unlike the local Advocate that hornsby blog will feature more photos and business reviews.
Yes reviews. There's also be photos and regular updates at least twice a week or more often!

The first full post will appear next week!

This week's image is a view of Bobby Burra looking out over Pretoria parade towards the bushland our shire and suburb is called for!

Let me know if you know kookaburras. I've managed to get the Burra clan to tolerate me getting close to them so they willnt be startled by the camera.