Pie maddened Magpies

Pie maddened Magpies

Recently cos I've had to visit a sick relative at the San hospital I've been at Turramurra Railway Station a lot. Early thhis afternoon I got back to the station from the hospital and found I had time to buy a meat pie.

So I'm standing on the platform nibbling at the hot pie and suddenly an entire clan of magpies descends from the trees.

Clearly they are also fans of meat pies and VERY hungry!

It's the whole family staring at me mom dad last years gray almost black younglings and one grey speckled fledgling all studying me and my pie.

Now its school holidays and a long weekend so its understandable that there's no or less humans around willing to feed scraps and tidbits to magpies.

Magpies however seem to feel they have a right to be fed.

That we're paying them their rightful tribute for sharing their territory.

After all they were here even before the aborigines.

But hey guys flying up and trying to snatch my pie when I was willing to "drop" a few bits anyway is just too stroppy and cheeky.

And the whole time one of the adults was trying this on the rest of the family are carolling at each other probably making rude observations about humans.

How to deal with stroppy magpies?

Stare back at them Remind them who's bigger.

Talk at them. They will listen.

Sometimes they will understand words like

"If you lot don't stop fighting with the pigeons / swooping at me there'll be NO scraps at all"

This should be accompanied with appropriate foot hand gestures.

Everyone loves the pies at Turramurra including the Magpies!

However they really need to learn some grace and style!

The meat pie by the way was an excellent steak tomato and onion !

Be careful if you're at Turramurra and the magpeis are hungry but do try the pies!

Burra Watch is Back!

Copyright J. Vaux 2012

Burra Watch recently paid a visit to my balcony again!

New Nrma office in Hornsby

Remember Gainsford Electrical  Supplies. They've leased out part of their building to the NRMA.

If you're looking for the Hornsby office here's 2 image of the entrance.

This is the view if you are driving south. Watch out for  the signs and gate just after the petrol station!

Fetes Fairs and Shows in September

Three September events I nearly missed out on attending due to family illnesses!

Did you?

Here's some photos!

The Hornsby Girls High School Annual Multicultural Event
Great Food Craft Stalls A Second hand Books and Goods Room

Hornsby Girls High School students with the St George Dragon!

Students of  Indian origin dressed up for a dance event.

Barker had their spring fete last weekend. If you heard music it was coming form the back oval. You didnt have to be family of a student to attend. Cakes plants used goods and books and food was on sale.

Finally I apologize for NOT being able to PR this earlier!

Have you checked out the new art shows in the Wallarobba Centre?

Saturday September 22 is the last day for this Ceramics show!

Hopefully I'll be getting an new iphone 5 or a galaxy soon so I can update you more regularly! Donations via paypal would help since my Adsense income from this blog is so low ... well it would also help if you encourage friends to visit?

Weeds on a Wall

WEEDS on a Wall

Add captionCopyright J. Vaux 2012

Just next to the pub on the corner of Cornoation Street there's an alleyway that leads to a small parking area for a couple of nearby shops.

This plant is growing out of a crack in the wall quietly thriving despite limited water and nutrients.

Hornsby Markets August 2012

Hornsby Markets have more than one fruit and veg stalls!

There's this one and the Organic one next to it and further up the Mall another.

I recommend if you have time to check out all three since they  have rotating stocks and specials each week and sometimes get rare or unusual fruit and veg when in season. This week they had mulberries and no one else did! They also seem to get the best custard apples and persimmons.

Hornsby Markets Every Thursday in the Mall!

Our Local Lapwings

Have you see our local lapwing couple? They hang around Hornsby Park the front of TAFE and oddly the top of Kennards' roof. You will also sometimes see them on the green verges at Pretoria Parade. They're quiet and shy birds that dont damge gardens so be gentle to them and don't let the dogs or toddlers chase them.

Have you seen them elsewhere ? Let me know!

Retro Wall Mosaic.

Have you ever glanced to your right crossing the footbridge from the station and noticed this mosaic?There was a brief trend for these in the 60s and 70s and this must be one of the last surviving ones in the area?

I rather wish peeble mosaics would become popular again even if this one does look rather out of place compared to the rest of the shop building.

You can still sometimes see samples of this style in beachside suburbs too on walls and footpaths.