Mardi Gras

I went to the Mardi Gras with Gavin, Rajesh and Rajesh's new girlfriend. Gavin and I dressed up in tights!  It was very crowded so we didn't stay too long, then met Tania and some of her friends in King's Cross.

Sydney Observatory

An enjoyable morning photographing Sydney Observatory. Sydney Observatory was more than just a place to look at the stars — it once controlled time itself in colonial Sydney. From 1858, a large time ball mounted on its tower dropped precisely at 1:00 pm each day, allowing ships in the harbour to set their chronometers accurately. The observatory also participated in the global effort to photograph the entire night sky as part of the ambitious 19th-century “Carte du Ciel” project, producing thousands of glass photographic plates that are still scientifically valuable today. In 1874, astronomers there observed the rare Transit of Venus, an event used worldwide to calculate the distance between the Earth and the Sun. Its hilltop location was chosen not just for clear views of the heavens but because it had earlier housed a windmill and even a defensive fort — meaning the site has shifted roles from grain grinding to military lookout to cosmic measurement, all on the same patch of ground overlooking the harbour.

My soulmate

Inspired by Shushann, I asked ChatGPT to show me an image of and describe my soulmate, knowing all it knows about me. Here is what it created. I reminded ChatGPT that I am going on 56 and maybe she is a tad young, but it insisted !!!  Oh well, I can live in eternal hope 😀

Photographing Government House

I did a fabulous tour of Government House yesterday. What a beautiful building. Government House is the official residence and workplace of the Governor of New South Wales. It is located inside the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, close to Sydney Harbour. The current building was completed in 1845 and is built in a Gothic Revival style using local sandstone. It is used for official ceremonies, meetings, and state events, and is an important historic building in New South Wales.

Walking to Government House through the Botanical Gardens

Some previous governors

Each Governor designs their own crest

The dining room

The Ballroom