A Visit

Dad and Samantha

A male Eastern Water Dragon in my parents garden.

All text and photographs are Copyright ©2010 Paul Anslow. All rights reserved. www.anslow.net

A Wander Around Sydney

I had some time after an appointment and went on a walk. Here are some of the things spotted.

Darling Harbour,  an outdoor space with Conference Centre, Retail, Restaurants and other attractions. 

Volkswagen Pedal Powered Photo Booth promoting their environmentally friendly stance.

The Australian Maritime Museum large exhibits Submarine HMAS Onslow and HMAS Vampire 

The spider's Garden.

A garden complete with spider on the sandstone cliff on "The Hungry Mile' - formally part of Hikson Street. The new street name reflects the name the area was known as during The Great Depression, where men came in the hope of being selected for a days work on the docks.

High-rise Living 

Sydney can be a pretty city, however continual redevelopment may make change to that. Note the terraces dwarfed by the apartments.

Is this Art?

Jimmie Durham’s “Still Life with Stone & Car” Sydney Art and About.

Dawes Point. The wharfs are now converted to offices, apartments, theaters, restaurants, cafes and a hotel.

AMP Building at Circular Quay - "Abseil for Youth" is
put on at the AMP building by the Sir David Martin Foundation to raise
money for Youth in Crisis programs administered by Mission Australia. The Royal Australia Navy is a huge supporter and provide their skills for the event. Sir David Martin was a Australian Navy Rear Admiral. Thanks Bernadette for your email.

The Rocks 

P&O's Pacific Jewel at Barangaroo 5 passenger Terminal

I do like the tent passenger terminal.





All text and photographs are Copyright ©2010 Paul Anslow. All rights reserved. www.anslow.net

A Visit to the Hunter Valley Gardens

A Visit to the Hunter Valley Gardens

Near Pokolbin, Hunter Valley Gardens is located within the  foothills of the Brokenback Ranges, the vineyard district of the Hunter..

60 acres of magnificent gardens, with 10 theme gardens; Formal, Indian Mosaic, Rose, Italian Grotto with the statue of St Francis of Assisi (patron saint of birds and animals), Border Garden, waterfall in the Sunken Garden, the elegant Oriental Garden and a Storybook Garden. 

Alice in Wonderland - The Mad Hatters Tea Party

From left to right, Ann Anslow, Tom Anslow, Jennifer Higham, Heather Anslow, Ken Higham and Samantha Anslow

A coincidence and a little family history

The Brownhills Colossus A.K.A Jigger

During Our UK Trip in 2009 I took the photo above when visiting Brownhills where my mother had lived as a child and where my parents met.

On the A452 roundabout in the little town of Brownhills in the Black Country of the UK is a imposing 12 meter tall sculpture, created by sculptor John McKenna, of a coal miner, made from welded stainless steel sheet.

A contest was held a couple of years after the artist 's sculpture was erected in 2008 and the winner was Jak Groves a local schoolboy, who suggested "Jigger" the nickname of his Great-Great Grandfather, in tribute to all who had worked in dreadful and dangerous conditions and sometimes paying the ultimate sacrifice.

I later found out from Mum that Jack "Jigger" Taylor is my Great Uncle on my mum's side of the family. My Maternal grandmother was Sarah Jane Taylor and Jack was her brother.

On the evening of 22nd of January 1951 Jack was critically injured when part of the roof of the Walsall Wood pit collapsed. He died two days later after an emergency operation, leaving his wife, Ivy, and children John, Jill and Valerie. Jack and his family had lived lived in Bridge Street, Clayhanger and "Jigger" rests at St James Church in Brownhills. 

Sadly the inquest into his death was brief and the outcome was “Accidental Death”. By today's standards this disregard for human life would not have been acceptable.

Jack went down the pit in 1929 aged 14 and died at 36

Was Yer Ferther A Miner?

Was yer ferther a miner like mine

Did he work in the dirt and the grime

Went to work on a byke, used a bow saw and pike

To dig out black diamonds that shine?

Was yer ferther a wrecked body like mine

Through working in dust, no sunshine

His shuky was his light, damaging God’s given sight

Deep in the dark bowel face of the mine?

Did he take a piece of best Sunday cake

Ter give to the pit pony, whose poor limbs ached

As he dragged a pit tub through rubbish-sludge

So mine owners their profit could make?

Did he bath by the fire in a tub

Un yer mother his marked back did scrub

Scratch caused by low roof, scars plain making proof

Of the days of pit-props and horse hoof?

Did he often sit and tell the old tale

Of disaster and pain that prevailed

When the roof tumbled in – rock ripped at the skin

And sight of widows – children their faces pale?

But if you asked this old ferther of mine

Ter tell yer about it, his old eyes would shine

No sad tale to tell, of the Muck – the Hell

But would proudly boast

‘Ar them days of hard work were mine’.