Central Victoria.

On my way home last night I suddenly felt the motivation the onset of Summer can give. The sun was starting to set, it was just past 8PM. day light savings was kicking in. The clouds were hanging around, but it was wonderfully warm. The clouds had a glowing pink/red, the crickets were singing and I could smell the Eucalypts. Nothing seemed impossible last night. Today the suns out in full force. There's a haze coming of the Iron barks. Summers nearly here.

Brighton.

The bay has been home to a lot of cargo carriers lately. Another thunder storm over the bay. It can look stunning when there are clouds, rain and sun; all competing to put on a show.

Summers nearly here, can't wait for that hot days cool off with a dip in the sea. Maybe the back beach at Gunnamatta this year.

Bendigo JVI 2008 Open Competition.

JUDO SPORTS

CENTRAL VICTORIAN OPEN

BENDIGO 2008

Sunday 26th October 2008

“Schweppes Centre”

Marong Rd Bendigo, Enter via Inglis St.

Canteen will be operating

All ages and grades- Under 8 years to Masters

Spectators: $2.00 Family: $5.00

COMPETITORS

Please arrive at least 10 minutes prior to weigh-in. It is suggested that you bring two

judogi in case you have to change under the IJF infection rules. Coloured judogi are

permitted but not compulsory. Standard weight divisions apply, however the right is

reserved to adjust weight divisions in the interest of players. Strict adherence to weight

times.

Seniors: $15.00 Juniors: $10.00 Extra Division: $5.00

Age Group Weigh- In

U/8, U/10, U/13 years 9.00- 9.30am

U/20, U/16years 10.00- 10.30am

Senior (16 years and over) + Masters (O/35) 10.30- 11.00am

Where to stay?

Click the link below

to find Hotels/Motels.

BENDIGO Where to eat? Pub/Hotel Shamrock hotel Located on the corner of Pall Mall and Williamson Street (It has the best chicken parma in town) Restaurant GPO 60-64 Pall Mall, Bendigo. Up market restaurant Bazzani Italiano 2–4 Howard Place, Bendigo.

Pan Gallery. 003 Studio Resident Show.

Eureka tower, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Photo taken by andrew widdis with a Nikon D70s.

Birrarung Marr; looking towards Eureka tower. Eureka tower was designed by Fender Katsalidis. Nonda Katsalidis also designed Republic Tower on the corner of Corner Queen and Latrobe Streets in Melbourne's CBD, my favourite building.

Elwood, Victoria, Australia.

Photo taken by andrew widdis with a Nikon D70s.

A beautiful part of Melbourne to visit on a sunny spring day.

St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

St Paul's Cathedral. Too much to do today. So I'll add comment later. Feel free to comment yourself.

Federation Square, Melbourne, Victora, Australia.

Photo taken by andrew widdis with a Nikon D70s.

Fed. Square, Containing the Potter Gallery. You would think with a name like that, it would have more ceramics than paintings, but it is misleading. It's actually named after Ian Potter. Home of Australia' best art. All home grown too. European art is housed at the original NGV at 180 St. Kilda Road. Upstairs, top floor, you'll find my favourite paintings. Fred Williams' Pilbara series.

MCG.

Photo taken by andrew widdis with a Nikon D70s.

A new building has popped up at the end of the Jolimont rail yards. You can just see it from Birrarung Marr. Also viewable from Birrarung Marr is The famous MCG Stadium. With its fantastic new Northern stand replacing the old Olympic stand and the Members and Ponsford stand. The area of the original Ponsford stand has retained it's name. Justly so, as Ponsford the cricketer is legendary and it would be a shame to see the name lost from the MCG. Hotels to stay at for this post: Melbourne

Birrarung Marr, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Photo taken by andrew widdis with a Nikon D70s.

This wonderfully colourful sculpture called "Angel" was created by Deborah Halpern. It was situated to the left side of the National Gallery of Victoria entrance for 18 years. It now has a wonderful new home on the bank of Melbourne' Yarra river at Birrarung Marr. Hotels to stay at for this post: Melbourne

St. Kilda Marina. Victoria, Australia.

Photo taken by andrew widdis with a Nikon D70s. I used to come to the St. Kilda Marina on weekends, back in my school days. Those were the days. Now I can only dream.

Hotels to stay at for this post: St. Kilda Melbourne

I'm in Melbourne today.

Photo taken by andrew widdis with a Nikon D70s.

This is Southern Cross Station in Melbourne. Must be the most dynamic looking station I know. Hotels to stay at for this post: Melbourne

A wet spring day in Bendigo.

Photos taken by andrew widdis with a Nikon D70s.

What a difference a day makes. This afternoon a few heavy drops of rain came down, and I thought that was that! Then, half an hour later it poured. Given that the last 12 years have been drought. And last spring it only really rained once or twice. The summer before I'm not even sure it rained at all. This rain is more than welcome. And that wonderful smell in the air when it has not rained for a while is beautiful.

Hotels to stay at for this post: Bendigo

Bendigo, Central Victoria, Australia.

Photos taken by andrew widdis with a Nikon D70s.

This is Bendigo, Central Victoria, Australia. I've lived here for just over 2 years now. An amazing place. A big country town, the biggest town in Australia. But still, only just 100,000 people. Surrounded by forest, and no peak hour traffic. What more can I say. Hotels to stay at for this post: Bendigo