The Proposal

Right.

Here we go.

So, I am with my girlfriend. We are in the East Perth Train Station, and my phone starts vibrating. Pulling it out of my pocket, I see that I actually do not know who this is. I look to Bec, look back at my phone. She says to me, “Yes, you do want to answer it”. I look at her, and she knows that I don’t want to.  I slide the button across my screen, put the device to my ear, and I hear a vaguely familiar voice saying:

“Oh Hi Billy! Its Leanne from Angus & Coote in Kalgoorlie.”

In one fluid motion, I push Bec away from me, turn to look at something on the ground, and stand hunched over like a cripple, some how convincing myself that because I look like a cripple, it is going to help quieten my conversation.

“I’m just calling to let you know that your ring has arrived.”

I reply:

“Kthanks”.

This whole time, I am not thinking about the conversation. In the space of about half a second, I dug myself a hole, which could quite possibly result in Bec figuring out that I have just casually bought a ring.

Just because…

Yeah…

Cos I do that kinda thing…

Casually recollecting myself, I walk over to her, wrap my arm around her, and try to pretend like that was nothing worth hiding at all. The inevitable question soon arose… “So, who was that?”

Honestly, I cannot remember what was said, but all I remember is that the conversation came to a dead halt, and we moved onto something else fairly quickly. Quite odd for me, as I am usually pretty quick in coming up with something to distract from predicaments that I find myself in.

This was the beginning of the web of lies that I would have to spin to keep the love of my life from the truth that I was about to ask her to marry me. Luckily for me though, I was getting on a plane that night to head over to Sydney to buy a car.  You see, I have this fear inside me. I am afraid because Bec has this way of being able to just convince me to tell her the secrets that I don’t want to. The puppy dog eyes have got nothing on her ;) So, in one sense, I was sad that I had to leave her, but I was relieved that there was less chance for her to pull the secret that I was going to propose soon, out of me.

I will put up another blog post in the not too distant future about the trip back with the camera & the car to cover everything in between here, and getting back to Kal after the trip, as most of it is irrelevant to the story of our engagement.

So, jumping forward a week, I had bought a car, travelled from coast to coast, and had in my possession a nice shiny rock, stuck in a very shiny piece of gold.

My trip back went like this:

Day 1) 200kms – Arrived in Blue Mountains

2) 400kms – Arrived in Cobar

3) 800kms – Arrived in Port Augusta

4) 1400kms – Slept about 150ks out of Norseman

5) 500kms – Arrived in Kalgoorlie

6) 600kms – Arrived in Perth

So, I made it all the way to Perth from Sydney, stayed 2 days in Perth, and then ripped back to Kalgoorlie, and in doing so, nearly doubled the mileage on my new car.

At this point, I had finished working with my Dad at his Burger Van, Diggers & Dealers was over, and I didn’t have any work on for another week or so, and my intention was to propose on Bec’s birthday, which is on the 29^th of September.

While driving back, I thought, “Well, why should I propose in Perth? Bec will have many more people to celebrate with if it is in Kalgoorlie”. So that is what I decided I would do. I sat on this thought for a little while (which was only a day lol), and then come Thursday, I decided to go pitch my idea to Rochelle (Bec’s Mum).

Standing out the back of Toyworld, I tell her about my plan to fly her back up to Kal, and to have dinner with her in the Chinese Gardens, and then propose to her in the Arts Center, and to do all this on Monday next week.

Rochelle gets very excited, and wants to give me a hug. I am tempted to say “Ahhhh! Alrighty Mum!” but I just give her a cheeky grin, and give her a big fat hug instead. The mum jokes get to wait for later…

So, I have headed off, and I start planning everything.

It is Friday.

About Mid afternoon.

I think, I have got nothing to do this week.

I think, Why am I proposing in a week’s time?

I think, I don’t have to wait that long.

I think, Well Ok then!

So, I call up Rochelle, and ask her if Jacob & Herself would be able to make the Monday in 3 days time available to have a surprise engagement party at their house, instead of in 10 days time. I am on the phone to Rochelle, and she says to me: “Ahh. Let me just ask Jacob”. In the back ground I hear Jacob, in his very Jacoby voice:

“What?!”

I laugh. He continues, “Why so soon?”, but Rochelle pitched my side of the story, and lo and behold! Monday it was.

Now… I had to pull it all together in time. This was going to be a mission.

My plan was this:

1. Train down to Perth
2.  Arrange for Bec to have lunch with a friend in the city
3. Meet Bec in the City
4. Fly her back to Kalgoorlie
5. Have a candle lit dinner in the Chinese Gardens
6.  Take her up to the lookout for a romantic view of the city
7. Blind fold her, and take her to the Arts Center
8. Propose on stage, with over 300 Candles, and friends & family in the auditorium
9. Head back to Jacob & Rochelle’s house for a surprise engagement party

Quite the feat to arrange in 3 days, I know. But in all honesty, I think that it was a bit of a God thing that it all worked out like it did.

Now, I found myself a bit of a debuncle…. Bec goes to feed the homeless on Mondays, and that starts at midday, and my train arrived at 2pm. So, I was going to clean miss her my a solid 2 hours, so I needed her to not have to need to go to Mana (homeless feeding group), but I had nobody’s contact now did I?

So, I get on facebook, add Karen (who runs it), and tell her that I need her mobile number. I get her number, and call her up, and she is in Singapore. Just casually… In Singapore, so I ask her to txt Bec, and let her know that she doesn’t need to go to mana, so that I can arrange a lunch with a friend of hers in the city.

So Karen does that for me, and that is all sorted. 1 Issue out the way. I then find out that she is actually meeting up with an old work mate for dinner on Monday night, after she is finished at “Mana”. Now… This was a real issue. I searched ALL over facebook for him. All Bec’s mates. All Bec’s Mates, Mates, and still nothing could be found, and no joy to be had.

So, similar to the last situation, I facebooked one of Bec’s work mates, to get her number, to txt her, so I could ask her if she has Samy’s number. But she doesn’t.. So… I nearly beg her to get the number for me, and she ends up going through the old Loose Box employment records, so that she can get his number, so that I can call him, to ask him to change dinner to lunch, so that when I arrive in the city, Bec will be there.

Wow… That is even confusing for me to read lol.

So yes. I have now pretty much got everything sorted out.

I have got my pastors cooking us dinner, my folks setting up and packing down dinner, Dan & Amy taking photos of the proposal, Jacob & Rochelle arranging the engagement party, people lying for me and changing plans, Qantas being our chauffers, and Bec had no idea that any of this was going on.

That in itself ladies and Gentlemen was a miracle. She is usually SOOOO cluey, and picks up on the slightest thing. Not this time! :D

WIN!

So, here we are. I am now in Perth, standing in Forrest Chase square in the heart of the city, and I have messaged my lovely lady. 15 mins has already past, and I am beginning to wonder why she is taking so long. You know how you get these ideas of what it should look like, and you can see her dropping her shopping where she stands, running up to you with her hair frolicking through the breeze, and she leaps into your arms, and there is that passionate embrace that has been missing for so long.

Yeah, none of that was happening aye. I am just standing there, my heart is beating almost out of my chest with the anticipation of being able to just hold my Becka girl again, and I cannot wait.

I see her, and I expect her to just ditch her mate and run up to me, and tell me how much she missed me, and all that stuff.

She just strolls along, and casually reaches me, slides her arms around me, and whispers that she has missed these moments. All my preconceived expectations of what it should look like fell by the wayside as I was swept up in this moment yet again.

Anyways! I am convinced that when she sees me in Perth, she is going to know that something is up. But, no. Despite my surprise arrival in Forrest Chase square, and my distant conversations, she still is completely oblivious. We sit down on a park bench, and she shows me her shopping for the day, and I am almost a little taken back that she is not suspicious of the fact that I am in Perth, and I have been lying to her saying that I am very busy this week… yes… I know… all lies.

So, I find out that her car is back in Midland, and I look perplexed, and say to her “We gotta go”. She looks at me confused, and I just say, “Come on! Just follow me”. All of a sudden, there is a cute little becka girl, who has no idea what is happening, and LOVES IT!

So, we jump on the train, and make it to her car (Ellie). Where, I inform her that I need to drive. For those that don’t know, Bec is protective of her car, so she reluctantly gave me the keys, and I jumped in the drivers seat. I needed to get to the airport now.

We pull up at the lights, and we are a little early, so I think, “Ahhhh stuff it. We’ll keep driving”.

but…

Bec says to me, “Lets just jump on a plane!”

I’m thinking: “Oh sweet Jesus, you could not have put better words in her mouth…” I was so surprised that she said that.

I say, “Ok!”, and I get into the turning lane to go to the airport. Bec informs me quite suddenly that this is the domestic airport, and we want to be going to Bali. I think to myself, “Ahhh crap…” and keep driving. I go through the round abouts, because I missed the long term parking lol, and so naturally, Bec thinks I am just being a tool, because I do a loop, and work my way back toward the exit. But no! I don’t leave do I? I head into the long term parking, and we get out, and head over to the airport.

By this time, bec has convinced herself that we are just meeting someone there for dinner or something. Not actually getting on a plane, and I tell her that she is right. “Nah, were not getting on a plane babe”.

We pick up our boarding passes, and now she is getting fidgety, and cant sit still. She just keeps clinging to my arm, and I tell you what! Didn’t I just feel like King?!

“Yea… All you other fellas be jealous. Your Mrs don’t want you like this now does she?”, as I look around the airport terminal and see all the other couples just sitting there lol.

So, we are just getting on the plane, and I text my folks, so they can start setting everything up, and leave the car at the airport for us. We arrive in Kal, and now I need to poo cos I am so excited, so we do the toilet thing, and meet outside. Bec is now on the biggest high of her life, still with No idea of what is coming.

We jump in the car, and I ask Bec if she is excited. And she says “Oh nah. Not really”, then as we are leaving the airport, she just blurts out, “OH BILLY! I AM SO EXCITED!”, while bouncing around on the passenger seat like it is a pogo stick.

So, we arrive at the Hall of Fame’s Chinese Gardens, and there is the red carpert flowing down the steps to greet us as we pull up at the entrance. I tell her to sit in the car, and I run around the side of the car, and open the door for her, take her hand, and walk her up to the pergola, over looking the pond, with the remains of what once was lit candles surrounding our dinner setting.

It is still very nice, regardless of lit candles or just candles sitting there for ornamental sake.

I sit her down, and tell her that I love her, and that while I was driving back from Sydney, I bought her a necklace, so I pulled it out, and had the privilege of being able to put on my “fiancé-to-be’s” neck. We sit and converse about not much, and I am careful about what I talk about, so as not to give away anything to come.

I spot a car roaring down the road, and know that our food is now here.

Soon enough, Pete rocks up, with Asher as our waiter, and serves the food up. French Lamb cutlets, and a very nice bean-like salady thingy. 10 Points to Carolyn for that one.

We finish out dinner, and I look down at my watch, as I told everyone to be at the Arts Center by 6:45, so I could make it there to propose at 7:15. The time was 6:40, and I needed to allow enough time for the folks to make it to the Arts Center also.

It was a little rushed, but I took my love by her hand, and led her to the car, where I told her that I she had to keep her eyes closed. I then asked her to block her ears, so that I could grab the ring from my folks, as I didn’t want to leave it sitting in the car at the airport.

So, I head over to where they are, and they are trying to be quiet, but if they were talking in sign language, it would have said something like:

“BILLY! *insert face of horror* NO! GO THAT WAY! ITS NOT HERE! RY HAS GOT THE RING!”

I am in a dilemma now aren’t I? You see, I don’t speak fluent sign language. Let alone, when it has an accent of mung-bean, so I have to get out of the car, and ask mum what she means.

I promptly get back in the car, and cruise down to the gate, where my little brothers are waiting eagerly with the little box in their hands. I wound down the window, and as it lowered, the could see my finger pressed against my lips reminding them not to utter a sound.

I hardly stop. My heart is racing with the anticipation of what is coming next.

I have to allow enough time for my parents to pack down the dinner, and get into the Arts Center. I take my lady to the lookout above the city, and we kinda just chill there for a little while, and by the time we are at the top of the lookout, I see what looks like my parent’s cars driving past. I honestly wasn’t sure, but I didn’t want to make it look too obvious that I was trying to see who was driving past.

I casually took her in my arms, and we just sat and looked over Kal, and about 5 minutes later, we made out way very casually back down Mt. Charlotte, and we jumped in to the car.

Climbing into the drivers seat of my car, I look into the door, and the ring is sitting there, and my I am reminded that these are the last few moments of our life as boyfriend and girlfriend. With the ring still lingering in my mind, I look Bec tenderly in the eyes, and say, “Baby. I have something for you”. She is not sure what to expect, and I can see she is a little excited.

“Heres a blindfold. You need to put this on. Thanks baby.”

Don’t know what she was expecting, but probably wasn’t a blindfold.

I drive her all over town, zig zagging my way to the arts center. We pull in at the back carpark, and Rikky sees us arriving, and heads in to tell everyone that we are now here, and that billy will personally castrate you if you burp, sneeze, fart, cough, or blink while we are on stage, and I am proposing.

I tell bec to stay in the car, and I open the back door, put my blazer on, walk around to her side door, take her by the hand, and tell her that she just has to stand there. You see, she cant hug me either, because I have a Dictaphone in my pocket so that I can record what I am saying, and I don’t want her to feel it. So, I just resort to stroking her shoulders…

Mmhmm… yes… stroking her shoulders…

She even asked me “Why are you stroking my shoulders like that?...”, she even had a hint of nervousness, and confusion in her voice while asking me. I laughed, and tried to cover up the nervousness/excitement in my voice.

After deciding that I had left enough time for everyone to get ready, I took my Becca Rose’s hand, and walked her into the corridor. She asks me “Where are we? Why is there an echo?”, I just smiled, chuckled a little, and kept walking. We walked onto the back of the stage, and you could see the faintest glow of the candles through the black curtain dividing the stage.

I stopped to turn to Bec, and took the blind fold off. Still having no idea of what was to come next, I gently took her hand in mine, and lead her in view of the candles. Walking around the corner of the curtain, on show for us was 300+ candles lighting the stage, and at the heart of it all, was that. Candles in the shape of a big love heart, with a row either side, to make an aisle for us to walk down.

Rehearsing what I had practiced in my mind so many times before, seemed to elude me as she clung to my arm, tighter and tighter, and all I could hear was the love of my life whispering, “Oh Bear… Oh Bear…”, as I led her into the center of what was a resemblance of my heart.

Standing at the peak of the heart, I took her hands in mine, as our fingers fell within each others. I looked her deep in her eyes, and began confessing my love and adoration for her. Lowering myself down on one knee, I glanced up, and again all I could hear was the girl who was soon to be my fiancé, whispering, “Oh bear… Oh bear…”.

Out of my back pocket, I pulled a small box, and looking up at Rebecca Rose, asked her the question I had been waiting to ask her for so long,

“Will you marry me?”

I listened for the word, and sure enough my ears were graced with a,

“Yes”, as I stood up, took the ring from the box, and placed it on her finger. With some eyeball sweat, I took  her in my arms, as we both just laughed, cried, and held eachother. With her back turned, I looked into the blackness where everyone sat, smiled hugely, and gave them all the big thumbs up.

Slowly the lights, came on, and a roar like I have never heard form such a an amount of people took over the auditorium, as becka just held me even tighter, and laughed that little bit more with the realisation of what all the cheering meant.

Basking in the glory of the moment, we just stood there, for a little wee while longer, and then made our way down to greet all our family and friends as the newly engaged couple. From here, we made our way back to her parent’s place for the engagement party, and laughed, shared stories, and celebrated the culmination of our “dating” period.

So, here is to us, and what our future holds.

Love you babe xx

The Airport

In my hand I hold a handful of white spaghetti, which I intend to be able to listen to my music through, while the Federal Police stand watch over the thoroughfare, occasionally glancing over to the 14 people asleep between two baggage carousels, in their sleeping bags, blankets, and various assortments of attire to keep warm. One guy is wearing shades while he sleeps, another's towel (which will serve as tonight's make-shift blanket) allows his toes to protrude from the comfort of the warmth, one gentleman even nominated me as his alarm clock and so I went and woke him up a few minutes ago... He is still asleep despite my attempts to prove myself valuable as an alarm clock.


3:28 am. 2 Hours to go.

I am sitting in Perth Domestic airport, and there are quite a few people asleep, within 10 meters around me as I get my nerd on lol.

In all honesty, I'd rather be doing what they're doing, but I am wide awake, and there are no signs of getting shut eye any time soon. So I spent the last hour or two trolling through my Temporary Photos folder in Lightroom, and I do believe that I had deleted 500(ish) photos, to leave me with around 300 piccies, only to have to troll again, until I get the elite of the elite images. I mean, there are photos from over 2 months ago still sitting here. Terrible really...

Here is what I found. Back in June, whilst visiting my lovely lady, I was driving back to the city along Toodyay rd. As the sunset set fire to the sky, and ignited the clouds with color, I was captivated with what my eyes took in. The sunset had literally set the sky alight. It was so vivid and rich. I truly do love our Australian sunsets.














Venturing even further back than the last one, but this pre-dates to the very first of June. I had this idea for a little while of getting a photo of a flag blowing full pelt with a slow shutter, and see how it turned out. And, I was quite happy with the result of the image that resulted.







Then, on the complete extreme of dates, we have a picture from last night, by the river lol. I have just walked back from the city over the narrows bridge, rather than just jumping on the ferry or the bus. I had been walking for a while, and just been stopping where anything took my fancy, and taking photos of the life passing me by, and as I was getting closer to nan's place, I saw the Jetty, and thought I'd give it a crack. Turned out pretty good if I may say so myself :)

There you are all. My plane is now only half an hour away, and my belly is aching (not just for food though ;).

See you all when I have a new car :)

Adam, My Musical Mate

Adam



This seems to be a name that I am getting familiar with while on the streets meeting new & interesting people. This time, Adam was a musician. Rather than being a life-defending, witch-watcher, who's name I was not certain was actually Adam, this Adam was a Geography-teaching, ciggy-smoking, unemployed, uneducated tiger.


To quote him: "City Of Perth! Thank you for supporting an uneducated and unemployed Tiger!"... And your'e thinking, "The guardian of life might be telling the truth as opposed to this guy..."

I know, but I could not help but instantly love this dude. From the moment that I heard his Reggae-Punk echoing through the streets, and his haneously raw voice being broadcasted to the ears of passers by, my spirit lifted from the frustration of trying to get "that photo" and fell aside as I was captivated with how this complete stranger could just be a person being a person with no regard to what anyone thought of him. He was Adam, and he was in a Tiger outfit, and he was cool.

At first sight of him, I stood back to get the photos that I wanted from afar, as his presence on the street drew my attention away from sign that summed it all up perfectly:

"Hooray For Everything"

This guy was just that. He was a statement of 'Hooray-ing For Everything'. Everything about him said just that. I mean, He was in a tiger outfit, he couldn't sing, he was sweating from being in the sun, and he was passionate about being himself.

Anyway. Let me begin today's visual story ...

I spot this guy, and I would say I am about 20-30 meters away when I decide to stop and get snap happy. I stopped behind a bollard. You know one of those metal things popping out of the ground? Usually at about waist-height, and as round as your fist? Yeah. This was my hiding post. I know... I am thinking the same thing as you. I have this knack for thinking that because I have a camera, and the person looks a little bigger through my viewfinder, that they cant see me.

... Retard ...

I look down behind me. Look up to this singing human tiger. Think: "Hmmmmm. Billy.... You are a stealth boss now arent you? Shucks."

Luckily, he didnt care. These two dudes walked past, grabbed a seat on the bench he was on, and started chatting with him. Straight away, he swapped music for people, and began talking. These guys bailed, and I seized the moment. I walked up to him, extended my hand and said "Dude, I haven't got any cash, but you are the man".

He looked at me... 

...and kept singing.

I mean... I am like a meter away from him. Its not like one of those situations where I think that because I am hiding behind a concrete stick, that he cant see me. I am right in front of him.

Whilst still singing, he leans forward, as if to say "Huh?". I think to myself, "I dont want to repeat myself word-for-word..."

"I dont have any cash, but you are the man"... Smooth..

He stops, shakes my hand, and keeps on singing his renditions of Sublime. I keep taking photos.

Stopping for a break, he asks if I have got enough photos, and if not, that I will need to take a spell, so that he can have a smoke. So, I head over to him, and get chatting. He continues to inform me that he is a Geography, History, English, and Sos teacher, and the he does this in his spare time for kicks. 

He tells me about his Mrs. and how the turtle tattooed on his left wrist is for her and a sign that they will never be apart, and tells me about how good we have really got it, and that we really don't go without anything. He tells me how they lived in a tent for 3 years while traveling around Europe and NSW, and how while Hitch-Hiking, they would carry a sign saying "Home", and when asked where "Home" was, their response was, "Where are you going?".

He tells me about how people are good at heart, and about the time when he met a guy called Michael Gabrielle while breaking into his house, and that Michael had been left with nothing after a 10 year law suit, and even with nothing to his name and being broken into, Michael still extended an invitation to Adam to bring his sleeping bag around, and that he could stay at his house if he wanted to.

He tells me how life is simple. He tells me about how we have got everything we need. He tells me about how we are well off. He tells me how we will always be able to have 3 squares a day. He tells me how there is something valuable in everyone. He tells me about how he would spend time with homeless people just to learn from them, and by the end of our conversation, I ended up telling myself that Adam was someone that I could learn so much from, and that Dale Carnegie's quote, "every man is my superior, that I learn of him", was re-enforced through my meeting of Adam.

This man is an inspiration, and although he lives in a tent with a sign that says "Home", with a lady who represents a turtle on his wrist, sings deformed reggae in a tiger suit, and hangs out with homeless people to become a better person, Adam (wether or not that is his name), has inspired me to be a better me, and to learn from whoever I can as often as I can.

So... To Adam, and all that he is. 

Hooray For Everything.

The Adventures of Billy & Ariff - PT2

BOOM! and thats how my day started.


Then, after that, I went and met up with Ariff. After our considerably odd manner of meeting the day prior, and the lingering recollection of that ever-present 'oh-crap-you-werent-meant-to-turn-around-yet-ness', all the awkwardness of meeting someone new and so, not having anything to talk about was absent. Today became pretty easy after such a unique way of meeting 24 hours earlier. Piling into the car (yes, the two of us piled into the car...), we made quick haste to Freemantle.


So picture this. We rock up.




Thats all.




Haha, nah but seriously, we arrive, and there is just people everywhere. People crowding the street, and performances all over the place, and I am quite impressed with the ammount of people that are here for our arrival. Ariff was the man. I was really impressed. He would just walk up to people, and snap off a photo whether he was like 2 meters away from them, or 20 meters away. He owned that joint. I'm like, "Thats it bro! These people are here for us anyway! Do your thing!"


I'm glad that I didnt mention this to him, as the Freemantle Street & Performing Festival sign had eluded me until this point, and so consequently, I very quickly changed my stance on the reason as to why all these people were present at the same time as we had arrived.


Walking into the front of the fruit & veggie markets, I was just keen as a mung bean to take some photos. I saw something that has potential to look cool. So, with the slickness of James Bond, I swung that camera off my hip, and snapped a glorious image. I shall name it after the very first thought that I had after taking the photo:

"Why the hell did I just take this?"

Your thought too? Glad we think the same. I can very vaguely remember turning around to Ariff, and I think there was even a little bit of confusion on his face too lol.


As we progressed through the markets, with the wisdom of a dolphin, I put my "find weird looking people" glasses on. And THEN! I spotted this:

I took my "find weird people glasses" off, and Blow me dead! Nothing changed.


Now! It might not be a wierd looking person, but it comes close. That could eat you if your'e not careful. The golem-like foot was different, but such shock as soon to be recompensed with something not unlike a soothing balm. Scouring aorund, to see who was going to fall victim to my stunningly rugged good 'looking through my camera' abilities, I spotted a young man playing his violin, simply making his earning.


So, with the serenity of a canary bird, I captured what my eyes took witness of as this boy played his violin.

I have to admit. I was tempted to ask him:
"Have you been playing for more than 45 Minutes?"
"And whats more! Have you spoken to the Office?!"


But I'm not an ass, so instead I gave him some money cos my lil bro plays violin too, and he looked like a real softie.


Feeling good about myself for good deed that I had just done, Ariff and I began walking out of the veggie market, into the rest of the market. Now, for those that didn't read PT1 of the Adventures of Billy & Ariff, there is a photo of a gentle man attempting to sell me the big issue. I genuinely was not expecting to see two of these salesmen in two days. I was quite taken back. So with the precision of a Gorilla, I slinked into a corner, and waited for the opportune moment.

My Gorilla precisioness paid off.. As I am sure that you will agree, and if you dont, then you should.


For this guy (who was right behind us after taking the photo of the Big Issue dude), I used the intelligence of a mighty ox to plan how I would capture the duo singing thier folk songs. I saw them like 5 times, and man, they were cool. The guy looked like he has some form of aspergers syndrome or something lol. But hey! He was cool. 

Just after leaving the markets, we went outside, and the first thing I spotted was this bloke miming. I was drawn to him like a obese child is drawn to a lamington. He was my fav. And so, the intuition of a canadian beaver within me has decided that I will put 2 pictures of him up here. One of him Scaring me, and the other of Him scaring an innocent little girl. His attempts to console her were to no avail, and she ran back to Her dad. Oh well...

Just after seeing this guy, I noticed a substantial crowd all surrounding this area. Ariff & I went and checked it out. You know those performances where all they do is spend their whole time hyping the crowd up, and by that time, nobody cares how many nations this show has been to, and how many thousands of people have heard you recite this memorized speal, cos the fact of the matter is that you are boring as hell. And so, the confusion of a gender-confused confusion animal, (very rare) caused me to spot this picture of this acrobatics chick doing her thing. I have to admit. She was a little manly... Kinda put me off a bit.

After listening to this chick rant on for a while, Ariff & I gave it legs, and just down the street, I mean maybe 50, 100 meters, was this performance. And this was unique... I have never really found a hippie performance that isnt just plain old weird. These guys were dressed munted, kinda prancing all over the street like pitsy horses, and just doin their thing. Which was not doing ANY thing for me. But each to their own... And one who was to their own was that little girl in the back ground. Man! She might have been small, but in prancing the pitsy horse world, she would tear you a new one!

This guy was watching the hippie performance. And it looks like he had the same thoughts as I did lol. 

After being engrossed in the hippie performance, Ariff, and his faithful assistant (me), saw this guy just down the road, and he actually was really entertaining. He really was a cool dude, so I got this photo with the serendipity of a meerkat.

  

Just beside that guy's performance, I saw this dude leaning up against the bus stop, and I used the pretention of a lemur to get this photo. I thought it was cool anyway!

Just across the road from the Stripy Red & Black dress-up guy, I noticed these guys. If you have a look at the guy that was performing, and you can see the Nova banner? Just over the left of that. Anyways... They looked like they were pimps, but with no pimpage-ness going on. They had the attitude, but lacked the style. Sorry guys. But they just looked cool.

After snapping my pimpage guys, who lacked in pimpageness, we wandered down toward the end of the festival, where there was a couple playing some music. So, these couple were some of my favs too. They just played blues, and MAN! They were good! They had a nice little crowd of people surrounding them, and it was just as good as any live entertainment that you could get. The chick was hilarious. It was almost like she couldnt help but just groove when she started playing. She would stomp her foot, and all that other gear that goes with a really cool blues duo. Yeah. She was awesome.

Ok. If you look in the back ground of this photo, you can see the 'Detour Ahead' sign in the corner? On the opposite corner to that (diagonally) was where the Blues couple were playing. Just so you can get a feel for where abouts we are in our little story. 


So after noticing this guy, and with the slyness of a triceratops, I slinked into the shadows to get this photo, and found out that this guy didnt like his photo being taken, and told me to "go forth and multiply". First time ever lol. Next time, I'll try the earthworm...

So, we kept walking after we reached the end of the road, we just kept walking, cos we figured that there would be much more to see with everything as it was in Freo at the time. We walked down a few side streets, and on one of these side streets, I spotted this guy (with, of course, the steadiness of a giraffe). See if you can find him:

We wandered into a very life-less train station, hoping that there would be something to be had, and with the grace of a turtle's insight, I saw this guy reading the paper at a train station that was having no trains that day... Go figure...

In the train station, I saw this sign. I saw it as an opportune time to record this phenomenon. (and that one was with the compassion of a baboon).

Doubling back from our wander to the trainless train station, My green tree snake intuition led me to spot these guys sitting down here. And her green tree snake intuition spotted me too? :O

Now just up the road was this kid. He was just chillin. Nothing special. He just looked cool, and looked like he has the ladies under control... Good work Buddy.

We decided that we had been around, and walked far enough for that day, and, as we were leaving it started raining, and I saw this girl, and I was like. "Yeah..." So I took the photo.


Yeah...

So there you have it. I am terribly sorry for my all-over-the-place-ness with this post, but I wanted to get it out there while I had the opportunity to do so, and it ended up taking ALOT longer than I anticipated. I may get back on here, and give a bit more of a clean-up. But we all know that it probably will never happen.


There you have it!


The Adventures of Billy & Ariff.

The Adventures of Billy & Ariff - PT1

Ok! Let me walk you through my day.


I'm back on the Streets right? Now, just for those who havent already worked it out, I do this "Street Photography thing" for kicks, and my personal pleasure, and for no other end. I just enjoy it. So, I'm back out there, and I am 'street combing' all the people for possible photo opportunities. Again, the day is drawing to an end.


By this time, I have run into a guy, selling "The Big Issue" who would do better at convincing me that I should start to use sand paper to wipe my bum,

Got talking to a frenchman, who I just ended up agree with (not exactly sure what I was contracting myself into),

And tried to get a photo of an interesting looking dude... But I failed... So I got a photo of his feet... *grin sneaks across my face, with a hint of satisfaction*:

Your'e looking at this, and yes. I laid down on the ground to get a photo of this dude's feet... But "Damn! You say! That is a fine photo of his' feet!"






But! The coolest run-in that I had on this day, was with a man that I now have the privilege of calling a friend. So, I'm snapping up a picture of this busker. Right?:

Yes.. Laying on the ground again... and yes people looked at me funny...

And I'm showing this dude my pics, and I spot a guy out the corner of my eye bending waaaay down on one knee to get a photo of that bronze statue on Hay St. So, I think "Cool". The light is beautiful, the dude looks pretty interesting, and the statue is an Icon of Perth anyways. Perfect photo opportunity. I slap on my ninja shoes, and kinda sneak-run up behind this guy while he's taking this photo, and just as I start to bring my camera around off my shoulder, he turns around.

And you know there is that moment of real awkwardness, and kinda 'Oh-crap,-you-weren't-meant-to-turn-around-yet-ness'.

In my mind I'm thinking "Please be co-operative mate. I'm trying to get a photo of you."

He's looking pretty rugged, and looks a little dangerous. Even got a bit of a Mediterranean kinda look going on with his hair pulled back into a tail. Does this phase me? Not at all. I'm a man. I think "this guy doesnt intimidate me at all", and so I man up, and say:

"Oh. Sorry dude... Ahhh crap..."

Haha. So, I (with my quick witted-ness) make it not so awkward, and get talking about photography (obviously a passion that we both share). Turns out, hes a really cool dude, and he was just out doing the same thing as I was. All the way from Malaysia, and on a working trip. Just out taking photos of anyone, and everyone, while he had some time off. 

This kind just blew me out aye. I was so surprised that someone else would be out doing the same thing as me at the same place, and that of all things, we would cross paths! So anyways, we end up hanging out for the rest of the day, and drove over to the other side of the river to get this shot with him:

I get talking to him through out this, and we're both learning heaps from each other. I mean, the thing that impressed me most with Ariff is his passion for photography. Of his own admission, there is still so much to learn for him but man! I tell you what. That guy is inspiring! He is just so passionate about photography that is puts me to shame.

So, yeah. That is about it. My meeting with Ariff Abu. A foreign friend, with a fellow interest. Very cool guy to meet, and I am privileged to have met him, and the small impact that he has had on me and my view of photography was quite significant.

So. Without further ado, I give you Mr. Abu:

PT 2 (Freemantle) to come soon

Printing Prices

The BSP Price list is here.






Standard Photographs*


Prints:
19"x 11" - $70
29"x 19" - $100


Canvas:
19"x 11" - $160
29"x 19" - $240
39"x 29" - $350






Panoramic Photographs*
Dimension is for width of the photograph, as height varies


Prints:
23" - $90

31" - $110

47" - $140

Canvas:

23" - $140

31" - $170

47" - $320

Framing, and other sizes can be done upon request.




* Print only. Frame/Matting not included.
   Postage not included
   Canvas not framed/stretched

The Soul of The Streets

My Second Day on the streets was set for the 23 of April 2011. I was making my way to the Murray & Hay Street Malls yet again, to capture the City's vast expressions through the faces of the 1.6 million people that inhabited it.

The Murray & Hay St Malls, just over 300 metres long is home to a vast face of the City of Perth, and the houses the heart of this State's capital. Personally, I find it quite easy to look over my photos, and think "Oh yeah. Thats cool", but then I get these moments (very similar to this moment now), where I get to look through another set of eyes, and see people as individuals, and I begin to see people for who they are, and that through the people's conversations, style of dress, piercings, frowns, smiles and even stances, you can begin to grasp a bit more of who they are as people.

The coolest thing, is that in the same breath, you can step back for a moment, and take a glimpse of everybody collectively, and see the people as a whole, and witness those who make up the city. Almost to say that each person has taken part in creating a facet of the City which they inhabit. Such a simple thought (and in all honesty, when I take a moment to think about it, it is kinda gay haha), but it inspires and excites me to think that I can take the life and vitality that I see in someone (whether that may be in a good way, or bad) and in that moment, in that split second I have caught it in my hands forever; and although that somebody may think that they are insignificant, and seemingly another passer-by, they have, simply just by being apparent, and by being in a certain location at a certain time, they have taken part in expressing who they are, who the city is, and who we are as the nation of Australia.

Without further ado, I give you the face as I have grown to know it (so far) of Perth, Western Australia.