I am not that fond of social media, but I do use it. Sounds a bit hypocritical, doesn’t it? I rather like the Facebook ‘Memories’ feature. It reminds me of what I was doing on that same date, in previous years. They are always happy memories. (I generally don’t post sad ones).
Last year at this time, for instance, I took a road trip with an old friend. We stayed overnight at an Eco-resort, a first for me. It was sublime. In the morning we took a walk through the forest and there was a surprise waiting for us, one that I wasn’t so fond of:
Instead of taking the highway home, we opted to follow some back roads. An unscheduled stop in a rural area, to check on a noise in the rear boot, (read: trunk if you are from the USA), led me to discover a surprising panorama. One that only the farmer and the cows might have shared:
However, a bigger surprise was to come a few miles north.
Can you guess what it is?
In Aussie lingo, it is known as the Kenilworth ‘Dunny.’
In a park prone to flooding (?!), a kilometre outside of the small country town of Kenilworth, Australia, a town known more for its prize-winning cheese, is a prize-winning Dunny, or public toilet facility.
180 people submitted their designs in a competition, run by the Town’s Council, for the creation of a new public – ah – monument. It was a local architectural illustrator, Michael Lennie, whose design titled Canistrum, Latin for a basket, that was selected.
At a cost of $600,000, the ‘Dunny’ was supposed to represent a basket – the basket being the history of the town and the unfinished basket supports the future history of the town, yet to be written.
But why yellow?
On pondering the glorious throne, of which I did not deem necessary to try out first hand, I pondered whether the artist was having a go at us, or maybe he was a ‘basket case?’ Lol.
The folks up that way do seem to have a wry sense of humour as the next surprise seemed to indicate.
This was spotted on the back road across the mountain.
Jurassic Park anyone?
If you haven’t already guessed, the theme this week for Friendly Friday is:
Surprise
Show us a Surprise photo or two, or three in a Friendly Friday Post?
Because everyone likes Surprises, don’t they?
Even if they are a prize winning public toilet facility.
Surprise Us!
How to Join the Friendly Friday Challenge
To participate in the Challenge this week, you need to:
- Create a Friendly Friday Post titled: ‘Friendly Friday – Surprise’
- Link back your post to this blog, forestwoodfolkart.wordpress.com and Sandy’s blog. The Sandy Chronicles
- Tag your post, ‘Friendly Friday and ‘Surprise’
- Leave a comment below, so that the hosts and others can find your post (pingbacks don’t always work)
- Let the hosts know via the contact page if you would like to be featured as a guest blogger in future weeks. We publish a guest post once a month.
See you over at Sandy’s blog next week for the next Friendly Friday theme.
Oddly, not a single one of your photos displays.???? I left Facebook some months ago – just before the pandemic, as it turned out. I was sick of the Echo Chamber, and decided that I kept in touch with friends anyway, so none of the rest mattered. Slightly to my surprise, I don’t miss it at all, and even feel a sense of release. It’s annoying when organisations don’t have a website, but only a FB presence, but I survive!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh dear. Thanks for telling me. They are links via urls to google photos which sometimes don’t work. I will have to check that now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I also don’t look at facebook as much as I used to, only because I am admin to several groups.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds exhausting!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The groups are not too much trouble and quite interesting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
@Margaret – Can you see them now?
LikeLiked by 1 person
All except the ‘basket case’ one …
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is an enlargement of the previous. I will delete it. I started using google photos as a way to save space. Not only has it saved space, it hasn’t added the photo at all! Lol! How are things with you, Margaret?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fine thanks, as you seem to be. All good!. I use Google photos as my storage too, but download any images I want to use on my blog. It uses less blog space that way, I find. Actually, I didn’t know you could do it any other way, so that’s interesting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If your photos are set to public, you should be able to copy image link location, just like any other public photo on the web, I think. On the image block, you enter the url. Now that I think about it, Sandy has told me the problem with google photos not showing before. I didn’t want to have to download them, but it is great that they won’t use up so much space. I think I will just use imgur or buy so more storage?
LikeLike
I don’t know anything about imgur. I’ve just googled it and am not much the wiser. But at the moment, I’m happy to chug on as I am
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is just another site like Flikr where you can upload photos and then embed them to a post, via a url instead of loading the image to your wordpress media library.
LikeLike
I’m the same. I had Facebook but over time I really couldn’t stand it anymore and deleted my account. There are far more interesting things to do with your time than looking at Facebook. It was handy to stay in touch with some people but real friends don’t need it and who really needs to know the minutiae of our daily lives.
LikeLiked by 2 people
So well said, S J Shaw. Why do we need to know the minutiae of other’s daily lives? Curiositiy? Voyeurism? To reinforce that we are all pretty much normal? (Whatever that means)? Because facebook certainly doesn’t really contribute to our knowledge base as there is a lot of output that is well frankly, garbage!
LikeLike
Exactly. Though local firms who use FB instead of making a simple website are my current bug-bear.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I suppose they have tried to set something up quickly and facebook can target specific audiences very quickly and successfully. A well made website might be harder to find and has to await Google spiders to find it before it ranks high in any search. Facebook gives them bang for buck, but like the marketing we were discussing recently, is just so annoying for the reader. TV advertising isn’t much better although seems to be diminishing with the advent of streaming services. Remember those ads that repeat at the beginning and end of an ad break, and then every ad break during a program broadcast? Like brainwashing torture!
LikeLiked by 1 person
To see the photos probably need to be on FaceBook (which I’ve never been) can only see the first pic. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Try again now, Drake. I think it was because I used a url from Google photos and my privacy won’t allow the photos to show. No one mentioned this before so I didn’t realise until now. So many photos have not been visible…. eek! How are you going, anyways?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amanda now I can see five out of six – five of six not bad, it’s it.? 😀 😀 😀
LikeLike
Is there a caption under the one you can’t see?
LikeLiked by 1 person
There was, but now that caption gone – so now it’is five of five. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah. Sorted. Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
At least the basket looks interesting, contrary to other toilet architecture I’ve seen. I happen to know a guy who designs, well not the restrooms themselves, but the lay-bies (lay-bys?) for the restrooms on German autobahns, you know: how many lanes, how long, how curved, where to put the parking bays, where the actual toilet and so on. Very organised, very efficient, very cliché German. The guy is a total nutter, you might call him a basket case, I guess 😀
My photo is not me being surprised but me surprising somebody else. I hope it was a good surprise in the end: https://picturesimperfectblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/22/surprise-me/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Toilet architects – is there such a specialty? I am surprised! Oha!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀 😀 😀
LikeLike
I like the view you saw when you had car trouble. Surprises like that are good. I’m intrigued by the basket building, unfinished. The symbolism is interesting. Somewhere in Ohio there is a factory that is [was?] built to look like a huge basket. I’ve seen photos of it but have never seen it in person. Maybe basket buildings are a thing?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting symbolism but I don’t see it as having any connection with excrement facilities! Clearly though, it was a popular suggestion.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for sharing a basket case. So appropriate for our times.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love your political innuendo, Peggy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I try.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love the Raptor at the roadside 😃 Here’s mine: https://jezbraithwaite.blog/2020/05/22/surprised-in-the-garden-friendly-friday-may-22/
LikeLike
Amazing. What a moment. Thanks for joining in with Friendly Friday.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are very welcome, Jez.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful images… love the raptor. I would’ve died of fright if I had seen that snake. It is when you go off the beaten track that you find some beautiful landscapes.
I don’t know about you but here in England the country roads are so narrow you can’t stop and by the time you find somewhere to park you are miles away from what you wanted to photograph.
That is why I love Scotland… they have great pull-in places everywhere so you can just park up and photograph the beautiful landscape, especially in the Highlands. Here is my contribution for the challenge http://brashley.photography/2020/05/22/friendly-friday-challenge-surprise/
LikeLike
Lovely surprise view!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Maria. I will have a look at your post right now.
LikeLike
Great topic Amanda. Lot’s of interesting possibilities to share unusual and unexpected photo captures. I was reminded of summer photos I took a couple years back. Here’s my contribution to FF.
https://thesandychronicles.blog/2020/05/22/friendly-friday-surprises-of-whimsy-magic/
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have aleady had a look at your post with the forest. Different and interesting highlights of the forest. Actually, if it a photo of a Northern forest, I love it! Yours was an extra treat! Thanks, Sandy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
These were all taken in a temperate rain forest on Vancouver Island in the Pacific North West. It’s a wild and beautiful place.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think I would like it very much. I love temperate forests.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I often get ideas for posts when I read or comment on other posts. They are wonderful for piggy back inspiration.
LikeLike
A lovely chuckle, Amanda. Thank you! And I’m glad the snake didn’t bite.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am so pleased I was able to inject some humour into your day, Hannah! Thanks ever so much for stopping by!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Only in Australian bushland would you find a random dino, a stunning dunny & a snake. I have a photo somewhere of 2 knights made from garden pots & tools holding solar garden lights guarding either side of someone’s driveway out bush. Hilarious.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Eccentric Garden Humour. Aussies are renowned for it! Have you posted about the 2 knights?
LikeLike
No, hahaha, makes me laugh just thinking about it. not yet, I will though. Have a great day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You too. Keep warm
LikeLiked by 1 person
Funny! 😀 I couldn’t see the beast in the first photo. I imagined a bear. But then I spotted the snake mentioned in the comments. I had another look and now I can see it. It looks huge! 😮
My surprises are gentle and mostly sweet and come with a few points on photography. Today I was on the beach for the first time in three months. It was empty.
https://mexcessive.photo.blog/2020/05/23/friendly-friday-surprises/
LikeLike
Hmmm. My comment disappeared. Has it gone to spam?
Here are my gentle surprises, again.
https://mexcessive.photo.blog/2020/05/23/friendly-friday-surprises/
LikeLiked by 1 person
I will have to check, Manja. I am only getting to reading comments now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I rescued it from the insidious spam monster!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah! Grazie! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
We don’t have bears in Australia! Even koalas are not technically bears.
LikeLiked by 1 person
omg, you got me with that dinosaur lol 😀 how cool is that 🙂 It looked so real for a moment, I thought, they must have real dinosaurs in Australia too lol 😀 just kidding 😀 thank you for the surprise and the smile that goes with it 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha. We do have dinosaurs here but only the fake kind! One tryhard politician was going to build a dinosaur theme park but it didn’t get off the ground. I am glad you got a surprise and a smile. It made my day to read your comment, Alexandra. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 ♥
LikeLike
Thank you for the reshing challenge. It was nice to think of something beyond covid-19…
Here is mine:
https://photographias.wordpress.com/2020/05/23/friendly-friday-surprise/
LikeLike
Like you, I’m not a fan of social media but use it. I don’t post on my Facebook anymore (except for my blog’s page) and maybe have a quick browse through my feed once or twice a day. Same goes for my Twitter – posting content that is blog-related.
That is a creative dunny designed through a competition. The idea behind it might be taking the piss out of us, who knows. But I reckon its thoughtful, and ambiguous so each of us can interpret it our own way.
That Jurassic Park-like dinosaur looks almost too real lol.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Taking the piss!!! Awesome Dad joke pun, Mabel. Well done!
Just as well the dinosaur isn’t lit at night.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jurassic was a real surprise.
Thank you for the clicks and interesting narration about Kenilworth Dunny.
Thanks again for the inspiration
https://philosophyvia.photos/2020/05/23/friendly-friday-surprise/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks ever so much for joining in on Friendly Friday. The dinosaur surprised me. In the middle of nowhere, there it was. A quirky country artist who enjoyed the movies, perhaps?
LikeLike
I’ve aways liked snakes so I would have liked to see that one, not too close of course. Also like the dunny a lot. I’d definitely have checked out the interior. Maybe the theme is continued inside. Here’s my offering: https://grahamsisland.com/2020/05/23/a-fisherman-and-his-catch/
LikeLiked by 1 person
My friend checked out the interior of the dunny, Graham. It was an anti-climax. No distinguishing features.
LikeLiked by 1 person
How disappointing. It would have been fun to have the basket theme carried on inside in a somewhat practical way.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That failed in that. Architects!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Something a little different from me for this challenge:
https://davidmsphotoblog.com/2020/05/23/friendly-friday-surprise/
LikeLike
hahahaha would never have guessed what it housed.. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know, Lisa! It was so random, out in the middle of nowhere, outside the small town’s limits.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m also not a big social media user, but I do appreciate Facebook Memories. I love the reminder of where I was on a certain day (like you I typically only post positive memories). It’s also a great lesson in how quickly time flies and we shouldn’t waste (or wish away) a single minute/
LikeLiked by 2 people
Absolutely agree. Seeing how much time has passed can remind us to live in the moment and appreciate the moment.
For me, that is taking a moment to stand back, observe and take a snapshot of sights and sounds of a particular moment, with your mind. It seems to cement it in my consciousness and my mind.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Apologies I seem to have also inadvertently created a pingback to another post for this weeks challenge as well as my original one – ‘Enveloping’ – please feel free to remove this link and this comment!
LikeLiked by 1 person
No worries. We all make mistakes.
LikeLike
Surprise
https://bushboy.blog/2020/05/25/surprise-3/
LikeLiked by 1 person
wow. well done bushboy
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi Amanda, Oh, an Australian surprise. I don’t think we have them get as big around here. The first time I am hearing about a “Dunny.” A monument. Hilarious. Funny description “glorious throne.” Your entire post made me smile. Thank you.🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
If I was able to make you chuckle, Eric/ka, my work was done! It makes my day when I have been able to bring a laugh/funny moment to another. Laughing is so therapeutic. The word Dunny is so iconically Australian. I don’t like the word and don’t use it generally speaking, but the term does have its uses when referring to colloquial Australian. Out of curiosity, I just looked up the origins of the word.
“The word comes from British dialect dunnekin meaning an ‘earth closet, (outside) privy’ from dung + ken ‘house’. First recorded in the 1930s but dunnekin is attested in Australian sources from the 1840s.”
That is a surprise! British in origin!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting! I often wonder what someone would think if they looked at my browser history when researching unusual information. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lots of surprises here! Love the basket one the most 🤣Here’s mine – https://myheart2heart.blog/2020/05/28/i-can-see-a-rainbow/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just made this week’s challenge. Thanks fir joining in.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A last minute surprise 😅
LikeLiked by 1 person
thanks forestwood, you kept the audience enthralled till the end with the surprise element. i’m trying to figure out how to be part of your challenge and would certainly love to participate. if you have any suggestions that would make it easy for me to get started, please share them. Meanwhile all the best in all things life and happiness.
LikeLike
I just found your comment, Sophie, in my spam folder and saved it. We have another challenge up now: https://forestwoodfolkart.wordpress.com/2020/06/05/friendly-friday-weekly-challenge-the-colour-pink/
If you want to participate there are instructions on the post, and also here: https://forestwoodfolkart.wordpress.com/instructions-for-the-friendly-friday-photo-challenge/
Hope to see you join in.
Amanda
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for sharing. Will check it out as soon as possible.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great!
LikeLiked by 1 person