IT WAS A PRETTY GOOD FRIDAY

 

 

I went for my late afternoon exercise walk, through the city, Victoria Quay and down to Bathers Beach and the Fishing Boat Harbour, where I bought a disappointing fish&chips, which was over cooked and the fish too dry, from one of the two outlets that were open for take away there.

I bumped into a few people, so nice to have at least a short chat after a day of almost silence, but for the banging noises from my upstairs neighbour, and they were not even about having a good time. ;>))

There were a few people out riding bikes, walking, jogging, walking dogs, and I took the above photos of two ladies relaxing during a bike ride.

I must admit that I do find the socialising restrictions quite relaxing as I do not feel the need to go out and about all the time, so it works for me, as long as I’ve got enough books to read.

Roel Loopers

MAKE IT A REALLY GOOD FRIDAY!

 

Last man standing in the Fishing Boat Harbour

 

Take-Away only at Joe’s Fish Shack

 

The Easter long weekend has started and for many people that means eating fish. In the normally popular Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour only Joe’s Fish Shack is still open for take-away fish and chips and other meals, so support them if you don’t want to do the cooking yourself.

It is nice to quietly contemplate about life and our future sitting on the boardwalk steps at Bathers Beach, but make sure to keep well away from each other and to only be in couples and not larger groups, unless families with children. We all have to do our bit to beat the coronavirus. I too much miss socialising and catching up with people, but it has to be done.

Have happy and safe Easter!

 

Roel Loopers

RED TAPE PREVENTS LOOPY RESURRECTION

 

Easter is a time of contemplation, and even more so for me this year because I have hardly been able to participate in the Fremantle Street Arts Festival due to sciatica and hay fever medication, which when combined made me feel like a zombie today.

But I was thinking how lucky JC, the one from the Bible, was that red tape and nanny-state did not exist when he was resurrected, because it would probably not be allowed in our modern and very restrictive times.

As a forward-looking and future-focused person I have of course started to plan my own resurrection, but red tape has made it extremely frustrating.

I admit that the Fremantle Planning Department in the past have issued warnings about the demolition by neglect of my own heritage body, but surely they could be a bit more flexible when it comes to my resurrection.

My planning/resurrection application for a slim 210cm body with great film star looks was considered to be unrealistic and the additional discretionary height-up from 175cm- was rejected because there was no evidence that my new looks would be anywhere near as good as the architect’s plans suggested. Dare I mention that there was also  extremely strong community opposition to my resurrection. There was even a petition with 57,000 signatures, which shows not even the people in mediocre Cockburn and Melville like me!

I did go to JDAP and SAT but they too believed my resurrection was of no great benefit to the Fremantle community. It’s a shame, because now you will all be missing out on another long weekend after Loopy is a goner. 😡😍 😴😲 😇 😳

I hope you had a brilliant long weekend in Freo!

Roel Loopers

PS:  I was raised a Protestant and was Christened, so absolutely no intention to be disrespectful to the believers! It’s just a bit of lighthearted fun. Relax.

ALL SMILES AT FREMANTLE STREET ARTS FESTIVAL

 

 

Here just a few impressions of what Fremantle looks like during the Street Arts Festival. I did my back so could not stay on, but will shoot some more pics the next two days

Hundreds of people were wandering around the Cappuccino Strip well before noon, so not really sure why the performances there only start at 1pm, but a few lucky ones knew the entertainment did start on the Esplanade at 12.

Really good vibe around town, happy people and happy smiling children, and the sun was shining.

Come and enjoy the fun. It is on all day Sunday and Monday from midday!

Roel Loopers

CATCHING EASTER DINNER ON THE NORTH MOLE

 

 

Good to see that it is relatively busy in Fremantle with quite a few people around.

The Fremantle Markets are open and many of the Cappuccino strip cafes and eateries, so no need to stay at home.

Easter is the time where we are supposed to eat fish and where the price for fish always increases, so there were plenty of people on the North Mole this morning trying to catch their own Easter dinner.

Roel Loopers

WET AND WILD GOOD FRIDAY AHEAD

 

 

This is one of my all time favourite photos, which I took early last year on the Melville foreshore just east of Point Walter, and it suits today’s bad weather Good Friday mood to a T, so I republish it to start this wet public holiday.

The big storms did not hit Fremantle overnight in the area where I live, but there are a lot of hours in the day still where the forecast is for strong winds, hail and more rain, so stay safe.

Roel Loopers

HUNDRED SHOWS AT FREMANTLE STREET ARTS FESTIVAL

 

 

The program for this year’s Fremantle STREET ARTS FESTIVAL is out so grab yourselves a printed copy at the City of Fremantle library or check it out on the Facebook page or City’s website.

The annual festival is on again during the Easter long weekend on April 19-22 and will showcase more than one hundred shows in four days from all over the world.

On the Easter menu are Cho Kairin from China, Bug N’Buzz from France, Welcome to my Head from Spain, Jaardu from India. Anatole and Pulet Crus also from France, Drawing Circus from South Korea, La Dolce Flamingo from the USA, Ready.Aim.Fire from Germany, The Sculptor Clown from Portugal, Nuptial Ropes from Switzerland, Rhythm from Japan, and many more.

Roel Loopers

 

 

HAPPY FREO EASTER ALL!

 

 

It’s Easter and the wattle is starting to blossom in Fremantle. It’s a brilliant morning that does not deserve or require negativity and it is a special and important day for Christians, so let us celebrate life instead of finding an excuse for attacking our Muslim brothers and sisters, as a columnist in the Sunday Times today does.

Religions are important and valuable for those who believe in their gods and who gain strength from it and it is not up to anyone to judge people because of their religion.

It is so irrelevant if some Muslim women don’t shake hands with men as culture, tradition and religions are all different. I have been to countries where I was told not to touch children on their head because of culture or religion. No big deal.

When I arrived in Australia 35 years ago it was the norm for men to shake hands with men but not with women. I never embraced that practice because I was brought up in the Dutch culture of shaking hands with men and women, but it never was a big deal, just different and for me slightly awkward to observe.

Many religious traditions have over hundreds of years become more cultural traditions with people often not knowing what it is we celebrate. How many of us will reflect today on the biblical Christian belief that Easter is about the resurrection of Jesus Christ who was nailed to a cross? This is very meaningful to all Christians but pretty meaningless to other religions and non-believers. No big deal.

Easter eggs and Easter bunnies have probably very little to do with Jesus Christ, but that is not a big deal either, as long as we all try to live peacefully and with mutual respect for each other.

This weekend is perfect to celebrate our great Australian multiculturalism and the acceptance of all different religions, cultures and traditions. When you walk around the Fremantle International Street Arts Festival the next two days that is what you will be witnessing; people living together in near perfect harmony.

Have a great Easter!

Roel Loopers

EASTER TIME FOR REFLECTION AND FREO FUN

Time to get you all in the mood for Easter, the long weekend, some reflection for the believers, and a lot of fun to be had at the Fremantle STREET ART FESTIVAL.

There was this beautiful sunset at Bathers Beach last night while we were having the end party of Sculpture@Bathers a the eclectic Kelp Bar at Kidogo Arthouse with live music by Dom Mariani.

KELP is such a lovely addition to the Freo bar scene that it will hopefully open permanently in the future. Everyone who has been there loves it.

Most sculptures have left now, but for that lonely salt figure in the ocean, that was created by artist Simon Gilby. It will slowly disappear as the elements erode the salt structure and only the skeleton will be left, reminding us of life where we start as perfect babies, grow up and then slowly deteriorate until we die. It is a thought provoking piece of art that I love looking at while contemplating life.

Roel Loopers

NOTRE DAME UNI CELEBRATES EASTER

 

Here some information for my Catholic friends around Fremantle about Notre Dame University Easter events.

On Thursday there will be “An hour of Eucharistic Adoration” in the Molloy Courtyard at 12.30 pm. There will be music by UNDA’s own Holy Spirit Choir and priests will be at hand to give the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

On Good Friday the “Stations of the Cross” will be at the Holy Spirit Chapel on the corner of Croke and Mouat at 10 am.

Of course everyone is welcome!

Roel Loopers