Gosh, another week has whipped by while we weren’t looking. The grocery stores are almost back to pre-covid-19 with a lot less empty space and the shops have lifted some restrictions on quantity. The instances of new cases of covid-19 have slowed to a trickle and the Powers That Be in Canberra and (mainly) the…
Once upon a time there was a website called Authonomy, where writers would gather and spruik their wares to the Great God Harper-Collins, who owned the site, hoping to have their opus selected for publication. Many tried, many failed, many made long lasting friendships. During my time there, one of our number floated the idea…
I was discussing Vegemite with some online friends recently. It’s quintessentially Australian, an icon which I’m delighted to say after having been purchased by an American company some years back, has now reverted to an Australian company. Unlike the happy little Australian Vegemites of my generation, I didn’t like the stuff at all. It had…
I’ll admit it. I don’t have much to say about anything this week. Cassini, the probe that has been exploring Saturn for the past several years is on its last hurrah. It will be ring-diving for a few more weeks – if it doesn’t hit anything in the process. And then it will take its…
It was a long, hot, dry summer in Hervey Bay this year. In some respects the arrival of Cyclone Debbie was a blessing. Don’t misunderstand, I have the deepest sympathy for all those people who endured the lady’s fury. But Hervey Bay is too far south to feel the full fury of a tropical cyclone,…
Take a stone, any stone you like, Feel the weight of it in your hand. Is the surface smooth? Rough? Is it heavy? If you’re not happy with it, pick up another one. Because it’s going to be you. Happy with your stone? Now find a lake, or a puddle. Somewhere with still water, and…
The travel blogs are finished for this trip and it’s time to get ready for the summer here at Hervey Bay. It never gets especially hot – not much more than mid-thirties – but the humidity is a killer, so we avoid too much labouring outdoors in the heat of the day. And for me,…
It’s day 4 of our Lake Eyre adventure. If you’ve missed the previous episodes, here’s day 1, day 2 and day 3. We landed in Birdsville and I get to cross another entry off my bucket list. Birdsville is probably THE hottest place in Australia. The official highest recorded temperature is apparently 49.5 – but…
It’s day three of our journey to see Lake Eyre in flood. If you missed day 1 you’ll find it here, and day 2 is here. Today we leave Marree and travel along the Oodnadatta track to William Creek, where we’ll catch a plane. We’re really in the outback now, surrounded by barren plains with…