Time Out

This has been a long and bloody hot summer, and it has taken its toll on me.  The nights are mostly blissfully cool now, and the days not as hot as they were but my body doesn't cope with big temperature swings much better than it copes with heat.

Essentially I hurt.  Physically, mentally, and emotionally. To add insult to injury I am mired deep in the throes of a severe attack of the inadequacies.

I have been neglecting some essential tasks (including self care) which are starting to shriek for attention so I am stepping away from the blogosphere.  I will return in the fullness of time.

River has been doing a wonderful job of hosting Words For Wednesday this month.  Next month Delores will be hosting.  I hope to be back by April.

In the meantime, have fun and look after your important selves.  

I have turned the comments off for this post.

Sunday Selections #419

Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files.
 
The meme is now continued by River at Drifting through life.  The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to River.  River is taking a well-earned self care break, and will probably not post a Sunday Selections post (though she did last week).  She will be missed, but I will keep the meme warm for her.
 
Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen. 
 
Like River I usually run with a theme.  This week?  What a difference a day makes...

We had a wind and dust storm one day last week.  Both the wind and the dust were 'impressive'.  All of these photos were taken midafternoon.

  
Most of the birds were unsurprisingly conspicuous by their absence.
This rainbow lorikeet was the exception and appeared totally unphased by either the wind or the dust.

The next day was relatively calm and sunny so we headed down to the lake. 

Synchronised swimming.

 Less synchronised.

 A totally 'laxed silver gull.

No swimming at the moment due to a blue-green algae outbreak.

 There were trees and branches down - at the lake and across the entire city.

T

 And of course, the obligatory roos, who were happily soaking up the sun.

Sunday Selections #418

Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files.
 
The meme is now continued by River at Drifting through life.  The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to River.  River is taking a well-earned self care break.  She will be missed, but I will keep the meme warm for her.
 
Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen. 
 
Like River I usually run with a theme.  I often think I lead a bit of a 'grey cardigan' (practical, sensible but dull) life.  I suspect this is part of the reason I look for colour and surround myself with it.

The sky is often an excellent source.

When I saw a bunch of rainbow chrysanthemums at the local supermarket I weakened and bought them.    I checked and despite seeing advertisements for seeds they are almost certainly 'doctored' and not natural, but they do add a delightful splash of colour.

  The rest of the colour in this post is real.  I have no idea what type of moth/butterfly this is, but I was very grateful not only to have seen it, but that it remained still long enough for me to take its photo (if truth be told, multiple photos).

 I was glad to see the next critter too, which is either a native bee or a hoverfly.

The tuberous begonias are coming out in droves and I love them.

Of course I have to include a colourful bird or two...

 I hope your lived are filled with colour and joy.

Part of a Conversation

On the bus yesterday a tired looking shabby man pulled out his tired looking shabby phone and made a call.  Parts of his conversation stay with me.

I am so sorry darling.  You might have to stay home from school for another day...

Your mother doesn't want to help...

I can't find the money for lunchboxes they say you have to have on top of the uniforms...

I WILL find a way.  I can sell the television...

I am on my way to work.  There has to be a way...

I love you...

Then we reached my stop.  As I got off the bus I pushed $20 into the hand that held the phone (which I can afford much better than he could).

The gap between the haves and the have nots is growing in our supposedly first world society.  And it worries me.

Sunday Selections #417

Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files.
 
The meme is now continued by River at Drifting through life.  The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to River.  River is taking a well-earned self care break.  She will be missed, but I will keep the meme warm for her.
Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen. 
 
Like River I usually run with a theme.  We had a blissfully cool morning towards the end of last week.  I revelled in it from before dawn.

In the heat I have been skulking inside so on this cool and cloudy day we headed down to the lake.

The first thing which caught our eye was this white duck, having a delightful time bathing.  We have no white native ducks so I assume it was an escapee (or the progeny of an escapee).

I don't know what the plant is, but it seems to be as happy as the duck on the edges of the lake.

The obligatory kangaroos.  Also watching them with as much pleasure as we had was a Dutch tourist.

A little further away we spent half an hour or so watching the boats scud across the water.  It really was a lovely outing after the hot period we had been enduring.  Today and tomorrow the temperatures are again predicted to fall in the unpleasant range but there are some signs that autumn is coming.  For which I am extremely grateful.

I hope that those of you who were affected by the polar vortex have been able to stay safe and warm.  As I so often say, some world-wide weather moderation would be very nice.