Monthly Archives: April 2016

30 Saturday Apr 2016

Posted by in one with nature, photography

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Changing Seasons – April – Autumn colours

My head knows that the seasons here in Tasmania are back to front from my UK background. So I’m posting this monthly series to record the changing seasons and to encourage my mind to grasp this southern hemisphere reality.

April has been a month of gold, orange and red. Trees and vines changing colours.

April 1

April leaves 4

 

Leaves unfoot.

A few roses still in bloom.

Spectacular sun rises, or maybe they are now at an hour where I have been awake and noticed them. Perhaps I missed remarkable sunrises during the summer months. April sunsets have been spectacular too.

April sunrise 1April sunrise 2April sunset 2April sunset 1

And finally some rain for this parched earth.

April rain

I’m joining  Cardinal Guzman for his changing seasons challenge.

Z is for …

30 Saturday Apr 2016

Posted by in 52 challenge, one with nature

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Z is for … Zip and Zoo and Zen and Zzzzzz’s …. I need a nap.

Z is for the end of the alphabet and therefore the end of this challenge. It’s been fun, exhausting at times, but that is mainly due to searching photo archives for a remembered image.

I’ve enjoyed the variety of topics covered by fellow bloggers, the poetry, the photos, the humour and the serious subjects. I’ve delighted in virtual tours of unseen places. I’ve made new friends, discovered new blogs to follow, just as I have new followers.

So thank you all for sharing this alphabetical journey. I will post one last entry for this month, to keep up with my monthly “changing seasons” series. Then I will slow the pace, take a break from posting on a daily basis and “catch some zzz’s”.

Version 2Z 2Z 3

Y is for …

29 Friday Apr 2016

Posted by in 52 challenge, days out

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Y is for … yachts

You can’t miss the yachts in Hobart.

Either moored in yacht clubs or out on the River Derwent.

From the tiny one person single sail dingy’s, that young kids learn in after school, to the super yachts of the annual “Sydney to Hobart” Yacht Race and the clippers of the “Round the World” Yacht Race.

I don’t know the first thing about sailing, but the yachts are captivating.

Y 1

Y 15

Y 2

Y 13

 

 

W is for …

27 Wednesday Apr 2016

Posted by in 52 challenge, one with nature

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W is for … Water

As I’ve browsed through my photo archives for this alphabet challenge, I have realised that water plays a big part in our life here in Tasmania. Yes, we live on the waterfront in Hobart, a city on a river estuary. But all of our favourite places, favourite walks, involve water, either ocean, river or lake.

Tasmania relies on water for it’s energy and is usually self sufficient. Hydro electricity has been generated here for over one hundred years, utilising the natural resources of the island’s lakes and waterways.

Water is in short supply after the driest spring and summer on record. The water remaining in Tasmania’s lakes is now at a record low, down to below 14% of capacity, close to the lowest level to maintain the hydro infrastructure as well as fish populations and aquatic flora in the lakes.

Hydro Tasmania is Australia’s largest producer of renewable energy and usually exports electricity to the mainland via an undersea high voltage direct current cable across the Bass Strait, called the BassLink. The BassLink Cable is a two way connection, where Tasmania can buy back electricity if needed.

But ….. The BassLink Cable has been disconnected since December, due to a fault. Repairs will not be completed until June. So there is obviously huge concern how Tasmania will “keep the lights on” as we approach winter and higher demands for both domestic and industrial customers.

We are all hoping for significant rainfall.

To illustrate this theme, here are a few of Tassie’s waterfalls, photos that I took last winter. I’m sure there’ll be a lot less water flowing over these falls now.

Russell Falls and again in the snow.W Russell Falls 1W Russell Ralls 2

Horseshoe FallsW Horseshoe Falls

Lady Baron FallsW Lady Baron Falls

Snug FallsW Snug Falls

Liffey FallsW Liffey Falls

V is for …

26 Tuesday Apr 2016

Posted by in 52 challenge, one with nature

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V is for … View.

“What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.”

These are a few of my favourite views in Tasmania. When I took each of these photos I felt captivated by the view. Time stood still.

Wineglass BayV Wineglass Bay

Looking east from Mount Nelson, HobartV Mount Nelson

Hobart from Mount WellingtonV Mount Wellington

Southern Ocean from KingstonV Kingston

Tahune AirwalkV Tahune Airwalk

Bruny Island – the NeckV Bruny Island Neck

Huon River at FranklinV Franklin

East Coast beachV Beach

Central lakeV Lake

Below is the full poem – “Leisure”
by William Henry Davies

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty’s glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this is if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

U is for …

25 Monday Apr 2016

Posted by in 52 challenge, photography

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U is for … Up or Under

How often do you look up?

Up at trees, at statues, sculptures, architecture. Not just looking from a distance.

100_0485

Statue of Liberty, New York

The Shard, London
Up 7

St Pancras Station, London

 

The Vatican
Angel of the North
Edinburgh
Falkirk Kelpies, Scotland

Are you aware of the features above when you walk under a bridge?

Under 1

In Greenwich, London, it is possible to walk underneath the historical “tea clipper” ship
The Cutty Sark. It is a fascinating and unusual perspective after touring the upper decks.

Under 2

How often are you aware of the small details under your feet?

In Maastricht, Netherlands, we noticed small brass cobblestone sized plaques on the pavement. They are memorials to victims of the Holocaust, called “stolpersteine” in German and “struikelstenen” in Dutch. This is an ongoing venture with over 50,000 such plaques laid in 20 countries in Europe, making it the world’s largest memorial project.
The plaques simply state … Here Lived … Born … Murdered …

Under 3

ANZAC Day Dawn Service

25 Monday Apr 2016

Posted by in remembering / musing

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ANZAC 1

Thousands of people attended this morning’s dawn service at Hobart’s Cenotaph. All generations, young and old, families, veterans, service personal, ordinary people, all stood in silence for a time of remembrance, reflection, gratitude and commemoration.

ANZAC 2ANZAC 3

ANZAC Day marks the anniversary of the Gallipoli landings. A time to honour those who have served in all wars and conflicts over the years.

“They shall grow not old,
as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them,
nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.”

ANZAC 4ANZAC 5ANZAC 6ANZAC 7

This unique start to the day warranted it’s own post. I will get back to the A to Z challenge late this morning.

T is for …

23 Saturday Apr 2016

Posted by in 52 challenge, one with nature

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T is for Tasmanian Tiger or Thylacine

I’ll let the following photos tell the story.
Photos taken at TMAG – Tasmania Museum and Art Gallery in Hobart.

T 1T 2T 3T 4T 5T 6T 7T 8T 9

The below link has detailed information about the Thylacine if you are interested.

Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service

As a footnote, the Tasmanian Devil is another unique carnivorous marsupial, which is currently endangered. Along with the Thylacine, the creatures were pushed to the brink of extinction in just a century of European settlement. The Devil has been protected since 1941 and active conservation is now in place.

T 10