Monthly Archives: May 2018

Back to school

29 Tuesday May 2018

Posted by in all about me, remembering / musing

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You learn a lot about an organisation when you work in the accounts department. I’ve been working in a temp role at a fee-paying school that has students from kindergarten to Year 12.IMG_5047

The school opened back in 1892 on this site. As well as the expected modern class rooms, there are some beautiful old houses that are still part of the campus. The school has a boarding house, a swimming pool open to the public, science labs, music rooms, theatre, library, halls, chapel, courtyards and memorial gardens.

I have paid creditor invoices for an amazing range of items….
Pens and pencils to a new school bus
Swimming caps to drums of Sodium Hypochlorite (pool chemicals)
Text books to toilet rolls
Window cleaning to line marking on the sports field
Utility bills to food for the tuck shop
Art supplies to flights for teacher conferences
Lawyer fees to fire alarm maintenance
Props for drama shows to sheep eye balls for science class (yes really!)

I’ve learnt that ….
A4 white paper is delivered by the pallet load
Year 2 look after a brood of chickens (I’ve paid for the chook food)

I’ve also learnt that school rules have changed in the past one hundred years.IMG_4634 (2)

This job has dominated my month, so this is my contribution to Changing Seasons hosted by Su.

A perfect day

20 Sunday May 2018

Posted by in remembering / musing

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On occasion, I forget that I live in this small island at the bottom of Australia.

Yesterday was one of those days. In my mind, I was on the other side of the world, back in the UK, joining in the royal wedding, along streets that I have walked, in a castle that I have visited.IMG_4949

A three-way message chat with my two daughters lasted several hours. Hobart to Sydney to London, our Aussie evening to a UK morning.
The conversation began…..
“What are you wearing?”
“Pj’s at the moment! Why?! Are we supposed to be dressing up?”

We then enjoyed watching the guests arrive, commenting on their outfits, those we were pleased to see, the Clooneys, the Beckhams, James Cordon, the co-stars from “Suits”, Priyanka Chopra in her stunning outfit, the Royals.

There were some fun comments made by my Aussie Husband and my Aussie son-in-law. I’m pleased that both my girls proudly displayed their British heritage for the day. Between us, we had English treats on our menu, from scones, strawberry jam and cream, to roast beef.

It was such a joyful occasion, a display of love, inclusion, a modern twist to such a traditional event.

Congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Thank you for including us in such a perfect day.IMG_4946

Weekly Photo Challenge – Place in the world

13 Sunday May 2018

Posted by in one with nature, weekly photo challenge

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My place in the world is Tasmania and it looks spectacular now, in autumn.

These trees on the bank of the River Derwent at Bushy Park show their autumn glow, even on a grey day.IMG_4400IMG_4396

A unique deciduous beech tree, “fagus” (nothofagus gunnii) changes colour at this time of year. The trees grow to about two meters. The leaves are the size of my thumb nail. We visited the “fagus festival” at Mount Field National Park a couple of weeks ago.IMG_4652IMG_4651IMG_4486IMG_4458

The Japanese Garden within the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens in Hobart has a range of red maple trees.IMG_4372IMG_4380

Place in the World

Hobart storm

12 Saturday May 2018

Posted by in one with nature, weekly photo challenge

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Hobart experienced a “severe weather event” during Thursday and Friday.

More than the average months rain fell in a few hours. Multiple storms hit the city as lightning and thunder rolled around for five hours. I took these photos a few minutes before we experienced a total blackout. The storm water drain looked more like a fountain.DSC01356IMG_4704

The Hobart Rivulet burst its banks during the night, cars floated down the main streets. (These pictures are from the internet).imagev158b304c256f3fa9e0d5f64847a7a6c28-v8giluk5anc0g62y8q2_t4606e90da571846a61e79a4306c56b38d40509ed2fa379bce972211b78f7e512ab9

Homes and businesses were flooded, some by the Rivulet, others from rain water. Luckily, we live on the first floor but neighbours below us had water damage. We lent torches and candles during the power cut and offered help.

The University Law Library was flooded, with books ending up outside.b33faa4a520969d78a456416ec7c2bc1

Aussie Mate is Night Manager at a city hotel. He spent Thursday night in ankle deep water as their Reception, Restaurant, Kitchen and car park were flooded. Electricity supply was intermittent, no lifts, no breakfast, limited hot water. Ten rental cars were damaged, so abandoned by guests. You can see the high-water mark on this car and the mud left behind as the water receded.IMG_4770

This morning I took a walk around our city. Lots of people are busy cleaning up.

Our usually picturesque waterfront was full of floodwater debris, so is now being dredged.

The Rivulet is still running high. This is a normal day compared to yesterday morning.IMG_4726
You can see here where it rose above the wall and marker, leaving debris in its path.IMG_4787IMG_4782

There is still much to repair.IMG_E4720-2IMG_4739

It’s been an eventful couple of days. Our first experience of flooding. Although power is back on, one of our circuits will not reset, so we have important things like fridge, freezer, tv, internet, but no lights. We can manage with candle light until Monday, electricians are busy helping others in more urgent need than us. IMG_4723

This is not our usual promotion of Hobart, of “our place”. I should reassure you that previous significant floods in the city were in 1929, 1960, 1973. Now 2018 can been added to the list. Place in the World