Author Archives: RuthsArc

2022 – A year to drift or to achieve?

09 Sunday Jan 2022

Posted by in all about me

≈ 13 Comments

Tags

,

January is usually my time to review, reflect and think about what I want for my future. This new year I feel rather flat, lacking in energy, enthusiasm and motivation.

So …. Today I have drawn a mind map, thinking about ideas to nurture my body, mind and soul. I don’t want to spend 2022 just drifting, which is how the past two years feel. 

I had such big plans for 2020, a zero birthday, a new decade. It started brilliantly with New Year and my birthday in New Zealand. But then the pandemic hit and everything else fell by the wayside. 

 I achieve a lot more if I have a list, or a challenge, so this mind map is a starting point. How do you take stock of a year, of your achievements, your wishes for the future?

Changing Seasons – December 2021

31 Friday Dec 2021

Posted by in remembering / musing

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

Christmas Carols by the Beach was a highlight of my December.

It’s been two years since I’ve experienced a summer season.

My seasons in the past 18 months have been … winter – spring – autumn – winter – spring – autumn – winter – spring – finally summer … as I was in the UK in November last year until March.

So I’ve been making the most of blue skies, warm sunny days, visits to the beach, reading on our deck, a swim on Christmas Day.

I decorated our driftwood tree and created some other tree like ornaments.

Our office elves were back, bringing lots of fun and daily hide and seek.

Face masks are now mandatory here in Tassie so we are getting used to wearing them all day in the office. Our borders opened to all of Australia on 15th December when we had zero covid cases. Today we have 520 active cases, 137 new cases in the past 24 hours. Covid is here to stay and we’ll all have to get used to living with the virus in our community.

Saying “happy new year” doesn’t really feel right today. Instead, I’ll say best wishes for 2022. Let’s hope this is the beginning of the end of this pandemic.

This is my contribution to “Changing Seasons” hosted by Ju-Lyn and Brian.

Changing Seasons – November “Open House”

30 Tuesday Nov 2021

Posted by in days out, my place, photography

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, ,

A highlight of November was Hobart’s “Open House” Weekend, when a number of private buildings are open to the public. We chose to visit this roof top terrace.

The building dates back to 1906 and is currently office space and a private apartment. Back in the 1930’s the roof terrace was a café. The entrance hall has a lovely ceiling and wood panelling.

We also visited the Royal Tennis Court, or Real Tennis Club. I have no idea of the rules except that the game is a cross between tennis and squash with the ball in play when it bounces off the walls or the roof of the viewing gallery.

We’ve had some hot sunny days, ideal for beach walks. We’ve had many wet days when we’ve headed out in between showers for local walks. We also had the coldest November day in 70 years with snow on the mountain again.

This is my contribution to Changing Seasons challenge, hosted by Ju-Lyn and Bushboys World.

Looking at people, looking at art.

20 Saturday Nov 2021

Posted by in creativity, photography

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

,

This Sidney Nolan exhibition “The Ned Kelly Series” is currently at TMAG – Tasmanian Museum & Gallery – in Hobart.

The paintings are absorbing, depicting the story of the 19th century bush ranger and capturing varying Australian landscapes. I also found the visitors to the exhibition interesting.

I’m linking this to Deb’s “Six Word Saturday”.

I’m a couple of weeks behind but here is my silhouette contribution to Jude’s “Life in Colour”.

Changing Seasons – October

31 Sunday Oct 2021

Posted by in my place, Past Squares, photography

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

It’s been a month of all seasons, here in Hobart.

Rainbows, blue skies, white fluffy clouds.

Days when nature turned to monochrome.

Hot sunny beach days.

Lots of rainy days, storms from the south which noticibly eroded our beaches.

Cold days when we woke to views of snow on the mountain.

And stunning sunsets. This photo is straight from my iPhone, no filter, no cropping. This gives the true picture of the view from our deck.

I’m linking this post to a couple of challenges … Becky’s October Squares … Changing Seasons hosted by Ju-Lyn at Touring my Backyard and Brian at Bushboys World.