01 Tuesday Feb 2022
Posted in my place, photography
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Welcome to February Squares. The theme this month is Square Odds hosted by BeckyB.
When you stop for an iced coffee and Australia’s Antarctic Ice Breaker ship “nuyina” appears. This classifies as odd, to me, out of the ordinary, unexpected.
31 Monday Jan 2022
Posted in all about me, days out, photography
It’s been a month of long summer weekends and hectic weekday workdays.
We’ve been to the beach most weeks, for lazy barefoot walks and late afternoon swims, refreshing on the hotter days.
We’ve enjoyed blueberry picking, as well as continuing to buy delicious summer fruits from local growers. A wet spring has produced a bumper crop of large juicy cherries.
Earlier this month, Hobart hosted the 5th Test of “The Ashes”, a long standing cricket challenge between Australia and England. As this was the first time a game has even been held in Tasmania, the locals were rather excited. Various city buildings were lit up in the “green and gold” colours of Australia and there was a joyous atmosphere around the city.
I’m moving to a new role within my current company, so handing over my own workload to someone new whilst learning new tasks has required overtime on work days, therefore my weekends have felt extra precious.
The month began with the final days of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, with the visiting yachts moored up on Hobart Waterfront.
The month has ended with MONA FOMA, a music and arts festival. The highlight is a fabulous laser light show across Hobart with a soundtrack. These photos show the lights from various spots in the city.
The month has flown by, after a slow start I have already started ticking things off my “52 things in 52 Weeks challenge. Here are my first weekly selfies to sum up my January 2022.
This is my contribution to Ju-Lyn and Brian’s monthly “Changing Seasons” challenge.
16 Sunday Jan 2022
Posted in one with nature, photography
It’s set to be a short season for some of our summer fruit. Partly due to weather, hail storms which has damaged some crops. Also the lack of pickers due to Australia’s border closure, lack of back packers and casual workers.
So I was delighted to buy these delicious fruits from the local farmers markets. Hopefully I can get to some Pick Your Own farms next weekend.
30 Tuesday Nov 2021
Posted in days out, my place, photography
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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.
20 Saturday Nov 2021
Posted in creativity, photography
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”.
27 Wednesday Oct 2021
Posted in my place, one with nature, photography
Kinda … peaceful. Summer is just around the corner after a wet spring season. We’ve had a couple of beautiful warm days. This was the view from our deck this evening.
Another contribution to Becky’s October Squares under the theme of “kinda”… and “bright”.
26 Tuesday Oct 2021
Posted in creativity, my place, Past Squares, photography
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This is Hobart’s Salamanca Place, seen through a figure 8 on a sculpture trail. On Saturday’s Salamanca Market fills this space. An outdoor market with hundreds of stalls representing local crafts, designer, artisans and produce.
The sculpture 1833 marks the year when these sandstone warehouses were built on Hobart’s “new wharf”.
This is my contribution to Becky’s October Squares under the “circles and squares” theme.
18 Monday Oct 2021
Posted in all about me, my place, one with nature, photography
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Here in Hobart, we have to wear face masks for the first time.
We’ve been in a snap 3 day lockdown over the weekend. Tasmanian has been covid free since June last year, with no cases in the community.
Recent risk of transmission from a positive case in hotel quarantine resulted in this lockdown. As there have been no new cases, restrictions eased this evening. Except for mask wearing.
The weekend “stay at home” order allowed exercise within 5 km of home. I’m fortunate that this coastal path is just 200 steps from our front door.
Do you wear a face mask when you leave your home?
09 Saturday Oct 2021
Posted in one with nature, photography, weekly photo challenge
Whilst walking on our local Howrah Beach recently, I noticed this star fish. There had been some significant erosion after strong high tides.
This is my contribution to HeyJude’s Life in Colour challenge, which is highlighting orange this month.
08 Wednesday Sep 2021
Posted in all about me, my place
Tasmania continues to be one of the safest places in the world. I’m very grateful that I live here.
We had an initial lockdown when the pandemic began but restrictions eased in June last year.
We are covid free here. There have been no community transmission cases since May 2020. A few arrivals have tested positive, but the virus has not spread locally.
So, life is relatively free and easy.
The only places where we have to wear a mask are airports and ferry terminals, on flights or on the ferry to the mainland. Also, at festivals and some sport events, where gathering limits still apply.
Everything is open as usual, retail, restaurants, gyms, night clubs, cinemas, theatres, casinos, weddings, household get togethers. Hand sanitiser is everywhere and actively encouraged.
We have to use the “Check In Tas” app when entering any shops, businesses, events, a taxi or public transport. It is a new habit to scan the QR code with our phones or write our name and contact details in a book at the entrance of any establishment. If or when covid does come to Tassie these track and trace capabilities are ready.
The main covid impact still in place are our border restrictions. Everyone travelling to Tasmania must complete an entry form before the journey. Travel from “high risk areas” within the country is denied. Anyone breaking this rule is fined and immediately placed in hotel quarantine. Tasmanian residents travelling from medium risk areas are allowed to return but must quarantine at home for 14 days.
Australia’s international borders remain closed. More about that in my next post.
RuthsArc 
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