127/366 [Stargazing]

Followed an enthusiasm today and wound up at the most interesting little observatory on the Sunshine Coast hinterland. The stargazing equipment was most definitely high-tech but the presentation was equally low tech. No matter,  it was fabulous. In a three hour hands-on demonstration we got to see, among other things - Sirus, the jewel box and the rings of Saturn which, in four months time, will disappear from view for eight years. After a couple of hours in the open air we were really happy to cluster beneath this heater while we waited our turn at the telescope.

126/266 [Vintage lock]

The pub, in a small country town, was built back in the mid-1800s. The lining boards are on the inside of the frame and the windows have a wonderfully quirky and unique device that allows them to be held open to catch any breeze. It’s clearly been updated over the years and we enjoyed watching the sunset over the nearby mountains as we partook of an early drink and swapped increasingly funny stories. I had to pass the old french doors leading to the bar as I made my way back to the car. My fingers drifted across the old lock. wondering about the many hands that had done the same thing before inserting the key to lock up for the night.

125/366 [Fond farewell]

This part of the holiday is over and we await the flight that will return us to the mainland. It has been a very relaxing and we have caught up with a lot of people we only see once a year. There has been eating and drinking, swimming and paddling, shopping and walking. All in balmy temperatures and in a visually stunning environment.

124/366 [Resort reflections]

8am: breakfast by the pool…9am: reading the paper and doing the crossword by the pool…10am: sunbaking and chatting by the pool…11am: swimming in the pool…Midday: Shower and change, have to leave the pool…1pm: fruit juice by the pool…2pm: walk to marina for fish and chip lunch by the sea…3pm: still lunching, laughing and chatting by the sea…4pm: thirsty, settle for a beer by the sea…5pm: ferried back to the resort for coffee…by the pool…6pm: the sky begins to darken and as the day comes to a conclusion we are still by the pool.

123/366 [Feel the serenity]

It’s not far back to sanity

At least it’s not for me

And when the wind is right you can sail away

And find serenity

The canvas can do miracles

Just you wait and see

~Christopher Cross~

122/366 [Cruise-Dine-Unwind]

The two hour walk to the highest point on the island this morning was advertised as not for the faint-hearted but I went ahead and did it anyway. The last 200 metres was especially challenging to my dodgy knee but the gorgeous view of the Whitsundays made it all worthwhile. And the ice water and fruit that awaited us on our return was not too shabby either. The afternoon was a cruise with lunch and the logo on the side of the boat said it all. Cruise - check. Dine - double check. Unwind - well, we both fell asleep on the trip back so I guess that’s triple check as well. Even the rain that greeted us as we docked could not dampen our newly refreshed spirits.

April Review

This was the month the 100 photo milestone was reached. I was not just going through the motions this month, I really looked forward to finding my photo each day. My frustration when I was without power for three days and how much I wanted to post my photos was something of a surprise to me. Very often, until then, I had posted my photos quite a few days after the event. It was not really an issue…the goal was always to take a photo each day during this year. The blog became a place to post them…it was not about posting every single day. Yet, more often, the drive to get the photo downloaded, posted and written about on the day, was fiercer and more intense than a month ago.

I am less embarrassed to ask to take photos in odd places, like the supermarket and at the optometrist. I’m more aware of what I’m doing and looking at, as a consequence. The tiny moments, the odd things I see are what I’m looking out to capture through the lens. And the chance to catch them can can very quickly evaporate when I’m not paying attention.

I changed the blog header photo this month when my picture of Corio Bay just cried out to sit at the top of the blog. It is one of my favourite photos of the many I took on while I was in Geelong on a two day training course. I had gone for a late walk and found myself climbing the hill at the end of the beach. I was chatting to a friend on my mobile phone when I came around a bend in the path and saw the bay spread out in front of me. The apricot ribbon of light left bordering the horizon by the now vanished sun gave it just enough colour to wash across the water and infiltrate the gaps in the boardwalk around the swimming area. I finished my call and stood still, trying to catch the subtle changes of fading light on sea for quite some time. The beauty of the city, beginning to light up around me, filled me with peace as I made my way home for tea.

121/366 [Golden Globe]

Tonight we attended a festive dinner for close to 500 people outdoors on the marina of the tropical island chosen for the annual conference. There was not the usual chaos of moving this many people to the venue by bus because after welcome drinks we all walked the 10 minutes down to the marina. Our group cheated - the girls all protested that their party footwear was not consistent with walking any further than the closest champagne glass. As our resort is the only one to offer 24/7 chauffeur service in electric golf buggies we were quick to take advantage. Fireworks, great red wine, brilliant food and fun with friends. I took my shoes off and walked back to the resort barefoot.

120/366 [Gimme]

We sat quietly and undisturbed at this picnic table by the sea while we waited for our lunch to be brought out. The instant the mango, pineapple and passionfruit smoothie hit the table, this rainbow lorrikeet was on the mooch. And he wasn’t easily deterred from his mission. Eventually a better offer appeared at another table and he gave up on getting us to share.

119/366 [Busy bees. Not quite]

Long line of green ants (Oecophylla smaragdina) marching purposefully along the balcony edge. Some coming, some going. Moving around and past each other. Hard to catch photographically though as each ant ducked over the edge and out of sight as the camera lens moved towards them. Tricky finding the spot where they were in focus without causing them to bolt. Not keen to investigate too  closely - apparently they have a painful, irritating bite.