This will hurt me...

When having a break from scootering, we like to indulge in our favourite pastime: Theoretical physics .

It was tempting, but in the end, Henry and I did not hi-jack the boat. Opossum Bay, January 2011. I think that we need a little boat. Or a big boat. One of the two. Or maybe a submarine. Or some other kind of submersible vehicle. A hydrofoil? No, what we need is an ekranoplan ! Apology , William Carlos Williams The beauty of the terrible faces of our nonentites stirs me to it: colored women day workers— old and experienced— returning home at dusk in cast off clothing faces like old Florentine oak. Also the set pieces of your faces stir me— leading citizens— but not in the same way.

Hungry crocodiles...? Starving sharks...? Ravenous rats…? Famished fairy penguins…? What lurks beneath and causes Ezra’s telltale concern?

All in all it’s just another brick in the wall. A wall, Salamanca Square, Hobart. February 2011. Yet MORE books... First is Letters from America is a compilation of essays drawn from Alistair Cooke’s weekly 15-minute radio series that ran for 2,869 shows from 24 March 1946, to 20 February 2004. Each ‘arrangement’ was presented by Alistair Cooke to a British audience, each week speaking of a topical issue in the USA, often tying together different strands of observation and anecdote. As such, this collection is a remarkable snapshot of ‘history in the present’. Cooke was a master at this primarily because he had a magnificent grasp of history. Each essay is remarkable in his ability to contextualise what he sees, drawing upon both a great knowledge of history, and a seemingly endless amount of casual contact with top politicians, authors and artists throughout his life. Moreover, despite the fact that each chapter was written for radio, they read wonderfully well. The art of constructi...

Where does the obsession with pinecones begin? Where might it end?

Hélicoptère sur la ligne. Hobart, February 2011. I really love this one. The power line cutting across was unintentional, as I had to move quickly to get the shot because the helicopter was heading nor’ east. I do like how it turned out. I wish that I had a helicopter. I’m sure that I could arrange a parking spot on the roof, it’s not like it’s being used for anything else.

Have I mentioned yet that Ezra, my most beautiful and talented youngest son [as opposed to my most beautiful and talented oldest son] is beautiful and talented? Yes, both poo and wee in the toilet for some time now. What a relief! Now we just have to work out what to do with all these cloth nappies…

A building set amongst other buildings. St Johns Park, New Town. February 2011. Area based and area focused autonomous baselines act as a beacon of benchmarking best practice. A bit of blue sky thinking from the bottom-up can contribute to capacity building. Of course, we cautiously welcome collaboration on the contextual core developments; any dialogue downstream is an early win. If we can facilitate a fast-track going forward – in a holistic sense – while incentivising income streams across our key indicators – measurements, our interdepartmental interface initiatives will be met.

It’s a cairn , Jim, but not as we know it…

A Kelp Gull assesses its options. Tessellated Pavement, Eaglehawk Neck. January 2010. As a public servant, might I permit myself to say something? [Ahem] “ Cripes the attitude of most public servants astounds me. ” [Ahem] Thanks for that. I needed the release.

A plane, you reckon…? As ever, Ezra remains unconvinced .

Waiting for the light. Campbell Street, intersection with Davey Street. February 2011. There are many things that one can do while waiting for the lights to change. If not reading a book or taking photos, I like to subtly alter the lyrics of popular tunes of yesteryear to amuse myself. If I can’t think of any, I concoct hypothesised conversations between any pedestrians that might be lurking around. If I’m really bored, I like to speculate what kind of foibles, desires, hidden strengths or indeed pervasions that complete strangers in the street might possess. Try it. It’s fun.

Three people among many riding a train with tyres on an asphalt basketball court at Lindisfarne Primary School. How did this happen?

Someone must have had some time on their hands. Opossum Bay Beach. January 2011. Christ almighty, we’re ankle deep into February already. In barely eighteen [ 18!!! ] more days, my oldest – and loudest – beautiful boy will begin his journey through the Tasmanian educational system. Yes, the time for Kindergarten has arrived! While I am certain that Henry will enjoy, and indeed flourish in the new environment, I do fear for the welfare of his teacher. He’s a bright boy, but headstrong. Firm of opinion (and even firmer of resolve), I suspect that he will attempt a classroom putsch ! Be warned. Whatever happens, he’ll be sure to have an easier time of it than I did, Why, my school was so rough we had our own coroner! Which leads me to today’s Sunday Top Five; [In Chronological Order] My Top Five Educational Institutions That I Have Attended ! Upper Burnie Primary School Parklands High School Hellyer College The University Of Tasmania The School of Hard Knocks When I look at that list of...