This will hurt me...

I've got the power! East Derwent Highway, Geilston Bay. December 2012. Theme Thursday ? FAITH?!?! Cripes. I have FAITH that Satan Claws will make it through and deliver us some presents... I have FAITH that at least one of my children will spend the bulk of the Christmas period moaning... I have FAITH that it will either a) rain on Christmas day (thus spoiling the planned beach picnic lunch) or b) it will be a splendid day but that I will have developed a cold/ strained another muscle/ develop a migrane... I have FAITH that someone will do something nice for someone somewhere in the World... I have FAITH that someone will treat someone incredibly bad somewhere in the World... I have FAITH that some good will come of it... I have FAITH that some bad will come of it... I have FAITH that the world will keep revolving...

Statue or public art, who can tell? Clarke Avenue, Battery Point. June 2012. Theme Thursday ? ALL GOOD THINGS... ...come to those who wait. I do believe that this is the latest I've ever had a 'morning' post come up. Six and a half hours late? You can probably tell how my day has gone...

A hole in the fence. Clarke Avenue, Battery Point. May 2012. Sunday Top Five day and this morning another reminder of the joys of children! Dear Little Ezra® came in to our bedroom this morning with some fanfare, announcing that it was his intention to vomit right there and then. Cue lots of frantic rushing about to ferry said child to toilet, get a hold of a large bowl for any other spillage and so on. I will confess to being slightly sceptical about the validity of the initial claim (this is my nature), I did set about addressing the strict list of demands advanced by my youngest son (while he convalesced in bed, ( my bed, with my wife and my electric blanket on). Anyway, this list of demands (i.e. breakfast) is today's list: Five Things That Ezra Requested (And Ate) For Breakfast, Thus Really Establishing The Fact That He Is Not - Contrary To His Claims Otherwise - In Fact Sick! A croissant(hot) A large bowl of Coco Pops 'Chex' (with milk) A large bowl o...

Puddle on Quayle Street. Sandy Bay. September 2011. I reckon that I have read George Orwell’s Animal Farm at least a half-dozen times. Indeed, I have studied and taught the bugger at University! Thus, writing this review should be relatively straightforward. An allegorical short novel first published in 1945 (although written in 1943–44), the book alludes to the Russian Revolution, the Western invasion of Soviet Russia in 1918, the Russian Civil War and the strengthening of Stalin before World War II. The novel explores the corruption of revolutionary ideals by its leaders but also how indifference, ignorance and myopia of the people undermine any possibility of a Utopia. Orwell's achievement is immense with this book, the best introduction to the political history of the Soviet Union 1917-1943 [all achieved with pigs, horses, sheep and other assorted animals]. A top read, and always one that leaves me regretting that he never had the chance to do a sequel that explored the post-...

I’m still standing. Campbell Street, Hobart. December 2010. It seems that no matter how good some people have it, there is a drive within many (most) to complain that they don’t have it better. Give them five jellybeans, and they want eight jellybeans (or a chocolate frog). Give them a twelve percent pay rise, and they want a fifteen percent pay rise. Give them a parking spot one hundred metres from the front door, and they want the parking spot twenty metres from the door. You give them access to any scrap of information they want at the tip of their fingers, and they’re too lazy to type in the search terms. They get shown the world, and they complain that it’s not hi-res enough. They live longer, and they complain about being old. They get given entertainment, and they get bored with it. They get given more entertainment, and they get bored with it. You give them knowledge, and they’re bored with it. It’s not immediate enough, it’s not easy enough it’s not simple enough it’s all too ...

The horror as what lurks down low among the chives. The backyard, Geilston Bay. November 2010. Another day, another questionnaire... Today, What Kind of Cook Am I? Are you a good cook? I believe so. What kind of cook are you? An instinctive one. What is your speciality? It depends who you ask. I like my gulyás . Ezra likes my Kim-chi Bo-kum-bop . Henry likes my cakes. What was the last meal you ate? Evening meal? It was a steak sandwich with the lot. Do you eat breakfast? Yes, EVERY day. I have been better about this in the past six months. Name a food you dislike. I hate nuts, but then again, they hate me too. If I had to name something that wouldn’t kill me if I ate it, I’m not a big fan of tuna. What is your favourite fast food restaurant? It depends on my mood. I like Nandos. If there were an Oporto in Tasmania, I’d be a regular there. Where do you like to eat with friends? I should confess that I don’t like to eat with friends. Pancakes or French toast? I cook a lot more pancakes ...

Railing outside the Withdrawal Unit. November 2010. When I was little, I used to close one eye and focus along the line of things: fences, poles, grass. You can get a good look at - for example - an ant. You can see the ant going about his business, meeting his friends and family. If you lucky, you can see him doing something really special...

Focusing on the boats. Geilston Bay, October 2010 Theme Thursday rolls around again and today it is all about perspective. It is amazing how differently things look when one shifts one’s perspective, even to a minute degree. The problem is (of course), that many people appear to operate in patterns assumed over time, or from memory, not taking the time to alter one’s perspective and consider things from a different angle. Take yesterday evening’s photograph . An artist at work recording an artist at work (recording an artist at work recording an artist at work recording an artist at work ad infinitum ). The photo is not merely a record of a memory. Nor is it a statement of artistic intent. No, it is best considered as an indicator of a CONSANGUINEOUS marker. A genetic predisposition hitherto overlooked or ignored. Dangerous? Might I be creating a monster ? Focusing on the goalposts. Geilston Bay, October 2010

The corner of an old church (or was it a theatre)? Campbell Street, Hobart. September 2010. In the interests of brevity, here are thirty questions with one word responses! 1. Where is your cell mobile phone? Desk 2. Describe your boyfriend/girlfriend wife? Magnificent! 3. Your hair? Brown 4. Your mother? Franny 5. Your father? BAH! 6. Your favourite item? Hmmmm 7. Your dream last night? Sex 8. Your favourite drink? Juice 9. Your dream car? Automaton 10. The room you are in? Bright 11. Your ex? Who? 12. Your fear? Forgotten 13. What do you want to be in 10 years? Calm 14. Who did you hang out with last night? Missus 15. What you're not? Starry-eyed 16. The last thing you did? Type 17. What are you wearing? Corduroy 18. Your favourite book? Countless 19. The last thing you ate? Apple 20. Your life? Duty 21. Your mood? Intemperate 22. Your friends? Select 23. What are you thinking about right now? Thighs 24. Your car? None 25. What are you doing at the moment? Thinking 26. Your summ...

It's Henry! And he's... strolling !

These are not bullet holes. Pier One, Sullivans Cove. May 2010. Often, it is not not looking that causes people to miss things; it’s not looking properly . I, Too, Sing America by Langston Hughes I, too, sing America. I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes, But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong. Tomorrow, I'll be at the table When company comes. Nobody'll dare Say to me, "Eat in the kitchen," Then. Besides, They'll see how beautiful I am And be ashamed-- I, too, am America.