Hello .. anyone remaining alive out there?

Am guessing, as the days, months, years pass by; there comes the slow realization that we are (i am) no longer young. While the mind remembers the days when our close friends never died, and therefore neither would we - these days, every time i turn on the radio or TV - someone, or a name, that i knew, from my youth ... 'passed away', departed this earthly life ... or simply; died.
(vale; Terry Pratchett. If genius means an early passing; then am guessing that i have many more boring years).

However, i have to inform the one or two readers of this blog that this 'writer' and 'originator' of the drivel depicted here is, actually, alive; well, and if not exactly fit enough to run the New York Marathon, apparently remains breathing.

For those who remember back that far - I did visit a rather beautiful "lost valley" near this location, some time ago, and sort of promised more images of it.

The 'lost valley' is actually a misnomer. While access by 4WD is extremely difficult and rare - access by "trail bike" is easier - but; do not own a trail bike. However, last Monday, 9th March 2015, arranged with a friend to deliver me and some camping gear halfway to the location. Would walk the rest of the way; camp for a few days; and be picked up on Wednesday 11th March.

That happened.

There is, of course, a detailed account - much more to explore, many photographs to process - as well as video from the three cameras that i 'hiked in'; so, be patient.

[orange - 4WD access. yellow - hiking track. blue - campsite and exploration area.]

How perfect can simplicity be?

what is this?

Have no reason to believe that i will Kark it, anytime soon.

Outstanding imagery

yer, i know, another somewhat misleading title, since there are no pictures nor poetry on this post.  However, have just come back from the local newsagent with my usual weekly wasted dose of dead trees - the "Weekend Australian", the Bathurst "Advocate" .. and the "Sydney Morning Herald".

Yes, was aware that there was some sort of concurrent  'celestial confluence'; but - while i live on a hilltop, and a long way from the pollution of 'city lights' - the skies around here have recently been somewhat occluded (head in clouds? Nah, seriously, have not seen a 'clear night sky' for some time - low level atmospherics. Missed the Leonid and Geminid meteor showers also).

There is an image published in the SMH that is one of the 'classics', astounding. Have had an interest in photography for some time, and know that "being in the right place at the right time" is vital, but difficult to
achieve. Conjunctions, confluences, lighting, timing.

Brendan Esposito has nailed an image that may well be one of the classics for all time (well, if not 'photoshopped', hopefully).

Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Mars .. at dusk, floating above the Sydney Opera House.

I did try to see if i could snaffle it but, sensibly, seems to be not netvailable.

[edited 8.43pm]

Snow day

[under edit and updated  re-edited: 16th]
mm, yep, know that there are a few people who think that am losing my mind .. but - the  photos in the previous post were taken last Monday .. woke up this morning to this ....


[click fer a bit bigger'ns]

A light dusting began on the afternoon of a Tuesday day in May ..

.. and since it gets dark at around 5.30pm these days, tend to go to bed and sleep at about 7.30pm (why should i waste resources).

Woke up at 4am Wednesday,  felt a bit chilly, decided to get some more wood from shed,  opened door and ..

 Oooer, rubber boot time (which, by the way, were found at the local dump  'waste transfer station' - a pair of perfectly servicable, size 8 Blundstones, no leaks).  Went to shed, collected more wood (which had been chainsawed  chopped prepared previously .. ), re-lit ancient slow combustion heater, extricated thermal underwear and ski snow clothing that had been quietly hiding in various cupboards and storage containers since somewhere back in the 1980's (Buller, Hotham, Falls Creek) .....

Waited for some illumination  light (first pic), then wandered around the locality ..

Felt a need to share, but had to get the ladder out ..

since satellite interconnection is obviously 'weather dependent'.

Had, of course, been scooting  walking in and out of the house all morning waiting for a break in the leaden  cloud laden sky  .. but while yes, have heaps of photos this morning, 'twill take time to process them. Hopefully, will get one with sunshine.

In the meantime, i come back and sit close to here.

but the lassie bitch  female canine is a bit bemused..

and the local postal contractor might be delayed ..

and yep, the trees had a slight problem. Heard the 'cracK! - swoosh, 'thump' of bigger branches than these.

(perhaps Australian 'branches' are thinly spread, haven't quite the strength to withstand "European"  northern hemisphere assault?)

Decided that this might be a 'good food day', so .. 

decided to cook up a stew for sustenance ..

.. but unless readers think that am rich enough to afford to 'switch on' the rather fancy electric 'four hotplate' stove and oven in the background ..

the little 'campmaster' costs me about $AU1-00 per week to cook things with .. heh.

(not only that, know exactly how much it costs, week by week, and do not have to wait three months to see what sort of 'account' the electricity profiteer  'retailer' expects me to pay).

..  it's always wise to take care on the roads

.. and yep, totally puerile and pissweak .. but have always wanted to do this ..

[will probably edit this, add a few more pics - is the most exciting thing that's happened around here, for a while]

ZOOOOOM!

from this ...

...to this.

Oh, wow ..

The camera is a Canon SX30IS, purchased from Ryda dot com, located in Sydney NSW. 'Twas a pleasure to do business with them. Phone calls and emails answered quickly (and in an accent that i could understand).

Highly recommended.

All i have to do now is figure out what all the little buttons and dials on the camera actually do.


[PS: the author of this blog is not a 'family member' of Ryderdotcom, has no 'business interest' or investments. Just a happy customer].

more new toys

Fairies in front

Some people have fairies at the bottom of the garden, I have them in the front. Well, Fairy Wrens. Haven't seen them since December 2009, at Sofala NSW. Had been listening to a recent program on ABC Radio National (can't find the link) about the severe depletion of the small "scrub" birds, so; it was with some joy to see them again.

They were very shy, so was difficult to capture them on camera. I first noticed the females (there were three), pottering about in the grass in the front yard about a week ago - but eventually spotted the male.

Female Superb Blue Wren

male Superb Blue Wren

Superb Blue Wren (Malurus cyaneus)

And, just as an info update addendum; have diligently saved some money and put in an order for a Canon SX30IS with a 30X zoom lens. But, according to the "internet shop" located in Sydney NSW, there is some (understandable) difficulty getting supplies from Japan at this time. 

no news

Have heard it said that 'no news is good news' and, since i don't have TV, very rarely drive into the nearest town to get the "news" papers - have little idea of what's happening in the 'wider' world apart from what i hear on the radio (and peeks at the interwebs).  So, will just post some pics of the 'little people' in the vicinity. Have no idea what their 'full', 'accurate', family names are. They've all been around a lot longer than self. Visitors to my house. Pax.

a fly

?

?

a moth

a spider

?

a spider

[edited. Sunday, 27 March 2011 5.34PM, Australian time]

Pics from nature 1

BOOO!

one of the locals; march, 2011

more info on this little character -

http://australianmuseum.net.au/Huntsman-Spiders

the game of names

 OK, will go back a bit and republish this

and these

Phasmatodea podacanthus wilkinsoni 

otherwise called "stick insect" or "Lauries ringbarker".

Did, of course, have a bit of help from these places.

http://museumvictoria.com.au/discoverycentre/ask-us-a-question/identifications/identification-guidelines-/

http://www.ento.csiro.au/education/insects/phasmatodea.html

http://photos.rnr.id.au/dragonflies.html

http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2010/04/15/2872493.htm

and a few others that i seem to have neglected to 'bookmark'.

wired

touching ..

Um, had intended to label this pic "holding hands " but thought that that might be stretching credibility, a bit

more little local creatures

here's lookin' at ya ..

 and yer, I know, this one is a bittuva cheat.

(and yep, all images posted without attribution are actually held (full size) on one or other of my (digitally dated) storage systems.)

nippy nibbles

One of the nice things about the "all terrain" vehicle called a pair of feet is that I discover all sorts of "hidden" treasures during perambulations.

This dam is about a kilometre away, hidden in the forest and very rarely visited, as the track into it is not exactly suitable for four wheeled vehicles. It was, apparently, the main water supply for the old gold mining township - now non-existent.

Um, think I, wonder if there are any yabbies in there. So, one afternoon, took the little net over, left it overnight, and next morning .. a dozen of these beautiful crustaceans. Almost a shame to eat them .. heh.