Social Distancing

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The South Coast of NSW is idyllic in that it is not so far from the big centres of Sydney or Canberra yet seems a whole world away from the hustle and bustle of twenty-first-century living. More than that, there is a plethora of tiny bays and hideaways all along the coast between the small town centres that provide the necessities of everyday life. It is in one of these places that I have come to relax and recuperate.

As the sun sets on another South Coast day over Durras Lake, I find myself reflecting on the places life has taken me, it is quite possible that this may be the best of them

In this crazy world we are living in, with pandemic conditions calling everything we have known into question, I have found myself living in this perfect place for self isolation. Someone suggested that this is really an excuse for me to indulge in a reclusive lifestyle and there may well be some truth in what she said.

As I write this, I am lying back in a hammock, over looking the garden, and watching the parade of parrots, pigeons, and other birds that come to feed from the seed feeder hanging from the rafters.

One of the regulars in the garden is the Brown Cuckoo Dove. Doesn’t stay long but will visit the feeder for a quick snack

The news that keeps popping up on the banner headlines is almost exclusively about the Corvid-19 virus and what we may or may not expect over the next few weeks. As the reality of it all begins to sink in, I find myself thankful for this place and it’s quiet solitude.

One thing that is a positive is the time it gives to catch up on all those things that procrastination has allowed me to put off…. writing this instalment for example.. with just the birds for company, I can sit back in the hammock and write away to my heart’s content

I can walk on the beach, bush walk or simply stay at home mowing the lawns or doing some online courses that hopefully may pave a new pathway forward for me. Contrast this with the lives that so many others have to lead, particularly those in the health care field, putting themselves in harms way on a daily basis, and one gets a truly different perspective of what life is about.

If I should find myself in a country wide lock down I can think of few place that would be better to be than where I am right now. Keep safe people and take this thing seriously. It may not be you who feels the effects…. but it may be someone close

Playing With Affinity Photo

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Since I got my Apple iPad I have been looking at alternatives to the staple diet of Lightroom and Photoshop to process my images. Affinity Photo has come up with a strong contender that appears to be a crossbreed on both of those applications.

Sometimes, playing about when you don’t know what you are doing can achieve some pleasing or unusual results. Tonight I was demonstrating some of the features to a friend and colleague when a slip of the pen produced this. Maybe not everyone’s cup of tea but I don’t mind it.

Originally, a brightly lit shot of a stage at Broadbeach that had been erected for entertaining the sparse crowds there during the Commonwealth Games.

Life Is A Beach…. Best Served In The Morning

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Known the world over for it’s racy nightlife and amazing beaches, Surfers Paradise has become something of an icon of what is Australia. It is also a place where lessons can be learned. Town planning has allowed massively high towers to be build right along the foreshore. Beautiful they may be, yet they destroy the ambience in the afternoon as their massive bulk casts long shadows across the beach.

Breakfast on”The Deck”

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Breakfast on “The Deck” at Turtle Beach Resort , Mermaid Beach on The Gold Coast. This has been my home for the last four months as I have been assisting with preparations for the Commonwealth Games. The plan had been to do a lot of photography and not so much work…As they say, the best laid plans of mice and men.. I ended up with a lot of work and not so much photography. But Hey, it has been a great experience