Day 6 2016: A moment to smell the sea air...

Day 6: ...when packing and sorting has its rewards

One of my 'summer break' reads was a surf writer's memoir, Barbarian Days by William Finnegan, writer for the New Yorker. It was an interesting read and here was someone who could really make you feel you were riding the wave with him. But that might just be me, as an olden times surfer. 

Nonetheless, it was front and centre this afternoon when I headed down to my local for a few shots after work. You see, dear reader, the packing, sorting and discarding of thirteen years of office accumulation has begun in earnest. What I really wanted to do when I got to the beach was have a surf...

...but instead, I did the next best thing, and took a few shots. It was all about the waves. It was a stunning early evening, after all the rain we've had and I had a bit of a chance to play around with small aperture, slow shutter effects as well (although, I should have taken the tripod; next time). 

The colours were first (6.37pm)

A little foam lip

After the wave

Clouds as waves as reef

Race to the shore

Up and...

...over

Wavelet

Paddle boarding

And the colour was last (6.47pm)

I got myself down onto the actual sand this eve: sand, water, shellbits, dogs, kids...the whole lot. Think I might have to write a surfing book (after I've written all the others).

[Camera : Canon EOS60D, 70-300mm, 6.37pm-6.47pm, 6 January 2016]

Day 5 2016: The lori rain gauge is rather flash...

Day 5: ...as the rain just fell and fell

Almost all day. And you know we are set for a wet day when the lorikeets huddle under the eaves at 6.30am and they're still there almost eleven hours later. It has been that sort of day. Gloomy too. So that necessitated experimenting with the built-in flash, not something I like to do normally but the eerie artificiality of the artificial light added a certain something to the displays of plumage today. 

It started as a dark and stormy morning

And then in a flash...

...the colours illuminated

And then later there was preening to be done

Pondering to be pondered

Call of the wild lorikeet

'There's a feather in ya beak'

'That's not funny'

Feathers (detail)

The rain is apparently easing, meaning a trip up the highway to start packing up the office begins in earnest tomorrow. But today, the lori rain gauge was in full mode, and the gardens really appreciate the drenching I'm sure. 

[Camera: Canon EOS60D, 70-300mm, 6.34am, 8.59am, 11.21am, 1.22pm, 4.18pm, 4.46pm-4.49pm, 5 January 2016]

Day 4 2016: Rain, rain, rain...

Day 4: ...rain, rain, rain

There was quite a bit of rain today. And that, dear reader, can only mean one thing when I don't get to venture too far from the back door: raindrops on frangipanis.

Luckily, there were many frangipanis (only on one of the trees though), and quite a few raindrops. 

The fallen frnagipanis

Holding up in the rain

Rain tip

Colours of frangipani

It was just that sort of day. No complaints though. Work has resumed and at the moment, that is writing and reading and cooperating with colleagues over future articles. And preparations for a move. That is ongoing too. 

[Camera : Canon EOS60D, 70-300mm, 5.11pm-5.13pm, 4 January 2016]

Day 3 2016: Reflection, ripples, raindrops...

Day 3: ...the holiday is over

The time has come. Christmas-New Year break is almost over and tomorrow the packing up and signing off at work begins in earnest. But not before a brief sojourn at the Art Gallery. 

The reason was a volunteer-led guide to the work of Charles Blackman's Queensland-influenced work. It was on the excellent recommendation of a friend and took just a couple of hours out of the day (because we had to have tea and refreshments as well). That meant I had time to finish varnishing a table, preparing the chairs for their transformation, doing the washing and the mowing. No, not actually the lawn because of the rain. 

So sitting by the water installation at the Art Gallery Cafe offered the three R's: 

A little reflection: 

Ibis and bannister

A few ripples: 

Rippled reflection

And a raindrop or three: 

Raindrops keep falling...

All ready and rested for a return to the workplace. Twenty days remain. The to-do lists are being written.


[Camera : Canon EOS60D, 28-80mm, 1.58pm, 2.08pm, 2.13pm, 3 January 2016]

Day 2 2016: You don't know what you've got...

Day 2: ...until you're almost gone...

When I came to Brisbane to study (about three decades and a bit ago), I imagined I'd study, graduate and head back from whence I'd come, to teach at high schools on the Gold Coast. Well, things changed (as happens at uni) and study was followed by more study in Tokyo, back to Brisbane, back to Tokyo, Canberra, Brisbane, Tokyo, Brisbane...you get the picture. 

Brisbane is pretty much my city of choice these days and I enjoy getting out and about with the camera. As you will aware, dear reader, I like going out by the Bay often. It's the water, the birds, the boats, the mangroves, the air (and sometimes the fish and chips). 

Now I did venture out, for the first time, to Cleveland Point just a few weeks ago and was quite enamoured by the sights, the history, the lighthouse, the birds, the crabs, the fish and chips, etc. And there was just 'something in the air' that made me want to head out there again this afternoon. Yes, this project drives such choices occasionally (how many currawongs and loris can you, dear reader, bear?) but today I thought to ask a friend and prof of Queensland history along for a professional opinion of my latter day discovery (and fish and chips...). 

Wispy clouds (and lighthouse)

Crabs present

Beyond the monument to commemorate
Cleveland's 100th anniversary of white settlement (1850-1950)

Pine tree (and lighthouse) 

Step lightly

Tidal ripples

In flight entertainment

A few of us waited for the sunset

Tidal black stump

The most hitchcockesque seagull I've seen in real life
(no filter, I think the actual light influenced the outcome)

The light was somewhat different compared with a few weeks ago, and it was somewhat more crowded. But a delightful spot nonetheless. And it also became apparent that as I pack up to leave this marvellous city again, I really must get out more, just for the sheer pleasure of what this place has to offer. At least until I return...

[Camera : Canon EOS60D, 28-80mm, 70-300mm, 5.19pm-6.20pm, 2 January 2016]

Day 1 2016: Here we go...

Day 1: ...again, dear reader. 

And to really just prove that time is indeed something of a social construct, today was pretty much a repeat of yesterday, only the birds have changed. I slept (in), I read, I made breakfast...

Out came the currawongs...looks like they might be settling in. 

I heard they were here yesterday...

Er, I think you mean 'last year'...

I wonder who they've moved on? 

I went to continue purchases for preparations for a move and learnt an interesting lesson: shopping in the suburbs can save you a lot of money, not just on the bus fare but shoes for work bought in one of the main department stores during their 'clearance' sale: $111 in the city, $59 in the suburbs...buyer beware indeed. 

At least, when one ponders, the sky obliges with one of its wispy afternoon cloudscapes...I could do a whole blog on clouds...no two clouds would ever be the same. (Hmm there's a thought...)

Just a wisp

Fairy floss

Cloud magic, blue sky thinking

So New Year's Day: there might be some sameness but there are always lessons to learn, things to find out, stories to share. And so shall #project366 for 2016 be just like that. Welcome aboard, for round four. 

[Camera : Canon EOS60D, 70-300mm, 28-80mm, 10.17am; 5.59pm-6.00pm, 1 Jan 2016]

Day 365 2015: And here we are...

Day 365: ...and yes, ready to go again

Last day of the year, 2015. Last day of this year's #project365 ... and yes, onto #project365366 for 2016 (being a leap year). As my #project365 partner-in-camera Susan and I were tweeting this morning, how could you stop really. (As well as receiving much encouragement from others...)

And so it was fitting I suppose that the last post for this year was a visit from the local lorikeets who have probably been feeling a bit overlooked recently, in favour of the currawongs, or galahs, the kookas, and the Pacific Bazar. Or the frangipanis, or the roses, the lilies and the gum leaves. 

So much around us on a day-to-day basis, so much to take in and appreciate just that little more that I can't really imagine a day without finding something to feel enriched by. 

You were thinking of finishing up without us? 

Without us, your blog would be just...

...gum leaves and sunshine, sunshine.
Cheers. 

And in 2016, a little bit down the track, there will be new surrounds, new-ish sights and old things to re-see through the lens as I move back to Japan to take up a university position in Tokyo. Yes, I visit a lot I know but I'm guessing things will look a little more lived in this time around. 

So, thank you to those of you who come by regularly, occasionally, or by accident and take some time to read. I enjoy putting this blog together for all of us. And, #project366 in 2016:  bring. it. on.

[Camera : Canon EOS60D, 70-300mm, 5.50pm-5.51pm, 5.59pm]