Wednesday 26 October 2022

Nesting...

 

As I mentioned before, a lot of the birds were nesting while we were on Lord Howe Island. It made for magnificent bird watching. The dunes were closed on this beach to protect the eggs but you could walk to the beach and the birds would hover above you.




It was blowing a strong wind, so they'd be almost motionless as the wind pushed back against them. It was such a joyful thing to experience, even for a non-birdwatcher like myself...I had dragged my husband there and he was amazed too.


As for what type of bird? I thought they were some sort of Boobie (Masked Boobie?) but internet says mutton birds or sooty terns depending on where you read (just rando's so who knows? Well, if you know, please speak up!)


In flight.....

This site says that 14 species of sea bird nest here and over 130 permanent and migratory birds can be found on the tiny island. 





Linking with #NaturesNotes #DND #GardenAffair and #WildBirdWednesday



Happy Halloween


A quiet week, but I got my tax done. saw the accountant and so feel like I can focus on other things. I also got the Japan trip booked-  that was proving tricky as one of the adult kids might come, but might not. So if they cancel, I need to also have a room that fits our youngest, as I don't want her in a room by herself on a  different floor. So I feel like I ticked off a few things that were hanging over me...

Some times just getting through your 'to do' list is enough to make you happy!

And with no relevance at all the Broadway shops has done it's Halloween decorating to welcome back Wicked (the musical) to Sydney. Nicely played...



Also not relevant, but this is a Lush face mask, and the triangles are separate and are eye masks. I didn't buy it but is was very tempting! So cute!

What's the #OneSmallThing that made you happy this week?


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RachelSwirl

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Monday 24 October 2022

Share Four Somethings - October


Something Loved: I wrote about the excitement that my eldest chick might be returning to the coop. She did yesterday, and the whole removalist thing took much longer than anticipated so she more or less unloaded and my husband and i had to race off to meet friends at the theatre. I'd organised pizza to be delivered for dinner so the siblings would eat together. When we got home, they were all in the lounge room playing something on playstation. There was much mirth and camaraderie. It truly made my heart sing. As I often lament, our youngest has become an only child (which is not bad in itself but is a loss if you had a different experience before, and that was taken from you). 

Something Gleaned: We went to L'Hotel at the Opera house, The day before, we got an email to come in our black tie finery or something along those lines. I thought 'How stupid, everyone has to come from work'. However, we did it, and when we saw everyone in the foyer, everyone was checking each other out (in an admiring 'look at them, looks good' kind of way. It was like we were all part of a secret club). When we were all at the tables, it really did make us feel like we were part of it and the Studio had indeed been transformed into something special. We left elated and giddy (though that also could have been the champagne). So what I learnt was perhaps I need to ignore my first negative reaction and positively embrace things more easily.

Something Braved or Saved: I have to do Karaoke on the weekend. I am not a very good singer with very limited range. I saw Moulin Rouge this week and Sia's Chandelier was echoing in my head, so I thought I'd do that. Except, you know, Sia can sing. So then I tried Choir of Man's version, but it was too slow and took the fun out of it. I am now doing the Moulin Rouge version - which I can sing in key cos it's low, and belt it out enthusiastically. I've also been singing it all over the place as it's a really catchy song....so while I haven't braved it just yet, it is something I will brave. Where there is a will, there's a way....







Linking with #RubyTuesdayToo and #BlueMonday


Something Achieved: I got my Tax done. Boring but necessary. Not a good way to end, but it is about the only thing I achieved that springs to mind. Takes a load off my mind for another year.....

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My Random Musings


Thursday 20 October 2022

What's on my bookshelf - October

I just finished this book for book club. It was interesting but I wouldn't really recommend it unless you're a big fan. Some of the stories are great (the time in Africa and Middle East in particular and the societal/cultural commentary on the UK) but a lot of it is thanking people (which is lovely) or name dropping people in not such interesting anecdotes. I didn't know any of these people but if I loved them and their music, it probably would have been a more enjoyable book. I found it interesting enough, but I wouldn't say rush out and get it unless you are a fan.





We have just started An Ordinary Epidemic, also for book club, and I am really enjoying it. I can't believe it was written in 2015. A friend said she had trouble getting it published because it was to unbelievable, that 'that would never happen'. However I'm halfway through and she NAILS the Covid pandemic in Sydney...the familiarity adds to the enjoyment of the book, but it's also an easy and engaging read so far.








I'm listening to The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, which is not what the cover implies (to me). It's very interesting and unusual. Again not at the end but I'm enjoying it. It does cover domestic violence in the beginning so it might be upsetting for some people, however, that is not the focus of the novel.



We did A Single Man in the other book club and I really enjoyed it. It's funny (and wicked) and kooky, and not what I was expecting at all. How it's a movie is beyond me. It's predominately an internal narrative, with no action. 

It's been a little slow on book front this month...what's on your bookshelf?


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loopyloulaura

My Random Musings

Remote


Often on Lord Howe Island I'd be the only person on the beach or on the bushwalk and I'd feel so remote (in a good way - I'm rarely far from people in the house or in our streets so anything solitary enhances sensory experience). I had joked with a friend that I felt I was on the set of Lost.




And then I'd see this.....and all illusions were broken.



















Wednesday 19 October 2022

"With a good friend, the hours are short." — Basque Proverb

 A friend is out from Greece. We saw her and her husband just before Covid hit. In fact, they got Covid on the plane home. It is so lovely to see her again. Sydney put on a sunny day and we had a long lunch by the water. I tried to catch up again but the weather was not in our favour, so I will try again next week. 

As they say, a day spent with friends is always a day well spent!


As an aside, for those looking for xmas presents (and I'm not sure if she posts internationally) but my friend got me this gorgeous picture of my family in stone. It's so gorgeous.








What's the #OneSmallThing that made you happy this week?


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Thursday 13 October 2022

One good tern deserves another, and another....

On Lord Howe island the Sooty Terns were nesting (I think) and they were completely unphased by approaching humans with camera and mobile phones. It was amazing to get up close or have them hover above us.

These were taken on Ned's Beach, when I went exploring for half an hour on the first day.  




It was the wrong season for snorkelling - even in the wetsuit I was freezing, and it did make me determined not to fall off the paddle board but it was definitely a great time of the season for birds.


  Even if you aren't an avid birdwatcher, a trip to Lord Howe Island will definitely spark an interest in birds at this time of year. I became obsessed with trying to get photos of all the different types - alas there were a few of the brighter coloured birds that I didn't manage to get shots of...




There is a beauty in every season and sometimes it gives you a new focus.