I got to go back to the mountains and swim in a few more high lakes (I promise to give you a break from alpine lake pictures after these). Some more stellar summer weather took us up the Wilkin Valley to visit Lakes Lucidus, Castalia and Diana, beneath the stunning peaks of Castor, Pollux andContinue reading “Ladders, snakes & lakes”
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Take me back to the mountains
We just got back from four great days in the mountains. Sitting in the Lake Hawea bar, with people around me extolling the virtues of flush toilets, chips and beers, all I could think was “I wish I was still in the mountains and I don’t care about flush toilets, chips or beer.” To beContinue reading “Take me back to the mountains”
Are we still not nearly there?
Over a year ago I wrote a post asking ‘Are we nearly there yet?‘. My conclusion at the time was that we were not nearly anywhere, in relation to COVID-19. I often want to ask whether we are nearly there yet when picking our row of raspberry canes, as it takes around 2 hours toContinue reading “Are we still not nearly there?”
Connections
One of my favourite mental activities is seeing connections between different disciplines and ideas and one of my favourite out-of-my-head activities is seeing connections between people. Our informal New Year party, a mostly annual event, connected some people as well as giving me some connections between ideas. We held the party, despite my concerns aboutContinue reading “Connections”
Valuable rags & rusty nails
Christmas is a traditional time of gift giving in countries influenced by Christianity. Such gift giving has grown out of any proportions that any Jesus Christ that might have existed is likely to approve of. Sarah knitted us ear warmers and dish cloths for Christmas, which is my favourite sort of present – made byContinue reading “Valuable rags & rusty nails”
South American planning
I am inherently predisposed towards planning and preparing well in advance. I was the type of kid who started their homework when they were given it and have turned into the sort of adult who does the same – I have my songwriting class on a Tuesday and I start my homework on a WednesdayContinue reading “South American planning”
Vaccine certificates and choices
Ten days into the traffic light system and I am getting accustomed to scanning my vaccine passport when I go into a variety of venues. I have put my Apple wallet app on the top screen of my phone to prevent the embarrassing hold-up when you are asked for your passport and have to trawlContinue reading “Vaccine certificates and choices”
Omicron and freedom
Omicron could represent freedom or further imprisonment. For South Africans and other African nations omicron already represents lack of freedom. The international doors to Africa are being slammed shut, while the COVID horses are galloping forward in many directions across the globe. We are told that caution should be taken in regard to spread ofContinue reading “Omicron and freedom”
Different perspectives
One’s perspective can change by the day or by the minute and the nature of the view is all in the perspective. Today I am trying to get my ahead above the Omicron parapet; two days ago I had never heard of Omicron – the latest COVID-19 variant – and I was definitely the happierContinue reading “Different perspectives”
Keeping an open mind
I have realised that a significant part of my internal purpose is to learn new things. This came up in digital conversation, around the role of science in society. A commentator made the point that science is a useful vehicle for asking and answering questions about the world, but that science is problematic if itContinue reading “Keeping an open mind”