Darling Harbour, Sydney, NSW, Australia

  These photos were taken about five years ago when no one had ever heard of the corona virus. I remember it being a fine day. I also remember a gull getting in the way of a photo I had just taken and actually enhancing that photo. This was close to the beginnings of my renewed interest in wildlife photography.  

There are numerous reasons why Darling Harbour is an exciting place to be for a shutterbug, especially one with an interest in local history. 

Here we have a foot bridge made with style. No doubt it is still there, a solid part of the greater Sydney. It has lookout platforms, places where you can rest. 

There is a museum dedicated to the Royal Australian Navy at Darling Harbour. 

 There is always, or so I imagine, plenty of activity on the water.

There is art there touching upon the wonder of flight. 

There is more fanciful art you can work out the meaning of for yourself. 

Naturally there has to be a lighthouse though not as magnificent as the ones that can be found in Wollongong. 

There are also statues there that leave little to the imagination as to what they are about and that suits me fine.  

 

                             Kapiti Island, New Zealand

                                        This island is just off the main north island 

                                          and is the place to go if you have an 

                                           interest in New Zealand wildlife. 

                                          You get to Kapiti via a small boat. 

                                           It takes all of twenty minutes and is not

                                           what I would call a rough trip.   

               There are kiwi nests but don't expect to see a wild kiwi during the day. 

                   They come out at night.                                                       

                                                     

                                           This is a common North Island robin. 

This is one of the most famous and popular of New Zealand bird life, a Tui. 

                                     This is what the New Zealanders call a Pied Shag. 

                     Lunch on the island is for bird lovers only since, during lunch, 

                     you are likely to have native inquisitive Kakas join you for the meal. 

While I was there on the island last February a Kaka decided to try my orange juice. 

Legend has it this New Zealand Pigeon can get drunk on berries and fall off its perch.  

                                          Here is a Weka, a rather fast moving, shy bird.

                           

                                      You come to Kapiti via boat and you leave the same way.

                                       If you stay the night, however, you might get to see 

                                                   some kiwis on the move. 

                        About Lyn McConchie 

Lyn McConchie’s Another Fire: He’s seventeen, the world is dying around him, while half the country lies between him and his surviving family. He has a good dog, a child, a dying farmer, and decent ranchers to help him – against him are vicious bikers, the greedy, the foolish and the evil. But Jason is learning every step of the way.

   Lyn McConchie, a New Zealand writer with over thirty books under her belt,  has recently come out with Another Fire. It will see publication this year and, when it is out, I think it will be well worth the read. Lyn, in recent times, has become famous for her various takes on the fictional lives of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson.   

                   There are Creatures Good at Hiding 

                   And, right now, there is the Creeping Cold

                                        An insect hard to spot because it is good

                                        at blending into its surroundings.

                    Darwin came across such creatures in his travels.

                    This one was found in the heart of Corrimal, NSW, Australia.

                     Right now the south coast of NSW

                      is in the grip of a cold snap.  

Starlings are not as plain to look at as you might at first imagine. 

 There are street artists working for local businesses in Wollongong.

                                                 

                                                   This artist works in chalk. 

                       Another example of what can be done with coloured chalk.

                        Can we do better when it comes to Aboriginal Australians?

                                      This question is being asked in Wollongong.  

 Poisonous People by Lyn McConchie! 

A New Zealand writer takes on Sherlock Holmes and with some success. Two not so short stories concerning people you really don't want to meet. Lyn is a master story teller who does her research. In Poisonous People we are transported to 19th Century London with its clubs for gentlemen only and homes with secret rooms. Holmes and Watson are in their element and so are Doyle fans. Highly recommended. 

8th of June 2021

There is the promise of cold and rain for the next few days and a heavy storm tonight. I was a bit concerned about Phil Adams Park which is close to Corrimal train station. I feared the local council might have plans for it other than mowing the lawn every once in a while. As it turned out that seems to be their total interest in the sight which is good news to the local wildlife.

 Last year around this time I photographed a Frogmouth looking all sinister in one of those gnarled trees. I like Frogmouths.

. 

Of late Wollongong artists have gotten a tad morbid with their street art. Considering how much many of us prefer summer that seems fair enough to me.

I suppose such art does suit winter in Australia or winter elsewhere for that matter. All in good fun. 

Sinister or just blue? You decide. Found in Wollongong.  

 

            Second-Hand Creeps is out!

I have a story in Second-Hand Creeps called Smiley. The name is based on the first computer virus I ever came across which was named Smiley Face because of how it operated. The Smiley Face virus sat on your computer until you typed in a particular word. Once you typed in that word everything you had typed in up to then plus that word became a large orange face with a great big grin. Anyway, that is where the name of my story in Second-Hand Creeps comes from. 

The story Smiley is about a demonic creature that creates havoc via emails. You can get what you wish for through this demonic creature via your computer but if enough people have the same wish then chaos must ensue. 

I have been involved in numerous anthologies over the years including Cats Do it Better. 

Right now I am working on a sequel to my novel Dragon Queen. It will be set in the same world as Dragon Queen with mutations with scales and tails referred to as dragons and ways in which to keep the human population steady being implemented. The city states are run by high-ranking priestesses and order is kept via maiden officers with their robot servants.   

                           Memories of
                          Capertee Valley

Memories of May and Capertee Valley near Lithgow remain fresh. The double-barred finch were a charming sight outside the homestead where I was staying. 

 

                                  Those who  provided us with accommodation

                                                  got artistic with the towels. 

                                 The restless flycatcher at Glen Alice was entertaining

                                                      and he definitely was restless! 

 The Difference between The Irregulars and DCs Legends of Tomorrow!

The Irregulars produced in the UK and starring Dari Shaw and Jojo Macari, tick all the politically correct boxes. The Irregulars themselves are a mixed crew of investigative young people, Holmes is a hopeless drug addict and Watson is black and gay. Also the royal disease is regarded as not much of a worry even though, in the 20th Century, it would bring down the last Russian Tsar. This is definitely not for Sherlock Holmes fans or for those who have any understanding of 19th Century London, politics or 19th Century USA. Great sets and look but too much pandering.   

DCs Legends of Tomorrow, starring Victor Garber, may tick some of the politically correct boxes but cuts a damn sight closer to the history that historians know and understand. Yes, there was slavery in the south of the USA during the American Civil War and it was definitely not a good thing. The Irregulars producers disregard this history. Yes, going over the top in France and Belgium during the First World War was hazardous to your health and prohibition on alcohol drinking in the USA did turn out to be a really bad idea. The special effects here are amazing and seeing superheroes and villains romping around in the past, present and proposed future is fun.