Street lighting

Street light in Evatt. It's not obvious in this photo, but Canberra's lighting is generally designed to minimise the amount of light shining upwards, so you can see the stars (and, at least in some areas, to minimise the light pollution for Mt Stromlo Observatory).

Foggy start to the day

Yesterday started grey and foggy. This photo was taken overlooking the local preschool, at just after 9am. I quite like fog - everything seems so quiet and muffled.

Lake side

An older photo today, from 2007. Taken on the shore of Lake Burley Griffin, looking from Regatta Point to Commonwealth Avenue Bridge.

Black Mountain Tower

Another view of Black Mountain Tower, this time from the Gungahlin Drive Extension as we drove south (on the opposite side of the mountain to this photo).

[Just wanted to add that I've obviously been playing with this image in Photoshop. I think I might include the original images when I do this in future, just for reference.]

Shopping at Jammo

The weather may be grey and cold and generally miserable, but you still have to do the grocery shopping, and a hot pink shopping basket makes it a little brighter! We may see more of them, as the ACT has brought in a plastic bag ban (with the exception of the heavier weight bags used, for example, by clothing shops, and the smaller lightweight bags used for fruit and veges). We have a four-month transition period, starting July 1, and the total ban starts on November 1.

Many people already have a stash of the reusable 'green bags' (available in many colours and prints) - it's jsut a matter of remembering to take them with you. The main complaint I've heard about the plastic bag ban is to do with lining your garbage bin, but I'm sure people can figure it out if they try!

Magpie

An Australian magpie, nice and friendly at this time of year, but watch out in spring! That sharp beak swooping towards you can be quite terrifying, as the magpies defend their nests, and it's not just pedestrians who have to watch out - magpies will swoop cyclists, posties and animals - anything they perceive as a threat.
They're smart birds - I've seen one wait for the postman, and swoop him all the way down the street, and another sidling along a branch to position itself right above an unsuspecting person, before dropping a little 'gift' from above.

MAGPIES

Along the road the magpies walk

with hands in pockets, left and right.

They tilt their heads, and stroll and talk.

In their well-fitted black and white

they look like certain gentlemen who seem most nonchalant and wise

until their meal is served - and then

what clashing beaks, what greedy eyes!

But not one man that I have heard

throws back his head in such a song

of grace and praise - no man nor bird.

Their greed is brief; their joy is long.

For each is born with such a throat

as thanks his God with every note.

Judith Wright

Promise

Spotted this rainbow when I was out a little earlier this afternoon. What you can't see in this photo are the ominous dark clouds on the right, coming through on a cold front that's supposed to bring blizzard conditions over the next few days. This was about 4.15pm, and now, an hour and a half later, it's pitch black outside with sleety flurries, and the wind is making it feel quite a few degrees lower than the actual temperature.

This rainbow is certainly not promising the end of the rain!

Winter reflection

Bare tree branches reflected in a city window.

Frost

We've had a few cold mornings, but the sunshine on the frost is quite beautiful. The kids are hoping it snows in town this year :)

Click on the photo for a larger image.

Winter walkers

Back to the office after lunch on a mild, sunny winter's day.