I take all of my photos myself with the Hipstamatic app for iPhone (using a John S lens and Ina's 69 film), a Fuji FinePix S9100, or my little Canon PowerShot A80. The Photographs section of this site has more information, as well.

February's here.

Pinch and a punch for the first of the month.  Deadlock.  No returns.  Of any kind.

A brutal awakening by two children (one in particular) keen to get in first with this monthly ritual.  Ah February.  All 29 days of you. 

Class lists come out on Friday, sticky-taped to the front glass of the school office.  We have to be down there checking at the earliest opportunity.  Charly is hyper-jittery about which of her friends will or won't be in her class and which teacher she scores.  The list looms larger in her imagination than in previous years and takes on far greater significance as she marks her final year of primary school.  It has to be a fabulous, memorable year.  Like the arrival of February, this milestone has crept up quietly.

Thirty days hath September,
April, June, and November;
February has twenty-eight alone,
All the rest have thirty-one,
Excepting leap-year, that's the time
When February's days are twenty-nine.

***

Books Bought and Borrowed: Beast Quest

An evil Wizard has enchanted the magical Beasts of Avantia – only a true hero can free the Beasts and stop them from destroying the land. Is Tom the hero Avantia has been waiting for?

I mean really.  The cover of these books alone would give one nightmares.  Lurid green creatures with pointed fangs, dripping with slime and snarling viciously.   However, my nine-year old son doesn't seem fazed in the least by the ghastly spectres in this apparently popular series.  He alternately sits, then lolls about on the sofa, for hours systematically working his way through the books.  He's up first thing before we all rise with one in hand. That, in itself, is a huge commendation to the author.

The Beast Quest series currently runs to 54 volumes bunched into six-book series with nicely benign titles such as, "The Golden Armour" and "The Amulet of Avantia".  Another series is in the offing according to our twelve year old neighbour whose brother is also an addict. 

Apparently, the kingdom of Avantia depends on the exploits of Tom, his best friend Elenna, a spirited girl, and their companions, Storm the jet-black stallion and Silver the faithful wolf.  Tom and his companions appear to be caught up in repeated quests to free the kingdom from the evil curses placed upon the beasts that protect it.  Oh, and to defeat the evil wizard, Malvel.  We can safely assume the successive plots must be action-packed to sustain the imagination of small boys. 

The books include an intricately illustrated map on the opening pages so the reader can gain his bearings for the key locations, such as the Rebel Settlement of Kaloom and The Black Ocean.  The text is interspersed with line drawings, mostly of Tom in various action poses - on horseback or with sword and shield raised aloft.   Enough drawings to add interest and break the reading into digestible parts for the target age group which is, I suspect, about 8-10 year old boys with an interest in fantasy, mythical creatures... and swords.

The series is clearly a great hit with independent readers.  It has generated spin-offs such as the mandatory website with games and competitions, collector cards and the Beast Quest Annual. 

I'm also quite taken by the biographical details about the author and want to know more about him.  Despite the popularity of the books and his prolific output, he seems to be quietly anonymous (and so young!).  From his website, I glean the following:

Adam Blade is in his late twenties and was born in Kent, England. His parents were both history teachers and amateur artists and Adam grew up surrounded by his father's paintings of historic English battles--which left a lifelong mark on his imagination. He was also fascinated by the ancient sword and shield that hung in his father's office. Adam's father said they were a Blade family heirloom. Sadly, Adam does not have his own Fire-Dragon or Horse-Man...but he really wishes he did!  

Yesterday, I happened to give my son the old wooden tai chi sword that belonged to his grandmother and he grabbed it with glee.  I understand now that my timing was impeccable.  It is his Beast Quest sword.  The perfect accessory for the books.

However.  As a post-script, I took a look at some Amazon reviews and noted that one parent thought it was an outright "hyper-violent fantasy series" and " highly inappropriate for younger readers".  The reviewer goes on to note that:

We wonder why kids are desensitized to violence when this type of material is deemed appropriate for pre-teens. I know many of the other parents say that "their boys love it!" - to each their own. As a parent of an 8 year-old and 5 year-old twins I don't want them reading about a little boy's back being shred to the bone by some demon wolf. Magic School Bus, Zac Power, Magic Tree House, Jack Stalwart - these are books for the 6-10 crowd!! 

So, this made me wonder whether I needed to censor the booklists of my independent readers.  Frankly, when we bolt to the library, I am happy to let the children make their own choices from the junior sections. I sort of hope the local library, if not the publishers, might have weeded out the dross. But can middle primary children distinguish between fictionalised violence involving fantasy creatures and malicious real world terror?  Do the hideous beasts signify our worst fears and horrors, and their conquest therefore convey a positive message?  The triumph of good over evil?  A parable that children can understand to help them be brave and resilient?  Or is it the stuff of bad dreams and twisted values?   Are modern-day stories any worse than Grimm's fairytales or the derring-do of comic book superheros?

I did baulk at bringing these books home from the library, based on the covers alone, but the fearless exploits of Tom and Elenna seem to captivate my boy with no obvious ill effects.  When asked why he likes Beast Quest he simply said he loves books which come in a series and continue with the same characters and familiar storyline. He guffawed at the suggestion that were too violent or gory. 

Nevertheless, it does raise interesting questions about fantasy violence, of which there is considerably more these days thanks to gaming, and its impact on children.

Eurobodalla Botanic Gardens

"The young leaves is shootin' on the trees,

The air is like a long, cool swig o' beer,

The bonzer smell of flow'rs is on the breeze,

An' 'ere's me, 'ere

Jist moochin' round like some pore, barmy coot,

Of 'ope and joy, an' forchin destichoot."

{C.J. DENNIS, A Spring Song}

***

One week of school holidays to go.  Charly is still at a sleep-over across the road with gorgeous neighbour C. 

{Sleep-overs across the road have to be the best thing ever! So convenient. Just in-and-out as they please from one house to the other. No driving.}

I think the food and bedding arrangements are far more salubrious over there than at our house. 

Meantime, Ro Ro is totally immersed in sets of Beastly Books variously titled Boy Versus Beast or Beast Quest or Beastly Business. He literally scooped his arm along the shelves at the Kingston Library and dumped an entire set into the canvas library tote.  He is now methodically working through them.  Wanna is busy dressing up dolls and manoeuvring Little Ponies in formation across the carpetted floor of her bedroom.  Sweet home-spun entertainment and not an electrical cord or device charger in sight.

Today is windy and wet in the national capital, so best we can do is reminisce about our sojourn on the south coast and our walk through the serene Eurobodalla Botanic Gardens, another of our unexpected finds.   We discovered this beautiful spot thanks to my obsessive brochure collecting and the services of the Bateman's Bay Tourist Bureau.  

The Eurobodalla Botanic Gardens are impeccably maintained (the uniformed gardeners and ride-on mowers were out in full force while we were there) with lots of new works in progress, including on a childrens' playground with musical equipment and a divine BBQ area. 

There's a great selection of bushwalks and ample open spaces to throw a frisbee (or a dart - "the new frisbee"). If we were local and it wasn't raining, this is where we would have outdoor birthday parties and end-of-year get-togethers. Don't tell anyone, but I like it more than the Australian National Botanic Gardens.
 

Mogo Zoo

 

 Daddy’s takin’ us to the zoo tomorrow,

Zoo tomorrow, zoo tomorrow

Daddy’s takin’ us to the zoo tomorrow

And we can stay all day!

Chorus:

We’re goin’ to the zoo, zoo, zoo

How about you, you, you?

You can come too, too, too

We’re goin’ to the zoo, zoo, zoo.

See the elephant with the long trunk swingin’

Great big ears and a long trunk swingin’

Snuffin’ up peanuts with a long trunk swingin’

And we can stay all day!

See all the monkeys they’re scritch-scritch scratchin’

Jumpin’ around and scritch-scritch scratchin’

Hangin’ by the long-tail (huff huff huff)

And we can stay all day!

There’s a big black bear he’s a huff-puff-a-puffin’

His coat’s too heavy he’s  a huff-puff-a-puffin’
Don’t get too near the huff-puff-a-puffin’
Or you won’t stay all day!

Well the seals in the pool all honk-honk-honkin’ Catchin’ the fish and honk-honk-honkin’ Little tiny seals all honk-honk-honkin’ And we can stay all day! Well we stayed all day and I’m gettin’ sleepy Sittin’ in the car gettin’ sleep sleep sleepy Home already gettin’ sleep sleep sleepy ’cause we have stayed all day. We been to the zoo zoo zoo So have you you you You came too too too We been to the zoo zoo zoo. (Lyrics: Peter, Paul and Mary) *** What an unexpected surprise. Mogo Zoo on the south coast of New South Wales is quite a little gem. I reluctantly agreed to visit as one stop on our motoring itinerary mid-way along the Eurobodalla coast. I succumbed to the incessant and enthusiastic requests. Can we, can we, can we?   How could you not? It is larger than expected with an interesting and atypical selection of animals - the white lion, the cotton-top tamarin, the pygmy marmoset, the green iguana and the red panda to name a few.   All healthy, albeit slightly bored-looking, specimens. Perhaps wild animals also look somnolent in their native habitats, only we don't see the yawns, listless gazes and lolling about prone. Animals always look perkier in the wildlife programs on the telly. Mogo Zoo is pleasantly laid out with ample picnic places for the self-caterer (which we weren't on this occasion more's the pity). The grounds are well landscaped and beautifully maintained. They grow much of their own food in a sweet garden you can peer into from one of the walks at the rear of the grounds. The glass enclosures are spotless so you can see the animals without squinting through grime and cobwebs, or wishing you had a microfibre cloth in your pocket to give it a quick once-over, as I do. (Sad, but true.  I should be in tourism or hospitality.)      It took us two hours to meander through. We could have spent longer. Indeed, we could have left three members of the touring party there!

If you need a break from sun, surf and fishing while holidaying at Bateman's Bay, I would throughly recommend a half-day excursion to Mogo Zoo.  But take a picnic basket and stay for lunch.

Motoring to Tuross Head and Bodalla

A Midsummer Noon In The Australian Forest

~ Charles Harpur

"Not a sound disturbs the air,

There is quiet everywhere;

Over plains and over woods

What a mighty stillness broods!

Only there's drowsy humming

From the yon warm lagoon slow coming:

Tis the dragon-hornet - see!

All bedaubed resplendently.

O 'tis easeful here to lie

Hidden from noon's scorching eye,

In the grassy cool recess

Musing thus of quietness."

***

As our holiday and adventures on the Eurobodalla coast of New South Wales continued, we took a day trip from Malua Bay to Tuross Head and the much acclaimed Fish and Chip Shop.  (You can see the focus of our culinary endeavours: drive to the nearest greasy cafe.)

This particular chippie enjoys a fabulous location literally on Lake Tuross with the water flapping underneath the timber boards of the jetty.  I think, however, since the establishment is for sale, it may be on the decline. The outside awnings were broken and patrons had to swelter in the midday heat, the service slow and unreliable and the fish and chips not quite up to the standard we expect of seaside cafes.  Probably flake instead of fresh flathead or the Catch of the Day, and all a bit too greasy. Still what it lacked in gourmet appeal, it made up for in atmosphere.

 ...with a knight in shining armour guarding the fishing tackle and wet suits. Plus the most amazing views across the lake.  Really quirky, and what I expect the cafes on Pittwater which feature in Susan Duncan's books to look like.

Appetites replete, we sped off to the sleepy town of Bodalla, home of cheese-making.

...and patted the poddy calves.  Eeck!  Long tongues and the smell of cow poo!

Lots of views of the Aussie bush.

There's a modest static display with information and memorabilia from the early days of the Australian dairy industry and the efforts of local pioneer, Thomas Sutcliffe Mort.   It looked like the museum and working cheese-making factory for visitors were still under construction.  It should be great when its finished.  There is also accommodation to had on site and a fine-looking cafe for milkshakes and afternoon teas.

The pub across the road.

 

The magificent All Saints church high on a hill overlooking the surrounding area and keeping a watch on the townsfolk.

A lovely rest spot on the Princes Highway.  Highly recommended.

~ "When God Was A Rabbit"Sarah Winman;
~ "Before I Go To Sleep" SJ Watson;
~ "Shakespeare's Wife" Germaine Greer;
~ "Stasiland" Anna Funder;
~ One Gerald Durrell title - am open to suggestions here;
~ The first book in the "Mistborn" series by Branden Sanderson;
~ "The Tiger's Wife" by Tea Obreht;
~ "Foals Bread" by Gillian Mears;
~ "Past The Shallows" by Favel Parrot;
~ "The Weight of Silence" by Catherine Therese and finally
~ "Five Bells" by Gail Jones.
~ "Enjoy Every Sandwiche" by Lee Lipsenthal
A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty Smith - one of my all time favourites and right up there with I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith.

The Banksia Walk and Fishing off the Jetty

"Not very far way a number of Banksia men were sitting
in a Banksia-tree, basking in the sun and planning mischief.

'Bunch and scrunch 'im!' shouted one.
'Hit and spit 'im!' growled another.
'String and ring 'im!' snarled a third.

Then they all jumped about, grunting and chattering
and shaking the bough till the leaves rattled."

May Gibbs, The Adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie

***

On one of our day trips from our base at Malua Bay, we took a detour to do the Banksia Walk at Guerilla Bay.  It was a pleasant, easy stroll until the sharp grasses (under the malicious influence of the Banksia Men) started scratching our legs.  Little Wanna moaned and I had to admit that wearing a sarong and thongs on a bushwalk was not the most sensible form of dress.  (It was only meant to be a twenty minute leisurely stroll.)

We found some strange man-made edifices amidst the natural beauty. 

One of the most special excursions, full of nostalgia for me, was our fishing expedition off one of the Bateman's Bay jetties along the Clyde River.  The quintessential Canberran experience, I suppose.  We motored around everywhere to find a sandy expanse ripe for fishing, and even asked at the Bait and Tackle shop, but couldn't any spots other than the jetties, that didn't have treacherous rocks.  We weren't so concerned about falling in; it was more about losing our lines on snags.  There is only so much re-threading of swivels and hooks that one parent can endure (and it wasn't me!).

Even with our five dollar fishing rods from KMart and a packet of frozen prawns, we managed to catch some under-sized perch and leatherjackets.  We threw them back of course.  That made the whole exercise seem pointless.  The children loved it though.  The thrill of the chase evoking some primal hunter instinct.  The quiet contemplation. All part of the holiday experience, but not a sport I'm about to take up seriously. 

We weren't the only mugs throwing out a line.  There was a fair bit of competition to find the right spot on the jetty.  But as we didn't catch our lunch, we retired to the fabulous Innes Boatshed Fish and Chip Shop.

It was truly scrumptious.