For 20 odd years, a bunch of guys and their kids would go away camping, at different places all across Victoria.
We would to hunt out remote spots where we could make a bit of noise and not be disturbing (or disturbed by) other campers.
It was fascinating watching these kids grow up over many years, and I know it was a highpoint for many of them - a whole extended weekend of dad to themselves.
The pretext was going fishing. Surf fishing, river fishing, or here, lake fishing.
This annual ritual is still going strong, although I am now not able to go, living as I do in another country (New Zealand). In a year or two, the first grandkids will be old enough to go along.
This shot was taken at Lake Tyers, in eastern Victoria, not far from the mouth of the snowy river. Lake Tyers is a landlocked salt lake. Because it is quite remote, the fish stocks are quite plentiful and diverse. It is one of those spots that you never know what you are going to pull up.
Taken from our campsite late in the afternoon, as a front was coming through.
Beautiful spot, where we could go for days and not see another person.
I was walking down Manchester St in Christchurch one day last year and this was parked on the side of the road.
It just ticked all the boxes for me -Turbo, great colour combination, G50 gearbox, in immaculate condition, I just loved everything about it.
About two weeks later, it turned up on trade me for $75k, which I thought was extremely reasonable.
Talk about a twitching cheque book hand.
Tried for weeks to rationalise the purchase of this car, but could not bring myself to pull the trigger, or even go and look at it, as that would surely have been the end.
I still want it..........
Many years ago I read in a book by Ernest Hemingway (Death in the afternoon?) that they key to sitting down at the typewriter (remember them?) and loading a blank sheet of paper is to start with one true sentence, and that the piece would flow from there.
I have followed that advice many many times, writing complex business correspondence and presentations, drafting letters of condolence and all sorts of other occasions when one has to frame up an argument. It really has helped.
Lets see how regularly I stick to the discipline.
Greetings and welcome!
I will admit to three motivators (four if you include vanity) that have caused this blog to come into existence.
Firstly, I was keen to slightly address the imbalance of political opinion in the people's republic of New Zealand, second, I have greatly enjoyed regularly reading a number of other people's efforts over the years, and have finally decided that both the time and motivation are here for me to push my own little boat out onto the sea of published opinion.
Lastly, being a self confessed capitalist, I am curious to see if I can "monetize" this foray into new media.
My initial hypothesis is that above all else, readership is king. Presumably they key to readership is a combination of relevance, interest and a diet of regular new content. Out of curiosity I will post stats on readership and revenue (if any) on a regular basis.
Suggestions and guidance on how to advance those objectives will of course be greatly appreciated.
I also hope to have a bit of fun a generate screams of outrage from various lefties, greenies and other numpties, so bring it on, folks.
Enjoy!
