Four visit Kanmantoo

Well, while the cat is away (being our 20 year old son) the mice (or those who remain behind) go off and explore a part of South Australia that I knew was there but cannot ever (EVER) remember seeing. The tiny township of Kanmantoo that is. We left on Saturday after my wife worked a morning shift, packed and out the door right on time. After a slight detour due to mixed messages about drinks requirements and then a major detour after forgetting to pack the air fryer, we were on the road thinking Strath was our first navigation point and then on to our actual destination. How wrong were we (or how wrong was me anyway). Google took us through Monarto and then on some unknown extension of Old Princes Highway until suddenly our destination was on the left. My love of my life, my most beautiful wife found us the Apple cabin, a quirky extension of The Britanica, the second okdest pub in Kanmantoo. Four beds all squished togother (we certainly discovered who snores and who talks in their sleep... Me... At least I don't grind my teeth much any more), a shower/toilet, and breakfast bar/dining. The art was interesting and the apple in the fridge a quirky touch. It made me wonder what was in the cabin next door (Pear)... The girls and I tried riding the bikes before we got ourselves prepared for a wonderful carriage ride. It is History Month people and you get to learn the coolest stuff about places in History Month. The pub was full of dressed up people in period costume making for some interesting conversations. The owner of The Britanica was lovely and gracious, but the facilities were missing a few things that we had assumed would be there. The night in our cabin was full of loud laughter until our neighbours arrived (in the Pear) after which we simmered our murth to a quiet chuckle (most of the time). Games and funny moments carried us through the evening along sude Ben Stiller in Night at the Museum 2 (and old one but a good one).

Sunday started late thanks to again my love and her great skills of negotiation. We asked the girls if they wanted to go to the cinema or to an old german town. The cinema lost (and the lolly shops won). We have filled today with new discoveries and some sweet treats. All in all a most intersting and wonderful couple of days.

Hoppy Easter Everyone

Life... Each year it seems to get busier and busier. I look back on this poor blog of mine and wonder, if it were a sentient being, would it still be alive? I think we all know the answer to that question, and the news is not good.
I will not give up on you dear blog, nor you, my patient readers.

This post is my opportunity to wish those who celebrate the Easter festival a very happy time. The religious significance of these four days (well two of the four anyway) still echoes in my thoughts. A Catholic upbringing stays with you it seems, as does memories of standing next to Grandma as my Uncle took us through the Stations of the Cross.
Those of you who are only in it for the chocolate eggs, enjoy! And the many who just love a four-day weekend, well enjoy that too.

I have something brewing on the writing front that I am super excited about, and it has nothing to do with a son of any god. I promise I will post here, and everywhere else, with all the details as the publication date gets closer. For now I'll just give out what I think is an obvious clue... The publisher is Australian with the initials BHP.

Farewell 2025 and welcome to a brand new year

Well as we come to the end of 2025 and wake up to the morning of a brand new year I just want to wish all my friends and family a joyful 2026.

The time between Christmas and New Year is notorious for slowing down, even coming to a halt. Not libraries and therefore not my life. I am gearing up for an extra busy school holiday period, spending quality time with the kids and my wonderful wife, and (hopefully) taking a dip in the pool.

Happy 2026 to you all! Thank you for reading and taking an interest in my life. Hopefully, I find the time to post more often and keep you in the loop.

So this is Christmas

What a strange time of year this is for many of us. I have my amazing childhood memories and fond moments of when our kids were young. Lately though I have needed to dig deep and find the magic around me. I am so truly grateful for my beautiful, incredible wife, and my kids (all grown up now) and of course our amazing friends and family.

Pondering for a moment I get this feeling wash over me, remembering the good times and the not so great...

So here is a poem that I think captures me right now as I write this Christmas morning...

So this is Christmas

Christmas morning
Silent house
Everything quiet
Quiet as a mouse
I sit alone with my thoughts
Those thoughts in my head
When I should probably still be sleeping
Safe and snug in my bed
Instead I am thinking
Of times that long have past
My own fleeting childhood
My children's young innocents
Vanished so fast
I think of those whom we love
Gone before we were ready
And those far away
Wishing they were back
Back beside us already
So many feelings
This day brings to mind
And all of it is Christmas
Knowing that, please be kind
Please think of all those
Who are struggling now
And find some way simple
That you can help them somehow

Wishing you all a safe Christmas and may you find joy in the moment, in the nemories, and hopefully both...

I am Squirrel

It seems as we come to the end of another year where I have hardly ever shared, that I'm becoming a bit reflective. Recently on the Academy of the Heart and Mind website I published a poem titled I am a Lamb. Well only just this morning I had another moment of self-clarity, when I realised that when it comes to self-promotion and marketing of my achievements, I am very much a squirrel.

By this I am referring to a very poor habit of mine of gathering up my successes, buying as many books as I can that I have stories and poetry published in, and then burying them in a bookshelf, pulling them out on occasion to nibble at the corners and bask in former glory. I am a hoarder and (much to my wife's despair) have always been a hoarder. It has only just come to my attention now that I am hoarding success.

I do not know what to do with this, and I wonder just how many other squirrels are out there. Let me know in the comments below, unless you are a hoarder of personal discoveries, in which case I will totally understand if you choose to keep that knowledge buried.

It is always fun when Markus visits

The man is infectious… There is no other word for it… A love of people and a love of plants has combined to create the great Markus Hamence.

We have been blessed with his presence, his knowledge, and his crazy (cheeky) spirit about seven or eight times now and I am proud to say we were one of the first libraries to host a Botanic Designer event.

Large crowds or more intimate, Markus just has a way with people, able to connect and communicate his passion for all things plants or design or whatever it is that has him excited… You just can’t help but be excited about it too…

Thanks Markus for yet another great visit… Looking forward to seeing you again in July…

Hoppy Easter everyone

What a wet and wild Easter we have had, way down in the aussie south anyway. A family trip to the beach has been marred at least a little bit by some wet and wild weather.

How good is the crash of the ocean lulling you to sleep though. It is one of my favourite sounds.

Even at the seaside Easter Bunny has found my kids. Sadly, Mister 19 has decided he is too cool for an egg hunt. He was more than happy for dad to hunt those chocolate googies though. Not one to miss out!

And speaking of not missing out, out home away from home is equipped with a fully functioning oven... Soooooo... Lamb roast for Easter Sunday lunch was still a go... Yummy yummy...

To top it all off the Crook family found us. Great food... Great company... Great memories...

Hoppy Easter everybunny!!!

Tim