Return to base after first mission to disrupt the export of coal.
The government is proposing to reduce the target for renewable energy production.  They just don't get it locked in the last century. 
All the same, have we reduced our demand for electricity?
A very positive change but it won't be seen as positive and prices will rise for sure.  We must keep profits high for the foreign owned electricity companies.

Turning the tide of coal export.  For half an hour. But all this is symbolic.
Law enforcement boats are having a busy time. 

Protest action gets underway on Newcastle Harbour.
On the right they have abandoned ship as the canoe is partly submerged in the same way as their island homes will be underwater from rising sea levels.

Islander warrior drama in pre-protest in Port of Newcastle NSW today.
Pacific Climate Warriors using traditional canoes are going to paddle into the path of coal ships in an effort to shut down the world's biggest coal port for a day and degrade the fossil fuel industry.
Pacific Island communities will be inundated by rising sea levels.
350.org is building a global climate movement.
Newcastle activists joined the action.
 

Things to do with a pile of bricks. It was only a holiday game and more like a throne than a BBQ.

Tom-cat Tony will read the riot act and take on Putin.
Skin and hair will fly be awry. (Fly? In bad taste - MH17)  But then, one is bald! That should be both are balding.

Brave students and workers join hands and advance.
Be resolute, fear no sacrifice and surmount every difficulty to win victory!

Dew. In no time, free infinite solar power flooded us with sun light and energy.
The liberal government has no reliable plans to support renewable energy.

Motor home rally close to Nelson Bay has many many participants - this might be a quarter of the visitors who have occupied the sport facilities as well as additional marques designed for interest groups, chautauquas and all the rest of it, it is supposed.
It is to be hoped no anarchy arises - these nomad retirees are a force to be reckoned with!
Newcastle has the HQ of the national motor home organisation.

Security is high on the agenda.
All this idle recreation is enough to stress out treasurer Hockey and his side kicks.

Is it a sign? A lunar eclipse, a bronze moon in 3D and it is Mental Health month.
 ABC media is immersed in Mental As which is a big effort with special shows to inform and to break down the reluctance to open up about mental illnesses.
Happiness is a day of free diverse discussions and topical debate from a local group on this Saturday.
The ABC programs offer us much that is good and teaches us by what emerges from the brave participants. Or if we are to be more informed about mental illness, perhaps specific descriptions of the problems that could be meet with might be forthcoming along with what first aid to offer.

Bonny Hills or Lake Cathie must have been the inspiration for this work.

Salt and pepper in Cowrie shell design. Tasty food can be had at Sandbar in North Haven.
All-day breakfast. Is it cheating? The Poached egg can be found served as an atypical very neat cocoon. Suggestions can be found to add vinegar to the water; to create first  a whirlpool in the water but maybe the answer is to use greased cling wrap tied with a knot to confine the egg before lowering into the water. Anyway, for a start, deep water could be tried instead of a shallow frying pan. A little challenge to take on.

Roos relax away from the noon day sun.

Axe - timber - Kew!

Called in at iKew, that is Kew, off the Pacific Highway, where reminders of the days of logging are in the park near the pleasant and well stocked tourist centre.  Local weaving and confectionary are among the items on sale. 
It also acts as a driver reviver which is very worthwhile service.

War.  Maybe it is the result of media reporting more than anything else that result in the PM as seen to be obsessed with fighting terrorism.
Oh my, he is sooo responsible!
As some say, a degree of proportion is essential.
Forget all vital issues, nothing will be heard from the government except war and security. Give us a break.

A mystery.  Our national obsession is coal. Coal industry is everywhere.  Mining is our national past time. Coal fired power generation is our habit. Despite all that, how is it that our electricity costs are possibly the highest in the world?   Natural gas prices are riding high.
Anyway, the future is in green power and it must be a good investment - Rockefeller thinks so. As well as many global activists. They have seen the light.
Our government does not support alternative energy in a big way.

Sunday driving.
To have our local politicians resign because of corruption was positive. Expectations are high about replacements.  But my unease is growing.  Will the vote be given to rednecks? 
Will we find anti-democratic, anti-enlightenment folk, friends of the big end of town who dont know much more about politics than this housewife writer.
Thanks for voting for a senator who says stupid things to the press, seems to use the aboriginal ticket that is disputed and has no regard for cultural beliefs.   

 

From September 1944

This is the famous Soldiers Cake Cannister of the war years  Ideal for taking cake on picnics or sending by mail.
War is everywhere, either WW1 is retold, or WW 2 or IS conflict.  There is a lot of concensus about IS.
Imagine if nations united in a similar manner to combat even more important issues. That would be unbelievable.

Two items are in a price war just now, it seems.  Strawberries $1.50 and Broccoli  $1 kg.  Such largess, what are the supermarkets thinking?
Vary rare to find tender excellent strawberries.  They tend to be wirey, woody, tough, low in flavour.  Those who worry about such things say to soak strawberries and wash them well as they catch a lot of chemicals on their skin.
None of which is high on the scale of world shattering events that confront us today.