Gulls and pelicans were interested in the catch of the day so it was quickly retrieved by the fisher. It seems.

 Something nothing.  Different conditions of water, sky, light.

And hurrah. Summer has been free of bush fires in our region. Humid, some rain, hot, but no fires.

Black swans taking a nap.

  One and a half dogs. Our best friend?
Too good to be true.  Too much to ask.  A fools paradise  Too good to last. Free to air media TV and radio without ads or self promos.
Cut backs to the ABC and SBS. The international service upended.
Do we need to follow the actions of other governments that are tied to free enterprise? Growth and more growth.
 Do our own thing.  Be content with sustainability.
 If we simply follow others then what about climate change policy?  Pre-Abbott we were among the leaders.

The bay is dead calm and mysterious.

What would a Tom Murphy achieve on this backdrop at Port Stephens?  This city father from afar told us about the transformation of Pittsburgh from heavy industry.
Didn't he tell us create a vision as a basis for urban development and one we are very determined about so as to avoid being reactive and enter into  debates and see opposition as normal.
His talk was straight forward which was a relief, sponsored by the university.

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.

Shoal Bay shores. White ant's nest.
The first crop of cherries is always celebrated round Christmas time but, darn it, imported cherries were on the shelves recently.  And think of the food miles. I sampled one and they were rather good. 

An open the sunroof kind of day.  A pretend to need TomTom kind of day.

Who could forget the way to Nelson Bay on an idyllic kind of day.

A mobile calls.

What fell in the water?  Nelson Bay

Thundaraft, 'see what 400HP in a rubber boat feels like...adrenalin and excitement plus.....come wave jumping with us!' brace and hang-on tight when it becomes air-born at the entrance to Port Stephens. Shake up those city-slicker day trippers from the south.

Or June to August go extreme whale watching on the fastest whale watching boat on the Bay. From Nelson Bay, Port Stephens, just north of Newcastle.

Day trips, past and present, to Shoal Bay and the cycles of life.

Things to do at Shoal Bay. Keeping fit?
Todays the day for the annual flu 'shot' and the appointment was made before hearing about the latest threat from Mexico.
Spot the google tool bar. Mine is in morse code today, lol.

from The Annual Holiday Pam Ayres. from Some of me poetry. Arrow

Well, I'm off on me holidays,
It's all within me reach,
I've got myself in trim
For carting deckchairs round the beach.....
Oh so remote and deeply tanned,
With me sandwiches, me knickers,
And me ears full up with sand....

Shoal Bay, Port Stephens, north of Newcastle.