Newcastle East and a small part of the road works to build a racing car circuit.  Ridiculous?

Latest leaked transcripts of Trump and our PM put us in agreement with Trump that our deal about refugees is stupid....'shows me (Trump) to be rediculous'...'look like a dope'.  Trump has got it correct this time.
The deal made with the US to take our refugees is appalling.  Turnbull says the US is not obliged to take one person they do not want, all that is needed is to accept a very small minority as long as Trump honours the deal made with Obama.  Hence few will find refuge. The truth comes out.
The whole arrangement is shameful.  As some humanists say that after so long it is not valid to refuse to back down from never granting asylum to these boat people.
What have we got to lose?

 Less than an hour after the previous ship sailed another is sailing to Asia.  It is low in the water as it is full of coal.  At the same time the next ship is moving into the harbour, it is high out of the water as it is empty. Doh. Several tug boats gather nearby to see it into the port.

A helicopter is barely visible landing on the deck to pick up the pilot who took the ship out of the harbour.  Another pilot is already aboard the incoming ship.

In no time, the latest ship and tugs are in the harbour and almost in the channel to the coal loading docks where a whole line of ships are filling up with loads of black fossil fuel.

Beaut day on the water or in the air to view a city spread out before you. Climate change and  fossil fuel is implicated when we read that July was the warmest July on record.  In photo a coal ship is leaving the port followed by what is believed to be a small dredge.  The dredge makes a lot of round trips each day.
Once free of the port the ships seem to go south towards us before they soon turn north to flee to the wider world with their dark cargo of fossil fuel. Farewell. Somewhere at that point a chopper retrieves the pilot.  The port has been leased to Chinese interests.  Hard to believe.
In the foreground amid the constructions is a hairy bend on the new temporary race circuit. 

Beyond the beach a ship enters the Port of Newcastle.  A chopper takes a pilot to the ship off shore then retrieves them time and time again.

 Is it true or did you read it in the Courier Mail? sticker of the week!

What happened to the parking lot in the shadow of the fort?  Photo of part of the works in preparation for the supercar championship.  This very popular beach 'peninsular' is like a construction zone all over.
There is an existing

 tradition among a small group of owners of hot cars to gather nearby for show and shine on Sundays. And the days are gone of loud burn-outs that created a stir until local residents 'put their foot down'.
  The new circuit needs to be thrown open to citizens for a controlled lap at some point beyond the race.                    

 Four and twenty black birds baked in a pie.  Another pie shop.

Heatherbrae was chock-a-block with motorists after driving 70ks or so without much fast food in school holidays.

Drivers, cyclists, skateboard riders, walkers like the beach circuit on Sundays but it was in gridlock and a chance to get the camera out and enjoy the scene while waiting.
At the conclusion of the coming super-car race, Newcastle people could be allowed to do a lap of the   course in compensation. 

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

Been fishing?
Eco announcements.  From the supermarkets, lagging in several states, single use plastic shopping bags will cease use months out from today. Reusable plastic bags will be sold for 15cents each.  Reusable fabric shopping bag are also sold and are used by a lot of shoppers.
 What is the point of selling PLASTIC shopping bags?  Convenience and sales. 
Will the customer bring them back to reuse or will these new bags also go straight to landfill? At best, the bags are destined for landfill or litter after several uses.
We are all paying higher prices for our groceries to cover the growth of duplicate supermarkets in many suburbs.  In theory it provides competition but it would seem that customers are mobile and shop wherever and can manage without new giant twin supermarkets on every corner. They put the familiar shops right out of business and diversity is lost all round.
Often it is easy to see the country towns that remain vibrant in their centre are those that do not have a vast supermarket on the edge of town. When that happens they become a shadow of their former selves with rows of empty shops and disjointed pockets of activity. Grand interesting shops of note go wasted. If a town is clever enough to see the trend they might integrate a smaller supermarket into the existing stock of buildings and with parking lots nearby keep the town alive.
Aldi do not have single use plastic bags but, again, reusable plastic ones are sold. 
  Secondly, a massive storage battery is to be built in South Australia, the state that has bit the bullet and established alternative energy supplies despite total lack of support by the negative Federal gov.  Out of the blue, a famous American of Tesla fame I believe , said the battery will be built in 100 days or will be free of charge.
 Recently, the G20 was centred on vital change and carbon targets to save our environment yet reporting was dominated by the antics of the US and Russian dictators and their problems unrelated to climate change.

Women in special dress. They loved it and we did too.  It was difficult to grasp the name, was possibly Uyghur tradition.

Tradition Indonesian dress has splendid variety seen at a multicultural event recently.
 'Let the person who is without blame cast the first stone' - all the same, here goes.  In overseas media it is noticed how tiny casual racists remarks are often thrown in, Europeans often the target or the war years, as well we hear colonial attitudes expressed.
The Good Karma Hospital is not quite entirely free of that.
 In contrast, the gripping drama, Indian Summer (shown on ABC TV) when attitudes and class of some years ago were at their peak leaving the viewer anguished. 
 There is an expectation around here that newcomers will become one of 'us' we hear said. No one's perfect, how often the typical 'quaint' expat is always seen associating with other expats.
 When we see community development in the Australian Indigenous context more often than not it is led by a non-indigenous person, true opportunity needs to be further extended.

There is no temple on the rocky outcrop but spirituality is found in all places.
Future presidential material?  A billionaire, in media, associate of Trump, clash with the law, Harry Teno (Tanoesoedibo) is an Indonesian with friends, influence and money tho possibly he does not belong to the correct religion but really will that count?
ABC TV had a long look at new resorts in Indonesia in Bali and Bogor area by Trump Hotels plus local big names and how the development rides rough shod over areas of special significance, sacred spaces be it Hindu temple or forested valley.
Another theme park will do wonders for Harry Teno's popularity.  And a toll road.
Any citizen of means does exceedingly well in a less affluent country on the backs of the majority who earn very little.

And one of the signs was missed out at that and at first sight of a delightful beach.
Signs of the times.
Will a disruption come about in the Illness Industry and its professionals?
 Just like Uber and Airbnb change may sweep through and a very inflexible system might totter and loosen up.
Change will be resisted.  The health kingdom has safeguards on all sides. Just like the banking sector.
Is there a link between an increase of violence in patients and with the status of medical staff and the mechanical nature of the health system?  Negative reactions to institutions are reaching a peak.
 

From lovely Shoal Bay, the twin peaks ad nauseam. In Nelson Bay, just north of Newcastle.
School holidays again and there the pace of life will increase a little this winter, a far cry from summer crowds.
Road works to improve the turn off to Fingal Bay are causing a bit of strife.

The same again, 'twin peaks' Tomaree Head with a 'spit' on the north and Yacaaba head on south side of Nelson Bay. A splendid bank of clouds to see way out to sea.

 Two peaks in the distance stand at the entrance to Nelson Bay.  Then much closer as seen from Shoal Bay. Cloudy one day, dazzling this morning.

 

An old gimmick outside pie shop selling prize winning multiple varieties of this favourite despite the foodies and health consciousness in Nelson Bay.  Cool rainy day and a good appetite and a smoked chicken and camembert pie was outstanding for $6.80 and had a sprinkling of caraway seeds on top - yumm

So often the camera is ready and you wait for the best sight to appear then wait some more and more and then you could be lucky....

Mr and Mrs Obama and family are holidaying in Indonesia in several cities.  In the course of that can Obama charm the powers that be to keep on the straight and narrow?  Security and anti-terrorists activities could be hinted at but where to start as it may be seen differently by the 'man' on the street in that country.  Only a brave guest would be so bold.
Above, old double-deckers were taken out of moth balls for the day for excursions in Sydney amidst the chaos arising from new light rail construction.

a sour mystery object

Leaving the old historical trains behind moving to Vivid in Sydney to a dark shot. That evening, Fairyfloss or Cotton Candy or Candy floss was spun like magic.
One quantity was furled into a ball about each minute and cost $14 for the waiting queue.. It wrapped around a novelty hand held illuminated stick.

Playing trains.  Every time you go to Central from out of town a whole lot of facilities have changed.  An atmosphere of automation and facelessness has grown. Other things have been there from day one and are comforting to recognize.
 A least an enquiry counter remains staffed even when the staff seem an incongruous group of contractors.
 Homeless people take shelter in the big colonial doorways so it is not all bad in providing shelter. However, the homeless, in that manner, would never be found there even in our most depressed years. The haves and the have nots.  The next generation is unaware of how things were.  Better or for worse.

 Historical railways and nostalgia at Central Station.  The Southern Aurora was the overnight service Sydney to Melbourne, 956ks, 1962-86. The arrangments was of sleeper rooms, lounge cars and a dining carriage with tables, white tablecloths and all the rest

Progress? On a recent journey the overnight first class service had a brown paper bag delivered containing the items for breakfast.  Maccas has set the standard!

 

Travels from Victoria to NSW

Into wilderness.  To begin the horizon was circled by mountains with familiar blue haze. Open country and broad green valleys led on to woodlands while the sunshine and cloudless stunning blue skies were memorable.

An early disused single railway line followed beside us now adapted to an adventure trail and a tall timber  tressel bridge of note was observed decaying.

Where was the path across the mountain range?  A path suitable for summer driving where long stretches have no fuel, food or drinks or mobile coverage.
Into the forests of Kosciuszko National park which were quite tall with thick green undergrowth and straight stretches that changed to endless windings on a steady, not steep, climb to the very tops of those once distant hills in sun and crisp windless conditions.
The road had a good surface, was narrow but no way perilous while dry underneath. There was a crossing over the wall of a dam at Tumut Pond Reservoir.
The green gums changed to strange leafless trees whose bare branches appeared lifeless and formed  unusual low spikey expanses up hill and down dale.

Patches of light snow began to be seen in shadowy gullies, probably the very first snow of the season, it was by the road sides then in places in a thin cover over the road all of which was a great novelty.

A notable little shelter hut came next then eventually the hydro electricity installations and a return to civilization, workers and twincabs,

then a cluster of ski related buildings in Cabramurra, including a cafe.

This worthwhile mini adventure trail is closed over winter between the long weekends of June and of October. For one, it gives access to the lake, the dam and the hydro works.
Continue past Mount Selwyn (resort) to Kiandra and down to Adaminaby etc and that section of road is kept snow free.  At Kiandra for something different, an alternative route scoots across the open tops towards the town of Tumut. 

 Chilten, Vic, has frosts and verandah posts in the little main street which is in original style like stepping back into the days of the gold rush.  Minus the crowds!

  One often has to remind oneself that members of an organization or a religion etc all think differently and have diverse beliefs at the same time as going along with the core principles.
 Also, ideas can be latched onto as privately upheld views that don't have much foundation in the traditions.  Diversity is the name of the game.  Is brain washing done to overcome this diversity as in spy rings or in cults?  Or there are rules and dogmas to establish basics.

 

Chilly morning just south of the border several days ago.  It is possible that frost is seen in a suburb or two in Newcastle, is hard to say.  Frosty autumn leaves - rare.