Oyster shucking...pity this worker...an endless task at Sydney fish markets which were packed with hundreds of diners.  Four deep we lined up to buy plates stacked with marine life. The crowd generated an urgency.
It was as if a day in Asia, the food, the faces, the languages, the hub bub, the eager family groups and the absence of those of my own background was a taste of adventure.          
Incidentally, the food we purchased was not amazing, too many items were laced with chili powder and bravely I returned a portion of tough dry rubbery lobster tail for a substitute half wondering how I would manage when I only speak English and why was I so out of step when everyone else was ecstatic yet I managed.
 The outdoor tables were an alternative.

Towards Central Station Sydney.

Today, NAB bank at Kotara lost its connectivity in every way and could not function, The manager was at the entrance directing customers to other branches etc.  ( I dont bank there)  Was an aggrieved customer to blame?  The enquiry into banks is revealing the bad processes that we only feared might be true.

Snouts in the trough BASEment level.  Restaurant prepares for the evening crowds. 

Coles supermarket has let the side down.  Their plastic reusable shopping bags have changed from 15c to free of charge only several weeks in, they say customers are not ready to do better. Coles cannot tolerate any threat to shoppers or to profits.
  The thick plastic reusable bags are a stupid move.  They need to give way to a long-lasting fabric bag.  Some reports are of reusable plastic bags thrown out as single use - like one might expect  - and those bags would be even worse as land fill.
  We cannot put off the transition to sustainability. 


 

 Berowra area, old Pacific Highway once had toll gates somewhere on this spot which has become a rest area and firefighter's base.
A drive to/from Sydney included a toll to use the long new descent to the Hawkesbury River on the beginnings of the M1.
  The old two lanes were a steep climb of horseshoe bends and progress was very slow or in fits and starts but of interest. Engines boiled. 
Relatives have said they packed a thermos and food to have refreshments during a traffic jam, like outside the car - perhaps it was an exaggeration.
The old Pacific highway, is much improved and continues from the above point and motorcyclists seem to like its challenges.    

This route past the beaches is sure to please us. 

 A total turnaround has happened to local media and has been rapid. Newsagents were a sought after thriving business - not any longer, lottery sales seem their mainstay in those that remain in business.
  Just the other day as they say there was a rally in the city to support the local Fairfax newspaper from outsourcing important tasks - now there has been a sell out to Sydney's brash Channel 9 and doubts about the future of a whole network of country newspapers.
  In a relativly short period newspapers have had their day.  A local state of the art printing press of  fairly recent times has ceased printing the local rag and jobs have been lost - didn't management  see the writing on the wall?

King Edward Park catching the late afternoon sun on Sunday and quite a few people were around tho they don't happen to be in the photo.

 Progress with light rail in Hunter Street with this section east of Union Street just before it was opened to traffic two days ago and includes a new road link with Honeysuckle near where the light rail emerges onto Hunter. Then the same section as it was a month ago.

Is it possible the new Hunter Street light rail rolling stock crept here today?  No? As part of a freight train, new carriages and a load of wheels was seen on the move near Tighes Hill, as was a coal train heading back for a load. Coal prices have risen, the bonanza continues and we 'fiddle while Rome burns'. Thinks massive ice burgs on the move and sea levels.
 Trump fiddles while Rome burns.  And what has Putin done?  That US leaders are provoked and react and complain about the actions of their president in response to Putin and would be a 'good' result as far as Putin is concerned he might be pleased he has caused more dissent in America.
Does protest (London) fall on deaf ears?
 We have enough on our own plate. Dictators and authoritarians are lapping at our shores.

Woolworths supermarket has installed those plastic seats made from recycled shopping bags. What's next?
Observations.  The scenic French countryside is followed with the Tour de France on SBS TV.  It is difficult to spot solar panels on any rooves or roofs.  Hope it is the exception.
The national data base of our e-health records is in progress.  Of course it is important and of great use.  I see very little evidence that medical professionals delve into histories or care plans at all, they reinvent the wheel with every incident. 
It is very true that the famous Thai Football team are well behaved demonstrated on camera sitting up in their hospital bed. Current thinking is to be up and about no matter what illness - within reason - not a chair was in sight. Difficult for young active boys. Off camera it would be different.  Then, strangely, the boys had comments recorded without taking their masks off - not even for a minute.  Possibly it was to deter recognition.  As if.
 

Citrus form a bright spot.  Mid winter, sunny days and blue skies with an edge.  Well, that's this week.
An old mandarine tree gives fruit year after year and it attracts possums or some wild life who scoop out the fruit. 

Buddhist centre in Hamilton is open and is seen from the street through the windows.  A life long pursuit. As well, our approach to fellow humans is what its all about.

The slaying of two young lives by their father is an appalling loss.  There is no excuse.
Why are situations maintained at any cost?  Why are court proceedings pursued at any cost? Why prolong a court case with an allegedly risky violent long term unpredictable person? We need to use some wisdom about the reality.  All is not black and white.  But such thinking is unheard of.

The local Woolworths supermart must be going solar.  Praise be!  Talesun brand is on the products.  It is not a first, photovoltaic has taken off and great progress is seen on a global scale.
 Suzhou Talesun Solar Technologies has a web site that depicts grand solar farms in China.  Installations in Europe particularly and Thailand, India and USA are also shown from this Chinese company which has state of the art equipment from Italy and Japan.
 Where is our own manufacture of these products which we were into in the very early stages?  Naturally, we can not compete with the mega economies.  Some politicians are not even supporting solar.
 Is alliance with China such a bad thing?  We find an unfamiliarity with Chinese efforts to be part of our culture, our uncertainties are reasonable. Chinese global reach is notable. Their political scene and human rights agenda are alien.  However, how well do we and our existing allies stack up? How do we rate with the indigenous population? Our unethical tactics with refugees are shameful.   How many people are imprisoned in the USA - vast numbers. US politics and national standing are faltering. So how well does Chinese society rate in the face of our difficulties?  So called National security is another difficulty beyond this little rant.
 Is it possible to sit on the fence and for us to have good allies across the divide of China and USA?  End the either or situation and look towards an interesting future. If the East will have us.    

Small and slow eco gain.  A take-home reminder offered by the Woolworths supermarket in town.  A lot can be done, some supermarkets in Sydney and Canberra were no way into reusable bags in the past.
Manufacturers could be tempted to sell sets of plastic bags to make up for those from the checkout and handy for this and that.  It would be a backward step.  Plastic bin liners exist and some are biodegradable but doubts are cast on the biodegradable process.  

Full marks to those in the community who make reusable bags on the sewing machine.  Short handles are a must.  Please make short handles for the bags. Long handles mean that the bag drags on the ground if the bag of groceries is held by the handles.

This photo is nothing like the reality of the long descent and climb up from the scary span with high sides to deter xtreme sports persons launching into the valley below
 Previous photos were of Hunter Street but since then several journeys have been along other highways.
The M1, Sydney to Newcastle secton would be the most ambitious, challenging, fastest and busiest in the land from what my travels have shown. Last Saturday afternoon the traffic was light.
Extensive roadworks meant kilometers of speed restrictions, in place to build extra lanes it is supposed. For one, the service centres this side of half way create problems. 
The last section closer to Newcastle is very boring until the TV transmitter on Mount Sugarloaf comes into view with relief that the home run is nigh.

 Hawkesbury or Brooklyn Bridges

 Beyond Darby Street, which is closed at this end, next was the Court House.  One area of design had used a balls and chain idea!   There, a section of the light rail was almost finished.


 
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Hunter Street revisited.  Locals may identify with this.  1.  Looking west from this side of Darby Street and light rail construction.  I'm all for workplaces observing public hols or is there a bit of urgency over finishing this work as soon as possible? Where do we draw the line.
2.  Looking east.   4.  Deserted footpath.  People were hard to spot on a rainy public holiday.  Next to no shops were open.
The shops have limited access to suppliers,to customers, to trades persons and their tools of trade, to cleaners, or for medical or fire emergencies.

Queens Birthday long weekend, I think, the city was as quiet as with rain showers in Hunter street.  1 Formal wear shop zone stand coy behind construction fences. 2  View is extended with a new glimpse up the hill where parking station was demolished in Perkin street.  3  Electric Bikes sit in wait. These sets are found around the city and are a positive move to take our minds off the general inconvenience of the moment.

Hunter Street revisited.  Images that a local may relate to.  1.  Beyond the barriers around the light rail construction is the former Newcastle Railway Station, due for reuse.  2.  Engineering works on ex shop front redevelopment. Formerly David Jones, formerly Scotts Hunter street mall.   3.  a patch of light rail in a finished stage and crossing to the wharves near corner of Scott and Wolfe Streets.

Yesterday, an unusually calm mostly warm sunny day, Jimmys Beach, north of Newcastle, inside headlands of Nelson Bay, was free of gross piles of items that had washed overboard when 83 containers fell off a ship.  The opposite northern beachface was also clear.  Other beaches have problems.
Clean-up of a range of plastic products had taken place and work was in progress in the distance close to the headland..  Several people were making their own offort  to pick up mini items of plastic.  There was littering at the extreme high tide mark I was told.
In the opposite direction, beach erosion was up to the edge of the street in a couple of places.  Development is too close to the beach.
Plastic ware degrades into unseen micro pieces and is an extreme problem for our ocean environment and marine life and down the food chain affecting animals and humans. 
Fishing boats can snag their nets on a container making for a dangerous situation.  They would rely on sonar.  The position of the containers may be 'charted' by the navy.

   

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY    
Single use containers prepared in a busy stop-off  on the interstate highway.
 I must reform and keep away from this mega franchise which has no obvious recycling activities whatsoever considering that every item is single use.  Well, except for china-ware coffee cups and mugs in the cafe area which is the attraction, usually.  No sorting or recycling bins are ever in sight.

Our wonderful planet from skylab. Resources are finite.

 Strange and unearthly from Skylab.....for earthlings a truly remarkable planet like no other - so far.  Splendor is all round us. Protect our environment. 
A slow environmental revolution is stirring in the supermarkets seen at Woolworths.  In response to legislation?  Free of single-use plastic bags.  Praise be!
It takes more effort..  Is believed that single use plastic bags will remain in use in fruit and vegies. Thick white plastic bags are offered for 15 cents each and can be reused for a time.  What will become of them?
Long lasting reusable fabric bags continue to be available on sale.
The poster includes a translation into a Chinese language and is pleasing to see. An issue of importance?  Translation into several languages more commonly used in our suburbs might be of  benefit.