Croc country

Bellerive Bardot has finally had the chance to assert herself.  She and a former rescue dog descend daily to the beach and, leaving her crocs in a secret rock space, wallow in the pleasures of sea and sand.

The tides make each day exciting and new.  In high tide we paddle through swirling waters at the base of the dunes.

Recently we were greeted by an exceptionally low tide,

revealing unexpected aspects of the coastline.

The beach is forbidden to dogs between 10am and 6pm during December to March so hordes of jolly dog walkers pound the sand before 10am each morning.  Balls, sticks and pine cones crisscross midair.  Most dogs have eyes only for their own missile.  Others have a more sporting attitude and give chase to all thrown objects.  Somehow it all works out.  Camaraderie rules, and we humans are all mindful of getting off the beach by 10am.  We reference Cinderella at midnight and South Australia's former 6 o'clock Swill.  Jilly has new friends: Tupac, Maude, Brian and Nell.  Olley she also knows from Triabunna.

A rainbow arced across the bedroom window this morning.  By the time we got to the beach, it was a wide brush stroke of colour washing Hobart and the mountain.  As we returned to collect my crocs, two pied oystercatchers called out and landed on the sand.  Good omens.

I have become a regular user of the library, borrowing books and dvds.  On one occasion I was there when a large group of adults and children were enjoying Toddler Story Time.  Two staff were presenting, one working a Bingo hand puppet, the other chanting 'I've got a dog, a counting dog, woof.  I've got a dog, a counting dog, woof woof.  I've got a dog, a counting dog, woof woof woof...' I think you've got the plot by now.  The children were so immersed.  It was magical for me knowing that the Jilly Pup was waiting outside, possibly counting the long minutes.

'Persepolis', a Graphic Novel, is the most impressive book so far.  Thanks to the lovely Ella (who is working on her own graphic novel) for telling me about this one and 'Maus'.

With my new found interest in Charmian Clift, this was an inevitable read.  It's a well written story but also a record of the research process, though I'm still dumbfounded that the author could find out so much in only a year.  I have to confess that I also have a liking for Gina Chick.  I'm not a fan of 'survival tv' but for some reason saw the show featuring Gina Chick in the Tasmanian wilds.  I loved her commitment to understanding and working with nature rather than considering it something to be overcome and conquered.  She won.

I'm also a great Heather Rose fan and slipped easily into the beautiful language and quiet observations of 'A Great Act of Love'.  It's a grand story but, I have to say, highly improbable.  And while we're on the subject, I read Erin Hortle's 'A Catalogue of Love'.  It's a book of mature realisations about relationships and living on Bruny Island.

I also had a great adventure with another Tasmanian book/author but I'll tell you about that some other time.