Sunset colours, seagulls pointing into the wind. Watching the ospreys on a wellhead, sorry no photograph. Lizards sunbathing on the road. Little kestrels murdering the local pigeons. Lemon sharks in the bay. Being taken out to the offshore platforms just to see them when I mentioned I’d be keen. Watching a ragtag game of cricket … Continue reading Moments on the island →

The light up here, on Varanus Island, is amazing at dawn and dusk. During the day, in 40C and flies and wind, it’s a harsh unforgiving light and glare. But that gentle glow at the change of day is inspiring.

Just in the last few days, a walk up in Walyunga National Park, and in Boyeembara Park so close to home. I’m keeping up the walking, after feeling so healthy given all the walking I did on site. 9km of woodland and bush and kangaroos, on a cold and clear morning, enjoying looking at the … Continue reading A couple of pleasant walks →

I woke up this morning, on Varanus Island, in an absolute panic as I thought I’d made a really basic error in a calculation. As it’s a calculation allowing the plant to start up, the consequences could have been immense. A quick check, and I had got the workings correct so my panic subsided. I … Continue reading Lessons learned →

Just a few photographs of my new site, where I am currently working for a week while the plant undergoes major maintenance. It’s a nature reserve, and it’s incongruous walking down to the plant padding a beautiful beach, seeing whales and watching the ospreys. We can swim in the evening, so I had to do … Continue reading Varanus Island →

A Banksy exhibition on Sunday, seeing a wide range of artworks of which I had little appreciation, knowing only the famous stencil type pieces. Pointed commentary on war, violence, consumerism but also humour and lightness. A light meal in a nearby bar ( photos courtesy of And’s), enjoying a morning away from unpacking and house … Continue reading Disruptive street art →

Well it’s nearly finished, we are completely moved into the new house with only a motorbike and camper cover to come from the old house. There are boxes everywhere, but it’s now a functional home where we’ve cooked a few meals, relished a few glasses of wine, done a couple of loads of laundry, have … Continue reading The big move is done →

I’ve just started a science fiction book, set in a starship hotel. The main area of the lobby is screen free, as the height of luxury in an era a few hundred years hence. This seems particularly relevant today, given I’ve been stuck in Heathrow Terminal 3 for 18 hours now, an expected overnight stay … Continue reading Airports and books →

On the train again, heading from Cornwall up to Heathrow for the flight home, via an overnight stop near Reading to meet an old friend for a night. The train trip is a welcome few hours in a comfortable chair, to absorb the last few days of the holiday in a beautiful part of the … Continue reading Stunning Cornwall, theme park villages →

A couple of days in Plymouth, with a crazy mixture of sun and incredibly heavy rain. We walked along the coast path, found a couple of pubs and a gin distillery, swam at the Lido which is in the process of refurbishment. A highlight was a ferry trip over to Cremyll, walking through gardens and … Continue reading Grey rainy Plymouth →