The Midwinter festival here in Hobart is a festival of renewal, and celebration of the dark that brings renewal and light. It’s joyful rather than dark, forward looking rather than reflection. Given the light starts leaving the sky here around 3pm and it’s dark by 4:30pm right now, knowing there’s a festival after which the days length and the sun starts returning us so important.

Some photographs of the last couple of days, when I’ve been walking and exploring little corners around Hobart;

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I don’t write much about my MS journey, and this blog has become more a travelling and study blog. After a peaceful weekend with some time for reflection, I am going to try and record more of the wins and losses on my MS journey, as it’s still happening just not at the forefront of my mind. I’m profoundly grateful for the halting of progression, and steady improvements I’ve experienced however I will never hike 20km a day or kayak decent white water and there’s many days which are a struggle due to fatigue.

The fear is that the MS will come back, which is always possible as I have had a lesion appear around 9 months ago. I’ve been on various treatments, as my neurologist knows I’d rather treat aggressively. So far, the MRI shows stopped progression and no more lesions.

Part of the finale to MOFO is the burning of the paper mache platypus, with everyone’s fears inside him. The fire and flame will take our fears into the starry heavens so we can relinquish them.

How could you rise anew if you have not first become ashes?

Friedrich Nietzsche

Last years owl, flaming into the sky

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