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Crowded Head

Well Crowdy Head actually, just east of Harrington. (I know one of my readers is jealous)

Yep Harrington we'd all agree is a top tidy town. Just sittin on the verandah above its pub, listening to the buzz and watching the pelicans. The breakwater is in the background. This is how it looked last night.

Crowdy's just up the road about 5 km. Actually got into the water for an hour, after bargaining with the lifeguard (who's older than me, that two in the water breaks the risk of being bitten by half). And he didn't get bitten. Damn. There I was offering to do the caretaking for the surf club and still no chance. (You should see his set up).  

Came in from the north via the first turn off (to the left) past the Lauriton turnoff. Through the Crowdy Head National Park's dirt tracks. (I need new teeth), and trying a few of the beaches, including Kylies. The paradise continues. The track brings you in closer to Crowdy than Harrington, which is just as well, cause coming in direct from the highway you have to go through a modern Middle America, or at least some unimaginative architect's (developers) idea of it. I just can;t believe how these can spring up. I understand the economics, but couldn't they just attempt an Aussie version.

Anyhow, close your eyes or get used to the dirt tracks. Its purgatory, either way, before heaven.

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Tags: personal professional
Posted at 05:52PM Feb 27, 2009 by simon fenton - jones  |  Comments[0]

Back to the Garden of Eden.

Thanks to Marion for this one 

My teeth are still chattering from the drive down the unsealed road from Crescent Head, but it was worth it. We've had some rains remember?It's always nice to see a place before the development starts. It also explained to me why Crescent Head was such an attraction, apart from the surf breaks. There's no way we are going to see this one hidden for much longer, regardless of all the opposition. I got an idea of lobbying by talking to some of the camping ground operators. ("Bloody greenies")

Still, I'd say we have about 5 years before it starts to look like every other, and and becomes an outlying suburb of Pt. Macquarie. By then some of the less vocal local residents will have moved on.(It's not a great shot I know. They're the dots in the water).

 

 Anyhow, let's be thankful that untouched places like this still exist. Quite remarkable.

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Tags: personal
Posted at 09:18AM Feb 26, 2009 by simon fenton - jones  |  Comments[0]

Two weeks in Nambucca

Well, its been good to have a place of "my own" for the past two weeks. I should say its been nice to have a good friend like Marianne let me house sit while she's been in the Nederlands. ( I'll never refer to it as Holland again = 12 low lying provinces with a convenient label attached).

But I'd be outstaying my welcome if I didn't let her own place back. So i better go and look at that land which Marion (from Ewingar) mentioned, just north of Port Macquarie, at Point Plomer in the Limeberners Creek National Park. Seems remote enough to be interesting.

Luv to all.

 

 

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Tags: personal
Posted at 12:27PM Feb 24, 2009 by simon fenton - jones  |  Comments[0]

Another Day, Another Beach

 

This one is just north (about a two hour toddle along the beach) of Nambucca, which by the way, is so called due to the S.S. Nambucca running aground on the heads (in the background).

I've been here 5 days now, which has been good in having a little routine. Also been reassuring to have a landline to ring people, both friends and work. Getting a bit toey to do something a bit positive re: the online stuff. Informa, as you know are attempting another one in April (digital Government). Should be quite an achievementif they can pull it off, especially after revisiting Lindsey Tanner's attempts at consultation via a "blog". Just reading some of the comments at the bottom of this page. Whew! Who said introducing a new democratic process was easy? I'm not sure that this what he means by digital government. (raise your middle finger if you agree).

Anyhow, I'll give John, the CEO at AIMIA (interactve media assoc), a go today and see if we can't get the gaps filled in this agenda. Who knows, we might even help his association members to become more than just brochureware purveyors.

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Tags: personal
Posted at 08:21AM Feb 12, 2009 by simon fenton - jones  |  Comments[0]

Palm Beach to Nambucca, Backwards

Oh back to civilization, and the coast. Nambucca Heads where I'm house sitting Marianne Evers' house.

So where have I been? Working backwards. Bellingen. Armidale. Glen Innes. Tenterfield. Ewingar. Casino. Palm Beach.

Palm Beach was again with Sue and James; Al and Maz came up from Syd, so it was two days of eating, drinking and talking. Finally off to the west. . Oh, by the way, Murwillumbah don't miss the drive to it via the Currumbin ValleyWarning n the left)

Had a call while at Mt. Tambourine from Marion, Fran's little sister, who invited me out to her new place in Ewinger. It might explain the silence if anyone can find Ewingr on the map. The local tourist office didn't know, so that gives some idea of it'size & isolation. Just trace a line, half way between Casino and Tenterfield, 25 kms south - along the clarence river

Marion, Alan and her daughter Mimi have made quite a change from living in Avalon for 23 years. No electricity, running water or fly screens in their mud brick hut, which is on 90 acres. They seem to be setting in OK although its early days. We went for a short ride to give the horses a stretch and look around the property. whew! I hope they understand what they're in for. Still, they won't have any real expenses, and they both want time to paint.

On to Tenterfield, which came and went without any interest. I think they'll be closing it down shortly. Then onto Glen Innes where I had time for one beer and the pleasure of beng breath tested by Smoky on the way out. There might have been a bandit but I think Smoky ate him, going by his size. It was probably a nice town long ago. Some interestng building. Now everything just looks so poor and sad.

Through to Armidale. Such a change. Pubs are full of under 30's and buzzing. Restaurants with lines for takeaways at 9; obviously to be taken back to campus. Probably should have stayed longer but the idea of 40 degrees the next day scared me off. So an early rise inorder to get a look at the gorges along Waterfall way. Pretty impressive even without the water. The huge drop down to Dorrigo and Belligen is the fastest I've ever seen, and the scenery is quite fantastic all the way though to Belligen's idylic hideaway.

A quick swim in its creek with a few kids, then on to the Federal for lunch (coopers on tap) and a walk though town. The most lovely little town. I felt like I was in a film set. Kids on their bikes and scooters, young couples pushing prams and older folk - all walking around waving at one another and talking in the middle of the pathways. Yep, I could live here.

A short drive through to Nambucca and swim before picking up the keys to Marianne's place.

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Tags: personal
Posted at 11:42PM Feb 07, 2009 by simon fenton - jones  |  Comments[0]

Tris and Craig, and recovering

Am sitting in a motel room overlooking the Tamborine Mountains - at the back of the Gold Coast - next to a place where I used to play a lifetime ago. Went for a walk in a fabulous palm grove yesterday. I'm getting a bit stupid in my old age though. Forgot about the leaches. Eh.

Just beginning to recover from a hole of depression I fell into after staying with the boys for a few days. I don't think I've ever been to someone's place where I (or they) was made to feel so uncared for. It wasn't so much living in an environment where everything is left where it's used, or opened. (I thought they were just setting me up for a laugh when I entered the flat for the first time - move the papers off the couch to sit, walking through clothes, posters wrappers,etc scattered around the entire house, and having to wash a cup to drink anything, if there was anything. I remember when all night parties where the go.)

It's just the unrelenting boredom of hearing about one hard time or stupidity after another. Buy and BMW cheaply and expect it to be perfectly; while needing a reliable car to get to work. Having to catch a train to a physical training course, where they have no gym, the nearest one associated with the school is 3 km away. Everything is taught at a desk, and no training is done; either by the school or individually. Inviting the boys to dinner, and being taken to Beenleigh, which is a bit like Blacktown without the charm, colour or anything open after 9. (And yes. I'm being facetious) The only close thing available is a (quite a nice) food court/cinema, a few kms. up the road in a wacking great shopping centre, where at least there's a little colour, movement and people.

I'll admit to sneaking out. The nightmares came back and I was shaking all night. I just had to do a runner I just couldn't face tris's angry arrogance and frustration caused by his inability to care for himself (or anyone else) or see past his prisonor like existance. I'm getting to the point where, if I ever walk into a messy place and the bloody TV is on, I'm just walking out and never going back..Life's too short.

OK. I've got this off my chest. Now I'm going for a long walk in some beautiful countryside, in some cool weather. Tomorrow, I'm going to (south of) the Gold Coast, get back into the summer and swimming. One thing the last few days has taught me. I might still feel sorry for myself because my darling is no longer here. But at least most of the people I know and meet are happy to be here. So thank youse all.

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Tags: personal
Posted at 08:49AM Feb 01, 2009 by simon fenton - jones  |  Comments[0]

Tris

Arrived at Logan yesterday and caught up with Tristan (and his flat mate Craig).

 Looks very well and is workin pretty hard; loading pallets! He's still doing the Personal Trainer course, although we both agree it's a bit stupid to try and teach physical stuff while sitting down at a desk. Ah the stupidities of a modern education. Regardless, he keeps a sense of humour and besides the footy training, it should encourage him to get the body looking a bit more trim and terrific.

I'm going to stay here a few more days and try and make up for forgetting his birthdays. Besides the library here (I do my writing from libraries en route) is pretty comfortable, and close to the Hyperdrome = monsterous shopping mall. I should also warn all of my readers that I never switch my phone off. If you can't get through it's because the Optus network is so sparse (and finding out just how sparse has been a learning experience. Next time I'm using pidgeons)

Rethinking the trip up to Lucinda (townsville) to see nat and nath and new bub. Tris has given me an idea of just how remote it is and between organising trains, planes and (hire) cars, it needs a bit more forward planning. Found a real nice part of the world just south of the gold coast which is calling me back, so we'll see we're the car takes me.

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Tags: personal
Posted at 12:29PM Jan 29, 2009 by simon fenton - jones  |  Comments[0]

Australia Day with Sue and James

9am. 85% humidity. Temp 26. Whew! Happy Aussie Day from steamy Palm Beach (the gold coast one, not the sydney one). Feels a lot like Collaroy in Syd. We're going on Chris Garlic's boat, probably towards Stradbroke Is.

Sue and James have been kind enough to put me up for the last couple of days in their little bungalow two minutes from the beach. Didn't have much news for the past few days as my meeting with Arno in Byron didn't happen. Can't blame anyone apart from the bloody (so called) telecoms networks in the country, which took about three hours to deliver a text from him. (and that's checking my phone every half hour from the beer garden/main beach in town).

Oh well. I'll try again tomorrow. The local bank's ATM digested my card so i think things must be pretty overloaded on the local server. Shouldn't be so surprised, the town is full of <30's who spend more time looking at their phones than the views.And things obviously hop lots on a Saturday night.

Beaches so far include Crescent Head, Broken Head, Tallow Beach (from the Motel door to the beach is about 50 steps). Still like Byron, although the prices are more expensive than Sydney. Watego Beach, near the lighthouse, is a real pretty one. Reminded me of some spots in Koh Samui in Thailand (ten years ago). 

Have to have a better look at Brunswick Heads on the way back down.

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Tags: personal
Posted at 09:37AM Jan 26, 2009 by simon fenton - jones  |  Comments[0]

The road streaches on

Crescent Head the day before yesterday. Another beautiful beach. Got a start when dolphins popped up about 50 metres a way when swimming out the back. Quite a heart starter.

Yesterday I arrived in Nambucca Heads and went to lunch with Marianne Evers (it's not Bird, Al). Her house has such a lovely position. Three minutes from the beach, facing onto a reserve overlooking the bush. She's such a sweetheart. Went swimming at Main Beach of course.

The destination for today is Ballina, with a few stopoffs. Very humid and sticky after the rains last night, which doesn't help with the aircon giving up the ghost.

Have a meeting tommorrow with Arno van der Krann, who looks after the International stuff for SAE at Byron. Hopefully, should be an interesting discussion.

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Tags: personal
Posted at 08:52AM Jan 22, 2009 by simon fenton - jones  |  Comments[0]

A New Year. A new beginning

OK. Promised I'd write to keep everyone across my travels, so here's the first. Got as far a Chris and Fran's place at Polkobin in the Hunter Valley. I'm so fortunate to have friends and family who are either extremely talented or so into what they're into that their persistance creates originality. Wish I had a few mor shots of Fran's new mosaic covered wall around the pool. Chris's 10-foot ferro cement kookaburra, on the other hand, won't have some feathers on it for a few more months. 

Such lovely people with such beautiful babies.

I'm also aware that we are meant to keep our private lives and professional ones very separate. But I've never been capable of keeping the divisions completely separate. So I'll just make a note of two docs. One is a doc by the guys at the National Science Foundation about cyberinfrastructure. OK. It's too wordy and a bit over the top. But it's a good one at describing the technical vision before it gets decimated by the small(er) minded. It's 2009, so here's an interim report from some librarian types of the vision cut in half. I.e. Let's forget the future (the production) stuff and just focus on preserving things.

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Tags: professional personal
Posted at 08:27AM Jan 20, 2009 by simon fenton - jones  |  Comments[0]