Just over a week in to the New Year, and South Australia has survived one of its hottest starts in over 100 years. Four days over 35C including two over 40C, it even rocketed up to 39C where I live in the eastern hills! Thankfully, no devastating fires (all credit to the Police and Fire crews) although there were two big blazes - one at Robe and a larger one near Wilmington. Rain last night - wonderful!
Writing news: I've sent my two entries in to the CWA (UK) Debut Dagger competition (YESSSS!) - my earliest submission yet! This week, I'm expanding out the first draft of "The Isthmus," and in the last couple of days have added a few interesting "one liners," clues, and a delicious red herring (or red "Tommy Ruff" for Aussies)! And yesterday (7 Jan) I posted my report in to Arts SA re: the trip to Varuna.
From tomorrow, I have a week to whittle down two synopses to under 300 words each (remember I said this) for an AWM Online course and a format/size suitable for a couple of publishers.
The week after, I revisit the outlines of the second and third books in the Max Murdoch series. Then it's back to work!
On Wednesday, I joined family and friends to bid farewell to a grand lady and dear friend who passed away just over a week ago. Rest in peace, Merle, and look after our feathered (and equine) friends until we meet again. (And I'll add the injured rosella to that list).
Today was tube-filling and planting seeds (part 2) with the delightful Nairne Green Thumbs group. I missed "part 1" (doing a writing course), so in rather windy conditions we somehow didn't make a mess nor did the seeds get blown to Murray Bridge. A great group of people, one more tube-filling session to go then we'll be planting later. Nairne sure needs it. Thanks to Trees for Life for the supplies, and to Cathy (and Rebecca) and the crew.
At MtBS, the heat has reduced the butterfly numbers, but some still remain near the old fire track. I walked it for the first time (not on a fire ban day) - an interesting track and a monumental climb back to the top. Suddenly, Mt Barker becomes rather large! Or I'm out of condition... Birds - not many: thornies, fantails, wrens, currawongs, spinebills, and two birds I still can't identify. One could be a pallid cuckoo - the wrens ignored me and really went for it. Yes, I did say WRENS.
And to finish off, some photos of Old Tailem Town (just north of Tailem Bend) - a lovely pioneer village that includes buildings transported there (eg the Woolsley Church), and a view from the old Fire Track at MtBS.
Now, back to writing...
Cheers
Bo
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