Bo Henley
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Two workshops - LMASA and Bush for Life

18/4/2013

 
Two days of workshops!

The first with the Laboratory Manager's Association of South Australia (LMASA) working through the new WHS legislation - a long day, but fantastic presenters from SafeWork SA, Independent Schools Union, Pinnacle Workplace Consultants (and one other - will add the company name), plus Sheryl and Desi from the group. A lot of info to work (and think) through, but a fabulous day. And it's always terrific catching up with the group!


Thanks to our wonderful committee for all the organisation, and to Immanuel College for hosting the event. (More info on LMASA at http://lmasa.weebly.com/ and https://sites.google.com/site/lmasa005/ )

Picture
Regenerating area, Coppins Reserve
I had great fun at the Bush for Life Bush Regeneration workshop at Mount Barker yesterday (BFL is a division of Trees for Life SA). We discussed the various type of bushland in the plains/hills zones, worked through weeds and whether or not to removed them (!) and why, how to do it when necessary, how to work on a Weed Front zone, how to be bush focussed - not weed focussed! Some methods have improved over the years, and I learned how important the micro-environment is - yes, bacteria, fungi, microbes ARE essential to the bush - and especially the METHODS of how they are scattered. And I'm going to research more into our indigenous history of the MtB area. Such knowledge! And to top it off, we had a walk through of Coppins Reserve at Littlehampton - nothing like seeing it in situ.

Thank you to Harry and Angela - our wonderful, informative and patient presenters. Thanks to the group - what a fabulous mix we were! Thank you Bush for Life/Trees for Life/NRM. Check out Bush for Life on http://www.treesforlife.org.au/bushland

Bird report later this morning.

Happy writing, bushwalking, lab managing,
Bo
x


Two weeks break - too little time!

15/4/2013

 
Picture
Beautiful old gum, MtBS
YESSS! Holidays! Now: to cram everything I've been trying to do for the last 3 months into TWO WHOLE WEEKS!

Okay, the good news: I've sent two short stories (!!!) off to the Bristol Short Story Competition. And they're both under 4000 words - hard to believe, I know! (I have trouble writing a story THAT short. My previous effort ended up being 20,000+ words). If you're a writer and interested, there's still 2 weeks to go. Check out their website on: http://www.bristolprize.co.uk/


Extra writing bits: I've plotted out the extra scenes for the next story - I'll start adding them in tomorrow.

Picture
Too long without rain
Side news: Looking at Feedly to replace the Google Reader, and a great GPS app called Fulcrum (fulcrumapp.com) for the phone (when I work out how both work). I've added two "Do Not Track" programs to Firefox as I'm tired of getting "bargain offers" from places I've never heard of or visited! Next: to sync the phone with GMail (and vice versa).

Bird news: The fantails are back and buzzing at my head when I'm near. Their travelling with the wrens at present. The birds are mostly down the mountain (closer to water) at present, but I have seen: pardies (and a spotted pardelote too - I'm fairly sure), clogs, y/f h/es, babblers, t-bills, pies, rosies, bronzewing, and kangas. Heard: ravens, sulphurs, corellas, spiney, RBFs.

Still terribly dry (see above pic. The yellow isn't flowers, it's the correas dying). Wish we had the rain that's in Qld and N/E NSW. We had 3mm of drizzle today (and fog, see the pics below), but it barely wets the ground. We need to push that monsoon trough further north (why IS it still over the NT/QLD?)

Congratulations to Adam Scott for winning the US Masters Golf. The first Aussie to win! YIPPEEEE! And other Aussies Jason Day (3rd) and Marc Leishman (equal 4th). Fabulous!

Have a great week!

Happy writing
Bo
x

Two days, two locations - the Lakes and the Mountain

6/4/2013

 
Picture
Laratinga wetlands with mist
This week, I'll start with the birds. Yesterday, I took my Mum to the Laratinga Wetlands at Mount Barker. Because of the drought, the lakes are low - as they should be in dry weather. It allows the reeds to regenerate and helps aerate some of the soils. A few of the birds waited for it to warm up before they ventured out (it was 7C)! We saw a wonderful gathering of waterbirds, and without brilliant binoculars, neither of us could ID them all, so here's what we were sure of: white-naped honeyeaters, willy wagtails arguing with white-plumed honeyeaters (will those 2 ever get on?), yellow-faced honeyeaters, white-faced heron, white ibis, banded stilt, red-kneed dotterels, spoonbill, purple swamp hen, native hen, black duck, grey teal, chestnut teal, grebe, blackbird (!), and of course - THE WRENS! I know I've forgotten a few. It's a beautiful area for a walk, run (not me!), or to sit and think.

Picture
The Pardie Tree with pardies!
It was The Big Pardie Party at MtBS this morning, yes, striated pardelotes everywhere and in groups (YESs!) They started in 'The Pardie Tree' (a dead gum - see pic) and were at several locations around the mount, including the car park. They are soooo cute! On the seen list: rosies, y/f h/es, wrens, t-bills, clogs, pies, babblers. Heard: GWs, fantails, curras, corellas, silvereye ("peepers"). Think I saw a grey shrike-thrush too.

(There are pardelotes in this pic - trust me!)

Forgotten to add the bronze-winged pigeon to the MtBS list for last 2 weeks. Apologies to the bronzie.

On the writing front: Planning the added scenes for The Isthmus. Many of these had been removed or left out previously due to word constraints. Adding more internal conflict for the protagonist (mmmwwwhhaa-aa-aaa)!

Last week of school before the holidays. It's been a difficult term.

Have a great week!

Happy writing
Bo
x

Two great posts - Chuck Sambuchino and James Scott Bell

6/4/2013

 
For the writers, I came across two excellent posts (from two of the best writing gurus) on character development:

James Scott Bell's:  The Most Important Characteristic Every Writer Needs

and

Chuck Sambuchino's The 9 Ingredients of Character Development

Check them out!

Happy writing
Bo
x

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    Picture
    At the Botanic Gardens, Adelaide, June 2012


    Author - Bo Henley

    I have two writing passions - crime fiction...and thrillers with a slight twist. Of course, if I tell you what the twists are, I'd have to kill you (see: The Crime Novels). There are rumours that I also write non-fiction with a science flavour, but I deny everything  (No, I don't. See: About Bo). And when I'm not writing, I LOVE reading (see: Bo is Reading).


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