That is brilliant. I hope you do get something similar this year. I went out yesterday and found a few urban birds here in Dickson. I love the glint in the galah's eye as he hides among the red leaves, and the flying ducks just tickle my fancy!

My dark temptation is similar: Sit quietly at the back of a random wedding. Stand up at the point of "If anyone knows any reason why …" Walk up to the couple and look closely at them. Then look at the priest and say, "Sorry, wrong wedding" and walk out.

I made pizzas tonight, and not a single tomato in sight. Parsley, dill and tarragon seafood sauce, smoked salmon, prawns, avocado, mushrooms and brie. Lots of leftovers to pop in the freezer as well.

There has been some gentle rain on my camellia today. I hope you enjoy these.

With you in mind, @bogwitch.bsky.social

This looks interesting. I will be there. events.humanitix.com/count-me-in-...

I love that Wallace and Gromit are the lift voices!

Scenes from today's cruise on the Clarence River. No idea of the species, but seen on the bank at Yamba. Dolphins mid river. Approaching the old and new Pacific Highway bridges. Under the new bridge looking north. 1 of 2

Two signs, one on each side of a French intersection.

Indeed!

Apropos the British passport kerfuffle: Being a pre-1983 Australian-born son of an English-born mother and Australian father makes me eligible to apply for British citizenship. I haven’t done that, so apparently I can enter the UK on my Australian passport. 1/2

Some more sights from the Show A hand knitted dress Show jumping Belted Galloway bull Airtime motor bike display

I spent this morning at the Canberra Show. My jumper is on display, and there's an extra piece of paper pinned to it. @blairwilliams26.bsky.social have you been to check it out yet?

Oh wow - so did I. Well, earlier today but …

They are dismantling the crane on a construction site opposite my building. I'd been thinking about getting photos of the crane but never got to it, so here are some from the process today, one for context and three more to illustrate the fact that some people should be paid more money!

My home city of Canberra is the only Australian city to feature in the 2025 Copenhagenise Index. Admittedly it only came 80th, so there's room for improvement, but we are there. copenhagenizeindex.eu My introduction to this index came via: bicyclenetwork.com.au/newsroom/202...

I'm giggling about the fact that the Coalition Agreement is usually between the two leaders, currently Ley and Littleproud. If Ley is removed and thus the newly-forged Ley/Littleproud agreement is void, might there be a new Coalition split?

A photo from the ride, heading along Thirteenth Beach Road out of Barwon Heads

Cadel's Ride in Geelong today was fun. 63.23km 2 hours 55 minutes 35 seconds 21.6kph average speed 128 beats per minute average heart rate* 355 metres total altitude gain I'm pretty happy with all of that. *The HRM battery died at about 32km, so no guarantees that the figure is accurate overall.

These are the "Special Abbreviations" I had to understand first, and then concentrate on for every row.

It has been a long process knitting this, with lots of pauses to figure things out, but today I have finally finished sewing it together. With a forecast of 39° today in Canberra, I'll wait a while before I try it on. I thought you might appreciate this, @debbietknits.bsky.social

I have always appreciated things that are a little bit quirky, a bit off centre. These entries in the SummerNats City Cruise in Canberra today caught my eye.

Um, maybe I'll skip going out to watch the fireworks this evening!

A thread to honour my friend Di Di sent me a photo not unlike this one on Christmas Eve last year and wished me a happy Christmas. I rang her straight away and we chatted for a while. She was a warm and generous friend

And some more shots of the cicadas on the trees.

I cycled around the Lake today and stopped at the Log Loos to get some photos of the amazingly loud cicadas.

I was in Tours in western France for the northern summer solstice this year, where it was 40°C at 7.00pm. Now I am back home in Canberra for the southern summer solstice where the forecast is for a mere 27°. The Fete de la Musique was worth it, though.

For quite a few of the Bishops* I have met across my lifetime, it's a toss-up between the Turtle and the Crazy Jester! * Howell Witt (of blessed memory) being the standout exception. He definitely was a Noble Officer.

A thread: I was out with a social group on Friday and a new bloke turned up. I wound up at a table with him and his wife when he made a blatantly racist comment. I was speechless and left the table as soon as possible. Hoped never to see him again.

Such exciting options offered to me by the internet lately! Should I: a) pursue my career opportunities as a prison officer in Victoria; or b) buy those wonderful shoes specially designed for the elderly with balance problems? How can anyone decide?

That's me, with my bum 8 inches off the road. I hope you can make it.

I had a good Sydney to the Gong Ride today, and I was happy with these numbers: 90.55km 4 hours, 51 minutes, 37 seconds 18.6kph average speed 69.9kph maximum speed 127 bpm average pulse 153 bpm maximum pulse 943 metres total ascent Train back to Sydney and an easy drive home to Canberra.

We had a visitor at the start of our ride this morning. Isn't he majestic!

Here's one you might appreciate, @carlafrancome.bsky.social Sandy posts wonderful photos, mainly of Australian birds but with lots of other fascinating stuff as well.

I dropped in to Floriade this afternoon. The way these tulips were waving in the breeze was gorgeous.

Hey @bogwitch.bsky.social do you know about the Museum of English Rural Life? It's in Reading, but it's closed today so I haven't seen the place. I guess it wouldn't be a million miles away from your interests.

When you get a chance @bogwitch.bsky.social you might enjoy a visit to the Chateau at Chateaubriant. There's a certain vibe that seems very you!

What an amazing afternoon! Piastri wins the Belgian GP! The Yellow Jersey goes on the attack in stage 21 of Le Tour!!

I think I found your new car, @bogwitch.bsky.social !

A sight to lighten your day I hope, @bogwitch.bsky.social I rolled into Barbezieux-Saint-Hilaire yesterday and discovered a Fete Medieval in full swing. Anything here appeal to you?

Hello @sandyhorne.bsky.social I found a new take on your theme today as I was heading cross country east of Poitiers. I reached Poitiers at 11.00am and it was 36° already.

Hey @bogwitch.bsky.social you don't need any more 'stuff' right now so I didn't buy this for you today, but it might be worth looking for in a few months time. www.exeterpress.co.uk/products/the...

Hey @bogwitch.bsky.social I rode over a crest today to be greeted by this sight and immediately thought of you. Sending this to remind you that hope springs eternal, and that you are making progress.

Hey @sandyhorne.bsky.social I thought of you when I saw this tree beside the road today. It's on a country lane heading south from Cornbury Park Estate Office towards Leafield, on the edge of the Cotswolds.

Hi @bogwitch.bsky.social I did think you might notice those posts. I've also posted this photo and some more info on my blog about today.

I found a proper lych gate today at a church in Great Gransden. It's a place to shelter a coffin prior to a funeral, and for the pall bearers to rest from the work of carrying the coffin to the church. This is at St Bartholomew's Church.

I resisted temptation today. I thought about buying a t-shirt, but in the end, I decided that wearing it would be more than a little passive aggressive. It was beautifully presented and was very on-brand for Cambridge. It said “The universe is made up of protons, neutrons, electrons and morons.”

In Hertford today, I came across this sculpture, for the 13th centenary of this meeting in Hertford. Two Australian contrasts. The indigenous people have lived in Australia for 65,000 years, ie 50 times longer. I have lived for 30.23446% of the period of white settlement of Australia.

While I'm in the mood to post things, I laughed at this today. If you know those EU number plates which all have the EU flag and a code for the individual nation (F for France, I for Italia and so on), this seems to be the Brexit response. I think what I actually laughed at was Farage's legacy!

Hey @sandyhorne.bsky.social I stopped beside this English field today and when I saw this chap circling above it, I thought of you. The quality isn't wonderful, but I brought my lightest camera on my four month cycling holiday - 15 year old Samsung WB550.