RipSkater

Mobile phones

2010-05-22T11:28:00.002+10:00

When we arrived in Point Lonsdale in 2005, the two public phones beside Springs service station had just been reduced to one. Now there are none, presumably because almost everyone carries a mobile thesedays. Including the relevant removalists.

PS. If you're wondering.. the town still has one public phone, but it's sensibly located nearer the centre of action - outside the newsagent.

Fire in the sky

2010-04-25T09:40:00.001+10:00

I snapped a fine sunset lately, while visiting Queenscliff around (yep) dusk.

Many happy returns

2010-03-20T15:33:00.005+11:00

Lately some relatives travelled to Tasmania on the Spirit of Tasmania ferry, and I was at our lighthouse to snap them - going out, and returning home.

Foggo neep-neep

2010-02-12T19:16:00.004+11:00

Amidst a solid stretch of warm weather this week, we welcomed a few cold mists and the blaaaarp blaaaarp of the lighthouse foghorn.

Signs of the times

2010-01-17T18:09:00.003+11:00

One of these signs was erected beside our most popular beachside pathway last week.

With its strong graphics and clear message, all residents are now duly advised and forewarned that we may encounter a sharp edge. Or maybe a slippery surface.

Exhibit 3

2010-01-02T22:00:00.003+11:00

Longtime readers may recall an article I published in June of 2008, containing a photo marked as Exhibit 2.

This week on a Queenscliff hilltop, I snapped something eerily similar.

You too can bend steel, with one finger..

2009-12-24T21:00:00.003+11:00

..provided your finger is pressing the shutter on a feeble phonecam, while moving along. Check out this crane, the nearby fencepost and the antenna behind - particularly the lower half of the picture.

Panda Qanda

2009-10-16T20:58:00.004+11:00

Q. Who thinks this cloud looks like a teddy bear, if you squint a bit?

A. Me.

The flies have it

2009-09-19T18:00:00.003+10:00

The season has changed, and our local critters are out in droves. At the Springs carpark lately, we were flummoxed by a huge buzzing dragoon of dragonflies.

The ibis have it

2009-09-11T16:24:00.003+10:00

At this time of year, we see some large flocks of ibis trawling the skies in search of food. Recently I snapped this one passing over Hesse Street in Queenscliff, and a quick count suggests at least fifty travelling together.

2009-08-21T17:31:00.002+10:00

Longtime readers may recall a blue feathered visitor to these parts, a looong time ago. So long ago, even the picture was blurry.

This week, the visitor was back and exploring the grounds of our new school.

Golly Golly Gee Gee

2009-07-03T15:36:00.002+10:00

One of these letterboxes is located nearby. It seems to be made from an old water service or gas cylinder, and I thought its decoration was rather unusual. Then I saw another, about 20km from here, with an uncanny resemblance around the shoes, hands, hairstyle and eyes. Maybe they're related.

Or maybe these letterboxes were immensely popular a few decades ago, like vertical venetian blinds or the drink called Orange Tang.

More local scenery

2009-06-12T19:41:00.003+10:00

Our pier was looking a bit photogenic this morning, when I visited to check for happenings around the lighthouse.

Wheels Magazine 1973 Car Of The Year

2009-06-06T12:46:00.005+10:00

The local scenery helps make this a very special area of the world. Even our carparks can inspire tears of joy. Like yesterday, for instance, at the Springs.

PS. Longtime readers maye recall I've spotted this same car nearby, long ago. No signs of deterioration - must be very solid engineering. As you'd expect.

Wild wild weather

2009-05-19T21:08:00.006+10:00

Dramatic weather visited us at the weekend. I walked to the pier and crept as close as I dared, to snap the photo below.

Fortunately for us armchair adventurers, the corresponding news article points to a gallery of photos snapped from even closer.

And afterward, as you'd expect, there's a bit of mess to clean up.

Signs of intelligent life

2009-04-17T10:06:00.002+10:00

Check out this nearby street sign, and particularly the moss upon it - which is almost perfect at following the outline of the letters.

Is this evidence of plants evolving an ability to read and write the English language?

Magic car dust

2009-03-23T16:45:00.002+11:00

Of course, no-one ever wants a drought - but one benefit it's brought to our area, is some sensible (and very practical) water restrictions.

The restrictions don't cause any great hardship, but sometimes people can be a little overzealous - for instance, they avoid washing their car windows. Which brings us to another benefit.. car dust graffiti.

Here's one I spotted while delivering recently:

And a few days later, below the window in different handwriting:

Missed by thaaat much

2009-02-27T10:40:00.002+11:00

Earlier this week, I spotted a *crunch* in the carpark behind Ocean Grove's hardware store.

As I got closer, I wondered why the crunching driver hadn't backed up to take a look at the damage.

And then it became clear.

Relax folks, false alarm, no crunch at all.
More than 2 millimetres to spare.

More prehistoric reptiles

2009-02-16T17:31:00.002+11:00

At first glance, this fossilised birdpoo seemed to prove ancient occupation of Point Lonsdale by a common stork.

However, my detailed and expert inspection reveals that the stork has no legs. Therefore, this long-extinct species is assuredly an ancestor of the snake.

Toot toot tooooot!

2009-02-08T23:26:00.006+11:00

During the holidays this summer, someone visiting our promenade chalked a train engine on a stone of the sea wall.
Later, someone else chalked a carriage on the next stone. Then another person chalked another carriage, and before you know it..

Here's one of my favourite carriages.

Not sure what it is exactly, but I like it.

Tusked-est birdpoo ever

2009-01-14T17:28:00.004+11:00

Readers may recall my familiarity with the field of birdpoo palaentology, wherein I've previously demonstrated prehistoric occupation of this area by plesiosaurs and tyrannasaurs.

And now, after investigations in Lawrence Road, I can positively confirm prior habitation by mastodons.

Note the raised trunk, showing that this was a browsing animal - in contrast to a mammoth, which of course was a grazer instead.

Grrr

2008-12-26T16:18:00.003+11:00

This scaley varmint was about the length of a ruckman's footyboot, crossing Glaneuse Road a few days back.

Aquaticest birdpoo ever

2008-11-23T10:34:00.002+11:00

Longtime readers may recall my earlier discovery of evidence proving prehistoric use of our local habitat by Tyrannasaurs.

And now, we can prove those ancient carnivores were not alone. Maybe they feasted on Plesiosaurs like this one, uncovered last week on a footpath alongside Peterho Boulevard.

A day in the life of ...

2008-11-12T20:40:00.002+11:00

Ever wonder what happens when you phone a bee remover?

Note the varmint near top-left corner of photo.

Left Hand Yellow

2008-10-12T10:48:00.002+11:00

This pic is about a month old, but finally I can face my fears to show it - the day a terrifying tornado ripping through our quiet little town. Or maybe it was a five-minute sunshower.