3.40km | 22.13min | 9.2km/h

I probably could have gone further had I stopped for a minute or so to regain my breath at the end point (to the right), but as per my self imposed rules, I must run without stopping until … errrmmm … I stop.

I am unsure what prompted the “no stopping” rule, but perhaps I need to revisit to achieve greater distance in a shorter time-frame and then eventually cut-out the stopping?

Only 6 weeks until I have to find myself another running track. I am confident it will not be anywhere near as gorgeous, but fortunately I rarely pay attention to my surrounds when I am shuffling along, so I could displace myself anywhere (given sufficient flatness).

Our meals have been all the poorer in range since I stopped with the food bloggering.

While I don’t think I can sustain the momentum of photographing and posting everything we eat, surely I can maintain a simple list!

And so the minimalist food blog was born. At the end of each month I’ll be moving the table to a post of its own and starting all over again.

We’re all hoping this will encourage a little more variety/experimentation because without accountability we’ve been relying too much on the olde faves, which we are rapidly tiring of.

Naturally mockery and eye rolling ensues whenever we spot them, which is unfortunately way, way, way too often.

Well, all except for this rear window, which is Ace! by any standards and sums up our sentiments quite well:

While stumbling home late one evening a couple of months ago, through the less salubrious area (stabbings, shootings &etc) of our suburb, I spotted a vehicle which had a quite an impressive collection of stickers (feat. pets!) which I thought would make an excellent foil to the photograph above.

I attempted a couple of snaps with ghastly-phone, but all I achieved was black.

After expressing my dismay we were dejectedly walking away when we were somewhat aggressively hailed by a couple of gents busting out of one of the terraces.

Them: “Were you taking photos of that car?”

Me: “Yeah, but it was too dark and they didn’t work”

Them, threateningly: “Why were you taking photos of the car?”

Me: “Errmmm … I was trying to take a photo of your My Family stickers”

There was silence as we briefly contemplated our impending violent demise. This was followed by a muttering and a then female voice shouted after us:

“You can buy them at any Newsagents!”

Don had never visited Camperdown cemetary (which, incidentally, has a surprisingly comprehensive wikipedia article), so we spent some time strolling about the most excellent grounds. So peaceful for somewhere smack, bang in the middle of Newtown.

Enjoy some low-quality snaps:

Why, yes, I am trawling the phone pix for blog content!

Figuring it is about the substance more than the style, this is the first step in redressing the balance (both of snaps in particular and blog posts in general).

Sculpture interference prohibited

Attention: this door is alarmed

Caution: artists in residence

I so wanted to drag this home.

Who knew interior doors were filled with flimsy cardboard?

Perhaps I need to board the instagram train now that it is available for android? I’m hoping it will enhance the low-fi retro-tasticness of the ghastly phone image quality.

The SCG is pulling down our usual seating, so we’re on the opposite side of the ground and Holy!Goodness! it was like another world.

An exceptionally hot, deserty world where the sun beats down in a relentless manner.

We baked in the sun and I’m sure, despite lashings of sunscreen, I added to my freckle collection. The babies are extremely fortunate to have olive skins, worried not a jot and, I’m sure, added to their tanned attractiveness.

I’m generally pretty good about sun protection, but I am in very much in need of something for my lips (should I just succumb to the pink zinc?) because they are tingling with burning today.

I’ve recently become aware of a lip-freckle which is increasing in size and warrants a trip to the dermatologist for a check. Must make appointment. Especially if I am burning for the remainder of the season.

mid-afternoon on Thursday, we exchanged contracts for a haus!

We headed out to Western NSW early on Saturday morning and 4(ish) hours later were in the first payable goldfield in Australia.

Back in the day, full of enthusiasm for the great outdoors, we packed essential campering supplies in milk crates and stored them in the garage, so we could achieve a grab-and-go scenario.

Sadly, what with one thing and another, the supplies had laid fallow for roughly two years. Fortunately, upon checking the crates in preparation for departure, we realised that our past selves were Awesome! We’d even packed spare batteries for the torches! We’re now planning some refinements to the supplies, so our future selves will think we’re as fabulous as we currently think our most excellent past selves are.

The setting was gorgeous and everything was marvellously relaxing. I do so love spending time hiking, reading, boozing and burning things on the campfire. The strangest part of the adventure was the large number of people wielding metal-detectors and those panning for gold in the creek. Clearly, we were the only people there not in search of gold, though, slightly bedazzled, I did briefly examine some tree-roots in the creek while taking innumerable photographs- sadly no welcome stranger was to be found.

All in all, it was excellent and proved that overnight campering is definitely do-able. The next challenge is for Joe/Frank to accompany us (and for us to fit all that equipment for three people into GerryScotti).

Anyways, would that I had chosen better camera settings, but here are some snaps:

The best pie I have eaten in YEARS! from Blackheath

Rural splendor

Our campsite: feat. compact love tent

We have been accumulating all of our secure shredding for some time. Well, since our shredder died.

Secure shredding makes for excellent fire fuel

A very pretty spot