There isn’t really anywhere to get away from it all anymore, but Moruya Heads is as close as it comes for me. Open space, quiet (except that we’re on the flight path for a once a day jet) and pleasant country people for company.

Not too much to do except walk, read, bswim in the shriekingly cold ocean, and get quotes on solar power. I argue with spouse that it is still a sensible thing to do, even though NSW has cut the feed-in tarriff by two thirds.

Here I can just toss the compost into a bush. We bring water from town, not feeling comfortable about what goes into the water tanks. There’s no dishwasher, and I don’t miss it. All the curtains, furniture, dishes and even manchester here are re-used and non-precious.  That’s the way I like it. I did get a new dustbuster, 12V and powerful enough to take many spiders to a lingering death.

Not happy to see a big black snack slithering close to the deck. Where is that goanna that should be eating its young? The world beyond this haven also slithers darkly, coming through on the satellite internet and the radio.

Tigers and turtles being slaughtered in huge numbers, despite bans. The rule of law and human rights disregarded in China. Currency wars, deficit implications, and mad-as-a-hatter at a tea party election results in the country we all still have to pay attention to.

Visiting Sydney friends who went back yesterday told me of the heat and traffic they hit. They had to get off the M5 because it was so jammed up. More expressways create more traffic, when will the planners break out of that cycle?

I’m missing a lot in Canberra this summer, of an inspiring sort. There’s so much happening in that set of sprawling but relatively enlightened suburbs that gets overlooked when people talk about capital ‘C’ canberra, the city of national political decision making. Lots of local people are doing many good things for their territory, from organic gardening workshops to energy-saving displays to re-designing old clothes. As for me, I use whatever comes to hand from second hand stores and craft shops to make collages, as useless and relaxing as can be imagined.

Andrew Leigh’s maiden speech (he’s the recently elected rep for the ACT)  talked about the social capital of Canberra. For a while I complained about the Greens not exerting their balance of power in the ACT gov, but maybe now their hard work is starting to show. Of course the ALP will take major credit for anything significant, but all around, in jurisdictions large and small, it seems the Greens are taking on greater prominence. Except in that big, complex country that we all still need to pay attention to. And the UK and France of course, too.

These are the Sunday morning musings from a Canberran  displaced for a while into a calmer spot. The turbulence of the world can be muted for now, like the distant roar of the ocean. Up here on a gently curved ridge, looking out on gum trees in fog, none of those waves can reach me.  But I’ve got a long-handled shovel ready if I see another black snake. I trust they’re not endangered.