I started 2019 reading in a cabin on the beach in Simon’s Town, South Africa. I was reading outside on a deck staring out onto False Bay, a towel across my lap, sunscreen haphazardly slathered on my arms and legs, and a cap on my head. Sea air refreshing my lungs and skin from two … Continue reading A Selection of Pages from 2019
If there was a time in my life when I was absolutely dripping in sweat, then this was it. There were beads of the stuff all over my face, and I was leaning into a blast of musty air con, only moving away to gulp down some electrolytes. I suppose that may sound like hell, … Continue reading Chasing Mr Toad
Need some holiday reading? Gift ideas? Just want an excuse to buy some vaguely work-related novels and knock off early? I’ve got you covered. I’ve managed to read a few stellar books this year, many of which focus around the environment or natural history in one way or another, and all of which I highly … Continue reading When in doubt, go to the library
I may be a little biased, but I find the Australian semi-arid landscape simply stunning. What appears to be a desolate place on the surface suddenly bursts to life once you simply kneel down to the ground and take a proper look. Down there you can see tracks left by bettongs hurtling through the sand … Continue reading Seeds in the Sand
Sometimes we can be completely oblivious to places just off our usual tracks. Australia is such a particularly vast continent that it can be somewhat awe-inspiring to consider how much of the country most Australians have never set foot in. Living in one of the smaller states, Victoria, I tend to assume I’ve pretty much … Continue reading Counting Cats Off Familiar Tracks
I recently* attended a particularly academic dinner party, at which each guest was invited to present a five-minute talk on absolutely anything. The topics covered were satisfyingly representative of my exceptional friends and their own passions and interests. We moved from a discussion of how cheap fast fashion reinforces capitalism, to why elves are essentially … Continue reading Fantastic Beasts You Could Actually Find
I was nearing the end of a research internship in the arid zone, and keen for an excuse to keep clinging on to the red sand, when a rare opportunity appeared. A chance to get up close to one of Australia’s most curious looking species: the Greater Bilby. I had caught many glimpses of bilbies … Continue reading How to Train a Bilby
