Guest Photo Challenge: The Local Watering Hole (Black & White)

Posted on July 5, 2015 by Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist

Thank you to Paula for giving me the opportunity to be a guest Challenger for the Black and White Sunday.

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About Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist

I began my working career as a reluctant potato peeler whilst waiting to commence my training as a student nurse. On completion I worked mainly in intensive care/coronary care; finishing my hospital career as clinical nurse educator in intensive care. A life changing period as a resort owner/manager on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu was followed by recovery time as a farmer at Bucca Wauka. Having discovered I was no farmer and vowing never again to own an animal bigger than myself I took on the Barrington General Store. Here we also ran a five star restaurant. Working the shop of a day 7am - 6pm followed by the restaurant until late was surprisingly more stressful than Tanna. On the sale we decided to retire and renovate our house with the help of a builder friend. Now believing we knew everything about building we set to constructing our own house. Just finished a coal mine decided to set up in our backyard. Definitely time to retire we moved to Queensland. I had been writing a manuscript for some time. In the desire to complete this I enrolled in a post grad certificate in creative Industries which I completed 2013. I followed this by doing a Master of Arts by research graduating in 2017. Now I live to write and write to live.
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9 Responses to Guest Photo Challenge: The Local Watering Hole (Black & White)

  2. Paula's avatar Paula says:
    July 6, 2015 at 7:02 am

    Thank you for accepting to host the challenge, Irene. I loved your idea, and there are quite a few bloggers that accepted your challenge too.

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  3. Sharon Bonin-Pratt's avatar Sharon Bonin-Pratt says:
    July 6, 2015 at 10:37 am

    My dad was a born conservationist and I learned young not to waste natural resources. Water is a precious commodity. It’s amazing to realize the lengths people must go to to get fresh drinking water – and sometimes, it isn’t all that fresh. Here In California, we are into 4 years of drought. It’s stunning to see how many people think it’s OK to carelessly waste water by washing cement driveways, to plant lawns and gardens that belong in a tropical rain forest rather than our actual hot, dry, semi-desert climate, or who expect “science” to come up with a solution for their irresponsible behavior. I count myself very fortunate to live in a place where I can slide a glass under a spigot in my frig and wait for cold, fresh, filtered water to fill it.
    Great photo essay from you – I really enjoyed it.

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    • Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist's avatar Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist says:
      July 7, 2015 at 2:35 pm

      Your Dad was a man before his time I think but it is great that he taught you the benefits of conserving our natural resources. Are you on water restrictions? 4 years of drought is a long time. Amazing how thoughtless some people are. We found on the island most Australians were aware of our limited water but Europeans on the whole had no concept at all, some not even realising (until they were left with lather in their hair) that we weren’t on mains piped water.
      Glad you enjoyed it.

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      • Sharon Bonin-Pratt's avatar Sharon Bonin-Pratt says:
        July 7, 2015 at 4:53 pm

        Lather in their hair! That’s hysterical – bet you wish you’d gotten a photo of that!
        For decades, my husband has been putting out clean trash barrels under the eaves to collect rain water, when it does rain, and then he uses it to water the yard for the next week or so. In the last few years, his idea has become de rigueur for other conscientious homeowners, and they even make special rain collection barrels now. We’ve never had a lawn as they’re the wrong idea for our climate. All around we see people letting their lawns dry out, but many are stumped about what to replace it with. Many city and county areas have been using gray water for irrigation of public areas. I suspect that gray water systems are going to become common in housing areas, possibly even required in new construction. We have to find ways to use our water more effectively, and we need to do so on personal as well as community property.
        OK, getting off my band wagon now…..

        Liked by 1 person

      • Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist's avatar Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist says:
        July 9, 2015 at 10:11 am

        It was funny Sharon. Hilarious even. The photo is etched forever in my head.
        Yes we all have to learn to conserve our water. We have had compulsory rain tanks with each new building. They have a point system in approving new housing and it has to reach 100 points before it can be approved. It includes water tanks, water saving taps, no air conditioning but designed so it does not require it, solar panels etc etc. Landscaping is also part of it and you have to specify what plants you will plant. Before it is given final approval you have to show that all the things which made your 100 points have been done. Mind you it doesn’t stop people changing things after approval. Our house has no grass except some artificial stuff that we put down for the dogs. We love the no watering/no mowing life.

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