Sue, this week’s host, has asked that we look at current pastimes – things we have taken up in this time of enforced home isolation. For me my pastimes have remained the same as they were prepandemic. I had thought that I would gain a couple of new pastimes – I would cycle on the exercise bike sitting in our spare room every day – that lasted a week. I would have a spotless house as I would spend every waking minute cleaning – but I guess the cows came home and that didn’t happen either.
Did I take up stamp collecting – no but this was my Father’s favourite pastime, spending hours with new, used and cinderella stamps. He had a huge collection on his death – some valuable, some not. Surprisingly, his cinderella collection (stamps that aren’t legal tender) was one of the best in Australia and someone asked if they could use his collection to write a book displaying it. I have no idea how many copies were sold but we were quite chuffed that he would be remembered for his beloved pastime.
Cameras and books have always been my favourite way to fill in time.
© irene waters 2018
© irene waters 2018
With over 60,000 photos on this computer and more stored on CDs and external drives I have a pasttime that will see out my years. The hours I can spend labelling, tagging and researching is interminable. As are the number of books in the world.
© irene waters 2020
© irene waters 2020
© irene waters 2017
The sad thing is you don’t realise until too late that you don’t have enough hours left to read all the books you want to. How do you choose which are more important. Even the decision then becomes a pastime.
Of course, there are the dogs. Even in lockdown they get there two walks a day. We now only go to the dog park once a day – in the morning. The number of people in the afternoon has become massive and my stress levels rise accordingly. Families with kids on bikes, scooters and skate boards – all things that Marley loves to chase. Dogs that are unknown and a little more intrusive – Muffin reacts. Now we walk through some bush that is at the back of our place. A lovely place with dams and birds and yes even more photo opportunities.
© irene waters 2019
© irene waters 2019
© irene waters 2019
As you can see – I really don’t have time for new pastimes. The old ones fill in all the spare time I have.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
Great photos and thoughts. Love the three birds. What are they?
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The three white birds are blue eyed corella. A parrot. They are always in large flocks. There were at least 20 or more in that tree.
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WOW. Thanks.
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A wonderful selection of pastimes, Irene! I think I recognize some of those stamps from your Dad’s collection. And what a splendid way to commemorate his pastime, by having a book written about his collection. You have captured the birds beautifully. Do I see a kookaburra there on the branch? Thank you so much for participating in the challenge.
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Thanks Sue. I think you are doing a great job sorting out yours.
Yes there it is a kookaburra.
Thanks for the great prompt.
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I know just what you mean Irene. I had so many plans but much less time for them than I imagined! Your birds are beautiful and I enjoyed the trip down memory lane
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Thanks Tina. With all the zoom meetings people are running I think in some ways I have less time than usual. I love the birds. So lucky to have them around me.
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Beautiful pastimes – and those that were not coming along…well I recognize that so well. And cleaning the house? No. Beautiful photos and lovely memories.
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Thank you Leya. I think we all can relate to want to and what we do and have done.
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I enjoyed this! I have loved taking pictures since I was 9 or 10. So many photographs and I/we never throw them out. I love your choices. I have thousands too and the urge to organize them better is constant. And often overwhelming. So many books and never enough time. 🙂
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A soul mate. Yes you’d know what I’m talking about.😀
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I guess I do 🙂
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Wait – do you mean that someone used your dad’s stamp collection to write a book but didn’t mention your dad’s name in the publication? That’s terrible! Shame on the opportunist.
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No No. It was called The Cinderella Collection of James Mathers or something to that effect. It was an honour to my Dad.
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Lovely pictures and your life is full. Australian birds are so colorful. Have a great week, Irene.
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Thanks Marsha. You too.
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