Door to door.

 

A sudden knock on my front door. I open the door and see a young man.

He says hello. I am here to collect for……I respond the way a man living in the past would respond.

I say: Good. I will just go and get some cash.

The young man says: I am not allowed to take your money. On your phone I can register you so you can donate money. You will be able to make regular contributions and it’s all tax deductible.

I respond by saying: It’s a good charity. I would like to help by giving you some money.

He rambles on and on about phones, their website, and registering.

I pretend to listen and dream of the good old days. The days of encyclopedia salesmen going door to door, postcards, a time when people knew where their phone was and when you could put your church money in a jar.

I say: No. No. No deal.

He immediately turns and goes.

I return to my couch and dream of the here and now. Next time I busk in the city I will put my phone, if I can find it, in a hat. I will display a sign saying. Please enjoy the music but no cash. Please register on my phone and I will send you a link. 

Be yourself. Everybody else is taken.

(click image to listen)

Be yourself.  Everybody else is taken.

Be yourself. There’s only one person can be you.

Be be be buzz

Be

 

Marijuana cookies every Friday arvo.

With my mates. From long, long ago.

 

A vegetarian who will only eat

white meat. Never red meat.

 

On your face toilet paper waving

Tells all, you cut yourself shaving.

 

My grandchildren know everything

One day they won’t know a zing.

 

I spy an embarrassed bloke

behind a cloud of cigarette smoke.

 

Wear the colours of his footy team.

Sleeps with his football. He can dream.

  

Bowls fast. Last man to bat.

He loves the crowd. Always up for a chat.

 

Shorts, matching top, hair in a bun.

Run with others in the local fun run.

 

Wears a pressed neat suit and tie.

A stable, steady and reliable guy.

 

Sit in a boat. Feed the fish.

Flathead for brekkie. He can wish.

 

 

Email my Councilors

I recently, (1/7/26) wrote an email to all twelve Hobart City Councilors.  Below I have rewritten the email I sent, and the replies I received. I have not altered or changed the emails in any way, except Ryan included the Queens Domain Masterplan.

Eight councilors did not reply.

 

Dear councilor,

In November 2025 I wrote to our Lord Mayor asking for an overpass across the Brooker at Clearys Gate.

I received an answer. The email said: The HCC has spent all available money on building a new carpark and pizza oven on the Domain.  At Legacy Park.

Is this still the attitude of HCC? Be thankful and grateful. Cars take preference over people who prefer to be fit and healthy by walking to and across the Domain.  

I suggest the HCC should work to make Hobart a better place for the community. 

The Queens Domain is home to a multitude of local sporting facilities; indigenous native bush which has changed little for thousands of years; wallabies, bandicoots, possums, native birds and indigenous plants.  No snakes.

An overpass would make the people of New Town physically, socially and emotionally healthier. That is one of the aims of our councillors.

Please suggest a way that an overpass across the Brooker can be built.

Go well, Alan

 

Dear Alan

I can certainly see what I can find out.  Its not a bad idea - what I have to find out is - is it on the list of infrastructure requests.

Regards

Alderman Louise Bloomfield

 

Hi Allan 

Surprisingly last month in a planning meeting I reminded the committee about a proposal I put forward many years ago when we were considering an up grade of the North Hobart oval.

I put forward a walkway from the domain area into the north Hobart oval.

Cheers Marti 

 

Hi Alan,

Yes I have a close friend who has been pushing for this for years too. 

I think there is opportunity associated with councils advocacy upgrading the domain highway interchange. 

It is listed on page 49 of the Queens Domain Masterplan which does give it at strategic backing. 

Thanks for raising this issue with me, I’ll keep it front of mind as we have a few things happening both on the Domain, the North Hobart Neighbourhood plan and the councils position on the domain highway interchange.

Kind regards

Cr Ryan Posselt

City of Hobart 

 

 

Thank you, Alan.

I agree entirely.

Louise  Elliot

 

Wild native bush

 

By watching and waiting I safely cross the Brooker. I am immediately surrounded by native, wild bush. There is a variety of plants. All living together creating beauty. What are these plants that fill me full of delight?

A common plant on the Domain is the Prickly box. As its name suggests it has thorns. They are sharp. Be careful. They tell you the name of the shrub. The shrub is about the height of an average human. This time of year, the flowers have finished. The shrub is becoming dormant.

A very similar, and equally routine, shrub is the native hopbush. Similar height but its leaves are slightly bigger. And the summer flowers are followed by seed capsules in spring.

I love the casuarina. There are no cassowary birds in Hobart but we have casuarina trees which take their name from the cassowary bird. The foliage resembles the feathers of a cassowary bird. It is a beautiful tree with dropping foliage and cones.

The main tree on the Domain is the Southern Blue Gum or Eucalyptus Globulus. Or as aborigines called it, Moonah. A big tree.  Large leaves. Flowers followed by large capsules which, at present, litter the ground.

But the plant with the best story has to be Dianella. A common strap like plant. About one meter tall. Flowers in spring followed by shiny blue/purple berries. About 1/2 cm long. The plant is common in private and public gardens around Hobart.

The name Dianella comes from an old Roman story. Dianna, a Roman goddess of hunting, was involved in a race. Her competitor threw some golden berries. Dianna bent down to pick up the berries and lost the race. The berries look edible. Some species are edible.  Some are not. Enjoy looking at them.

Please: can we make these plants easily accessible so that all can enjoy them. Build an overpass across the Brooker at Clearys Gate.