Moody Morning

The smallish crew who showed this morning were in for a treat – below the gloomy clouds was warm clear water with sea creatures a-plenty for us to interact with.

Sunrise was a muted affair

I saw these ladies leave the water and re-enter shortly after – not enough of a good thing, right?

Meanwhile the preparations for the 7am

Steve, who has mastered the lifter and the leaner roles – he lifts spirits with his loving demeanor and he loves to lean on humans.

Edwina and Michael deep in conversation

Still a bit sparse for a Saturday. Is summer really over?

Alanna going back for her second single

At Shelley, the joint was jumping

The A team, who shortly after this photo was taken caused confusion and general discombobulation by giving a pre-emptive let’s go

And now for the fishies, in no particular order

Fiddler ray aka banjo shark even though it’s not a shark, near the yellow shed

A common stingaree, a crimson banded wrasse and a photobomber who we’ll call Rainer

A kingfish and some nervous looking yellowtail

This beauty needs no introduction

A puffer fish close to the Point

Eagle Ray

When too many duskies are barely enough

Duskies and an eagle ray. I saw one of the duskies sizing up the ray – and it seems making a meal of it was too much work.

I caught up with Ian and Ros and can confidently say we hit dusky pay dirt.

A squid near Shelley

Is this pink fish a wrasse? It has whiskers like a catfish

Mados aka LSTs

Napoleon joined the WoWs for coffee and a chat

My guess at the stats

water temp let’s say 23

Swimmers 200 maybe

Newbies 15

What am I listening to? Today I am torn – a few weeks ago I went to a very lovely performance by the multi dimensional Ralph McTell. Alte Kukkes may remember a pretty big hit of his in the 1970s called Streets of London, but he is also a very fine songwriter and guitarist and a blues aficionado with a significant back catalog. Not a one hit wonder by any means. This is not a blues piece but I like it because it evokes a summer in a green and pleasant land – quite unlike the relentless heat and humidity we have experienced recently

And here’s the other one. Later this week a tribute film to Joni Mitchell will be played globally to celebrate her 75th birthday. Here is a live version of one of my favourites of her songs. A gorgeous live performance but then she always had fabulous musicians playing with her. A unique creative force.