July 7, 2024

Icy morning dog walks

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Dog walking when there's frost on the ground, and the need is to pile on multiple layers before stepping outside is OK once or twice, but I'm rapidly getting rather over the novelty with the exceptional run of frosty mornings that are characterising northern Tasmania this winter. 


Needless to say Badger couldn't give a toss about the weather. He's raring to go regardless and his internal clock is well tuned to the time we normally set off, so it's a rare morning when he's not waiting patiently outside the back door - and if he considers I'm later than I should be he'll let me know!


For a breed that largely navigates the world with his nose (beagles have around 220 million sensors in their noses, compared to around 5 million in humans. Who knew?!), you'd think the frosty chill would kill some of those interesting scents that have him exercised and excited. Not so. He has his nose to the ground regardless, sniffing his way along the road, stopping only to lift his leg occasionally. Of course being only part beagle he might be a little lighter on with those nose sensors. Perhaps a mere 110 million . . . ?!


Regardless, he sets a cracking pace, so I have no trouble keeping warm. But I'll be relieved to see this unusual and very chilly weather pattern stubbornly hanging over the southern part of the country, move on. And I doubt I'm alone in that.



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By Anne Layton-Bennett November 18, 2025
Political controversy continues about building Tasmania's third stadium at Hobart's Macquarie Point, a monument to the AFL that the majority of Tasmanians have consistently said they don't want and which they know is unaffordable at a time when public services are at crisis point. Yes to a team, No to a new stadium.
By Anne Layton-Bennett November 9, 2025
Seeking a publisher or agent for my book was never going to be easy, and so it is proving to be.
By Anne Layton-Bennett October 27, 2025
Well done to the north-west Tasmania branch of Fellowship of Australian Writers . Once again their editorial team led by Allan Jamieson have produced an excellent anthology, with the intriguing title – as above – and an undeniably quirky cover. The rather wonderful octopus is just one of the creatures on it, indicating a watery theme until your eyes pick out the morose-looking frog, sporting what appears to be a death-cap toadstool hat, and a moustachioed chap apparently hitching a ride to work on a magpie. They all suggest an intriguing mix of writing to be explored within. I appreciate I’m a little biased in promoting this collection of stories, memoirs, poems, anecdotes and travelogues of far-flung places, since I've got work included, but after my copies arrived in the post last week, and from dipping into the book already, it really does look like another interesting and eclectic read – as FAWNW’s previous anthologies have proved to be. Tasmania is definitely not short of some talented writers, even if all of them don't necessarily have a published book to their name. Neither do I as yet, but with my magnum opus finally completed, and currently being strategically submitted to publishers that are ones most likely to be interested going on their previous publications, my fingers are firmly crossed. For a first-time author I knew this part would be difficult, as well as time-consuming given the lengthy delays before possibly receiving that much anticipated email or phone call - or not if the six- eight- or ten-week deadline is reached with no news at all - but hoping that with Dr Bob Brown on-side and putting in a good word when and where he is able to do so, my submission will be plucked from the pile sent by other hopefuls. Then it will be a case of hoping it will spark enough interest to ask for a publisher asking to see the full manuscript. Strange and Marvellous Things (edited by Allan Jamieson, FAWNW) 2025 is available online or at good bookshops. RRP $25.00

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