1951-2018

The final hurdle is almost here, Just 68 pictures to go!!! WOW!!!

Check out previous picks here below

1-150, 151-300, 301-450, 451-600, 601-750, 751-900, 901-1050, 1051-1200, 

1201-1350, 1351-1500, 1501-1650, 1651-1800, 1801-1950

1951-1954/2018: So many summery flowers in the Josef Cromey gardens. 

1955-1956/2018: After getting the car fixed [don't tell East Coast rentals] this is one of my favourite places to relax and explore in Launceston. The Cataract Gorge. Parkland, forest, water, bridges, trails, peacocks. So much to explore!. 

1957-1958/2018: Even finding this tree. I took a similar picture of the one on the left three years ago [see my Natural exhibition] and when I saw this today I also wanted to capture it but wanted to do something a little different. And something I have been do a bit of this year is continuing to play with shutter speeds to create completely different pictures of what the subject actually is. I love it. Do you?

1959/2018: Goodbye Tasmania [for this adventure anyway]. So much beauty down where and so many places to explore. I've ventured down here a few times now and each time it has been so different. So much love and food and wine and happiness. Should we move here? There is no spinal injury unit unfortunately but I could make one. Thoughts?

1960-1961/2018: It's been threatening rain all day and the picture in the left is just teasing us. But finally at about 4PM the skies opened and we had the heaviest hail in Sydney in over 10 years. the hails was the size of golf [and in places tennis] balls and hte sound as they splashed into the water was extraordinary [scary for our little girl!]

1962/2018: This doesn't actually do it the justice it deserves. But this hail stones were massive and have done over $25 million of damage in Sydney on the space of about 30 minutes! WOW!

1863/2018: I love the contrast of the green foliage against the stone here in Pyrmont. Izzy loves it even more as she loves to do her thing here in the mornings. "Creepy" man loves it more than her as he weridingly likes to stand in this area and stalk the birds and harrass the neighbours.

1971/2018: Second last flight of the year. NZ bound for a relaxing Christmas with the family [need to buy Presents first. Whoops].

1972-1974/2018: So good to be out exploring the Darfield country side. My sister, her husband and I took their dogs for a big run along Boultons Road out the back of Darfield. On a clear day you have a view of the entire Southern Alps. Today you can only see the bottom of the hills. So quiet and peaceful out here and the dogs LOVE it.  

1975/2018: Meri Kerihimate and aroha from Aotearoa [Merry Christmas and love from New Zealand]. This Christmas I traveled to NZ and have spent the Christmas season with my family [and their dogs]. It is sad and unusual to have no grand parents to share this special season with this year. I had to find someone else to sit on the couch and chat and snuggle with. My three nieces happily filled brief. Although they were a lot more fidgety and noisy, but so much fun. Nana we miss you and your chats, wit and love. We hope you are up there dancing and singing and hanging out with Grandad at this special time of year!

1976-1978/2018: Mum's Christmas Trees this year. Yes there are three of them. All with a different theme. From L-R: Red and gold, Gold only and wooded.

Love Mum's themed Christmas'.

1981-1984/2018: I love wandering around Alwyn and Emma's garden. They live on 2 acres and have the most beautiful homestead, a vege patch, a barn, some sheep and a stunning garden including some of these beauties!

1985-1986/2018: These actually looks pretty gross. They are both the same plant in different levels of life. They are the fruits of the native New Zealand Flax. Known in English as Phormium Colensoi or in Maori as Wharariki. 

1987-1988/2018: Standing around getting grumpy fighting over the rules of croquet. Finally have a good round playing by the correct rules. But then afternoon tea called. 

For the record: Dad was the overall champion. He said "finally something I'm better than my kids at"

1989-1993/2018: This wasn't the easiest selection of pictures to capture. These are the eyes of my five nephews and nieces ageing from 3 to 11. I notice how freckly the boys are and what beautiful skin the girls have. Also check out how long Pippa's eyelashes are. 

Oliver: a little cheeky and mysterious; George: grumpy but playful; Katelin: naughty and mean but a quiet achiever; Pippa: smart and geeky but  obliging; Charlotte: adventurous and cheeky. 

So much fun hanging out with you all these holidays. Remember to look after your brothers and sisters and be kind to mum and dad!!

1994-1997/2018: I have told a few people about these fences and many dont believe me. So here is some proof. These fences are on Seadown Road just out of town. This is where the famous horse Phar Lap was born [no is wasn't born in Australia]. And to remember him there is a white statue of him at the start of this road and a bronze statue of him at the Phar Lap Racecourse in Timaru. These fence also remember him in a bit more interesting way that a tame statue. 

1998/2018: Timaru Canola fields. So yellow and bright. Cheer you up on a overcast day!

1999-2001/2018: Thursday dates with mum. Adventures along the south coast of Timaru along the Jack's Point Track. So much beauty here, the loud crashing of the waves below and the crops growing behind the fence. So much wildlife. Such a peaceful part of town to explore. 

[the clods help to beautify this area too!]

2002/2018: These are meant to be white. Anyone know why these are purple? Is it to do with the pH of the soil like hydrangeas?

2003/2018: If this were on my bucket this then I would have ticked it off today. 

Bucket list item: use a wood splitter. Done. Good father son bonding time to day as he and three of his sons [where was Dale?] took to and split all this wood in prep for the long cold winter [ish]. The nice cold beer at the end of the afternoon was well earned!

2006/2018: A beautiful day to be out for a walk along the Caroline Bay boardwalk. We didn't dare venture into the Caroline bay Carnival or into the cold bay itself. But a very pleasant place from this view. 

2007-2009/2018: Hanging out to dry.. Having a stare off. And having fun up in the wind. oh to be a bird.  Actually there are better animals I'd rather be. 

2012/2018: In all my years growing up, living and hanging out in Timaru, I have looked at this lookout millions of time but have never walked out to this point on the North Mole at TImaru Port. Thanks for the walk this morning mum. Apparently this structure is still used by the yachting club on race days so they can have a 270˚ view of the bay.

2012-2013/2018:

The ever changing view of Richmond street and Climie Terrace. 

This has been oour back yard growing up but a lot has changed over the years. The mountains in the right picture are Big and Little mount Peel. Very distinctive due to their flat summits!. 

2018/2018: 

WOW. Where do I start? 

I made it. Twenty Eighteen is now complete. 

Such an extraordinary feeling right now. 

This time last year I was pondering the year ahead and felt I needed some type of challenge for this year and Twenty eighteen was born and what an epic adventure it has been. Two thousand and eighteen photos in three hundred and sixty five days. Twenty nine planes, ten countries and so many amazing adventures. I have learnt and seen so much this year and have loved sharing my journey, my challenge. 

Be bold. Be honest. Be strong. Be adventurous. Set goals and strive to achieve them. Continue to look, explore, be grateful for and love the amazing world around you! 

A big thank you to everyone who has followed Twenty Eighteen this year; your likes, comments, emojis, shares and conversations have helped me complete this epic mission. 

Massive thanks particularly to Roderick and Izzy for putting up with my tireless snapping away this year. Some days were easier than others. Some days were a massive challenge. I couldn’t have completed this photo project without your support. 

Happy new year to you all. Enjoy your night, be safe and may you challenge yourself to something just as epic in 2019. 

[Note, there will be no Twenty Nineteen photo project] 

Much love 

JR