This is a lousy photograph but in my defence, I would like to explain that it wasn't supposed to be a photograph at all.First let me tell you about the subject matter. Do you see that blur almost in the centre of the photo? That is one of the delights of the Lane Cove River. I am sure they have a technically correct name but I simply call these aquatic athletes, "jumping fish". Stand and look at the river or bay for any length of time and normally you will see at least one leap out like a target in a 1950s fairground shooting gallery.
They are almost impossible to photograph because you never know when or where they will appear. I have tried to work out if there is some sort of pattern but the crafty little buggers seem to act at random.
As I said at the start, it is a lousy photo and the fact that I was able to capture the fish on camera was just sheer luck.
I was taking my late afternoon walk and decided to sit down on a bench at the edge of the bay to enjoy the peace, calmness and serenity. For me that is invariably fatal - I know from experience what will most likely happen whenever I sit anywhere quiet.
Sure enough it did.
Within seconds of sitting down an elderly man approached, tabloid newspaper in hand and sat next to me.
"How ya going mate?" he asked.
When an elderly man with tabloid newspaper in hand sits down and asks, "How ya going?" you just know you are in for an unsolicited dose of his beer-and-skittles wisdom - gained of course from aforementioned tabloid newspaper and cab drivers turned second rate footy commentators, turned talk-back shock-jocks.
Whatever happens to be the main story will either be the State government's fault, the Federal government's fault,"desk bound pen-pushing public servants." - or Muslims who should be sent back home. The fact that sending most Australian Muslims back home would involve a $3.70 bus fare to the next suburb, seems to escape these saloon bar multi-culturalism gurus.
I had no desire to listen or talk to this fine example of a 1950s state education system that regarded pupil oppression as an educational tool, free thinking as something that should be beaten out of the system, and mediocrity as a benchmark of excellence, so I pretended to take a photograph in the hope he would leave me alone. That's how I caught the jumping fish!
Did my plan work?
"Did you get a shot of the fish mate?"
"Yes I did" I replied.
There seemed to be a glimmer of hope. This could be the start of a conversation about the beauty of the bay - the calmness of the water, the silence and sense of well being.
"Of course ya know there would be more of them if the council did something about the bay don't you?"
I always think things happen for a reason, even if the reason may be hidden under a ten-ton pile of rocks. If he hadn't sat next to me, I wouldn't have taken the albeit lousy photo.
No such thing as a free lunch!
