Just like old times, I spent a week and a half away from the family at a workshop in the woods.
Unlike old times, there weren't any visitors from outside of Australia. Instead, we showed up to talks in Germany via zoom link at 7:30pm.
Also, we were only a 90 minute train ride from Melbourne, so Tim and Jonathan met me in Ballarat for a day trip on Saturday.
Ballarat: built on gold in the 1800s. The buildings are really pretty, but not all are well maintained.
Back in Creswick in the woods, there were kangaroos and cockatoos. I looked hard for an echidna, but no luck this time.
On Sunday, I went swimming in a couple of local lakes. Summer is a glorious time of year.
With the end of the workshop, the world feels more normal. Back on campus this week, with students back. Everyone is vaccinated by requirement. Masks on inside. Windows open wide. I guess we're in a stage of the pandemic where we figure out how to approach this new world.
