iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Monissa @islandhopping.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

I have some photos of #Melbourne I think photos of Melbourne aren't that interesting because everyone has seen photos of Melbourne. Then I think, well no, most people in the world probably haven't seen many photos of Melbourne. So, over the next few nights, some photos of Melbourne

From the air: a large group of tall city buildings, surrounded by a sea of low buildings.

A curve of highway, raised over other streets and roadworks, heading towards highrise buildings in the background.

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Monissa @islandhopping.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

So I bought three books on Ebay. Now I have four tracking numbers on four different websites. Also, a notification this morning that I have a parcel to pick up from the PO, but none of the tracking sites say Delivered.

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Monissa @islandhopping.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

#WIPsnips "guard" MC2's occupation. Surprisingly, only 219 matches to choose from.

I remembered the young guard looking into my face. Hoping for someone he knew. So his death might allow a friend live. I closed my eyes.
"My life for yours."
I didn't expect my companion to understand, but he said, "That's the oath the guards swear."
Of course the king's son would know. He'd have witnessed the ceremony each time a man joined the Royal Guards, and maybe even for the Town Guard, when the king bothered to attend. Had he been there when I swore the oath? Was he even alive then? I couldn't get the numbers make sense in my head.
"He was a town guard," I said. "He lived here. In these barracks. Ate here. Slept here. Trained with his friends on that ground."
"We could pray for his soul?" Tomas said, quietly.
"No need. He'll be feasting at the gods' table tonight."
That was the promise: dedicate your life to your city, and in return you'll feast at the gods' table. It sounds good when they tell you that. They just forget to tell you about the bit in between.

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Monissa @islandhopping.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Launceston Horticultural Early Spring Show (daffodils & camellias). It makes me want to buy daffodils. Which I have avoided so far because growing in pots + bulbs seems a bad combination. But my sister accidentally bought me one this so..

Five bright yellow daffodil flowers with green stems, on a black background. The flowers, rather than the usual trumpet forms, are layers of yellows petals with peeps of orange at their centre.

Camellias: just the flowers sitting on a black tablecloth with brown stripes. Four flowers show, with exhibit cards and prize certificates.
A large, open flower with large light pink petals won a first prize in its class.
There's also a red flower with scattered white markings, a nice white flower with a few pink marks and a rather striking flower with pink and white patchedm

Five daffodil flowers on long stems, on the championship table (meaning they won a best exhibit prize). Standard daffodil shape but the outer ring of petals is a light yellow and the trumpet is cream. Lovely contrast to the usual bright daffodil colours.

Floral art: a huge bunch of daffodils and narcissus in various colours in a pretty white vase
Bright yellow with orange trumpets, white with orange centres, or orange centres; yellow on yellow. Large yellow trumpets, small orange trumpets.
A big bunch of happy, bright, early spring colour.

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Reposted by Monissa

Graeme Brandham @graemebrandham.com · 08/09/2026

Technical perfection is the most boring thing an artist can achieve. I saw a Led Zeppelin tribute band this weekend. They were technically flawless—every note, every beat, mathematically correct.

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Monissa @islandhopping.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Totally missed that #PitchDis was on, until an email appeared. So, novellas? Yes? No? Waste of a pitch?

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Monissa @islandhopping.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Tomas watched me. "They untie my hands so I can eat. While you're gone. They let me walk up and down a bit too." "That's nice." I tried shifting my feet, testing the ropes to see if they had any give in them. Trying to find a way to move that didn't make me hurt more. #WIPsnips "test"

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Reposted by Monissa

MTH @megt.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Rumor has it it's National #Book Lover's Day! You know what to do. Buy a book! Read a book! Sink into a book. You're welcome to try one of mine oaklandhillsfarm.com/novel/ but really, any book will do! 📚💙

A sandwich board outside a bookstore in Madison WI asks: "Should you buy a book today? And offers a flow chart: Have you bought a book today. If yes, one more won't hurt. If no, you should buy a book today!"

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Monissa @islandhopping.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Dear Internet, This is NOT an aerial photo of of Pompeii, c.1900, OK? #sigh

A large scale model of the excavated city of Pompeii. It's very detailed with all streets, walls and everything else included. Most prominent, at the front are the two theatres, with rows of seating forming semi-circular rings.
The model is in the National Archeological Musuem of Naples and was first built c.1879 (it's been expanded since then).

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Monissa @islandhopping.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

A fruiter at the market put the feeling into words. "Do you think there'll be a war?" he asked as he watched me pick over his peaches. Peaches are fragile and bruise if mishandled. "War?" He nodded. "A war, here in the city." "Wars need room. They're fought on plains, not cities" #WIPsnips "handle"

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Monissa @islandhopping.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Also at Southern Cross Station, #Melbourne (And last #TemporaryPictures Now I need a new theme/topic!) #TrainStations

Three shiny escalators heading up and under a curving glass and metal roof. (Actually one or more is probably coming done, but shh, don't tell anyone)

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Monissa @islandhopping.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Bus driver as passengers get on: "Hallo." "Afternoon." "Hallo." "Afternoon." "Hallo." "Afternoon." "Hallo." "Afternoon."

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Monissa @islandhopping.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Camellia sinensis, if you've ever wondered what #tea flowers look like :) #BloomScrolling

A white flower with a five white petals (one is borned on the corner), filled with many yellow stamens

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Monissa @islandhopping.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

5 August 2020: When Launceston woke to.. snow??? #Tasmania #Snow #SoMuchSnow

A back garden at night, lit only by lights on the walls. Every surface is covered by snow including paths, gravel walks, a plant-covered arch, garden table and every flower or bush. In the foreground is a terracotta pot with a covering of snow and a columnar cacti, with a snowy cap.

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Monissa @islandhopping.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

I let Luke worry about prices. I didn't need the money. Most of it would go into a small box in case my cottage ever burnt down and I had to replace everything. In which case, the money box would also burn too. #WIPsnips "box"

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Monissa @islandhopping.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

To jump or not to jump... (Ostia Antica I believe) #TemporaryPictures #CatsOfMastodon

A tortoiseshell & white (calico) cat, sitting on the ground, tail tucked around them, and twisted to look at me. Most of their body and head is patches of black and orange but the upper body and nose/mouth are white.
In the background is a rough stone wall.

The some tortoiseshell cat, now looking up a concrete ledge (possibly a wall foundation) that is somewhat higher than they are

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Reposted by Monissa

MTH @megt.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

sPooky (the s is silent) says, "could it be a new #fantasy novel by M. Turville Heitz?" Coming soon! 📚🪐 🐈‍⬛ #caturday More info on Ryslad: oaklandhillsfarm.com/novel/ryslad/

Black cat sPooky (the s is silent) sniffs at the cover of Ryslad, by M. Turville Heitz, a fantasy novel lying on top of a fleece throw.

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Monissa @islandhopping.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Luke wasn't one for showing excitement over things, except for the time he came home from Westmarket and tried to describe a grey stallion he'd seen. He ended up standing there, opening and close his hands as if that would somehow get through to me the wonderfulness of this horse #WIPsnips "thrill"

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Monissa @islandhopping.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Colosseum, Rome. (In B&W because I wanted to see how it would look in a zine I was making.) #TemporaryPictures #Roman

A tall, curved inner wall, with two rows of enclosed brick walkways with windows overlooking the central area, and above a row of small windows.

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Monissa @islandhopping.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Isle of the Dead, at the former convict settlemet (place of secondary punishment) of Port Arhur, in the southeast corner of #Tasmania . Prisoners were buried in unmarked graves on the island, but free people (officials, military, their families ) have headstones. #Cemeteries #TemporaryPictures

An area of flat, dry ground. Near the front are some old-style upright headstone and two box tombs. Over the back are a ragged row of similar headstone, of harious heights. Behind them is a background of trees, mostly eucaltypts.

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Monissa @islandhopping.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Walking from the dark entrance tunnel into the sunlit, and slightly wet, amphitheatre at #Pompeii . #TemporaryPictures #Reflections #Roman

Two walls in shadow form a doorway. Looking through is a wall curved around an area of flat ground. Part of the wall has stone seats and part is grassed. Directly opposite is a small archway. On the ground is very large puddle, reflecting the stones and grass and the blue sky.

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Monissa @islandhopping.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Part of the Ring of Brodgar, #Orkney . It must have been raining. It was about to become a heavy rainstorm and gale. #StandingStones #Neolithic #LandscapePhotography #TemporaryPictures

A tall, wide but thin (think large slab) stone, covered with lichen. At the top it narrows to a point on the lft.
In the far background, is a similar stone, irregularly shaped. They sit on top of hill amongst short tufted grass, brown hummocks and lots of small bushes with tiny pink flowers.
The sky is light grey, covered with rain clouds, but there's enough sun for the stones to have shadows.

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Monissa @islandhopping.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

My Senet set (ancient Egyptian board game). As you might be able to tell from the background, it was a Christmas present. #OldGames

A flat rectangular box sitting on a table. The top surface is divided into 30 squares (3 x 10) of red and white. Little wooden figures fill one rovw. Around the sides are hieroglyphics. In front are five black rods.
On the table hehind the games are a Christmas-themed table runnner, two bowls of food and the lower part of various red and white (Santa) light-up decorations.

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Monissa @islandhopping.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Marien took him by the hand and led him away. She was maybe a third his size. But with just a few words, his belligerent attitude melted like ice in the sun. By the time she put her arms around his neck, he was just a puddle on the paving stones. #WIPsnips "defuse"

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Monissa @islandhopping.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Bressay, an island of Shetland (and homes to lots of seabirds) #TemporaryPictures #Shetland #Bressay #Seascape

Tall cliffs rising out of a blue, glassy sea. The sky is bright blue with big fluffy clouds.

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Monissa @islandhopping.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

View from Underhoull Broch, #Unst (the northernmost inhabited island of #Shetland and the UK). #TemporaryPictures #LandscapePhotography

An area of flat water surrounded by low, green hills. In the foregournd, the ground is sloped and uneven, with white stones places along a ditch and piled up. In the background is more water but it fades into mist.

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Reposted by Monissa

Where Is It? @theresthisphoto.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Any ideas? It's a photo printed as a postcard. On the back is note from Tom to Mater, wishing her a happy New Year from her daughter and son. 1911. Presumably #Australia

Small house with light walls, maybe weatherboard. A verandah around three sides with cast iron decoration at the top and wooden sides. Three tall chimneys. Iron roof. Maybe 1890s.
A tall paling fence out the front.
Two women stand on the verandah and a man near the fence. Two bicycles in front of the fence.
Two women stand

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Monissa @islandhopping.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Sort of a reserve filming locations. The police drama Shetland is, obviously, filmed in part in Shetland, including the largest town Lerwick. This beach, between buildings on the town's waterside, is one location that often appears. Now out on the water...

Big stone house, with lots of windows and chimneys sticking out into the sea. In front is a short stretch of brown beach.

A stretch of blue sea, with green hills in the background and a small stone building to the right. In front of the stone building, the water is yellow/brown (from the ground below) and has a small breaking wave because it's the other end of the beach in the other photo.
Out on the water is a small longboat, with a single mast and round masts along the side.

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Monissa @islandhopping.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

"What's wrong?" I asked. "Not wrong," Luke said. "You see out there, between the land and sky, it looks grey?" I nodded. "That's the sea." "Oh," I said, and tried to think of something more positive. From all I'd heard, I'd expected the sea to be much grander. #WIPsnips "grand"

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Monissa @islandhopping.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Another #Poldark filming location, the tin mines of #Botallack in Cornwall A thread #FilmingLocations #LandscapePhotography

A mining landscape, with land in shades of green and brown, broken up by stone walls, with a number of ruined mining buildings (three, but one is hidden behind anotehr) Tow stone buildings, with no roofs and empty windows. One has a thin tower attched to a corner. In the background are a clust of houses.

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Monissa @islandhopping.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

My mother loves #Poldark which means I get to listen to it a lot. One of the filming locations is Charlestown in Cornwall, which stands in for Truro and Falmouth. The lighting is a bit bleak. It was just a few hours from a heavy storm breaking. #FilmingLocations #Tallships

Looking over bushes at a old fashioned harbour. A stretch of water, with a tall wall on one side, and above this a street of box-shaped houses and cottages, with white or yellow with black roofs. On the other side of the harbour is a broad walkway , and behind this some old-style buildings. On the water are a number of small tall ships (sailing ships, without sails being in harbour). In the background is the grey sea.

From the sea, looking back into the harbour and its stone walls. Prominent in this photo is the row of houses along the street. All box-shapped, two storeys, with small triangular porches at the entrance, and a window either side, and another of windows on the upper level, and slate roofs.

Looking down at the harbour, with the masts and rigging of a sailing ship in the foreground.

At a old fashioned harbour, with stone walls and pier. On one side is tall wall and above this a street of box-shaped houses and cottages, with white or yellow with black roofs. On the other side of the harbour is a broad walkway , and behind this some old-style buildings. On the water are a number of small tall ships (sailing ships, without sails being in harbour). In the background is the grey sea.

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Monissa @islandhopping.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

A path from the village stony took us through a tall hedge, past garden beds stuffed full of colourful flowers, up to the door of a small domed church. "Our home church has a steeple," Marien said. "Luke says these are Divine Triad churches but how can there be just three gods?" #WIPsnips "divine"

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Monissa @islandhopping.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Monkshood. It took me a long time to find somewhere to buy these from. #TemporaryPictures #BloomScrolljng

A stem of blue/purple flowers, in the shape of hoods or upside down horns.

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Monissa @islandhopping.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

He soon returned, scowling for a reason that had nothing to do with me or nearby sailors. "That gut-sucking fool took my deposit then said he was going north and had no room anyway." "Gut-sucking?" Luke collapsed onto the bench. "Substitute your body part of choice." #WIPsnips "substitute"

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Monissa @islandhopping.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

I thought the catnip flowers were just small, white tubes. Turns out they're actually quite fancy. #TemporaryPictures #BloomScrolling #LookClosely #Herbs

A stem with soft triangular leaves at the base and the top if covered by tiny white flowers, some of which are open, some have died. Most of the picture is out of focus because camera changed to portrait mode.

Close up of the tiny white flowers shows they are actually pale pink with two rounded, fringed petals joined in the centre (like a spiky figure 8) and covered in tiny dark pink and purple sports.

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Monissa @islandhopping.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

CW: Spider Orb-weaver spider I think. I don't have an identificaton for it. #TemporaryPictures #SpidersOfTheFediverse

Small spider up close. Long body is patches of brown and cream. Long, skniny legs are bands of brown and cream, and covered in spiky black hairs.

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Monissa @islandhopping.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Stout columns at the mouth of each alcove held up the stone arches of the roof. The stone paving of the floor sunk in places and rose in others, so I had to watch my feet. It smelt of death and grief, the cold of the grave and the damp of endless tears. #WIPsnips "humid"

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Monissa @islandhopping.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

My "herb garden" last summer just before the big more. It's more of an apothecary's garden, and yes, there's a rose in there. Two. #TemporaryPictures #GardenPhotos #HerbGardens

A gathering of leafy plants in teracotta-coloured plastic posts.
Back row: white rose, wormwood, horseradish, mugwort, rue
Middle row: catmint, rose, southernwood, bay, lemon balm
Front: lavender & lemon verbena

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Monissa @islandhopping.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

My companion was nearly as tall as me, but half as wide. Built something like a stick but with less leaves, so my perfectly good, rarely worn linen tunic hung off him. #WIPsnips "quarter"

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Monissa @islandhopping.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

There were more fights, two or six or something. They all ran together. Until the time I walked into the arena and raised my sword, and the crowd didn't cheer. So that was it then. They'd had enough of me. #WIPsnips "stadium"

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