I am writing this from my father-in-law’s study. I am listening to some parrots squawking. The setting sun is turning the blue sky pink, and golden light reflects on the gum trees in the neighbouring yard. Some pink oleanders are flowering and I am thinking: “This is rather pleasant. I might stay.”

Adelaide. How I have missed thee. Having not been here for a year, I am enjoying all the things I have missed, and I am ignoring all the things with which I was tired and bored. The weather has been similar to Tasmania’s, which is annoying because I would have liked warmer weather. The sun is higher in the less oppressive sky. I like it here. I already know where we would move to if we ever moved back. But anyway…

Plastic bags. Apparently South Australia is now plastic bag free. I see this as a good step in the right direction, but I think the state has got a bit confused. I thought that “plastic bag free” might mean any or all of the following: no plastic bags at the check-outs; no plastic bags at the fruit and veg sections at shops; no sale of plastic bags at the shops; and no unnecessary plastic packaging in delis or anywhere. It seems that I must be crazy because all the above options are available.

South Australia is *not* plastic bag free. There are millions of the things available everywhere you go; you just have to pay for them. I think this is a good move, as when I was working with some students on NAPLAN preparation, we read an article that said if you make people go out of their comfort zone by paying for plastic bags, they are more likely to change their erroneous ways. However, I think that maybe there’s a profit involved in the sale of placcy bags. Or maybe I am a cynic.