Today was funny because for the first time in a long time, I had a deep and strong sense of belonging and feeling like I am home. I lived outside of Tasmania for 7 years and after nearly 2 years after moving back I feel nostalgic for living in the big smoke, but also finally feel a sense that this is my home once again.

It's hard to describe and quite difficult to convey in words. I think what may make more sense is to describe it in terms of "The Mountain". All people who live in the southern part of Tasmania refer to Mount Wellington as "The Mountain". When it's cold people will note that there's snow on the mountain, and when it's unseasonably warm, they will also note that "it's funny how much snow is left on the mountain considering how warm it's been". Basically it's like a giant primitive weather station. If there's snow on the mountain, it's cold or it's been cold recently. That's a uniquely Tasmanian way of looking at things, but there you go.

But more than that, the mountain (using the lower case version now as it feels funny to refer to it in upper case) leaves a strong impression as it's always there. I think some people find it vaguely oppressive, but I have always loved the mountain and like a lot of people find that it's the biggest and most potent symbol of home that I can imagine. My girlfriend's family have always been in the same spot, so for her it's her parents house, but because my family moved around a fair bit, I didn't really have a house that's always been there to come back to. In that way the mountain fills that role.

So today while waiting for my dinner to be cooked at a nearby italian restaurant I took this photo near my house and felt like I was home. Even if home is close enough to the mountain to know it's there. That's all.