Ruth Dawkins

@dorkymum

Freelance writer & blogger • Science, environment, travel, books, family, islands • Green, socialist, feminist • Trans rights are human rights • Free Palestine • She/her • Lutruwita/Tasmania via Scotland • #MDANT • dorkymum.com • ruthdawkins.net

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Ruth Dawkins@dorkymum· Jul 6

Last ones ❤️📖

Photo shows the MONA library, and is taken from a balcony on the first floor looking down on the green carpet of the ground level.

Photo shows a sculpture hanging from the ceiling of the MONA library

Photo shows the spiral staircase within the MONA library.

Photo shows one of the reading rooms at the MONA library, where a sofa and several comfortable looking, brightly coloured chairs are arranged on a colourful carpet.

Ruth Dawkins@dorkymum· Jul 6

Few more ❤️📖

Photo shows the tunnel at MONA that leads to the library

Photo shows the mirrored roof of the children’s area at the MONA library

Photo shows the interior of the MONA library with shelves down either side; a green, white and black striped carpet; and large circular seats down the centre of the room.

Photo shows a book with a colourful illustration held open on a stand, along with a sign that says Do Not Touch

Ruth Dawkins@dorkymum· Jul 6

Went to MONA to check out Phrontisterion, David Walsh’s new library. Pretty cool!

Photo shows a man standing in front of a mural of green books on shelves

Photo shows the children’s area at the MONA library which is designed to look like a cave with layers of visible stone

Photos shows a large sculpture made of paper in front of some brightly coloured book shelves.

Photo shows a circular rotating book shelf mounted on a wall

Ruth Dawkins@dorkymum· Jun 26

Spotted these humans and doggos living their best lives in a patch of sunlight earlier ❤️

Photo shows a white building with several windows that have yellow frames and a yellow door. Two women are sitting on a bench talking to each other and beside there are two dogs lying in comfortable looking dog beds.

Ruth Dawkins@dorkymum· Jun 3

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…

Photo shows a white box labelled ‘Tasmanian fresh feijoas’

Ruth Dawkins@dorkymum· May 24

My actual view as I try and do a home workout…

Photo is taken from the perspective of someone lying on their floor. A ceiling light and aircon are visible above, but more prominent is the brown nose and chin of a dog standing very close, directly above the person taking the photo.

Ruth Dawkins@dorkymum· May 13

Oh no.

Photo shows a screenshot of a post from the ‘Scotland Travel Group’ on Facebook that reads as follows:” I am going to Scotland With my two daughter's & grandkids, I wanted to know if anybody could tell me how many castles are there in Scotland I want to see every one of them. Also, should i bring a stroller for my four year old boy?” I have blacked out the poster’s name for privacy reasons.

Ruth Dawkins@dorkymum· May 10

Pulling up the bins at 6.45 this morning. Happy new week everyone.

Photo shows a yellow and purple sunrise behind the silhouettes of some tall trees.

Ruth Dawkins@dorkymum· Apr 14

Had a coffee at the waterfront this morning. How lucky are we to live in this spectacular city? ❤️🙏🏻

Photo shows a view of Hobart, including kunanyi Mount Wellington, taken from the waterfront. It is a sunny day with a big blue sky.

Ruth Dawkins@dorkymum· Apr 7

I’ve got some little guys who would feel right at home there…

Photo shows a line up of old Lego mini figures from the 80s and 90s including three spacemen.

Ruth Dawkins@dorkymum· Apr 4

@tasvo.bsky.social it is apparently time for our annual avocado conversation 😂🥑

Photo shows a screenshot from the Betoota Advocate with the headline ‘Urghhhhh It’s Shepard Avocado Season Again’

Ruth Dawkins@dorkymum· Apr 2

This one has got to be up there. Funny because it’s so on the nose; also devastating for so many reasons.

Photo shows a screenshot from Twitter. @lexialex: How am I going to explain Shaun King to all the Palestinians who are retweeting him right now. Sigh.

@itranslate123 (Refaat in Gaza): do you mean Talcum X?

Ruth Dawkins@dorkymum· Mar 26

Spectacularly appropriate lighting for Brendan Colley’s delightful book launch tonight ❤️📖🛸

Photo shows the top of a novel ‘The Season for Flying Saucers’ by Brendan Colley with a bright circular ceiling light above.

Ruth Dawkins@dorkymum· Mar 23

Photo shows a horrified looking Barbie doll

Ruth Dawkins@dorkymum· Mar 11

The dog had not one, not two, but THREE rainy walks today and she is never going to forgive me.

Photo shows a disgusted and judgemental looking brown spoodle glowering out from under a cream coloured blanket.

Ruth Dawkins@dorkymum· Mar 9

Was reminded of this very recently, reading Kiese Laymon’s book.

"Mama," I say over the phone. "I gotta go, but I hear you." I hang in the grainy silence, hoping that Mama will change the subject to Serena Williams or my insomnia or her recent surgery.
I'm hoping Mama will tell me that God won't give us anything we can't handle or some other bloated cliché.
Instead, Mama eventually sighs and says again, "Kie, people who never learned to lose will do anything to see us not win. When they lose to Obama, they'll figure out a way to win anyway. It's just too much."
"You way too cynical, Mama," I tell her. "We got this."
"I love you, Kie," she says. "Stay safe, and pray for Michelle, Barack, and those kids."
"Mama, I thought you were saying that we should pray for us."
"It's just too much," Mama says. "This has nothing to do with politics, or public policy. Goodnight, Kie."
Mama hangs up the phone and I pull the RBG T4 T-shirt out of my closest and put it next to my red Pumas, an army-green sweatshirt, and some baggy black shorts I'll wear early tomorrow morning when I go to vote.
I'm playing it off, imagining the celebrations that will follow the election of our first black President. But not even deep down, though, I know Mama is right.
We know Mama is right.
Obama will win. We will win. Then we will continue to lose.
And the right questions will never be honestly asked or answered.
And it's all just too much.

Ruth Dawkins@dorkymum· Mar 3

Morning.

Photo shows a pretty silver and pinky-orange sunrise, with trees silhouetted in the foreground

Ruth Dawkins@dorkymum· Mar 1

Ruth Dawkins@dorkymum· Feb 22

Really hoping everyone is okay after this incident, which is clearly significant. I’ve lost count of the number of emergency services vehicles heading down Sandy Bay Rd.

Screenshot from Facebook reads as follows: Tasmania Police •
Police, including the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, are currently responding to reports of a boating incident on the River Derwent.
At this stage, it appears a large gust of wind has caused a number of boats to overturn.
More information will be provided when available.

Ruth Dawkins@dorkymum· Feb 13

I got a toastie maker for Christmas (or a jaffle maker as you lot insist on calling them) and it has vastly improved my WFH lunches. Returning to an old student fave today of cream cheese and marmite…

Photo shows two slices of bread on a cutting board, one covered in cream cheese and the other in marmite. The containers for these are visible behind, and in the background a toastie maker is warming up.

Ruth Dawkins@dorkymum· Jan 7

We had a very good cloud day followed by a very good sunset.

Photo shows striking white clouds across a bright blue sky, above a grassy sports oval.

Photo shows a dramatic orange sunset taken from a residential road.

Ruth Dawkins@dorkymum· Jan 1

The hoppin’ John has been consumed. Let’s see what this year is made of…

On the left is a large pan full of black eyed beans, ham hock, green capsicum, bay leaf, celery and onion. On the right is a partially visible saucepan of rice cooking.

Ruth Dawkins@dorkymum· Dec 26

Petition to rename Boxing Day to Hot Cross Buns Appear in the Grocery Store Day.

Photo shows a supermarket display of brioche fruit hot cross buns.

Ruth Dawkins@dorkymum· Dec 25

Three bonus pics ❤️🎄

Photo shows my son, with his back to me, wearing a Scotland football top with Shankland written on it

Photo shows a rainbow against a blue sky with trees on the foreground

Illustration by Tirol Valerie shows a red heart that reads Merry Resistance and a white dove that reads And a Liberated New Year

Ruth Dawkins@dorkymum· Dec 25

Christmas in four pics. Hope everyone has had a good one.

Photo shows my hand holding a Cadbury’s Marshmallow Santa

Photo shows my hand holding a can of non alcoholic Guinness.

Photo shows a cherry pie - cooked by Creole chef Honey Child - with a pretty star pattern of pastry on top

Photo shows a stack of seven books against a black background.

Ruth Dawkins@dorkymum· Dec 21

For the record, this was last year’s pic (this is a nice thing her groomer does.) This girl has seen some shit 😭

Photo shows a happy looking brown and white dog with her tongue hanging out, posing on a white chair in front of a Christmas tree.

Ruth Dawkins@dorkymum· Dec 21

Merry Christmas from my dog, who looks to be as much over 2025 as the rest of us.

Photo shows a brown and white spoodle with a Christmas themed bandana around her neck, Christmas lights in the background, and a very serious expression on her face.

Ruth Dawkins@dorkymum· Dec 10

Anyone in Tasmania have a cool, fun family ritual they would like to share with me for a thing I’m writing?

Hey friends
I'm currently writing a story for the autumn edition of RACT magazine about
Tasmanian family rituals - a vignette driven feature about local families with kids (from babies right through to teens) and the rituals that keep them grounded.
They don't have to be autumn specific. It could be a local walk you do regularly, a favourite end-of-term restaurant, a cafe you go to after sporting events, a coastal shack you go back to year after year, a good beach for letting the dog run around off lead...

It could also be a recipe you make every year, handed down from Grandma. A neighbourhood clean up you take part in.
A camping spot you love...
Anything that is special and specific for you - but that also might be relatable for others.
Who has something good for me they'd be willing to share?

Ruth Dawkins@dorkymum· Dec 3

If anyone is keen to chip in here, drop me a message ❤️🙏🏻

Hey lovely folk. I think I've mentioned a couple of times on here that there are two Palestinian families in Cairo who I support a little bit with monthly living costs like rent and groceries.
It's a drop in the ocean compared to what's actually needed, but $50-$100 goes a long way in Egypt.
Just reaching out to see if anyone is keen to contribute a small amount to this month's support. I will be helping out regardless but between chasing a heap of late invoices and closing down my book selling, it's a little bit more of a scrabble than usual
Can provide bank deets (UK/Aus/US/NZ). or PayPal to anyone keen to throw in a few dollars, and happy to share more details of the families privately

Ruth Dawkins@dorkymum· Dec 3

Dean Harriss compared going for the stadium to JFK putting a man on the moon and it’s the first time I’ve laughed all day. #politas