One cannot change what has happened and in hindsight all is clear, but not realistic or favourable as it does not cover our day-to-day lives, issues or some choices we make in an instant.

Imagine if we had a little voice like a very intelligent alien on our shoulders telling us as we make weird and odd choices. Hey, don’t do that?

That is too easy, and it never happens, so don’t waste your precious time in pondering.

The new year has begun, embrace your life and enjoy the process.

This world is not an easy place, but it is beautiful and it is kind. It attempts to supply us with air, water and a place to lay our heads. How you in your world deal with it, is your personal victory.

Take care of yourself and each other. Happy New Year 2018. May it be all you need.

HERE’S one for our political parties at the next state election.

Whoever is the first party to state that it will extend the legacy feed in rate for solar grid power past 2018 will stand to gain between 10 to 12,000  votes.

Even if it is for pensioners only, it could be the difference between a majority or minority parliament. If no party comes out in favour of the legacy rate.

THE works being carried out to protect the low-lying parts of Newstead is to be commended, however we must be mindful of Alan Birchmore’s comments to the Public Accounts Committee in 2016.

I quote: “That flood could happen again at any time, and indeed many forecasters are predicting greater frequency and stronger natural occurrences.”

There is no room for complacency, and the events in June were a stern reminder to us all.

An early question about was Launceston in the best shape for a major flood was answered by Mr Birchmore.

Sediment levels in the Tamar upper reaches were at dangerously high levels.It is sobering to remember that the 1929 monster hit Launceston with a 4000 cubic flow. It killed 22 people.

Mr Birchmore further states: “I will ask Andrew Fullard to demonstrate the sediment levels and what can be done and what is being done at the moment.”

Launceston for years was protected by the the then-Marine Board, which did dredging with its two dredges land was reclaimed such as the current Launceston Church Grammar sports ovals.

Raking was only done at peak flood periods and in the 1960s floods raking got down to gravel in the Yacht Basin.

With the upcoming election onus must be put back onto the government of the day, they own the river and should be providing dredges.

Geoffrey Smedley (The Examiner, December 21) has previously stated the problems with existing inferior raking due to the Newnham Bar and is correct.

The proposal for a barrage as out lined by Robin Frith is to be commended and the need for industrial water conservation.

I can recall when the  Launceston Chamber of Commerce forced the-then Labor Government to build the “ Batman Bridge “ linking both sides of the Tamar Valley.

Surely it is not beyond the realms of possibility to build in the upper reaches a bridge to connect  Riverside and Legana to Invermay.

Premier Hodgman, the government soon found the funds to build a second bridge in Hobart at Dowsing Point after the collapse of the Tasman Bridge. Why not the North?

OH MY God, one week after celebrating the birth of Jesus and already bakeries have him on the cross.

IS THIS a sign that nothing matters any more, that standards have fallen, and that no one cares.

A card posted in Chester, England at 5.17pm on December 11, 2017 arrived at Longford on January 3, 2018.

Suggestion: Post very early for Christmas the mail goes by sailing ship at the cost of one pound 40 pence.

YOUR correspondent Jack Sonnermann states that "the data shows a windmill [sic] could spin until it falls apart and never generate the amount of power as was invested in building it."

This statement is incorrect.

Given that the embodied energy of steel is 20.1MJ/kg, and a typical Australian wind turbine operates at 35 per cent capacity, then solving the simple physics equation time equals

Work divided by power will give you the time required to generate the energy invested in building it.

Using Mr Sonnermann's example of a 2MW turbine containing 260 tonnes of steel, I have calculated the time to equal this embodied energy is just the first 85 days of a 20-year turbine life.

SERIOUSLY, can’t Sam McQuestin and the Tasmanian Liberal Party come up with something better than the ridiculous fear-mongering high rotation TV advertisement?

Is that the sum total of their argument for re-election?

If so, I hope all Tasmanians see it for what it is –  desperate bullying, bereft of constructive ideas for Tasmania’s future.

LET the blame game begin.