Rush Around

Ha Ha! - make your own !

Life has been very full lately - a trip away with work for fire networking/training...weeding with volunteers on weekends....roadworks (me on a roller for a day) ..... and burning the bush (hazard reduction burning that is).

It's all been work stuff but this weekend I've been cooling my heels at home and relaxing reading the Sydney Morning Herald and catching up on domestic chores (bliss!).

The fire went well in some places and in others was pretty doughy - due to high fuel moisture.

A weird green beetle (looked a bit like a big slater) saved from the fire that flashed its red hinged bum at me when I picked it up and put it on the bonnet of the Landcruiser. I'll identify it on Monday at work with a little help from the Australian Museum.

Me cutting a tree off the trail!

Mind numbing work (for me at least)! I now have a new found appreciation for professional roller drivers!

Cockatoo Capers

At Hamilton Island - in the Whitsunday Group of islands off Queensland - the sulphur crested cockatoos are wicked thieves. They warn you at the hotel reception to leave your glass sliding doors closed in your room or apartment because they break in through the screen doors and steal food.

While we were there the room above us was being ransacked with the cockies sitting out on the verandah railing above us eating the loot. They had a box of breakfast cereal and were shredding it.

Elsewhere friends of our reported them breaking into their room through louvred windows and eating very expensive gluten free bread and leaving the white bread. Evidence of them trailed through the apartment across the lounges and beds!

At the open air restaurants you can't afford to turn your back from your food for a moment...they're very cheeky and not at all afraid of people.

Amazing to see up so close though!

This is the Life!

I've just returned from a "forced holiday" to Hamilton Island where our very good friends kindly decided to have their wedding....

It was amazing...snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef.... relaxing on palm fringed beaches....eating , drinking and being merry...tropical sunsets. All very idyllic but sadly over now (the Visa card completely exhausted).