Injuries and animals

We've had an influx of animal invasions recently. The little green things have decided that they like our house, specifically the inside of it. The Other Half has a couple of times in the recent past got up in the middle of the night to find a frog sitting on the floor or, on one occasion, on the lightswitch for the bathroom. I had my brush with one this morning when I tried to take a shower. Cute isn't he? They've also decided that our kitchen window is a great place to sit and catch insects. A couple of minutes after I caught this fellow, another one joined him. At least this time they weren't inside... ...which is actully more than can be said for the little bugger in this picture. To be honest, I've never seen a stick insect in the wild so was quite excited. Once I got over the suprise I had when I moved the kettle from infront of it. We had lime ants decide that they also want to be inside the bathroom today (they're about 1cm long, green body and they bite. 'Nuff said) However, the invasions of the little green monsters is a doddle to deal with compared to the other thing that I've managed to do recently. I have had to add this nifty fashion accessory to my wardrobe in the last couple of days. Great isn't it. I'm not allowed to get my hair wet for a WEEK. Yup, no water, no washing, I'm going to be such a skank by the time next monday rolls around. I suppose it is my fault though, I mean, nobody forced me to stick my head in a spinning ceiling fan. All I can say is, if you ever get the opportunity to do so - DON'T. It bloody well hurts. I'm just hoping that the hair has grown back properly by the time I have to be a bridesmaid...

It's raining, it's pouring...

It's amazing! As I sit here merrily typing away I'm watching the first actual proper rain (rather than a 2 minute shower that doesn't even make the ground damp) to fall in months. I'm sure it won't last, it never does here in Bowen, but at least it means I don't have to wash the car! Unfortunately I'm not sure that the Other Half will be quite as joyous as he was trying to work in the garden today. Hey ho. The reason he was trying to work in our garden today was a matter of some urgency so he'll probably still be plugging away out there attempting to put up some hastily purchased shade cloth around our veggies. I can't remember whether I've mentioned our veggie garden recently but it's doing very well, we've had several bunches of silverbeet (sort of like spinach) survive and generally thrive despite it being the wrong time of year to grow them, our tomato plants are looking spiffing with the best being about a foot high already, and a couple of our bean plants are starting to climb up the wire of the chicken pen. I've planted some peas (for the record cooked peas = little green balls of evil, fresh garden peas from the pod not cooked = delicious) and am waiting with baited breath for them to show their little heads above the soil. My basil is shooting up and my coriander, after a very shaky start, is actually surviving and getting stronger so it's all going well. That was, at least, until we realised that we have 'roos in the back yard. All those of you who do not reside out in the bush here in this hot, dry, country who are at this very minute going 'Oooh, kangaroos! How exciting! How very Australian. How wonderful' I say to you this - yes, that was my immediate thought, followed straight on by 'Oh bugger, the bastards are going to eat all our veggies because they are green in a country that is, at the moment, in the middle of a drought and predominantly brown'* Add to that the possums and the rabbits and we really have a problem. So, shade cloth. 3 feet high around the veggie patch and a lot of crossed fingers and we may get away with it! *There may have been a few more swear words thrown in there but I've edited it for polite company

Various things

This is going to be a very animal orientated post as you can probably tell by the pictures. Firstly, that's my fish! I caught it and brought it in and blimey did it put up a fight! Anyway, I'm very proud of it and maybe one day I'll catch another... Secondly, that is a taipan. It's one of the most deadliest snakes in the world and that is the post under our kitchen door that it is climbing up. Cue me hiding with my feet off the floor whilst the Other Half stomps around with a shovel looking for it. We've had couple of alarms from the tree frogs that it's still around but so far no other sightings. I don't like snakes. Anyway, I had a lovely birthday, with a great cake (although I had to try not to laugh at the amount of swearing coming from the kitchen and I've had to promise to pick an easier cake to make next year...) and a very loving boyfriend so that's all good. Finally, this is probably my last post before Christmas so I hope that you all have a good one, wherever you may be, and I'll be thinking of you whilst having my proper Aussie barbie on Christmas day (although I'm not sure whether there will be shrimps or not...) xxx