Bush Birthday Picnic

She's more articulate than I am lately

Here our trusty Land Rover Discovery powers her way up a punishing 4WD trail somewhere in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales. You can not only see some good wheel articulation, but you can also just glimpse the new front diff guard* underneath. (Its the bit thats still shiny.) Later in the day our new rear diff guard* paid for itself by taking a nice hit during a water crossing - but no pics of that this time.

Anyhow, here is a shot from the top for you to enjoy.


* diff guards
Metal housing designed to protect your differential**

** differential
(disclaimer: this is a nutshell explanation - do not write and complain)
A vehicle's wheels do not always rotate at the same speed (like when going around corners) Your differential compensates for that, preventing one wheel spinning while the other drags.

So obviously, 'cracking a diff' leaves you S.O.L.***

*** S.O.L.
S**t out of luck.

Just a picture today

Touring Canopy

The Touring Canopy mounts to our roof cage, and sets up in a flash. Shade is essential here in Australia.

It makes stopping for a cuppa a very civilized affair.

Somewhere in the Blue Mountains

I do not remember exactly where this was taken - but we did a little rock climbing and sat and enjoyed the view a while.

Im still not up to regular blogging, but do feel the urge more often. Lets see how it goes, Ciao for now!

Young Xanthorrhoeas in bloom

Lucky me! Usually when we see grass trees (Xanthorrhoea) we are speeding by, and cant stop for a shot, But on this day, I got to take my time with this nice specimen.




This last shot shows that the plant deploys its blossom in a sort of spiral, one row is open now, and indeed, there were a few bees working them despite it being a very cold and grey day. But you can also see a second spiral of flowers still in bud. Now thats one smart plant to spread its resources out over a period of time, as opposed to all at once. After all, what if you bloomed when there were no pollinators out and about? You'd be stuffed, Mate!

(I need my eyes examined again, I could swear this was a crisp shot when I took it. Harumph!)

These next shots I took in Perth, 2005. First, a mature specimen shows you why they are called 'grass tree'.



And here is a cross section of ones trunk, it had been blown off in a storm.



We had one of these once, in a pot. It lived very happily, untill we bought the house and sunk it into the garden. Was dead in a week! LOL

Misc. Mysteries

Sculpted by the Sea and her Winds, Snapper Point

At the end of the road...

Kick it to me!!!

The last of the seagull shots, for this location anyhow.
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Im just going to ramble it off and push the publish button - if I try to 'compose' I will just be here all night:

In regards to my mental health, its been definately different. Had a dose adjustment last friday (up a bit) and if this week is anything to go by, it could go up just a smidge more. Seeing the GP for a follow up on this friday. Now, at last, they have approved me to see a psychiatrist, (as opposed to a psychologist). His first available appointment is in September, HA!! HA!!

But on the bright side, well, fingers crossed...through a series of events I managed to get myself on another surgeons list (same one that did my breast lump) for the carpal tunnel/wrist surgery, and Lo and Behold, if it isnt postponed again, I will have my right hand done on August 18th - Woo F-ing Hoo!

After that I can go on the list for my left, which is very nearly as bad as the right - but they insist on doing your dominant hand first. The Most DH has arranged to take that whole first week off, and I have been saving bread bags to waterproof my paw when I want to shower. I tell you all this because I know how much you want more excruciating details.

So Ive been practicing doing things southpaw style, to reduce frustration later. Also, many things have to be done around here before the surgery, so if Im missing in action here, Im probably pruning roses; or if around the 18th, I may be enjoying playing the invalid - for so long as I can get away with it.

Seabird Rugby is my fave sport

Lunch, and a show

After picking up and attaching the new roof cage, we set off for a leisurely tour back toward home. Nothing of any real interest happened untill we arrived in Lake Macquarie, at about lunchtime. We found the main street and set about observing which eateries the locals were visiting; which by the way, is my #1 travel tip. If the locals arent eating/drinking there, then give it a miss.

The winner for lunch was the Parkview Takeaway, the crumbed snapper was divine! (Here follows the obligatory meal shot, a first for this blog.)



We scouted about for a place near the lake where we could set down and enjoy the view with our steaming comestibles. The weather was gorgeously clear, but terribly cold, so we opted to stay in the car.

Which turned out to be a very good decision.



More next time, Ciao!

"a more authentic appearance" LOL

I took this shot for The Most DH, I think the artsy angle of the shot will make him laugh. He has been doing alot of work fitting out our Disco for future tours. He took the back passenger seats out, and filled the whole back with a sort of low set of drawers he made. In those drawers will live all and sundry recovery gear and perhaps just as importantly, the Tea and Coffee Making Facilities.

In this shot, you can see the exterior accoutrements we have recently added, via ebay. She had an alloy nudge bar on her nose originally, but we think the full steel bullbar and matching side rails are much sexier. And although a brand new one would have been nice ($1300+), a used one has a more authentic appearance ($600+/-) for our old girl.

Sometime in the last few weeks we won the auction for the roof cage. The seller was only three or so hours down (?) the coast, so we planned a day trip to go pick it up. The next few posts will feature pictorial highlights from that day.*

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* That is...if I can remember that.

The last two or three days on this new med have had some promising signs. Although concentration is seriously imparied, which is why Im quitting here for today, Its been an hour an a half since I began this post! (((LOL???)))

Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Calyptorhynchus funereus

Most of the group did fly off, suspicious of my intentions. But this one was content to enjoy its pinecone munchie for a few minutes more, before following its mates calls deeper into the wood.





After it flew off, The Most DH let the Rover roll downhill to pick me up. Excited from my encounter, and grateful for being so well loved, the rest of the day was spent happily exploring muddy tracks that didnt appear on our GPS.

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Sometimes groups of these fly over our house, I always run out to see them whenever I hear their call.

For more information please see:

Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoo at the Australian Museum Online
Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoo at Wikipedia
Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoo at Birds in Backyards

A friend in deed

So, depression, eh? One of the more insidious aspects of it is; everything you enjoy doing goes bye-bye. You find everything to seem to be more effort than it can possibly be worth. Its all far too hard. Better to just sit, stare and ruminate on what was, or might have been, if one wasnt such an abject Loser.

A few weeks ago I foolishly made a casual comment in the direction of The Most DH about realizing I hadnt had the camera out in an Ent's age. Then, about an hour later, I found myself being escorted out the door and into our Rover, already packed with all the camera gear, and a modest selection of snack foods.

And what was my reaction? I was genuinely miffed. I complained that the day was too rainy for any good shots and proceeded to sulk for 110 kilometres.

Undaunted, The Most DH drove us off road into a state forest, and after sighting a group of yellow tailed black cockatoos, pointed them out to me, and parked.

Well I couldnt see them from where I was sitting, and confidently predicted that IF I was to rouse the slightest bit of interest, they would surely take off before I could raise the lens.

The Most DH opened a couple cans of fizzy drink for us and munched some cheezy crackers. Between bites he gave me a narrative on the birds activities and locations.

He kept it up for twenty minutes. Twenty minutes he had to work at me untill I could no longer resist the temptation to just slip out into the forest, have a bit of a stalk, and maybe, just maybe the universe might give me a little win to build some new confidence on.

Maybe...

Galah - Cacatua roseicapilla

Australians pronounce it "Gah-LAR".
Keep in mind, they also call me "Laven-DAH".
I dont know why - Australian is my second language!


These guys do not visit our garden, but they travel in BIG packs - so thats OK!

Last day for this trip - see you back home tommorrow!
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More info:

Galahs at Wiki
Galahs at Birds in Backyards

Off with 'Roo!

Hello, you beautiful creature! How are you today?


What? No, wait! Aw, Please?


Yeah, well, alright then. Guess its cooler in the shade. See ya later, Shiela!

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Shiela = Chick, Bird, Lassie, Squaw, Dame, Spinster, Maid, Lady, Hen, Sow, Mare, Frau, Señora, and et aliae.

Tight-lipped Eastern Blue Tongued Lizard

There was dappled shade on the road ahead, and among the shadows lay an inconsistent shape. We slowed down to scan more carefully, and sure enough, one of the 'shadows' was actually a lizard basking in the heat from the road.



This one has had a run in with something, maybe one of the areas many falling rocks, or perhaps someone has had a go at trying to eat him! Either way, his wound has knit together very nicely. Check out those claws! He will surely need those to help him climb in the terrain around here.



Silly me, I had hopped out of the Rover with only the 'Long Nose' on the camera, so I actually was unable to get a shot of him in his entirety.


Being perfectly comfortable as he was, he was not concerned with my walking right up to him. Indeed, he probably would have stayed put even if Id gone back to the car for the shorter lens.

But..."Safety First", I had best get us both off this road before some hoon comes along and kills us all. I looked back at the Rover for a sign from The Most DH, who obliged me by calling out "Stroke his tail, and he'll shift."



And indeed, he did. Now you can see how his pattern helps him blend into his surroundings. Sorry he would not show his lovely bright blue tongue for us, they are shockingly blue!

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Eastern Blue Tongued Lizard (or Skink) at Wiki
Blue Tongue Skinks.net

I miss the one who lived in the garden, I am over-run with snails since it left!

for the 3rd

More views from our drive of the Wombeyan Caves Road.

Warning! Tommorrow there will be pictures of a lizard,
so if you dislike reptiles, please skip me for the day.

See you then, or thereafter!