How to... Aussie style.

I have been living in Australia for close to 9 years, the longest of any of our overseas postings. I am tempted to stay for a whole lot longer! Part and parcel of living here is surviving fires, lockdowns, storms, venomous snakes, spider bites and of course shark attacks. Australian Geographic, to which I subscribe, had this article in their newsletter today and I sent the link to the family. Is that odd or just pure Aussie life to the extreme? 

Nothing like keeping us on our toes, or preserving them, at all times! 

https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/blogs/shark-blog/2021/09/how-to-survive-a-shark-encounter/ 

Meanwhile not everything is life threatening, though you would think so if you ever read Bill Bryson on Australia, so sharing with you some of the more sedate and definitely pleasurable moments of an Aussie neighbourhood. This walk in Paddington revealed some little treasures. Isn't this creeper amazing for all its knots and and skyward buds ? 

The contrasting colours of the blue fruit and leaves of the Quandong Tree 

I see you - do you see me? 

A park bench in amongst the birds of paradise - who would not want to sit there. 

Evidence of a happy meal possum land - expertly emptied out and the intact pawpaw dropped on some good looking leaves. 

These little orchids just appeared in the branch of trees. 

And finally today since we started in the ocean let's head back there. A nugget from my mate Rod - he introduced me to Ambergris. What whales bring up or poop for want of a better description, like birds expectorating the indigestible materials in pellets. Apparently it is one of the most sought after materials in the making of perfumes as this makes them last longer. Yes I know we talk about a whole lot of things at the Radio! Some Omani fishermen became very rich when they discovered a lump in 2016. The smelly lump was valued at a mere US$ 3million ! 

Happy Weekend everyone and keep a lookout for the Ambergris. Forget Lottto Tickets this is a much more pleasurable way to get rich quick looking for ambergris on your next beach walk.