Fearless Freddo

We had a visit over 2 nights by a fearless, but maybe a bit adventurous and simple minded, green tree frog. I first noticed him (or her) clinging precariously to the wall by the garage door. Freddo, or Frederica, looked a bit unsure of his fate. He seemed a bit loathe to move very much as I assumed that his grip on the rough finish on the wall was causing him a bit of consternation, to say the least. But just have a look at him barely hanging on the wall with his toes stretched to max to get the best grip.

I had my smoke then went back inside. When I came out again he was gone, But then I noticed him clinging a bit more securely on my plaque wall. Unfortunately I didn't have the camera with me, so I missed that photo op. He sort of looked around as if to say "Well, what a pickle I'm in now. How do I get down from here?" Then he just fell onto the top of the fridge and from there straight down to the floor and I lost sight of him then, so I suppose he may have sat for a while gathering himself after his misadventure before heading home.

A couple of days before this one, I was again going out for a smoke (I know!!! I should give them up!!!) and there was a much bigger specimen just sitting on the floor outside the door maybe looking at his own reflection in the glass. Could have a Narcissus complex?? Anyhow, as I said, he was a much bigger specimen. I reckoned he would have filled my whole hand if I picked him up, but I just left him there in peace and kept an eye on him. He slowly turned and then took one almighty big leap towards the air con unit. He must have got excited or something or just misjudged his leap, because the was a quite loud "BANG" as his head hit the unit. He just seemed to shake his head then flattened himself and crawled under the unit. He emerged a short time later and, to me, seemed a bit smug. Maybe he caught his dinner there?? But he just hopped away, although a bit unsteady at times, and disappeared into the night.

The night after our "Wall Freddo" did his bit he returned for another exploration of the walls. I didn't notice him at first as he was hanging above the door. He just caught my eye as he moved and only just made it to the thermometer hanging on the wall. (I did rush in and get the camera this time).

You can see he's at full stretch with only his hind legs fully secure on smooth surfaces. He hung there for a while, then maybe thought that he had better get a move on. There was a "splat" as he came down onto the tiled doorstep, then he slowly jumped towards the air con unit. (This seems to be a popular spot for frogs!!)

You may be able to just see him, but the tiled doorstep where he landed is visible. He just sat for a while, then ambled off to the lawn and eventually jumped off into the night through the herb garden. The last I saw of him was when he headed to the fence at the corner of the house, then he disappeared towards the neighbour's house.

So, there you have it. "Fearless Freddo" or "Adventurous Frederica", whichever it was, gave me a chance to forget the cares and woes of the world for a short time and added a bit of "photo op" to my usually mundane smokes time.
I hope he or she comes back again so I can get some more pics of this "Indiana Jones" type green tree frog.
p.s. I think that maybe Kay and my expertise with the "Mao Tse Tung" might be bringing the frog in for an easy meal of dead flies and there are also a lot of moths and other insects on the walls, so maybe that also would explain the presence of Freddo. Whatever it is that is bringing him back, I hope he keeps doing it.

IT'S DOWN !!!!

After well over12 months of little use, the bar-b-q pit has been removed. As it turned out, it was a very good move. The timber I bought in the first place to erect the pit was supposed to be rot and ant resistant. So, no ants but heaps of damp area fungus. With the rains we had just lately, I think the heat at the time gave the fungus a wonderful chance to get in and run amok!!!

The complete bar-b-q pit

The pit with the top opened for use of the gas ring.

I had a great helper when I was building it, my son Alex.  His help with the heavy stuff was invaluable and he also had some ideas that worked out far better than my original ideas. I am just glad that I took some photos just after we finished it. The top was an innovation that I had thought about for a while. It was not only to keep the rain out, but also hinged so that half of the top could be folded back to permit access to a gas ring for Kay to cook on. This happened after Alex moved to Portland in Victoria, so I can take credit for this idea. 

Its a shame that it had to come down,  but it turned out as a necessity.

I was talking to my wife Kay after it was demolished, and she told me that daughter Shasha had told her when she returned from Malaysia that Alex and I had done a great job building it and it looked good and was functional.  Kay had told Shasha that it wasn't really to her liking, but she would not say anything about it for the time being. I really appreciate the confidence Shasha had in Alex's and my ability as backyard builders and I know now that the ground it was on was not really the right place for it. But, stubborn old me!!!

I made a couple of errors (I don't usually admit my mistakes, but this is a first!!) while "de-constructing" the pit.
I did it over 2 days and should have had enough sense to take at least 5 days to do it, but. again, stubborn old me thought I was younger and could do it. Yesterday I stopped when my leg started to get sore and then did a bit more and then a bit more again, until I HAD to stop.
Today I just kept going until it was done. Now I am really paying for it. I started about 9:30 am this morning with the temperature touching 30 degrees and finished about 1:30 or 2:00 this afternoon in temperature of 35 degrees. Talk about sweat!!! I know, only horses sweat, but I certainly felt like old Dobbin by the time I finished. And the flies!!! I had them up my nose, in my mouth and ears and flying around every other part of my body, and I couldn't do anything about them, there were just so many. I suppose they were after the salt in my "sweat".

When I had taken the sides off, I started on the platform by removing the flooring. That's when I found the rot!!! There was some sign of it around the sides, but not more than what would be expected. I was astounded by the amount of fungus and the degree of rot in the bearers. Check out the photo above!! And they are just the bottom sides of the platform boards. Miserly old me only used fence palings (I always work on the cheap) and the amount of damage is negligible, unlike the so-called "treated" bearers. The fungus on the palings will easily come off with a bit of sun and a paint scraper with the minimum of damage.

Finally ...... The cleared plot. We will extend the herb garden and grow some more chillies, basil, chillies, garlic chives. chillies (Oh. Did I mention chillies!!!)

So, the deed is done and I should have listened to Kay earlier when she told me it wasn't the right thing. As it has turned out, if I had done it earlier I would have been able to salvage a lot more of the timber.
Thank you sweetheart. Next time I will listen!!!
I would urge anyone who reads this to please sign on as a "Follower". This will help me in deciding whether to continue or not as I am not getting much feedback from my posts. Thank You.

YEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Local News Today!!!
"Poppy has broken all Mao Tse Tung records by swatting over 185 flies in the one day!!!"
That's right ..... I counted about 187 flies that fell to my mighty swooping Mao Tse Tung fly swatter.
Now that the rain has gone and the wind has dropped, flies are coming from everywhere. At one stage this morning I counted somewhere between 20 and 25 flies on the outdoor furniture at the one time. I managed to send a dozen or so to the big dung heap in the sky, or wherever they go. And that was quite early because I started mowing the lawns around 0815. At that time this morning the temperature was just over 29 degrees and no wind, so it was a little bit warm.
I perspire (only horses sweat!!!) very freely and the flies had a great time annoying me while I was mowing the lawns. I also gave Kay her first lesson in mowing and of course she perspired too but the flies didn't seem to bother her that much.
When I finished I decided then to wreak my vengeance upon the fly population here. That's how I got so many!! The Mao Tse Tung fly swat was running hot several times.
With the edict of Mao for everyone to kill 20 flies every day, I think that I am now in credit until around 0900 on 10th February!!!!

Ten Days

Recently over a period of 10 days, we had the absolute pleasure of the company of Kay's niece and family from Perth, WA. I can honestly say that it was the most pleasant 10 days I have spent here in Queensland since my two sons went home to Tasmania.
Lisa's husband, Pian and I got on very well and we spent a lot of time outside having a cigarette and talking about so many things, but nothing in particular. Such things as gardening, hobbies, religion, family life, projects for the next few years and so much more.
Of course the family did the tourist thing, this being their first time to Queensland, and they visited the Gold Coast (Theme Parks), Sunshine Coast (Australia Zoo) and of course areas of Brisbane (D.F.O.!!!!!).
I believe that I was totally spoilt for a choice of food. Kay and Lisa cooked up a storm!!! And it was great to have a meal with all the family eating together. A rare occasion in this day and age. Pian and I also chipped in with our bit of cooking skills and Pian cooks a mighty mean grilled salmon. I even put on a couple of kilos while they were here.

Pian, Lisa, Nina, Aman, Kay and Poppy

 Of course Kay and Lisa had a lot to talk about, being so close. They both found comfortable chairs and got down to the business of discussing family and everything else you can imagine. I reckon that they could have gone on talking together for another few weeks and still not covered the same subject twice.
The kids are so very well behaved (from what I saw), but I reckon they can be a bit of a handful at times. Nina is 15 and is becoming a startlingly beautiful young woman. I reckon she will have broken a few hearts by the time she has finished Uni. And  Aman is totally surprising for his age of 12!! His has a baritone voice and already sports a moustache!! He has the metabolism of a thoroughbred!! It seems that no matter how much he tucks away at meal times, he just doesn't seem to put on weight. How envious do you think I am!!!??????

Unfortunately the weather wasn't totally kind while they were here. Hot and humid then drenching rain. Poor Pian ended up with a bit of a Summer cold (or maybe a bit of an allergy) and felt quite miserable over the last few days of the visit.

 

 

Kay and Poppy

It was a real hard thing to say goodbye when they left. It seemed that they were closer then niece and nephew-in-law and they were more like very close family. Maybe they will come back for another visit soon, or maybe even move to Queensland, seeing that they enjoyed the place so much!!!

A Merry Christmas

This morning Christmas past was brought to memory at a very early hour!!!
I think it started around 11 pm last night when the neighbours, who have 2 small children, were toiling away putting Christmas presents together. Unfortunately for me they were doing it just outside my bedroom window.

But this is Christmas and it started to bring back very pleasant memories of when my children were little and I toiled until all hours of Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning to get the kids' presents put together and presentable after coming home late from the work Christmas party. I think that the worst one was a tin plate kitchen set for my daughter. Complete with stove, bench, sink and other things that I don't remember now. The big problem was that the instructions to put the things together was in CHINESE!!! Great fun!!!

Then !!!!!!!! The kids next door woke up and wanted to see their presents arrayed in the back yard next door. Again, just outside my bedroom window. The hour was 4.45 am!!!!!!!!
Joy To The World and all that. At first I didn't go much on the noise as it took me a little while to realise what was going on, then, like a flash from the blue, I realised that it was CHRISTMAS MORNING!!!!
I laid there and listened to the whoops and cries of joy as they saw what their wonderful parents had toiled so hard to put together last night while the youngsters were sleeping.

I still didn't know what it was until I ventured out of my cosy bed, still half asleep, and looked out of my window. Lo and behold!!!! There stood a fully erected trampoline complete with netting sides and a netball/basketball ring free standing at the side of the house.
Those kids just didn't know what to play with first and I am pretty sure that they had other presents inside just waiting to be opened.
That was when the realisation hit me that living here in Queensland, we are so far away from family and I really started to miss the kids and grand kids. Memories started flooding back of Christmases past when my kids were small and still believed in Santa. The laughter and kisses and cuddles when they opened their presents was as if it only happened today.

Last Christmas wasn't as touching as today as there were no young children living next door.
I would dearly loved to have been able to just join in their joy with them for a couple of minutes, but that was pushing neighbourly friendship a bit too far as we have only just started to get to know them.But all in all, it made my Christmas seem just that little bit closer to home and all day I have been thinking about what my kids and grand kids were up to today.

Enjoy your Christmas and share the joy where ever you can.

The Wet Season

Looks like the "Wet Season" is finally here although it is a month late!!
Last month was the driest November for nearly 30 years with temperatures from 30 to 36 Celsius for days on end. There was no rain for 23 days. We finally had a decent rain on 23 and 24 November with 47 ml and 24 ml on those days. But it was still stinking hot.
December has set an all time record with the coldest December day on record in South East Queensland. Today the maximum was only 18 degrees in Ipswich, and it was bloody cold. I even got out my trackie daks and put some socks on.
I checked the rain gauge about 1730 (5:30 pm for those non-service people) and we have had nearly 60 ml since 0700 (7:00 am) this morning.
Hopefully the rain will ease off for a day or so to let what we have had do some good and then drop some more.
With the dry we have had over the last month, the ground is almost water resistant and it needs intermittent rain to wet the sub-soil or it will just run off down the drains.
But I suppose I can't complain. I have a 10,000 litre water tank full to over flowing and a good hose that reaches to the bottom of the garden for when its dry. The only things when its so dry is the ants and other insects that don't like me watering of an evening when they are settling down for the night ----- and they bite!!!

My Garden Loves Rain!!!!

At last, after 23 days of brilliant sunshine, we have finally had some rain!! I read our rain gauge every day at 7:00 am (but only when there has been rain) and I haven't had to venture to the gauge for the past 23 days. Yesterday, Thursday, the gauge read 47 ml, and today a further 24 ml which put a smile on my face.
No matter how diligent you are watering the garden in dry spells, nothing beats a good shower of rain. All of our vegetables and fruit trees, not to mention the flowers, have been showing distinct signs of heat stress even though they have been watered regularly. I planted out 60 odd chilli plants one evening and only 3 or 4 survived. So its back to the seed bed to grow some more. It is almost heart breaking to look down at the garden and see the beans, tomatoes and cucumbers bowing their heads in the heat. Then, miraculously, as the sun goes down, they spark up agin for the night to absorb what dew there may be in the air or drink in the water I provided for them.
But since the rain everything is starting to look like they really want to produce bumper crops. Maybe the dry made them push their roots further into the soil looking for moisture, but whatever it was, they are doing well now.

My wife Kay uses vegetables from our garden for all her cooking when they are available. Kay has started her own blog mainly about cooking and has included recipes for her delicious dishes. Some are in Malay, but most have English ingredients and methods. If you want to learn some luscious recipes go to:  umikal.blogspot.com/    If you find a recipe that you like but it is in Malay, leave a message for Kay in her "COMMENTS" on her site and I'm sure that she will arrange for a translation for you.
I thought I had better take some pics this morning just to show how things are surviving. Even our potted stuff, which we put out every time it rains, is growing well.

The turmeric (or tumeric) in a pot is doing exceptionally well and we also have a couple of more plants throughout the garden, which are also looking up. It is amazing how herbs manage the dry weather. They just keep on keeping on (apologies to the paint company!!!).

As I said before, the beans haven't been looking too flash in the heat but just look at them now!!! Complete with a huge grasshopper!!!!

Cucumbers and lettuce are really susceptible to dry weather and I have found it hard to get them to climb. They just seem to want to lie there and wait, no matter how many times I helped them to climb. The lettuce is doing OK though.

Bananas

Dragon Fruit

Lemon Tree

Tangelo

Mango

The fruit trees have not shown a great deal of stress, although the bananas have a lot more dead leaves than normal, but they are all growing well and hopefully will produce fruit this season. One lot that has really survived is the strawberry patch. They are covered in flower and are producing large, sweet fruit right now.
A couple of things I must do at the end of the season:
1. Give the passion fruit a haircut.
2. Replant  strawberry suckers.

Peanuts and Corn

Hopefully that will ensure another good crop next year.
One good thing about the dry weather is that it helps to cut down on the numbers of snails trying to eat my veges!!!!!