Hello World

 Maybe I should not be giving these guys a plug because we have not been anywhere yet. We did go and pickup some documents including various tickets and vouchers for travel and accommodation. So far so good.  There is a service for the older brigade where the airlines will get someone to meet us and walk us through the Euro entry gauntlet which these guys have arranged at the last minute.  We are also anticipating more use of technology compared to seven yar ago when we were last on the go.  Already we have replaced the old ear muff type of noise cancellation with a paired bluetooth transmitter and ear buds. There seems to be an app for every place on the itinerary.  My phone is going to get heavier.  I used to code in Fortran and you often start out with a Hello World.

Beach Walk No 891

It seems a long time since I have done the sand comber and beach roamer. One thing and another with too many distractions going on. As it turns out it is a reasonably clean beach here. I got a half a bag of small papers and plastics but no bottles or cans.  The weather makes a difference to the washup with the absence of any big blows lately. I stopped for a short tug of war with a couple of plants that are getting to close to the rock nook. We don't want them taking over in that spot. It is always a bit nervy when dogs spot you and come charging full pelt. So far they do an inspection and then go back to their owners. 

city view

BotanicaH

 It seems more was packed into this weekend than the entire Darwin week.  The hospital visit was originally unintended however a Friday meetup was organised for a detailed examination by another raft of doctors. The Saturday was Elyce's surprise 40th Knees Up at a place called Botanicah in the Prahan high end shopping strip.  Yes we were in a shed with a lot of plants. How this place fends off the buy out offers is a mystery.  This morning we were up before sparrow fart and back to the scene of the ribbing at the church in MontMorency, for more photos. At least we know it was all worth it, as the school has accepted Estelle as a student. No comments here on the selection process. 

Who's boots

hot chocolate milk

Dead Man's Grave

 I have tried a new author for me with this book set in the land of the Scots.  It all seemed a bit predictable being a crime yarn rather than a whodunit. The bad guys are being chased by a few cops not on the take etc etc.  It started well with a mystery about a grave enscribed with "Never to be Opened". This part was a true story about such a grave. The grave was part of a feud problem going way back.  At least the author did not try to get much of a Scottish accent into the writing.

Morning Birds

 I got one of the videos going from last week taken off the balcony generally filming the scene however there was also some bird tweeting going on. I was doing a similar thing back here trying to keep a bird focused in the lens. I was distracted by a guy in a full sci fi kit.  I have seen a pair of these swamp harriers buzzing and dive bombing before and got some good views of one this time. The birdman was really attentive and trying to record what I thought was a noiseless bird. The bonus was the landing.

It's a parabolic microphone

Wangi Falls

 We swam in this one 32 yar ago however the volume of water pumping into the pool was deemed too much for safe swimming this time around due to the lingering wet season. There was a second reason which you can see briefly at the end of the clip. Two large crocodile traps were in place just in case. The trap stank from an old pig leg used to lure them in. One of the indicators for crocs is a bouy that floats and bobs on the water. It is a large plasticine marker which crocs just have to investigate and when they clamp on it there are teeth marks left behind.

There must be a lot of three legged pigs running around

Florence Falls

 The water camera was buried deep in the suitcase after this day trip to Litchfield. I got some clips together to give an idea of swimming there. The clarity of the water is "to the bottom" eg where ever I went I could see the bottom clear as day.  Good considering the number of people messing about in the water. It has been an extra wet, wet season so the amout of water at all the falls is voluminous, hence the clarity. The current was also pushing you away so it was easier to hang back and watch the climbers jumping off.  The fish are sooty grunters.  They are black hence sooty however with the noisy waterfall I did not hear them grunt.