Leapin' Lizards!

The weather here has been strange this summer. Normally December and January are hot and sunny with late afternoon storms which clear things up and cool things down before bedtime. Instead, we've had cold days, hot days, dry days, wet days, exhausting humidity.

On the super hot dry days the flies are too hot to buzz in the garden and hover in the cool alcove near my front door and Dragon Flies come into the kitchen and bash aimlessly at the fly screen, mosquitoes make their presence unknown by hiding in the Christmas Tree only to be exposed by a toxic spray each morning.

The last three days have been very hot. Sunny, breezy and stinky. Sweat on the lip, whack the fan on hot. Dogs spread eagle on the slate hot. Buzzy insects in the laundry that you're not-quite-sure-what-they-are hot. The horses stand head to tail and swat each other's flies hot.

Yesterday afternoon for instance. It was about 37 degrees so we sat by the pool with the required alcamoaholly drinks late in the afternoon until a thunderstorm threatened and only retreated to the verandah when the rain began to dilute our chardy or soggify our cigarettes. It's sooooo good being rained on when it's stinkin'. Then within 20 minutes, no clouds!

Wanna hear something funny, I couldn't bare to throw the ham bone away so am brewing pea and ham soup in the height of summer . . crazy woman! The kids are away and they don't like it so . . hey . . indulge me.

There are some in inhabitants however, who are thriving in the heat. The cold blooded lodgers of my house and garden. I don't know if it's sexy time for lizards but they've been a plenty . . just hope there's a few around to scare the bejeezus out of my houseguest. I have at least four residents INSIDE the house. And any number outside to whose presence I'm alerted by panicky birds.

This was snapped whilst blogging near my PC, literally while I'm talking to someone in Ireland, lamenting the cold . . .he's about 20cms long and eats the Christmas Beetles (which I have found out are June Bugs) and the fly carcasses that land around the skirting boards. Grab him by the tail and he'll drop it to make a quick escape whilst said appendage squirms to distract the predator. I've seen them with red, green and yellow side stripes.

These little guys (Eastern Skinks), I've mentioned before. They live in the damp course around the house. They hibernate in winter but are very active in summer. They do poo on the carpet but I've learned now to let it dry before vacuuming and they provide a 'snake' like scare if you see their dislocatbable tails disappear under your couch but they're oh so cute. I'd rather have them than not. My SIL however can be palpably heard screaming when one ventures into her house.

This gives an idea of the size compared to the French Door window pane and skirting board.

No my windows aren't dirty, they have 'snow' sprayed on them for Christmas . .

This guy is a youngster and the Noisy Minors (birds) have a special alarm sound for ground slinky things. We always know if there's a lizard or a snake, they sound the alarm. This fellow was about 3 metres from my back door and a willing subject. Very docile. Again about 30 cms long which isn't too big but nice and chunky with a shiny skin which suggests he's just shed and out looking for the girlies. You can pick them up, even though they're wild, as long as you support their body weight from the back with a flat hand. Adam poked him and he 'hissed' that was as far as tough guy would go . . can you see his blue tongue? Hence the name "Blue Tongued Lizard".



He's watching . . .No snails in my garden thanks to these guys . . .


And finally a little dinosaur . . a young Bearded Dragon . . .spickly and spikey. . I once tried to feed one some mince . . he was eager and went for the meat on my finger but bit the tip, I panicked and flicked my hand and the thing went flying through the air . . my dad came round the corner and declared "Well I never . . . I didn't know that dragons could jump!" They won't move until totally provoked so a few have sacrificed themselves to the tractor mowing blades . . .they're so hard to see but so beautiful . . .again dead passive and happy to be picked up as long as their underbelly is supported.


Herro Mr bewfuls . . I know you're rookin' at me!



Just thought I'd share.

(Oh and kj, your book arrived . .thank you so much!)