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Published: November 21st 2008
Mini
Grabbing some fresh air from the airconditioning unit.Up at 06.20 (20.20) British time, the night before, you have got to do the sleep bit to catch us up but never will, its like dancing in time, you go to bed we get up and when we go to bed you still have the rest of your day ahead of you.
I slept really well, but was a little unsettled by our visitor last night. The reason I don’t watch horror movies is that I dream so vividly, so I was surprised that the spider wasn’t in my dream, but I probably will have to face him in some future dream/nightmare soon.
The night was really warm, but we retired just after 10.30 shattered, but triumphant in our small achievements and happy that we spoke to Shirley and John.
Caroline is still sleeping, no surprise there. We are off to Australia Zoo today, we have been here before made famous by Steve Irwin, the Crocodile hunter who lost his life 2 years ago, when pieced through the heart by the barb of a Ray, which are quite benign creatures. I’m looking forward to it, it’s a great day out and our day’s plans are laid out,
Squatter
This Kangaroo has a very large Joey, a year old! Out of bed at 07.00
Leave 08.00
Last time we were here, you really got the feeling that they wanted you to interact, and get as close as possible to the animals. Last time Caroline and Karen Held Boris, a very large male Koala. They have such Soulful faces and are very emotional, the handler has to one by one, move their fingers off your shoulder as they cling. He was so heavy if he fell out of a tree, which they often do, and he landed on you, you would know about it. They are soft and smell so pungent of eucalyptus, because that is the only item they feed on, and only a few types of eucalyptus at that.
I could go on and on about the animals, but I wont, except to say, I’m hoping Chisel a common hairy nosed Wombat will be there. A strange creature with the face of a beaver, and the shape of a guinea pig. This chap is special, he used to be a TV star, but was sacked when he bit the producer, he is emotionally scared by a previous owner who used to hit him with
I Live Here
Just to give us an idea of what snake lives in what part of Australia (we maybe home soon!) a spade. The staff ask you not to walk in front of him when he is walking as it closes him in and he stops, and he won’t get going again, so they have to follow him around with a trolley, to load him in to, take him back to his home.
Its just 07.00am now, kettle time for Caroline, I’m sure Caroline thinks that the fairies just deliver her tea in the mornings. I have always loved this time of day, so peaceful but when my mind is at its most creative, so this is the reason why I like to get some blog work done, and have my quiet cups of tea. She is fast asleep, I put the tea down and she doesn’t stir.
Caroline is now awake, slowing being dragged by me in to the forthcoming day. Caroline always say’s don’t annoy me! She has to come around slowly in her own time, me; I just wake up and jump out of bed.
Caroline mentioned the storm in the night, apparently I woke up and said “Its raining” then went back to sleep!! Did I?
We are in the middle of storm
Sleepy Old Man
Just catching some more Z's. season, which is up to Christmas and then the New Year is officially the start of their summer time. I’m glad really as it will give us time to get used to the heat, now before it ramps up, the weather at the moment is just like you would find in summer in Marbella.
Another cup of tea, and on with the Factor 30, you cannot purchase anything less in Australia. Did I mention Caroline’s hat, we purchased a hat yesterday for her most grumpiness, and it does look fab!!
Got to pack the day bag.
Well picking up where Andy left off, by the way I was not grumpy this morning, but I do like to be left alone to wake up.
The zoo was easy to get to from Alexandra Headland, only about half hour drive and once again Andy obeyed my instructions. We arrived at around 8.40 parked near the front door and then waited for the inevitable 9.00 opening.
It was great to be there again, already the day was hot and I was thankful that I had my new hat to help combat the sun. There was no way that
Danger
Crocodiles in the vacinity - don't turn your back on the water! I was going to get sun stroke today.
We went straight away to the Wombats, Andy’s favourite. We looked for Chisel. There were two wombats out in their very large grassy area, and 2 still in bed in the back, one of them was standing up with his paws against the glass, with his head back and eyes closed, we can only guess that he was enjoying the cool air from his air conditioning unit. Their front claws are fluted possibly to make their digging technique more efficient. Andy asked one of the keepers who said that chisel had died a while ago, “an old man” he was 20 years old. The keeper said he had not mellowed and even at the end of his life was very untrusting of humans, and a difficult bad tempered wombat he had always been. Andy was very saddened by the death of Chisel.
There are 3 Elephants, Bimbo 50, Siam, 51 and Sabu 52 (Years Old) and have all lived together since 1962.
A fresh water Crocodile called “Mr Freshy” is thought to be around 130 Years Old.
Australia Zoo is very well put together, and you get a
Salty
This monster is 130 years old and he still has his teeth. sense that Steve Irwin, “The Crocodile Hunter” wanted you to get as close to the animals as safely as possible.
The staff, they call “Walkers” walker certain animals around, “Tonka” Chisels only son walk past in his harness and lead, 6 Keepers who had a snake each, 3 elephants, and when we went up to the Koala’s area the keeper said we could stroke it, on its hind quarters, even though it was fast asleep.
The zoo still has Lily a huge Reticulated Python, she is massive, but has the prettiest face you can ever imagine. One of the staff exclaims she has not eaten for a couple of months and she is shedding her skin, we watch her, and lets not forget she is about 5-6 mtrs long, with possibly a 16” diameter girth, wrap herself up so she is constantly moving within her coils, rubbing her lovely figure along a piece of bark so she can “rub off” her old skin as it must be irritating her. It looks just like bubble wrap, or the incredible hulk, bursting out of his cloths, you can physically see the old skin ripping.
The Kangaroo’s are in an
Dingo Bingo
Lovely well kept Dingo enclosure the size of a football field and left to just roam about. They have such soulful eyes. We see a female with her Joey in the pouch,” Its Huge” its like a 16 year old kid sitting in a push chair, its so big its feet are sticking out and the mum looks so cheesed of as its really hot and the offspring, is obviously curled up fast asleep.
We just love Australia Zoo, so much so that we have both applied to do a week or so voluntary work there, we completed our application and handed them in today. I know we won’t be able to be as involved as the keepers, but it will allow us to get closer to the wildlife.
We leave the Zoo, we have been there seven hours so have got our monies worth, we drive to the glass house mountains where there is a superb lookout looking over vast stretches of countryside. Last time we were up here was with Gary and Karen, this bloke was up there, and he had a ride on tractor mower with a basket on it that he put his little dog in. When me
Aaah
This little chap is having a snooze. and Caroline were up there I said to Caroline, I bet that blokes dog is dead, and his tractor mower has been nicked, whilst Caroline added that she would bet that the chap was dead also.
We took off and headed home, on the way we stop the car, we see something over in the fields, Its Wild Kangaroo’s, Did I say wild, they were just livid. about 3 miles from the lookout, you’ll never guess who we saw driving down the pavement., Bloke, mower and dog.
Arrived back at the apartment about 5.30pm knackered, the factor 30 worked a treat, it was roasting hot and we did not burn at all.
A quiet night in tonight, food then updating photo’s and the blog. WE have some great photo’s that will compliment today’s blog.
Until tomorrow, happy bloggers.
Andy & Caroline XX
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Mum & Dad
non-member comment
Don't turn your back to the water!!!!!
I switched on our computer and clicked on skype. I could not believe that I could see Caroline.....AND SHE WAS MOVING!!! I screamed to Caroline's Dad...I can see Caroline and she is moving. This is the first time for us on skype and it was amazing, just like Caroline and Andy were in our sitting room. We were so excited and had a great chat with them both. They are no longer out of our reach. What a marvellous invention!!