To recap: Joan invites Nige and Lucy to Sydney where there are giant slugs and evil sleeping sickness ticks that will knock a man out for two days.
(Hope you feel better soon Joan!)
I didn't mention that when we were clambering up the hill through the bush, Trevor remarked that this was definitely not a summer walk. "Why?" says I, "Surely it would be drier." "Snakes," says he. "Oh, definitely not, then." Trail walks only in summer. Can stand the bugs, but the snakes are something else. Had a couple of those in the garden and one tree snake (no fangs) in the house. Oh, and one in the water heater, which is outside.
Don't let me put you off - all visitors welcome! We haven't lost anyone yet. We only put Australians and New Zealanders to work in the garden. The rest get to have barbecues round the pool where the only hazard may be the odd golf ball on the noggin. Tuesdays and Thursdays are the worst - corporate days. When we take you sightseeing you go in the car and if you have to walk through the bush it will be on a path - the only wildlife I've seen with visitors was a friendly
bandicoot.
Ben got a paralysis tick too, Malc - they're viscious things - I thought it was a bit of mucous under his eye, so didn't bother about it until it had been there for a while. I got it off and he was okay for a couple of days, but then got left in the hot house and went downhill fast. He pulled through but it was touch and go there for a while. Mine were just little grass ticks, but they obviously still pack a punch. I'm very allergic to all things like that as well. Feel fine now, but still getting the odd dizzy hit. Went to the movies with a friend last night to escape Origin fever (Malc will know what I mean) and she said that there's been a rash of people who have had ticks in our area who have gone into anaphalitic (sp?), you know when you need the adrenaline, shock when they've eaten meat.
I've had meat and nothing seems to have happened - yet.
It's Thursday, bushwalk day, too. Better go hunt out the Aeroguard and find those thingies you put over your boots to stop the leeches getting up your legs.
Bloomin' Ada, Peepsie - I thought you were trying to sell the concept of these trips? Surely you meant it was a fun-filled flight of non-stop mirth and merriment?
I've had one of those TT - once. Can also beat you on the length of time being up when enduring long flights and crossing time zones, Peepsie. That particular one, it was 37 hours from when I got up in Sydney to touch down in the UK. Had about four hours sleep on the plane, but that was still after about 32 hours awake. I then stayed up another 14 hours - don't know what I was running on - even went for a walk in Balerno, which admittedly wasn't hot and sticky, but still. Slept for about 12 hours and was as right as rain. Coming this way was a different story though - not sure whether it's the direction or the fact that I'm coming back to the daily humdrum of normal life. On which note, I'd better stop rambling and get on with it.
Enjoy KL and Singapore, Nige.
