Sat. 2nd July AUSTRALIA ZOO

Sophie Goodall staying with us on her way back to the UK.

Popped up to Australia Zoo and Maleny for the day with Madeleine.

You get really close to the crocs!

Lots of little roos in pouches.
Bindi Irwin turned 13 and is now allowed to feed the crocs - her mum, Terri, standing well back.
There's a bronze of the family as a memorial to Steve.

Wed. 11th Aug. To Colca Canyon to see the Condors.

John & myself up at 2.00 am. for the 120 km. bus ride over a 4,900 m. pass to Colca Canyon.
A stop on the way to take the tourist photographs.
At a spot called 'Cruz del Condor' we spent almost an hour watching these birds with their 2 metre wing-span.

Borneo - Day 6. Climbing KINABALU 4095 m.

Left KK at 7.00 for the 2 hour drive to Kinabalu National Park.
Did the paperwork and met my local guide, Richard.
Set off climbing at 9.30 from the Timophon Gate at 1866 m., 6122 ft.
The track was steep and through quite humid jungle. There was plenty of water but needed half an hour with an iodine tablet before drinking.
Pitcher plants bigger than my hand were just next to the trail.
After 3 hours I reached Laban Rata lodge at 3272 m., 10,735 ft. - a height gain of 4,613 ft.
The lodge was comfortable and well above the clouds. It was pleasant drinking tea and watching the sun go down.

Sleeping was in dormitories. I shared with a group of 5 very nice English people - Will, Beth, Jemima, Adam & Emma.
It was a light supper and early bed - up at 2.00 am !!!

Borneo - Day 4

To the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park to see the relatives.
The Orang Utangs were sensational -


But the Proboscis Monkeys were very cute in an ugly/cuddly sort of way..

7th Day LHI. Fri. 23rd Jan.

A bit stiff, but still able to cycle round the island.
More birds! I think I'm turning into a 'twitcher' - it'll be anorak & binoculars before long.
This first is 'Blinky' the Masked Booby in attack mode.



In the afternoon I went for a 2 hour snorkel in the lagoon and for 10 minutes swam with a beautiful large green turtle

5th Day LHI. Wed. 21st Jan.

A spot of tennis against Jake - possibly my first games in 12 years!

Biking around the place, Paula spotted some baby Terns. There's no nest, the single egg just laid on a tree branch and the little fella just lives there until it's time to fly off.

RARE BIRD ALERT!!!!The Lord Howe Island woodhen, a flightless bird - LESS THAN 300 IN THE WORLD!
The population was down to 37 and a breeding programme has them back up to 250 to 300. This one was just walking under a tree and came right up to my feet.

An evening BBQ with a pure blonde.

Bathroom Wildlife!

'Sticky' the stick insect flew in and was lurking in the shower.

Rare Birds!

Now, I have to say upfront that I am not a 'twitcher'. I enjoy seeing the lorikeets & cockatoos in my garden but don't chase after them with binoculars & camera.
However, I was watching a show on 'Animal Planet' the other night - as one does.
I was informed that the extremely rare 'Tibetan Black Necked Crane' had as few as 3,000 individuals left! (Wikipedia reckons 5,000 to 6,000)

You could have knocked me over with one of it's tail feathers.
I'd seen a pair - and even had the photos to prove it!
In 2006, on the road from Everest Base Camp on the northern, Tibetan, side, to Tingri we spotted a couple of large birds.
Here they are;


Take that you serious twichers!

Birthday Pig!

The birthday was back in May, but Paula has been waiting to spring this on me.
An 'OMERSA' leather pig footstool
I have liked these little beauties ever since my old friend Tom Bell bought his brother one for his 21st roughly 39 years ago.
Now I have one of my own to admire.

Thur. 5th June. 11th Day UK.

Into Bamburgh Castle.
My uncle George, me, aged 2, and my father. Now, 53 years later, Madeleine & myself on the same cannon.


Then a boat trip out to the Farne Islands to see the seals & puffins. Could hardly see because of the North-Eastern 'Sea Fret'.


At the end of day, down to Newcastle where we rendezvoused with Naomi - 'Didi' -who was also in Tibet. We had a meal at the 400 year old Blackbird Inn in Ponteland.

The house at Maleny.

Got back from my grass cutting trip to our Maleny house. After the recent rain everything is growing like Jack's beanstalk - overnight changes! All our trees are growing quickly and so are the weeds. Spent the morning weeding - but it was 32° at 9.00 am! It hit 41° this afternoon.
Anyway, came across this Paperwasp's nest and our 'Swamp Bloodwood' is in flower.

10th Feb. Why my garage door wouldn't go up