THE TRIP - WEEK 2,3,4,5 - AUSTRALIA

Ready for the off, always nice to see your flight come up on the departures board with no expected delays. Lucky man again, managed to get long legroom seat for third flight running and flight was on time for the third time running, going for the grand slam with four more scheduled, keep fingers crossed.

Graham met me as promised and on the trip to his place, I tried to get my head around being on the opposite side of the earth. Been here a few days now and it still takes a bit of getting used to. My first time (well) over the equator and am amazed that water goes the wrong way down the plughole and planes fly backwards, unless that flight attendant was pulling my leg!
Was introduced to Henry the mental Labradoodle and enjoyed a prawn from the Barbie as my very 1st meal, how appropriate. (Oh and steak, sausage and two types of chicken all with salad and a few stubbies)

McDuck had a more traumatic flight. When I opened my hold baggage, I found him squashed flat by pressure. Mouth to beak resuscitation and he was fine as you can see as he checks to see if there were any prawns left for him.

After dinner, he was the only one in the mood for a dip.

After a day relaxing, catching up on sleep and ridding myself of most of my jet lag, Graham and Kaye took me for a run around some of the local points of interest including this optical illusion chair.

McDuck took the chance to visit his pen pal Mr Possum, he was out!

He had some fun to make up for his disappointment.

Feed the birds, $2 a bag. That’s inflation. Brilliant place in a mountain forest, where you can get up close to various species of birds including Cockatoo, Rosella and Parrot. The pained expression on my face is explained by picture of my scarred and bloody arm. Cockatoo talons are quite sharp. Kaye and I both found out that their beaks are as well when we had our ankles bitten by one of them!

Thailand, it seems, does not have the monopoly on strange signs. I think this means boughs and branches and not arms and legs!

I most definitely could get used to this lifestyle!

Well, Graham and Kaye have some very interesting trips lined up for me by the sound of things, so more blogging to cheer you all coming soon.

PS Hows the snow? Its 100 in the shade as I write this.