The monsoon
low formerly known as Tropical Cyclone Grant has cleared Cape York Peninsula
and is now over the Coral Sea. There is a vague possibility that the system
will reintensify during the weekend, but whatever it does, it will continue to
track east and become Somebody Else’s Problem.
Given the
frequency with which cyclones form in Australian waters, the meteorologists at the
cyclone centre must have an interesting time coming up with names. Doubly so
for those who are new parents. The next name on the list is Heidi. After that,
Iggy. Will we get as far as Tropical Cyclone Narelle this season?
- o O o
-
Brisk
south-easterlies are knocking down branches. The blue quandongs are
particularly susceptible. They shed limbs under such mild conditions that it is
surprising they manage to spread out at all.
One flatulent possum could take out half the canopy.
A branch
dropped near me during my morning stroll down the driveway. When I picked it
up, I noticed that yet another stinging tree had sprouted through the leaf
litter and would have to be removed. I am designing a stinging tree extractor
modelled on the army bomb disposal robot.
- o O o
-
Before
returning to the garden, I donned a safety helmet. It is bright yellow — safety
yellow — to make it easier for ambulance officers to find me under a
pile of quandong branches dislodged by a dyspeptic ringtail.
Since I’ve
been wearing this helmet, the brush turkeys have treating me with what I can
only describe as diffidence. I believe the expanse of yellowness — of a similar
shade to the male turkey’s wattle — has them cowed. When the weather gets
cooler, I wil test this hypothesis by wearing a red balaclava and a yellow
cravat and recording the outcome.
