What kills me is how none of them suspected a thing all those centuries as we sat quietly in their homes, observing and plotting.

Our mobile phones may look like this

Our car`s like this

And our bikes this

Then our monument`s would be

Goola-willeel, the Topknot Pigeon

Young Goola-willeel used to go out hunting every day. His mother and sisters always expected that he would bring home kangaroo and emu for them. But each day he came home without any meat at all. They asked him what he did in the bush as he evidently did not hunt.

He said that he did hunt.

'Then why,' said they, 'do you bring us nothing home?'

'I cannot catch and kill what I follow," he said. "You hear me cry out when I find kangaroo or emu: is it not so?'

'Yes; each day we hear you call when you find something, and each day we get ready the fire, expecting you to bring home what you have killed, but you bring nothing.'

'Tomorrow,' he said, 'you shall not be disappointed. I shall bring you a kangaroo.'

Every day instead of hunting, Goola-willeel had been gathering wattle gum, and with this he had been making a kangaroo—a perfect model of one, tail, ears, and all complete. So the next day he came towards the camp carrying this kangaroo made of gum. Seeing him coming, and also seeing that he was carrying the promised kangaroo, his mother and sisters said, 'Ah, Goola-willeel spoke truly. He has kept his word and now brings us a kangaroo. Pile up the fire. Tonight we shall eat meat.'

About a hundred yards away from the camp Goola-willeel put down his model, and came on without it. His mother called out, 'Where is the kangaroo you brought home?'

'Oh, over there.' And he pointed towards where he had left it.

The sisters ran to get it, but came back saying, 'Where is it? We cannot see it.'

'Over there,' he said, pointing again.

'But this is only a great figure of gum.'

'Well, did I say it was anything else? Did I not say it was gum?'

'No, you did not. You said it was a kangaroo.'

'And so it is a kangaroo. A beautiful kangaroo that I made all by myself.' And he smiled quite proudly to think what a fine kangaroo he had made.

But his mother and sisters did not smile. They seized him and gave him a good beating for deceiving them. They told him he should never go out alone again, for he only played instead of hunting, though he knew they starved for meat. They would always in future go with him.

And so forever the Goola-willeels, the topknot pigeons, went in flocks, never more singly, in search of food.

A.W. Reed, Aboriginal Fables and Legendary Tales

Actual Court Case:

Plough v Fields.

Warning label on a bottle of dog shampoo:

"Contents should not be fed to fish."

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Warning label on a carpenter`s drill:

"Not intended for use as a dental drill."

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Warning label on a Japanese food processor:

"Not to be used for the other use."

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Warning label on a blanket:

"Not to be used as protection from a tornado."

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Warning label on a fishing lure with a three-pronged hook:

"Harmful if swallowed."

Pandas Wang Wang and Funi arrive at Adelaide Zoo on November 28

GIANT Pandas Wang Wang and Funi arrive in Adelaide this month but the public's first glimpse of them two weeks later will be through a glass barrier.

The pandas, which will live in their $8 million state-of-the-art enclosure at Adelaide Zoo for a decade are in quarantine for 30 days in China, Zoos South Australia President, Heather Caddick, said this morning.

Once at Adelaide Zoo on Saturday, November 28, they will spend a further month in quarantine in their enclosure.

Wang Wang and Funi will still be in quarantine in Adelaide when their exhibit is opened to the public by Governor General Quentin Bryce on December 13, but will only be visible through massive floor-to-ceiling glass viewing areas.

The pandas should be able to use the outdoor sections of their enclosure early in the New Year.

Zoos SA CEO Professor Chris West said he was delighted that a date had been confirmed for the arrival of the pandas and that Chinese officials visiting Adelaide last week had been very impressed with the facilities in Adelaide.

Wang Wang (male, born 31/08/05) was born at the Wolong Giant Panda Research Centre. His dad is Lin Lin and his mum was Mao Mao. He is a very laid-back and placid boy. Like all Giant Pandas, he loves to snooze and the only thing that can rouse him is a fresh stalk of bamboo. Wang Wang’s name means Net Net.

Funi (female, born 23/08/06) was also born at the Wolong Giant Panda Research Centre. Her dad is Lulu and her mum is Long Xin, and she has a twin brother called Fuwa. Funi is much more nimble than Wang Wang. In fact, she is actually quite elegant (for a Giant Panda!) and is also a bit of a princess. She is extremely active and playful and often makes excited mewing vocalisations at feeding time. She is also very intelligent and curious and loves to explore her environment, she especially enjoys climbing trees and splashing in water. Funi’s name means Lucky Girl.

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Before looking for these pictures I thought they were only going to be here for 12 months but even so I`m glad to say I will be going on the bus tour on Tuesday, yep my meals delivery day, to visit these exquisite animals. 

As I have been reading through all the info on them it appears they will be the only Pandas in the Southern Hemisphere!  I can`t wait to see them.

We had a fierce electrical storm last night with gale force winds, just to top of a terrible day.  At least today is much better thank goodness.  The fire that was burning south of here is now under control but quite a few others were started by lightning over night.  The one near here could have had a sad outcome as 2 fire trucks collided.  Thank goodness, although 2 men were flown to Adelaide, no-one was killed.

This morning, after a realy bad night, I woke to much cooler conditions.  It was at least 20C (about 35F) degrees lower!  It has even tried to rain a bit today but that has tended to make it muggy.  Still I`ve been able to open the house up and air it a bit as it isn`t windy today.

I`m running a bit late as I went over to a town about 50k`s (30 miles) away to book a day trip for next April.  It`s with the same company that I am doing the mystery Christmas Day trip.  I`ve also enquired about 2 more trips with them, an 8 day one to Norfolk Island and another of about the same length to the west coast of South Aust to see the whales. 

My next post will tell you all about the April trip!

Have a great Friday and a really terrific weekend.

Riddle:

What`s the difference between a lawyer and a vampire?

A vampire only sucks blood at night.

It`s just on 3pm now and the "Weather Watcher", a program I have on the computer, tells me it is currently 41.1C (106F) in Adelaide.  As I live about a 100 miles north it is probably hotter here.

Below is a story, hot of the press!, about a fire that is burning about 82k`s (50 miles) south of here.  I think I`ll get off line now and listen to the radio for any reports so I will see you tomorrow. 

Bushfire rages on SA's Yorke Peninsula