Do you remember, in the early days of Covid, when you had to keep a distance of two metres from the person in front of you in a queue? Exactly five years ago to the day, blog post 21. Antisocial distancing was published on 12 December (freefromlockdown.com). It came about after seeing a UFO (actuallyContinue reading “46. PLUs”
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45. Covid: 6 years old today?
When under threat this animal curls into a tight ball. The tough, overlapping scales shield it against the sharp teeth and claws of these predators, but are defenceless against humans. These slow-moving, gentle creatures are seriously threatened by poaching and have become one of the most highly traded mammals on eastern markets. Any idea whatContinue reading “45. Covid: 6 years old today?”
44. 11/11/11
On 11 November Madame and I would stand with the residents in our village in France. Monsieur le Maire, or the senior military person, would make a brief speech and the names of all those killed in action in WW1 were read out. After each name we would reply ‘mort pour la France’. In aContinue reading “44. 11/11/11”
43. Cocky cockatoos
Newly arrived Down Under we encouraged the exotic, colourful birds to feed in the garden. It didn’t take long to make friends. But, it was bad mistake……………. ……………we had never met a bird quite like this left-handed/footed, sulphur crested cockatoo. When it and its accomplices started to peck the garden furniture it was time forContinue reading “43. Cocky cockatoos”
42. Topsy Turvy
Did you read the Mr. Men, or Little Miss, books when younger, or tell the stories now to a formative generation? With their colourful bodies and distinctive personalities the Mr. Men were an instant hit when published in 1971. They were a godsend during our car journeys from the UK to Brittany in the summer.Continue reading “42. Topsy Turvy”
41. Below the Salt
In medieval England salt was rare and expensive; the nobility sat at the high table and their inferior guests at lower trestles. Salt was placed on the top table so that only those of superior rank had access to it. Salt was used by the ancient Egyptians for the process of mummification and war wasContinue reading “41. Below the Salt”
40. You’ve been warned!
Unless you really do live in the back of beyond you will never be far from a sign informing, cautioning – forbidding even. Verbal warnings have been given to us, from toddler to dotage, since humans could communicate. One of the earliest on record was that given to Adam “…..you must not eat from theContinue reading “40. You’ve been warned!”
39. Hedge your bets
You could be forgiven if you thought this post was about horse racing and betting, hence the title, but it’s not. It does make you wonder though if bookies would carry a bag full of money out of the racecourse these days. Unlikely. Nor is it about Hedgewars, a turn based strategy, action and comedyContinue reading “39. Hedge your bets”
38. Toad’s tool, part 2
Forget infantile jokes about how the fairy became pregnant. This is a serious post. Toad’s Tool is the first, and only, graphically oriented Super Mario 64 level editor. Does that mean anything to you? Me neither. An acclaimed scientific journal claims that ‘mankind has hankered after a tool that can detect impending seismic activity’. ItContinue reading “38. Toad’s tool, part 2”
37. Stinkhorn
This is not stinkhorn, of course, that comes later, but it’s very colourful. It has been raining for a week. The forecast for this coming week? More of the same, as much as 50cm in a day. That’s a lot of rain, but nature needs rain as well as sun, of which Australia generally hasContinue reading “37. Stinkhorn”
Another Down Under diary 