What made me do it?

Probably a midlife crisis! In a panic to reidentify myself as an individual on this planet and not lost in the daily grind and happenstance of life I braved the inky needle! I had been looking for ages for the right image to have tattooed on my shoulder when this arrived via an email. It said everything I wanted it to; mother nature, floral angel,Goddess, She and all things feminine and most importantly I had never seen it before. Also it says, 'I am not what I seem'. What is flowers is really a face...what is a face is really flowers. Nether right, neither wrong just IS.

At first I was looking for something about the size of a matchbox. I ended up with the whole of my shoulder artistically celebrating! So..did it hurt, I hear you ask? Yep! Sure did right on the verge of tears. It was worth it though.

Les from Second Skin in Townsville was the artist.

What I did today.

I was bored today, too much housework to be done but you have to be in the right frame of mind to tackle a mountain so I decided to take myself to Mt Elliot... Bowling Green Bay National Park (my favourite local spot for a dip). As was predicted due to the excessive rain the road was closed. That did not stop me! I walked in.

The sign as you enter the path down to the swimming area leaves the lone explorer feeling nervous.....

Looks harmless enough!

The swimming hole at last. I have seen it higher but this is still flowing fast. I could swim without moving away from the bank.

Up at the next pond is where I'd like to be but there is no one around to save me if I get into trouble.

Below is a Burtons Legless Lizard (I am not the only one to get that way) Isn't he/she beautiful?

You can make what you want from this next shot and you will probably be right!! No one around and I am never one to let a chance go by....

Hello Mr Turtle!

Hello Mrs Snake

The car park is usually full....not today though.

I only had my mobile camera so this is not very clear...Mr kangaroo is between the trees.

This is why they had the road closed! I could have gone through this but I didn't want to break the rules. I rode through deeper and faster running water during my Big Ride...this was for 'pussies'.

Yeah, right!

The road damage across the causeway into the park. Again the shot does not do it justice. No, I did not ride across this bump. Gave it a wide berth.

Home sweet home and now for.....

a beer and a sanga!

A good day was had by me at least!

The Royal Blue Breed

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"Sooty"

a pup from the second generation

...now 14 years old.

To commemorate the bi-centenary in Australia it was decided a new breed of dog would be created as part of the celebrations.
Wanting to show the tenacity and fight in the general personality of our fine young country and it's people as well keep the ties with from whence we came, it was decided to combine the breeds of our Australian Blue Cattle Dog and the Queen of England’s beloved Welsh Corgi’s and so with the aid of our IVF program the best ‘Bluey’ bitch was artificially inseminated with a specimen of the a Royal Corgi.
The official name of the breed is logically the ‘Royal Blue.’
It is a small breed not unlike a Corgi but that is where the likeness stops! From deep within the heart of this breed lies a beast strong and brave enough to take on any foe. As you can see by the photo it has the typical blue markings, including the patched eye, of a Blue Cattle Dog.
With the temperament of a cattle dog there is no amount of training or chastising that can stop the rounding up process by the animal; postmen, small children on bikes or in prams, neighbours chooks, cats or anything really and always with the surprise attack from the rear, stealthful and silent in their approach.
Not a breed for the faint hearted as any trace of a gentle and playful corgi disappears behind what the dog believes is a ferocious thick set monster that can bring down a cow and create fear and terror in hearts of grown men and the entire neighbourhood...well she thinks she can!