05

We have a visitor! I was collecting firewood and noticed some scats on the ground. They might have been possum poo, but I thought that it was more likely one of the local koalas. Looked up, and there it was. It's been there for days now, and we've all been wondering why the German Shepherds have been going off so much for so long. Now we know, it's very near their kennel.

Whilst risking life and tree limb to get the pictures, the thing is a little high up, I came across this interesting caterpillar. I know it's not a blue-eyed hawk moth, as it has not the eye spots on it. Brian says it can't be an Emporer Gum Moth, as it does not have green banding. I made a home for it in a box that used to hold photocopier paper. Using an old idea, I cut out a fair bit of the top of the box with a stanley knife and sticky-taped a clear plastic envelope of the type that is used in binder folders for holding loose information. According to Brian, caterpillars are more likely to live in a box than in a jar. It's lovely and soft to the touch, and doesn't seem to stress on being gently caressed. Currently, it's residing in Alice's classroom. It will be interesting to see it emerge from the cocoon. Alice's class are studying insects, so this is a treat from God.

I was finally able to locate a dead mouse in Alice's room. Phew! I've put vinegar down on the carpet in the hope of neutralising the smell. I don't think the vermin read the packet where it states that they go away to die. Either that, or not far enough.

Having bought the World's Ugliest Dining Setting, I really wanted to be able to invite people over for dinner. Not with that smell, thankyou very much. Very Eau de Pong.

Our three new turkeys are settling in well, although we suffered the loss of a calf. We also have three moderately sized bantam ladies and Brian will have to build more pens, otherwise we may suffer stress attrition.

As I type this a wee caterpillar is crawling across the screen, but I can't get to it because we have one of those "Anti-radiation/glare optical filters" in place, so I hope the little fester finds its way out..

I am now starting to hear a high-pitched whine from the ute in 3rd gear. I've given the sad news to Aaron, who is using our van. I may need the van, because we certainly cannot afford to replace the gearbox at the moment. We are having one of those "all the bills are coming at once" times. Aaron has no other vehicle, so this could prove interesting.

Brian has just put his foot down and said "Minimum driving" with the ute. So now back to putting the garbage bins in the back of the sedan. Except when he starts work, of course, as we both need a vehicle then.

Brian has built a few fabulous sheds. Tres rustique. They're already-weathered boards in a lovely silver-grey, with spaces between, in other words, bits of wooden fence nailed together. Roofs are galvanised iron (old). We were given the fencing, the nails and roofing iron are from clearance sales, so they were el cheapo too. Now Brian has somewhere to park the Fordson tractor out of the weather. And a more weather-proof area for calves, as well as some other machinery like the harvester.

Tonight we dined on some beautiful squid, and Alice has just informed me, "You need to make more squid." For those of you who like to experiment, or who have tasted calamari at an Italian restaurant and wondered how it's done, it is so simple:

Buy some squid tubes, give them a rinse under cold, running water, cut into thinnish strips. Dredge in a seasoned flour mix. I use a variety but the basic of a bit of salt and some freshly ground black pepper does wonders. Alternatively, add some chicken stock powder or some garlic powder to the salt and pepper. Yummo. Now, you can either deep fry or shallow fry. Being more in touch with my wallet, because I don't like the idea of throwing out all that much oil after cooking, and once you have used the oil for fish, you won't want to cook your chips in the stuff. I put in a good inch or so of olive oil in a frypan (skillet), heat it up so that my first, test bit of squid turns light brown very quickly. Do NOT leave the squid cooking for too long, or you'll just have fish-smelling rubber bands. Turn over once or twice, to make sure that the squid is cooked. Drain on paper towels in a large bowl. Serve with chips (fries), a good Meditterranean salad (bowl, lemon juice, olive oil, raw onion rings, quartered tomatoes, sliced cucumber, lettuce. Ultra-mmm) and lemon wedges. How simple and easy is that?

"When she was young I loved her because she was beautiful... when she was old I loved her because I knew her." Lisa McInnes-Smith, Keeping Couples Cooking.

Cloudscape

I was watching them

the other day

Drifting in and out

of my field of vision

I shouldn't drive at the same time

really

But the perfect shades of greyness

reminded me too well

of old black and white movies

And the pillow-towers soared

fled shapes and re-formed

whisps of half-lives

creating nonsensical dreams

Later, Alice and I saw

a rainbow of the most vivid hues

framing light and white

with a Persian turquoise centre

ephemeral as a soap bubble,

and just as beautiful

we oohed and aahed our appreciation

to God.