Bye bye bats

As a boy I always imagined bats as elusive creatures, occasionally glimpsed flitting by a street light on a winter’s night. They epitomised mystery.

Sydney’s flying foxes have always had a different idea. In the city’s botanical gardens, they hang brazenly from low-hanging trees in the glaring sunlight. I have enjoyed showing this sight to visitors, who are invariably gobsmacked.

I was sad, then, when I heard that the botanicals bat colony will shortly be no more. They are being “dispersed” because they are damaging the flora, which is understandable if regrettable.

I popped down the other day with my mum and the Bs to say farewell. Nobody knows where the bats will end up after the dispersal begins in a fortnight, but I hope it is a place where I can go and visit them.

Trippy

Another blog hiatus, simply because nothing particularly noteworthy has been happening. Well, a few things but mainly along the lines of having a new kitchen installed which don’t even interest me, and it’s my kitchen.

All this is about to change, though, with a run of trips now imminent for me, M and the Bs.

1) Road trip to Thredbo with Mum. She is visiting for a few weeks so I’ve got some time off work. Thredbo is bashttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifically a ski resort, so going off season means we could get some pretty swish accommodation on the cheap. It looks beautiful down there, if a little chilly, and we’re right next to a swimming pool if all else fails. Jigsaws, books and DVDs will provide relaxing entertainment in the evenings.

2) 4 wheel drive camping trip with the Player collective. I’ve never done anything like this before and I have no idea how either me or the kids will enjoy it but what the heck. I’ll try anything once except incest and country dancing, as they say.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

3) Big Trip 2011.Already very booked up for the next UK visit, involving 2 weeks in sunny Bristol with family types, a week staying in central London and a week in Toulouse. (London types, drop me a line). Also scheduled are gigs from the Flaming Lips and (yes!) the mighty Pulp, a possible flying visit oop north, and even a wedding. I love a good wedding, me.