Tropical Storms.. love em

Ever since I was a small child, (yeah, yeah, a long time ago now, I know) I have loved the sight, the sound, the smell and excitement of storms. The purchase of a digital camera has only fueled my love of storms as now I can capture the moment to see for all time.

Nature, even at its worst, can provide incredible beauty.

These first two photographs were taken in Brisbane. I had driven from the Gold Coast up to Brisbane, trying hard to beat this storm front. Yes, I love watching them, but I sure prefer NOT to be caught on the freeway IN them !

I have just found out that these pics are not enlarging when clicked on.. I will fix that in the morning - err I didn't say WHICH morning..lol

I just love the colours that shone through here

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These next two photographs were taken some time ago by a friend of mine during a storm that effected Central Queensland. I was in Gladstone at the time (2003). These were taken at a farm near the township of Mt Larcom. Mt Larcom also has the BEST meat pies ever.. many people will attest to this. This is after all.. cattle country.

Wicked shot

If you lighten your monitor now, you can see the cattle in the foreground of this shot. They didn't seem to be perturbed by the storm at all. Now put your monitor back to normal exposure..lol

This is the same storm over Gladstone, but the photographer is unknown to me.

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Gold Coast Storms.

The Q1 being hit by lightning.

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The Q1 is located in Surfers Paradise, not far up the road from me. It is the tallest residential tower in the world and Nuh Uh, I wouldn't live there for quids! The views are supposed to be magnificent from the observation deck. I have been told that the BEST viewing time is a night of a full moon with no cloud cover. If you look here you can see the views from the top floor penthouse.The Q1 elevator takes you from ground floor to level 77 in 42.7 seconds.. There is a restaurant somewhere in the top floors, but don't count on keeping your lunch in your stomach if you take the elevator down afterwards!

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Now, back to my stomping ground and its storms.

We had a huge rain storm on 30 June 2005. I have spoken to many people about this and they would like to see the photographs I took.

It was a well-defined low-pressure system that did not form on the surface (i.e. totally unexpected).So they tell us, these systems can rival the flooding impact of a tropical cyclone. They can occur at any time of the year although they are more common in autumn and in early winter. Keep in mind that our rainy season is summer so this was really strange.

This is my neighbour, totally unknown to us he had been battling the water since 3am... silly bugger didn't tell us did he! We were not aware of the problem till around 6am. Seems the water was flowing down our hill and right into his house. As he redirected the water away from his house, it made for quite a nice river with white water. A few times I did have to usher away the local children who thought it was a great idea to bring their boogie boards and surf down our hill. Call me a spoil sport, but I didn't fancy trying to drive through flooded roads to take them to hospital. From the top of the hill
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Ending like this at the bottom.

We were rather sodden and yes, some came inside the house.
How pretty is it though?

Look at all those little rivers

Unfortuantely, this is where those little rivers end up.

The back of that vehicle did fill up with water - we wanted to warn whomever it belonged to, but no one knew who owned it.


The emergency crew helped someone....

and in the process, got stuck themselves.


This was the Coolangatta Airport.. oopsie?

This was the local golf course and partially my friends back garden.

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This was a very different storm front. It also came out of nowhere. The sky went very very dark.. Almost completely dark at 4pm. Then the heavens opened. After the downpour the most unusual light happened. The photographs do not really do it justice.

It had been a bright sunny cloudless day till this rolled in. See how dark it is behind the initial cloud?

Keep in mind these photographs were taken within a few minutes of each other.


I have not seen anything like the colour of this sky before. It was surreal

I have more photographs ('oh no' I hear you scream) but I think I have posted (more than) enough for now.

I have a few short videos of some electrical storms also. Maybe I will bully Mel into teaching me how to add the videos here as I have no idea how to do so.

That'a girl Kim

What a great attitude, Denise & Brad - you must be immensely proud

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"I think that no matter what happens, I've won," she said. "I've gotten to spend four weeks in Mexico City and I'm just stoked. I have had such a ball and I'm so happy. I haven't seen any hair pulling or anything like that," she laughed"

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I simply can't wait to hear all the stories you must have to tell.

Relax, kick back and enjoy your time with Amelia. You have more than earnt some fun!

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Proud as punch of our gal

The Awards have started .. now finished..

Congratulations to Miss Universe 2007 Riyo Mori (Japan)

Here are the The top 15

And, The top 10

The top 5 consists of Venezuela, Korea, Brazil, Japan and yes, you guessed it USA

Miss Photogenic (Philippino woman are so gorgeous)

Miss Congeniality (means she's one of the nicer people? what does that mean?)

Kimberley came second in this but aside from being the peoples vote...I'm not exactly sure what this is!

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Oh Dear.. bwhahahah

"Miss USA Rachel Smith, who slipped and fell to the floor during the evening gown competition, was the contest’s fourth runner-up."

I KNOW that shouldn't be funny... Should it? *sniggers behind hand* She is probably a lovely girl and I shouldn't find ANY humour in that .........but........ *snorts with laughter*

My number one can now come home to family and friends who are incredibly proud of her. I'm sure she will get an amazing reception at Gladdy airport - wish I could be there!

Not forgetting the wanker of the week award.... --------->

Maybe frumpy pissants (with huge mouths and even larger egos) like this one should be as proud of her as we are - Look in the mirror before you throw gawd awful comments around next time jerk?

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Credit due the SMH has a nice report on Kimberley albeit quoted mainly from the Gladstone Observer.

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"Gladstone will benefit from having such a great ambassador for our city, for a local girl to rise to such dizzying heights is just fantastic.
When she came home from the Miss Universe Australia competition we all greeted her at the airport, and we'll probably do it again. At the end of the day we are proud of her no matter what the outcome."

Amen to that :)
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Maybe being a male of shorter stance isnt so bad at a Miss Universe gathering?

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Check out this guy's eyes..

Denise & Brad would slap that smile right off his face for ogling her chest like that !

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Well done Kimberley,
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Miss Universe Australia

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You have done yourself and Australia proud sweetheart.

You can hear them shaking in their boots from here

Latest I've seen.. although I'm sure judging has started -

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"JENNIFER Hawkins is still Donald Trump's favourite Miss Universe, Australia's 2007 hopeful Kimberley Busteed has revealed. In an interview before the pageant finale in Mexico today, Busteed said Mr Trump, co-owner of the contest, had told her Hawkins, who won in 2004, was still his favourite. "He couldn't stop raving on about Jennifer and how Jennifer has been his favourite winner that he's ever had," Busteed said. "That was pretty cool, that Donald Trump came up to me saying that Miss Australia was the best Miss Universe."

.. full story

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One thing, Please Kimberley...

tell me you didnt actually call him Donny?

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Ha ha ha - gotta love that Aussie spirit

Computer Technology - The Aussie Way

This is for Jarek... you can never call me a Geek again !

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LOG OFF : Not adding any more wood to the barbie.

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MONITOR: Keeping an eye on the barbie.

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DOWNLOAD: Getting the firewood off the ute.

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HARD DRIVE: Making the trip back home without any cold drinks.

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KEYBOARD: Where you hang the ute keys.

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WINDOW: What you shut when the weather's cold.

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SCREEN: What you shut in the mozzie season.

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BYTE: What mozzies do.

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MEGABYTE: What Townsville mozzies do.

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CHIP: A fried potato snack.

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MICROCHIP: Small crunchy bit that's left in the bag after you've eaten the chips.

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MODEM: What you did to the lawns on Sat arvo.

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LAPTOP: Where the cat sleeps.

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SOFTWARE: Plastic knives & forks you get at Red Rooster.

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HARDWARE: Stainless steel knives & forks - from K-Mart.

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MOUSE : The small rodent that eats the grain in the shed.

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MAINFRAME: What holds the shed up.

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WEB: What spiders make.

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WEBSITE: Usually in the shed or under the verandah.

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SEARCH ENGINE: What you do when the ute won't go.

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CURSOR: What you say when the ute won't go.

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YAHOO: What you say when the ute does go.

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UPGRADE: A steep hill.

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SERVER: The person at the cafe who brings out the lunch.

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MAIL SERVER: The bloke at the cafe who brings out the lunch.

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USER: The neighbour who keeps borrowing things.

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NETWORK: What you do when you need to repair the fishing net.

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INTERNET: Where you want the fish to go.

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NETSCAPE: What the fish do when they discover the hole in the net.

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ONLINE: Where you hang the washing.

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OFFLINE: Where the washing ends up when the pegs aren't strong enough.

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PC : To be Politically Correct - Us Aussies are SO good at that *cough*

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OS: Overseas

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TOOLBAR: Where you purchase power tools.

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DRIVER: The operator of a motor vehicle

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ROUTER: A person who navigates for the driver

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WEBMASTER: An artistic spider

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My Only Disclaimer - Yeah ok, so I copied & pasted most of the above .. twas an email from my sister :D

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oops.. here is a legend for those who are not fully Aussified :)

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Barbie - Aussie BBQ - not to be confused with Ken's plastic girlfriend. Cook outdoors on a barbecue plate or grill

i.e. ""throw another shrimp on the barbie" btw.. we dont call them shrimp here.. they are Prawns far too large to be called shrimp.. yums

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Ute - utility vehicle, normally a cab front with flat tray back. Australian origin. The tray area is often used for parties /better views at sporting venues /sleeping / and or ...err activities..lol

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Mozzie - Australian for mosquito.

i.e "these flaming mozzies are sucking me blood dry bazza"

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Jarek - A polish guy living in Italy - such a cheeky bugger... I often wonder how does his wife put up with him?

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Aussified - A state of interpreting Australians, to be Aussified you must :-

• Like beer or any other effective alcohol - but not Fosters! We all wanna get pissed, but we do have some principles left.
• Consistently beats the English at almost all sports - then rub it in no end
• Greet everyone with 'G'day' and farewell them with 'Orroo'
• Be used to sunny hot weather, and dislike cold weather
• Love skinny dipping
• Think the Kiwi's shag sheep
• Understand that Australia does NOT claim Russel Crowe as an aussie
• Think beer is the aussie equivalent of a health drink
• Be prepared to do THIS in a public arena
• Think the 'Tasweigens' (Tasmanians) are in-bred - look for the scar from the second head removal
• Think that there is no better time to be had than drinking/fishing and playing up
• Have a problem with New Zealand being better at rugby - sheep shaggers the lot of em!
• Be able to talk the ear off a grasshopper
• Dislike John Howard - and never purchase a track suit like this
• Use beer in place of water
• Be able to utter 'Crikey' in a Steve Irwin fashion
• Be able to understand the following dinky di phrases -
• 'He was a fast as a dunny door in a cyclone'
• 'Don't come the raw prawn with me mate'
• 'He's got a few Kangaroos loose in the top paddock'
• 'Any tic of the clock'
• 'She'll be apples'
• 'He went arse over
• 'That's the bee's knees'
• '2 Cackleberries for me please'
• 'She looked like a dog's breaky mate'
• 'a bit more choke and you would have started'
• 'I was flat out like a lizard drinking'

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Aussie's are... argh..who cares, I'm a happy little vegemite so pass me a pie floater.

Especially for Mel

No comment needed....

Ahh..... poo bum hiss

"Miss Universe judges selected 15 finalists on Friday, which will not be announced until the Donald Trump-owned extravaganza tomorrow, to be screened on Channel 7 at 10.30pm on Tuesday."

Damn, so we will know the results prior to the Australian telecast........

Anyone know of a net telecast live?

Have fun Kimberley !!

Ummm ..

Well... it's not the first time I've been accused of such but...............

What political ideology do you have? Your Result: Communist You believe in the elimination of all social classes by a revolution of the working class. You believe in the abolition of private property and the eventual disentegration of the State into a utopian classless society.
Democratic Socialist
Fascist
Anarchist
Libertarian
Authoritarian Capitalist
What political ideology do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

And then.. I change one answer.. and I get this???

What political ideology do you have? Your Result: Fascist You believe vital industries should be regulated, not by government bureaucrats, but by national syndicates (like medieval guilds), which are composed of representatives from every aspect of the industry. You believe that business, as well as everything else, should work towards the betterment of the nation. You may see the State in a spiritual role. You tend to be authoritarian and extremely anti-communist.
Communist
Democratic Socialist
Authoritarian Capitalist
Libertarian
Anarchist
What political ideology do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

FFS.. MAKE UP YOUR MIND..

Thats it.. no more quizzes for me ... I might start to believe them?

Errrrrrrrrrrrrr.....

One question, who comes up with this stuff??

Oh well...these are my results

Which God or Goddess are you like? Your Result: Goddess Bast   You are the Goddess Bast. You are quiet and calm, but when need be, you are firm and fierce. You are full of love, and you always care. People often come to you for advise or guidance, and you willingly give it. Congatulations!! You are Goddess!!
You are your own God or Goddess
Budha
Goddess Sekhemet
The Christian God
Satan
Jesus
God Zeus
Which God or Goddess are you like? Make Your Own Quiz

Something I just found...

I was just looking through old photographs.. Had to dust these ones off and share them.

This was one funny night for sure

Only question is... does Mel remember who was she on the phone to? I remember getting pushed out the car !

And.. does anyone recall why Christian was 'disarming' this innocent green bag? ... not to mention that gorgeous wig! Hmm.. just noticed.. he was sitting on my car too !

Would ya check out the DRUNK PUNK .... I do recall having a very sore nose (amongst other things) the next day !

Ahhh dress-ups we should have more of them.

We NEED another party like that

What a pretty place I live in

Aint it gorgeous?

My daughter (M) (12) and I have just been for a walk along Kirra Beach to Greenmount.

















It is a lovely safe path to walk in the evenings and takes you past all the local cafés with the live music playing. Daughter (M) pretends to be horrified when I sing or dance if a song I know is playing - but I know better - she would much prefer a nutty mother to a boring one. (like she has any choice?) I do keep reminding her that the vast majority of people we walk past are, in fact, tourists and we are not likely to ever see them again in our life time. It's a small reassurance.. but it's the best I can offer.

The skyline in the distance ( and it can stay that way) is Surfers Paradise

Nice from afar and nice to visit... just don't ask me to live there.

I think this spot is just divine.

Lots of shade and soft grass to sit on whilst you ponder life's quandaries.

I did not take my camera with me this evening.. so these photographs are ones I have taken before in the same area. None of them are in the evening.. I will make an effort to carry the camera on my next walk. - Yeah.. like I need to carry any MORE weight?

This is deffo my fav spot to sit and cool down. The water is never cold, but it's certainly cooler than the sun ! The rock pools... err.. rock?

AND ....

If somehow you get bored of the natural

beauty ..there are always other things to ogle ..... maybe I should carry said camera more often?

Stay tuned :D

Aussie Tall Poppy Syndrome strikes again

What a bunch of sad bastards some Aussies are.

Why is it that when one of our 'own' makes it to the international public stage.. we seemingly have to rip into them for the most menial reason? Can we not be happy for them?

Do I sound angry? You bet your sweet 'frumpy snail trailed' ass I do!

Take a look at these photographs

This is Kimberley Busteed (18 years old)

Does she look lovely?

Does she look 'Frumpy' ?

Lets see what the Australian Media have reported..

"In Miss Universe news, Aussie contender Kimberley Busteed has once again dodged wearing a bikini during the preliminary swimsuit judgings.
While nearly all the other girls went as skimpy as possible, Busteed chose to cover up her midriff for the second day in a row. What is she trying to hide? A big old butterfly tattoo? A freaky snail trail? "

Oh PLEASE ! .. twats

AND

"Australians are buff and sexy and wear swimsuits, but not like this one -- it looks like she picked it up at the airport terminal,"

Yes, but she is dressed as a lifesaver - ya know lifesaver?... the people who save sorry asses like YOU when you are in trouble in the water? I'm yet to see a lifesaver in bikinis..

AND

"Kimberley's selected lifesaver look in the year that marks the centenary of surf lifesaving Down Under combines a red one-piece swimsuit, a red and yellow cap and a lifesaver's flag in what critics have called "ugly" and "silly". "

"Critics said Busteed's choice was an outdated cultural cliche"

AND last but not least...

"KIMBERLEY Busteed will stick to bathers and lifesaver's cap for the Miss Universe final, despite being branded frumpy."

For the record.. this and is who made public unkind comments and called Kimberley 'frumpy' I rest my case....

The Australian Media does it again eh?

Congratulations dickheads. Is it any wonder so many women have serious issues with their appearance?

On the other side of the coin.. there is this - thankfully not ALL the Australian Media have their heads secured firmly up their ass.

As for the public.. there are things like this .. I think I like Patrick :)



Some facts about Kimberley:

• She ran in the Sydney Olympic Torch Relay in 2000



• Through her achievements as a top-class swimmer, she featured in the This Is Your Life book of former world champion breaststroker Samantha Riley.



• She sponsors a foster child in Africa



• She raised $126,000 – as well as two cars – for the Leukaemia Foundation in the Swim For A Cure event. Those two cars were won by the Busteeds, then donated to the Leukaemia Foundation to be used for transport by country Leukaemia sufferers receiving treatment in Brisbane.
  


• She has only been modelling for one year



• She won two lifesaving competitions through her school when she was in year 10 and was asked to join the lifesavers.

Yes, ok, so I personally know Kimberley. But would this anger me if I didnt know her? Absofrigginglutely

Kimberley Busteed is a star in my mind.. and trust me, it has NOTHING what so ever to do with the Miss Universe Pageant. It has more to do with the fact that in her short 18 years, Kimberley has faced far more sadness than I care to share with you. Inspite of this, she is an intelligent, caring, very well balanced girl.

Girl? well I guess woman now.. I didn't get to see her before her trip to Mexico - unfortunately I missed her by a few short days. If I had of seen her .. my advice? (as if she needs it..lol) Would have been -

• do NOT listen to the media - you know who and what you are - they are nothing but poppy chopping tossers who probably have an arse the size of Sydney's Ferries. Jealousy is such an ugly thing to display.... as would be an arse that size eh? No wonder they are nasty?



• Have fun ! This is a wonderful adventure - meet people from all walks of life. It can only enrich your mind.



• Breathe it all in, how many opportunies does one get to travel in this style? Just dont breathe too deeply honey, we love you as you are.



• Sleep... as much as you can - I know what your time table has been like!


• We are all very proud of how you hold yourself - don't change for anyone.

Kimberley is currently running second on an Preliminary voting internet voting site , not judged by the actual judges.. but by the public.

The winner will be decided on Monday (Australian time).

Head up, chest out and you go girl!

Just a thought for summer - in winter

Perish/Cherish the thought ??

'tch,tchk,tchk,tch'

................is apparently how you spell the sound that the South East Asian Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) makes.

I have been convinced by my overseas friends that our wild life here in Australia deserves a few posts. Apologies to those that live in the same region as myself (just skip these posts)

According to the government these Geckos are a Class 1 declared pest.... but ain't they cute?

These weird but lovable critters do make a weird clicking sound which I actually enjoy.

They have no eyelids, and can lick their eyeballs with their tongues... we simply MUST have appreciation for that ! I can reach my nose with my tongue.. but not my eyeballs......

These guys often hang around in groups where ever they might find a feed. Mosquitos were this Gecko's catch of the day... who can argue with that? Less mozzies.. its gotta be good yes? (she says, not knowing what damage these little guys may actually be causing)

Last year we had a three legged version that decided to make our stairway a home. He was awfully cute.. but I do have concerns that my cat MAY have been responsible for that missing leg..... just maybe?

I will find the photo of a lovely (sic) Huntsman spider to share... they always make for a good story !