Apologies for the silence. I've had a battle with a virus on the computer, plus the local wireless tower has been down several times. AAAAAAAH! I'll update the page over the weekend.

As I write this, we have serious fires on the west coast of South Australia near Tulka and Yalata, and in the north near Quorn. Amazing after the storms on Monday (not a Thursday!!) I pray for the safety of the locals and the firefighters.

And on a day of Remembrance, I pay tribute to our diggers - those in combat, those who have passed on, those who are suffering. I thank you for your sacrifices - your lives gave us freedom. Photo is from http://www.wessexscene.co.uk

What a week! Elections in the USA ensuring Barack Obama another term in the White House (thank God). I've added a quote from JFK...he had this right!





I'm still fighting the *&^%$# vertigo, but had one of those weeks where I work like crazy and seem to achieve almost zero. Know those?

Writing news: Yep, definitely getting there. Another project near completion, two other LONG AWAITED moments will start on Friday. Can't wait!

Books news: won a copy of "The mystery of a hansom cab" by Fergus Hume - thank you ABC Online!

Bird news: Hearing a reasonable chorus, seeing little due to the local predators. The weekend list: wrens, RBFs,
shrieky, thornies, black-faced cuckoo shrikes (3), wattlebird, ravens, kestrel, and 3 parrots - hard to ID as they "looked pale" - must be red-rumped parrots as it's about all that's there. I need a periscope. Heard: Golden whistlers (a pair with fantastic calls), pardies, spineys, babblers, black cockatoos (at last!) AND - joy of joys - two lizards on the entrance road (thankfully alive) - a bluey and a stumpy.

Happy writing
Bo
x

My thoughts and prayers for all those hit hardest by Hurricane Sandy. Thousands (or more?) still without power, but at least supplies now seem to be reaching most places. What a storm! Its width was equivalent to the distance between Adelaide and Brisbane - 2 days+ travel! As always, the storm surge was the most dangerous part of the storm. Incredible that those 3 systems could link up just at that time. And with their elections due this week - that's probably the last the on some people's minds. For those who've lost loved ones, our prayers and sympathy. For those still struggling, hold on - help will come, but never as fast as any of us like.

On the writing front: took a few more days off thanks to a wonderful (ongoing) bout of vertigo (great - not!)  Reworking a Pitch for The Isthmus and tidying up the main text a little more.

Bird count: Predators still around, so the numbers still low, but heard GWs (saw one - finally), was told off by a bunch of brown thornbills (really), heard spineys, dodged some brawling shrikeys (yes, shrikeys), heard wrens, babblers, pardies; currawongs plentiful. The spider orchids are still hanging on (just) but won't survive the heat blast next week. Had an odd sort of thunderstorm up there today, one solitary cloud that didn't look like much. Huh? Spotted one monodenia (GRRRRR - I'll dig that out next weekend) and cut back a bone seed plant (will poison it next week).

This weekend: Spent time with Mum yesterday, and caught up with the crew from Crime Writers' of SA today - a great bunch. Thanks Chris for the "character" info. Year 12 exams (for the students) finish this week. Good luck Gang!

Happy writing
Bo
xxx