Not A Pet!

Cane toads - nobody likes them! They are as horrible as they look.

Native to South America, cane toads were introduced to North Queensland in 1935 to eat up all the sugar cane beetles (which they didn't do). Since then they have done very well for themselves.  They go where they like, eat what they like, have few predators and have lots of (erk!) babies. And the worst thing - they emit a toxic goo which poisons other lovely animals.

Toads however have inspired some VERY silly songs so that is a good thing. 

This is a current favourite:

The Princess and The Toad (Thomas Fersen, Emily Loizeau & Moriarty)

No Bella, just walk straight past! Do Not Respond!

Red Centre #2

Close by Uluru is Kata Tjuta ("many heads"), a group of 30+ rounded red rocks rising out of the desert plain.

Like its neighbour Uluru, Kata Tjuta has always been a sacred place to the local traditional owners, the Anungu people. Many dreamtime (creation) legends are associated with these places and secret ceremonies are often carried out here. Most details of the mythology are not disclosed to outsiders.

    
Didgeridoo music: Ilingka the Dreamtime

Red Centre #1

Australia's Red Centre - very ancient and powerful land.

The strongest place of all is Uluru.

Uluru is a sacred site to the local traditional owners, the Anangu people.

A huge sandstone rock, Uluru is alive and beautiful, changing in colour at all hours of the day.

Late in day ...

Early in day ...

Sunset - time for the vans to head back to the campsite

Sunrise - 6am, 4 degrees C ... but look at the light within that rock!!

Didgeridoo music: Ilingka the Dreamtime

Blue on Blue

"Blue On Blue" (thank you Bobby Vinton for visiting us today)

We would like to welcome to this blog ... BLUE PAINTINGS!

In this candid snap, their manager Arthur prepares them for their portraits.

He has a difficult job. 
Several claim to be unfinished and are therefore grumpy, some would prefer to lie down, others are just plain crooked types.

 Oil paint on canvas, 

plus various extras (sand, impasto medium, paper and fun hehe)