March 2018

One quarter of 2018 has passed by. March was a month of variable weather and visitors.

Dani’s ex house-mates Claire and Guy stopped over for 3 nights during an extensive tour around the region and further afield. About a week after they left Helen hosted 4 mates from Singapore for 3 days.

The home brewing industry is steady with the juicing segment greatly aided by the addition of a juicing machine. 

Our AirBnB offering has not been in action this month and indeed very little this year. It may be too many rivals offering cheaper rates or folks are not travelling at the moment. Donations during Thaipusan were down considerably which suggests a paucity of spending money.

We have had one house inspection after some fanfare but the dragon-lady doing the inspection came through the house faster than a Bulbul tasking a bath.

On the pub quiz front the team has stabilised during March after splitting on several occasions in the preceding months. Our last three results have been first equal, second and first. April may show more spotty results as members travel.

Dani has been building up for some marathons but managed a holiday in warmer climes with boyfriend Rob.

Nikki has been enjoying her current work and will soon head to Masterton to stay with our friends there.

The photographic front has been steady without reaching great heights. My main location is a lot less active than in previous years. Currently it is hanging in by a thread in producing action images. Currently small numbers of both species of Bee-eaters are present  and sometimes doing battle for territory.

I checked the temple colony and the nesting is not greatly advanced with a lot of pairs selecting their nesting hole….sometimes in competition with their own species or other nesters.

Other sites have produced some action, such as a tiny Yellow-bellied Prinia singing to attract females and it is good to see the Spotted Wood Owls back after a missing year.

Finally, we acknowledge the passing of Katie and acknowledge the hugely loving support of her family. It is a situation that has taught us many lessons on the frailty and complexity of life and how science will assist the understanding of Batten’s disease. I thought it a poignant symbol how a little bird had a ‘message’ for Doug, Katie’s grandfather. (photo by sister Lynette)