Tuesday, October 27

Was checking the classified ads last night for a BBQ, and there was an ad for a book, "Windows 98 for Dummies" and the asking price was $20. Yikes. In computer years that's probably about 30 years out of date.

Well we've had our first encounter with Australia's infamous insects - Bill got a tick. It was actually in there for about a week, and had become quite engorged with blood, but it came out easily and he's suffered no ill affects. The worst tick illness here sounds like it would be tick paralysis or something like that, I forget the exact name, but it's pretty nasty.

When we were here house-hunting, the relocation lady began talking with one of the realtors who was showing me a house. Donna said to the realtor, "I'm sure Vicki's heard all kinds of stories about our red-backed spiders but honestly, have you ever heard of anyone being bitten by one?" After a bit of a pause she answered, "Well, yeah actually, my husband." After learning that he had, in fact, survived the bite, Donna assured me that this was very unusual. Then she asked the lady, "Well, everyone always talks about tiger snakes, and I don't know anyone that's ever seen one of those." Again the lady paused and replied, "Well we have them in our yard." Donna was flabbergasted but was quick to assure me that this lady lived out in the bush and no one ever sees snakes in the city, where we would be living.

We saw this tree while walking in Kings Park and I told Bill, "Looks like we're not in Kansas anymore Toto." We've both said that to one another a few times since, as well.