We have badly needed rain. Not enough, but ample to entice the snails out from the drains. Yesterday, in the morning, they were crawling over each other in their frolicking.

By time I decided to photograph some, l I found only one out in the open. One was all I needed.

[Nokia Lumia 520 windows phone]

I spotted a male Eastern spinebill in my garden this morning. Since it’s their breeding season, I’m hoping for a nest in my ivy-choked apple tree.

I used the phone camera, as I was sure it would be gone by the time I dashed inside to get the real camera. Still, one can just make out the curved beak against the cloudy sky.

Wikipedia says…

The male eastern spinebill is 13–16 cm (5–6 in) long, and has a long thin downcurved black bill with a black head, white throat with a reddish patch and red iris. It has a brownish-red nape, a grey brown back and pale cinnamon underparts. The dark tail is tipped with white laterally. Females and juveniles are smaller and duller. The call is a rapid piping.

I found a photo on Flickr with the proper permissions.

Below, the Eastern Spinebill is the bird on the lower right.

The yellow robin isn’t all that common in my yard, but I see it on my walks.

I’m not familiar with the white-naped honeyeater, but have lots of the white-plumed honeyeaters about. Here is one perched on a chair near our side door.  After you have taken in the honeyeater, have a look at the bottom of the car door on the right. Let your eyes wander to those rocks on the left. Can you put two and two together?

Four equals one stupid woman backing out of her driveway with the door open! (By the way, since I’m in Australia, that’s the door behind the driver.)

I’ve been intending to get rid of that rock garden one day – my excuse for not weeding it.  I’ve already removed one section, probably years ago.

I’ve paid the price for my procrastination!

But my, how things have changed in the insurance world. In the old days, one would have to supply three quotes and written statements, etc. I smashed the door on a Friday. On the Monday or Tuesday, I rang from the smash repairs and lodged a claim over the phone. When the emailed paperwork arrived, I direct debited my $625 excess. I followed the progress of my claim online.

We also had some dents in the front mud-guard on the other side repaired. Some years ago, Rob slipped in wet grass while carrying in firewood. He smashed his shoulder into the car. Lucky it wasn’t his head! That was sort of of my fault, too, as I’d parked the car a bit further in than normal. We just never got around to having that damage fixed, even though seeing the dents all the time was really annoying. No way could I put up with that door!

On the Friday (this was the week before we went away), the insurance assessor had a look at the door and approved the repairs. The following Monday we dropped the car off. The damaged panels were replaced with secondhand ones. Some nearby panels were partly sprayed, too, blending in the new paintwork.

We had complimentary use of an old hire car, so we got to work okay.

Thursday, we picked our car up about 2pm. It had been detailed, and I was glad I’d already vacuumed it out before we took it in. We’d packed our stuff, so it was only a matter of loading up the car, settling in the dog, and off we went on our trip.

I wonder if I lose my ‘Diamond Driver’ status. The end of my 15% discount? I hope not. Anyway, it’s a pleasure to have our car all whole and shiny again.

We banished the rocks last weekend. I trust you are making the most of this weekend.

Thanks for reading. Lovely talking to you. I’m not doing enough of it.  😀