Half-drowned gecko

I rescued this little gecko from the birds’ water dish this morning. Since they rarely seek out drinking water, he must have blundered into it overnight during his nocturnal rambling. I think it was my fault, for placing the container down on the lower level to give the birds more area to get at the seed, but maybe the gecko climbed up and fell in.

I’ve often seen a fat little gecko go skimming across the outside of my kitchen window of a night, after insects, but this is the first time I’ve seen what they look like on top. Common in our part of Australia, this one is about 8cm. Being legally allowed, one can buy them in pet shops.

For a horror-stricken moment, I thought it had drowned, but its little legs moved when I lifted it from the water. I slipped a geranium leaf underneath for transport to a safer section of the fence – in the sun to bring up body temperature. Then I worried about its eyes, it being nocturnal, so I moved some dead grass to screen his head.

You can see how his pattern changes on his tail – that’s because it’s regrowth.

I came back later, thinking I better move him somewhere further away from birds, but it had already hidden itself pretty well. Eventually it vanished, probably into one of the fissures in the brick fence.

Gecko, moss, and grass and the old brick fence.

Going down over the side of the brickwork.

So that’s my excitement for the day.

Interesting set of questions from Cee this week. I was amazed to see it is week 12. Where did all that time go!

When was the last time you sat on a park or garden bench for more than ten minutes? Describe the occasion.

Does standing count? I’m sure I stood for about 20 minutes in my garden the other day, in one spot, trying to photograph a crimson rosella eating seed-pods in a cypress. It wouldn’t play nice, didn’t come back until I had given up.

Anyway, I get a lovely nature fix every morning when I take the dog for a walk. We walk to the right first, and I breath in the smell of hay in the hay shed, look across the paddock to see where the mob of Hereford cows are, and see if there are are any kangaroos keeping them company.

About now, going back the other way past our house, I hear the cockatoos screeching as one or four of them come over from the range, checking to see if I have put out seed yet. But we keep walking on by the big pine tree, where I take deep breaths of pine scented air and Vika piddles on the green grass on the corner.

Walking further, I always marvel at the different textures laid out in front of me, as almost every tree and shrub is different – both in my neighbours garden and lining both sides of the service road. Out of range of the pine, hints of eucalyptus drift on the air, heavier after rain. Later I pass under the first oak tree, today crunching on acorns. Again Vika finds a good spot to piddle. I hadn’t known girl dogs did that.

Magpies, crows, several different types of honey-eater, and the cockatoos all take turns to avoid getting close enough to make a decent photo. Another heavy blend of pine and eucalyptus and then we are passing the last driveway where Vika keeps her eyes peeled for cats. If she sees one, she will pretend she hasn’t and speed up, making a beeline for the footbridge where she has another piddling spot, and a post to sniff. She looks across the footbridge to make sure those two dogs like her are not out walking, too. We crunch acorns underfoot again, and step over masses of bark shed from the huge gum tree sharing the space with oaks, hawthorn, and plum. I let her sniff.
Then we go home, happyto be alive. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes.

Would you ever be interested in observing a surgery or do you turn away when the nurse brings out the needle?

When I gave up my job as receptionist/nurse in 1990, I had assisted the junior partner in a surgery or two. He was an anaesthetist as well as a G.P. and was training me (a lowly nursing aide!) to be his helper. Haven’t a clue what sort of surgery it was now, but it took place in the operating room of the hospital, all kitted out in the gowns, bonnets, gloves and booties. The first time, I really worried that I might have injected an air bubble into the vein – as if – and I was relieved the fellow was still alive a week later.

I was really good at taking blood, had a feel for it. I’m confident I could stitch up someone if I had to, with local anaesthetic of course.

Where’s your favorite place to take out-of-town guests?

Pink Cliffs

Well, if any of you should visit I would have to take you to The Pink Cliffs. And, if you are a townie, I would probably take you to the local golf club so you could marvel at all the kangaroos laying around. If you have kids, we would visit the local playground. It has just been revamped with lots of new playing equipment. Or if neither of those appealed, we could go wine tasting. No shortage of things on offer.

If you had an unlimited shopping spree at only one store, which one would you choose? Why?

Ahhhh

Ooooohhhh, this is hard. [smacks hand to forehead] Of course! We would go to a place selling recreational vehicles and would buy a nice motor-home – as big as I could handle, but small enough so parking isn’t a problem. Or maybe a fifth-wheeler set-up would be better. We would pick over the selection of accessories, upgrading everything for top of the range, and have all the add-ons to make long-term touring safe and comfortable. Then we could hit the road and never look back.

luxury!