Happy Birthday July

Talking of memorable times, Matthew has just had his birthday, yep, comes around every year and we hope he has had an amazing birthday. It is a month of birthdays and Matt of Wallalong is the first. I think we can all agree that you make the world a better and brighter place—Happy birthday from all of us.

Celebrating Matthew of Wallalong

July has come around rather smartly this year, 177 days to Christmas and it does feel like we have just recuperated from last year. This is quite a birthday month, 4 birthdays, which will make a dent in our already depleted coffers. There is one huge benefit to the latter part of the year, days get shorter and the nights get longer, more time to sleep. Susan gets gloomier and I get brighter, opposites attract.

I have a small repair job to do on our fence, to be honest, it does need replacing but that is for another day. The one brace is slowly rotting away and the birds have done their fair share of helping it on. I will brace it for the time being and later this summer, replace it.

Something we never talk about when it comes to being an adult is how much we debate keeping a cardboard box because ... well it's a good box

Angela and the Childs went to SeaLife Mooloolaba, all very exciting but what did they learn while dancing on tables and skipping the water? Sharks, Rays, Turtles and Little Blue Penguins.

Now those are interesting, their appearance is a bluish colour, unique among all species of penguins. Chicks have brown and white plumage that turns to a blue colour after their first moult.

Where do they live

Little Penguins live along the southern edge of mainland Australia, as well as Tasmania, New Zealand and the Chatham Islands.

Skills and Behaviour

Little blue penguins are mainly nocturnal and unlike larger species, they can dive only to a depth of 230 feet for approximately 35 seconds. Be sure to look out for these lovely animals as they only live for about 6 years.

They also saw Wobbegong Shark, Wobbegong is the common name given to the 12 species of carpet sharks found in shallow temperate and tropical waters around Australia. They are well camouflaged and harmless if you leave them alone. That is a worry, what with David around.

Sharks have no bones? Weird but true, the shark skeleton is made from cartilage instead of bone. That is why they are lighter and naturally buoyant, good for floating and swimming. Sharks also bite, attack strangers for no reason and are generally not the most pleasant of species that swim the Australian oceans. Health and Safety do not permit sharks to swim around Sandbanks.

Do you not find it difficult to pronounce some Australian names, Mooloolaba, Wallalong and Wobbegong?

In all fairness, the Sealife Trust are doing an amazing job. Click their link below and you will be taken on an amazing journey about the sea life in Australia.

THE SEA LIFE PLEDGE

Everything we do is about celebrating the sea. We're passionate about preserving marine habitats and protecting the incredible species that live in them. Marine conservation is at the heart of everything we do- supporting projects across the world that inspire more people to care. (Sealife Website https://www.visitsealife.com/sunshine-coast/responsible-business/conservation/)

I am sure Angela has remembered all these details to tell her wee school children, what her trip was all about and what a pity they could not go.

On a more sombre note. Poole Council is removing all the Hemlock from the verges and open walkways. If you see hemlock or anything like the image below, beware, If ingested, poison hemlock can kill humans or animals through respiratory paralysis within 2-3 hours. However, inhaling its fumes or merely touching it can also cause poisoning.