I’ve been painting more birds, seeing as they are so kind as to pose for me in the frangipani trees that border Roland’s verandah. They watch us and look forward to bread and tidbits; and we watch them because they’re so beautiful in the frangipanis and at home with us on the verandah. The tameness of the wild birds makes us feel special.

The goanna that lives in Roly’s garden enjoys the variety of delicious meats (slightly old but not rotten) that are put out for him although he prefers to sneak out on his hunt for food under cover of nightfall. If I should spy him in daylight, and follow with my phone camera, he gets shy and hightails it to the trees at the end of the garden.

The monster catch was mine a couple of days ago. He showed no fear. No wonder. At only six inches long and ugly as hell the catfish seemed to enjoy his foray into the world above water, sure in the knowledge that no-one would want him except for the mandatory photograph taken by the victor.

The galahs on our local golf course were more interested in the worms that came to the surface after the rain than the two cyclists who were thrilled to come across them. They might end up on canvas one day… if ever I can get close enough for a decent shot of them.