In preparing the Little Darwin residence for the forecast wild weather, much consideration was given to try and bring down large dead palm fronds dangling above a substantial Desert Rose , in the shape of a crucifix, to prevent it from being damaged . A hand held rake could not get high enough to dislodge the fronds .
Out came a ladder, and with the advice of two female doctors ringing in one's ear that any man over the age of 60 who climbs up a ladder and/or onto a roof is a silly old bugger, this blogger was able to get to the top rung and grab two fronds . Tugged...down they came on top of my head , accompanied by a platoon of airborne , angry green ants.
As I was only clad in a pair of tattered Bombay Bloomers , the ants went on the offensive in various parts of the cranium and wrinkled body , up the trouser legs , causing jitterbugging and slapping . In the base of the fronds were interesting white nests in which were swarming angry ants and what appeared to be much larger winged Queen Bee-like ones , about which the smaller ones gathered protectively , seeming dragging them back to the shelter of the nest .
Probably a bit stunned , and stupid , got back on the ladder and brought down two more fronds and hordes more attack ants . There is still one pesky frond hanging but it is too high to reach .
