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| Photo by our scruffy Shipping Reporter . |
Thursday, September 30, 2021
NOT QUITE SHIPSHAPE TRINITY CASTLE EQUIPPED FOR ANY EVENTUALITY
LATEST BORDER SECURITY UPDATE FROM PATROLLING SHIPPING REPORTER
Another bulk carrier, the 185 metre long Labrador ,flying under the Cypriot flag, attracted much public attention, but none from the mainland media . There were two other interesting cargo ships in port .
At Townsville's Victory in the Pacific Memorial Fountain the area appeared to have been marked out for excavation . On the other hand , it could be part of a secret plan to convert it into a back up coolant system for visiting nuclear powered submarines .
While the fountain, often neglected, was working in a tame fashion, a few sticks were floating about in the water .
Large palm fronds had fallen close to the nearby bus shelter . The nearby travel centre clock was not working . As usual, the clocks on the old post office tower in the CBD were not working .
Wednesday, September 29, 2021
Tuesday, September 28, 2021
OTTO ON THE MOVE
Alas, on Magnetic Island , Otto's , part of a mainland chain , has closed , its interior counter and shelves bare , outside somebody badly in need of a caffeine hit seemingly lamenting the closure .
However , at Townsville's large Castle Town shopping centre , Big Al's admirable vegetable shoppe , which at one stage expanded into space once used as a grog outlet, is to be replaced by another Otto venture.
Monday, September 27, 2021
CURLEW WATCH : SNAKE CHASE ; MOTHER MOTLEY SINGING OUT
A green tree snake caused a commotion when it was sighted being chased by a Curlew and two screeching Plovers not far from the recently hatched Curlew chicks pictured in this blog . The snake quickly escaped down a stormwater drain .
The latest photo of the chicks shows them still keeping close to their mother .
Another resident Curlew family , with older youngsters , snapped below during feeding . The chicks now run with their parents to the backdoor demanding to be fed .
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Meanwhile , Motley, below, the bedraggled , rescued Curlew who took refuge in a wardrobe for a time to get over the trauma of its early life , then emerged to mother many orphans on Magnetic Island , is in fine voice. She has been serenading other Curlews in the district with what seems to be a lively Mexican festival tune and an invite to a plate of enchiladas!
Sunday, September 26, 2021
CREATIVE FORCES AT PLAY DURING SCHOOL HOLIDAYS AT THE SEASIDE
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| Tropical Wigwam. |
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| Tracks left by scavenging seagulls . |
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| Driftwod and coral with spooky looking cave dwellers.. |
Saturday, September 25, 2021
BOGART AND SAM STOPPED FROM TICKLING THE IVORIES IN CASABLANCA
Island a no-go- zone for feral pianos
Humphrey Bogart breaks the shock news to pianist buddy Sam that the Townville City Council has refused permission for a honky-tonk upright piano to be played in conjunction with a popular pop up food van, Shaka , on Magnetic Island .
The piano , shown above , down by the seaside , attracted a lot of attention from visitors to the island and an arty photograph of it is said to have won a competition down south .
Then it vanished . Word went out that the TCC had axed it , not literally .
Magnetic Island has a history of mistreating pianos . One in the open down at Radical Bay was knocked about at times , set alight, reduced to ashes .
It was respectfully used a few years ago by a group attending a special birthday party for a teenager , a camp set up next to the piano , which is on the far left of the following snap.
Playing crazy ting-ting music on the piano at the cool cats birthday party with a close up of the weathered innards.
Friday, September 24, 2021
WAY DOWN YONDER IN THE BUZZING TROPICAL RATTLEPOD PATCH
After head-butting all the flowers in the patch, gridiron playing Bumblebee takes time out on a frangipani branch . A Dragonfly, below, soaks up the sun on a rattlepod. Vallis photographs .
