One O’clock, Two O’clock, Three O’clock Croc’…

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We had book club yesterday afternoon. Luckily, I had managed to read 65 pages of the 1,200 page tome so I could enter the conversation to some small degree. Surprisingly, two bookworms had actually finished the book and the rest of us  bestowed them with the admiration they deserved for such a feat of determination. Unfortunately, none of my desired Hollywood celebrity guests were able to make it to swell the numbers of our little book club.

“Why didn’t you ask Goldie Hawn along?” all the chaps asked a bit shirtily.

“Too many women already,” I answered.

They could see my point and I think they felt slightly chuffed that I was quite so territorial.

But that’s not what I wish to tell you about this evening; I really want to tell you about my funny day. I can sum it up for you with an extract from an email I sent a little earlier to our handsome book club leader. This is part of my response to his question, “What have you been up to today?”

I’ve spent the day searching for house-sitting situations in Queensland and New South Wales. This morning I chatted on Skype to a gentleman with a home and dog in a little township, north of Townsville but south of Cairns, called Forest Beach (not Forest Gump).
 
“Would I have to wrestle crocodiles on the beach?” I asked. 
 
“Well, I’ve been here for over seven years,” he laughed before adding, “and I’ve only ever seen one up on the beach. You see, croc’s like fresh water so they go from one river outlet to another, and you usually only see them swimming across the bay… but you don’t go swimming!”
 
“And what about snakes? Are they a problem where you are?”
 
“Nah, not really. We get a few green tree snakes into the house sometimes but we shoo them on out…”
 
“Oh, they aren’t poisonous, that’s alright,” I said, “what about other types of snakes?” (I wasn’t quite convinced.)
 
“We have the occasional python come in too, but the dog usually let’s you know about it so you’re aware it’s there.”
 
“Thank goodness!” I said.
 
 
So, Reuben, if I get offered the position I’m going to make myself a bow and arrows, arm myself with a cleaver, and make a spear to carry around with me on walks on the beach with the dog. I’m going to become a female version of Crocodile Dundee!
 
Other than that, it’s been quite a normal day today!