Fifi the carpet python

This is a carpet snake or carpet python. One of these snakes lives in the roof of Chris's grandma's house. Her name is Fifi. The Greek word for snake is fithi but, when Chris was a little boy, he couldn't say that. All he could say was fifi so that became the snake's name.

Fifi is not poisonous. She squeezes her prey until it cant breathe.  Erk!  Anyway there are no rats or mice at Yia Yia's place thanks to Fifi.

The first time I met Fifi, I freaked out. I wasn't ready to find a two metre long snake when I visited the bathroom.  You do not expect to come face to face with a Fifi when you are washing your hands. Apparently Fifi was feeling a bit warm so she went looking for a cool spot to sleep in....like the basin in the bathroom.  She was curled up there looking very comfortable when I disturbed her peace and quiet.
Sorry about that, Fifi.

Now Fifi and I are used to each other. She feels really weird when she slides along.  I was expecting her to be slimy but she actually feels smooth and very strong. If you just sit still and let her move around you, she doesn't squeeze. That only happens if she gets a fright.

Don't you think the pattern on her skin is lovely.

Birthday Party

Do you remember I was telling you about Chris and me having a double birthday party this year?  He is going to be 13 and I am turning twelve.  Well, we've been trying to sort out what sort of a party it would be and, finally, we have decided on paintball followed by swimming followed by a big barbecue.

Chris's grandma - he calls her Yia Yia - lives in this big, old, rambling house that sits on about two acres of land.  When the original Cominos arrived in this country from Greece, they bought the land and farmed fruit which they sold at the markets.  These days they have a large fruit store two doors down from my place.  Chris's Uncle George still grows some fruit on the family property but the stock for the fruit shop comes from heaps of other farms.

Anyway, back to the party...Yia Yia said that we could have the party at her place because there is a lot of room for us to race around playing paintball. There is also a creek where we can swim and, of course, heaps of space for barbecueing.  We are really excited now because it is only a couple of weeks away.  Chris and I are going to visit Yia Yia this weekend to figure out the final details and have a good explore of the place.  I am going to make sure I know where all the good hiding places are for when we are splatting each other with globs of paint. He wants us to play in teams - boys versus girls - because he reckons the boys will beat the girls sooooo easily.  Ha!  He'd better be ready for some girl power.

We are going to have heaps of food too.  The mothers have gone into overdrive planning that sideof things. I have asked for an ice cream cake and Chris wants his Mum's special Death By Chocolate cake.
Oh, yum!  

Catch you later.
Taya 

Rikina

Meet Rickina. She's an Indonesian orangutan who was rescued from a suspected smuggler in West Kalimantan in December. She had a head injury from a machete, and was in poor shape. 

Rickina is now living in the Orangutan Outreach shelter in Ketapang, Indonesia. Her head's almost healed, and it's time for her to meet the other babies in the sanctuary. 

Spring Cleaning

Mum is having a Spring cleaning attack.  She has been dragging out all sorts of stuff from the cupboards and from the spare room and either chucking them in the bin or selling them.

So far a treadmill, some clothes and a coffee set have disappeared out the door in the arms of complete strangers.

Mum has found this site on the computer which is like a garage sale but you don't have to have the stuff set out on the front lawn for people to come and comb through at six in the morning.  You just put a picture up online and the people but things straight from there.  Mum thinks it is very cool.

This morning a lady arrived at the door to pick up my big box of Lego bricks.  It seems that I didn't want it anymore.  As usual I wasn't consulted, but seeing as how I hadn't played with the Lego for like three years, I didn't complain.....and I got to keep the money!!!  Bonus!!!

I now have orders to go through my closet to find clothes that don't fit anymore and that are still in really good condition.  This is my chance to get rid of the hideous lime green flower-girl dress that I had to wear at my cousin's wedding.  Mum put a photo of me wearing it (yuk!) into a silver frame. It sits on the shelf in the living room where everyone can see it. (yuk - again!) You have no idea how gruesome that dress is.  It is all frills and flounces with puffy little sleeves- not my style at all.  Anyone interested?

I might be really brave and sell my Mickey Mouse talking alarm clock.  I have had it since I was two. Gran gave it to me for Christmas, I think.  It looks like a train engine with Mickey driving it. When the alarm goes off it toots and Mickey says 'Wake up. Time to get up out of bed.'   It is on the top shelf of my closet. I have a radio alarm clock now so I guess Mickey could be sold.  Maybe.

Nah - Mickey's special - maybe next Spring.