When we got to our secret destination, there was no moon, no wind and almost no water, as the tide was still far out. We chatted for a bit, and then kitted up and set off into the sea. It started slowly and then we were spotting flounder in pairs, I would hold the light and Dave and James would spear them. We have never managed to catch 10 before, and last night we tripled that. It was really amazing! Having not eaten flounder for a while, it feels really good to know we have several meals stockpiled in the freezer. (I had visualised that we would have to fish every day in order to eat, and I find it really reassuring when we catch enough for several days, so we don't have to go out when the weather is miserable.)
The stars were so close, the wind was hardly a ripple on the water, and as the other 2 flounderers had gone home long before us, the peace, interspersed with the guys wounding themselves on the barbs of the spears, was absolute. It was really a night to remember.
We got home after midnight, with all the fish still to gut and sort for fridge and freezer. (We had also got a couple of squid.) So it was almost 2am before we got to bed.
Today we went up to one of the highest properties on the island for a lunch out. It was great to see the amazing views that they have towards the north of the island, and the beaches on both the east and west coasts. Of course we had failed in the most basic ute care, and had given it some oil, but no water, so she heated on the climb up, but with the aid of some elderly drinking water, we made our lunch date, almost on time. We had a walk around the property, and then ate a wonderful meal. We got home in time to take down the Christmas decorations, eat some flounder and head off to Scottish dancing.
Needless to say our concentration was not of the best, so we got a bit confused in some of the dances, but the others are very understanding about our lapses!
I have a collection of old drinking water bottles in my car - I wont drink from them if it's been drunk from and then left in in there for more than a day, but I leave them in there in case of emergency.
ReplyDeleteEvery now and then, I empty some into the others so I have full bottles instead of lots of partials.
They've been used for various things - water for the dog on hot days, rinsing off sand or mud (or dog poo) caked feet or shoes, someone else's broken down car. But since my windscreen water bottle engine died, however, there's not much left.
Twice I've taken the car in for a service and asked the mechanic (different place each time) to fix it - and twice the mechanic has told me as I take the car back "By the way, your wiper bottle motor is dead, you'll need to get that fixed. Your car's unroadworthy because of it.' Unfortunately, I've always needed the car immediately, so couldn't wait until they did it.
I am reliably informed that a single yellow flag at Bathurst (a car race) indicates that a kangaroo has been sighted from the track.
ReplyDeleteA double yellow flag, on the other hand, indicates that the kangaroo has been sighted on the track.
I love flounder. Some of the best dishes in the world are made from flounder or sole. Any recipe calling for turbot is well made with a flounder.
ReplyDeleteBoth you and Dave always manage to make your everyday life read as an adventure. I think it has something to do with the enthusiasm and sheer enjoyment you impart. :)
ReplyDeleteMy gosh, you are lucky.
ReplyDeleteRoo did an excellent job of destroying the front of my car in 1992.
OZ (almost) urban legend - roo comes through the windscreen and kicks the humans to death trying to escape. Almost, because it has happened, just not as often as the regalers would have you believe.
Roo bars and equivalent are becoming illegal in many countries, because a low speed accident, at, say, a pedestrian crossing, which would be survivable in normal circumstances becomes deadly when the forward leaning roo bar crushes the ribcage.
I don't know about other countries, but in QLD OZ you will frequently see a new style of 4wd bumper - made from high density clear plastic tubing, insert piecemeal into rubber grommets.
Hit a human at low speed, the "bars" bend out of the way. Hit a kangaroo at high speed, the rubber density is sufficient to act as if it was steel, the shape is crafted to NOT send the roo over the bonnet.
Conclusion of our little contretemps: Roo - hopped away, Us - about $5000 damage.
Ian
Wow, I am not sure I want a 'roo bar now, our town streets are full of pedestrians, and yes I watch out as best I can, but I would hate to do extra damage to one of them.
ReplyDeleteI can recommend our island mechanics, they really seem to take their care of our car to heart, maybe because so much of the island is remote with no mobile coverage!
Actually so much of our life here seems like an adventure, maybe because each day is different, and only planned once the weather has been carefully assessed.