11/01/2009 - Walk up Mt Taylor

I was starting to get a bit restless at home today and wanted to see a bit more of Canberra than just the river. So Snagrom, Melski and Page took me for a walk up Mt Taylor which is one of the nature reserves in Canberra (and only 5 minutes from their home). It's a lovely hour and a bit walk up and down the hill. Snagrom said that there is always lots of wildlife and flowers to be seen. Apparently, as with most nature reserves, you are almost guaranteed to see kangaroos lounging around the place. In that respect I wasn't disappointed. Alas, I have no photos to prove it on the blog as the one Melski took turned out horribly =(.


On the way up the top we saw bluebells aplenty and a pair of big wedge-tailed eagles flying about overhead. On the way down we saw yellow button daisies, melaleucas, and wattles in flower and kangaroos (and the infamous rabbit) along with all the fitness freaks sweating it out! I think Page now appreciates her Daddy a bit more - I only got dropped and left behind once. Just imagine if her Daddy did that to her!



I was impressed with the view out over the Tuggeranong Valley, the Woden Valley (where Snagrom and Melski live) and out towards the City and Black Mountain Tower. I can imagine that it must look lovely in autumn when all the exotic, deciduous trees are in full colour (if there was good rain in late summer/early autumn). The view over the Brindabella Range is also apparently quite impressive when there is stormy weather on the way.




So all up, I had a wonderful "walk" up Mt Taylor and feel that I've seen a bit more of their countryside.


Last week of January - Bye bye Australia!

Well it's official. My sleeping bag has been bought and I'm heading back to the United States of America to visit Rogue Slayer! Goodbye hot weather and hello winter again! Thanks for the hospitality Snagrom, Melski and Page. Don't let Page get too upset that I'm moving on!

New Year's Eve (31/12/2008)

Well I arrived safely in Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory (Australia) on New Year's Eve. Thanks for the great Christmas excitement Kaos and Southn!

I was expecting a big bash and instead I heard the sound of snores and crickets at midnight! No fireworks on television or anything. Still I guess it was nice to have some peace and quiet after all the wedding excitement.

The only fireworks I ever saw and heard were the ones coming from Snag's computer. As I popped out of my mail bag I noticed on the computer in front of me a whole lot of very comely girls wiggling their (how do I say this?) booty. Apparently the TOG Guild Wars division was doing a get well/New Years card for Madpiper. I hope he likes it 'cause it certainly got me a bit hot and bothered! However they also did a slightly more sedate one from everyone (not just those cheeky elementalists who want to set everyone on fire!).

(Click on the picture to see the whole thing. The blog cut the pictures in half.)





New Year's Day (01/01/2009)

New Years day I went with Snag and Page (Snag's little almost 2 year old girl) to Kambah Pool. Apparently the Murrumbidgee which is tributary of the Murray River (the main south-east river in Australia) is good for swimming. We met up with Snag's family of two sisters and husbands and kids for the morning. I have to tell you that I was a bit worried about the appearance of the river at first but after dipping my toes in and seeing Snag's family cavorting about I decided to brave it. The water was wonderfully warm and the sand just gorgeous. I even got to see (albeit from a distance) a wombat wondering around on the other side of the bank.





Kambah Pool again (06/01/2009)

Well Page had a playdate with some little friends. So we trooped back down to Kambah Pool again. It was a 36 degrees Celsius day so it was perfect to spend that time down by the river. Page's little friend Liam didn't even try and eat me! I've seen how Page loves sucking on her toy rabbit's ears and tail and I have to say I'm a bit worried that it could be my fate too if she gets hold of me unsupervised....


The Cotter playground (10/01/2009)

That was my last real activity for a week or so as Melski got sick and sent the household into a bit of panic. But he's almost all better now. So to test his endurance out we went down to the Cotter River playground for a bit of fun and a very short walk. I had a wonderful time getting a ride of Page's new trike, going for a swing, a slide and even a ride on a kangaroo! I got to hear some black cockatoos and see some normal ones. I also spotted magpies, currawongs, crimson rosellas, wood ducks, and some little fantail birds. What a lovely lot of colourful birds Australians have!

my first attendance at a wedding

w00t!!! the day finally arrived when Kaos & Southn_Comfort got married (12.12.08)

One thing I have learnt in my short life so far, is that when females have a few drinks, they like to put me in their cleavage - not that I'm complaining!!!! Here I am with Kaos, just before we went for a ride in a stretch limo.

I was so excited when Kaos asked me to walk her down the aisle with her Dad....I'm near the ribbon of the flowers

At the reception I got to sit with some other Toggers!!! I got to catch up with Wayfarer again - it's been a long time since I stayed him & his family!!! I also got to meet Bugsquash & Fox.
Here I am with the rest of the people at our table (Kaos & Southn's neighbours)
Here are all the Toggers that were there: (Back) Fids, Corpse, Wayfarer, Bugs, Fox (front) Kaos, Me (Haggis) & Southn

Under the BAD influence of my fellow toggers, I used the salt & pepper shakers to get into the red wine....hmmmm yummy

with the red wine in my stomach (hehehe pun intended), I got a little cheeky - I wanted to give Southn a surprise!!!

I crawled up Kaos' leg to hide in the garter (that was really a hair scrunchie, complete with a flashing Xmas tree, as they had misplaced the original garter)
I got to ride home with Southn & Kaos in a super stretch limo, that had to do an 18 point turn at the end of their street to turn around!!! hehehe it was quite funny.

I then saw more than I really wanted to as Kaos forgot that she had put me on the bedside table when they got home......I really didn't need to witness the marriage being consummated.

Southn & Kaos then had another 2 BBQ's, the day after the wedding so I could see Way & Bugs again. I got to meet Bugs' children, I also got to meet Tiger74. At the 2nd BBQ I got to meet Raven, Mettleking & Mettlequeen & Mettlekids, MoC, Ebola, Resonic, Torty & wife. I was glad that they put me on the "bbq'd bbq" after the flames had gone out.
(these photos courtesy of Ebola)


extinguisher/smoke haze reflecting off light after the flames had been put out (photo courtesy of MoC)
So after an action packed & eventful 3 weeks with Kaos & Southn, it is now time for me to get back into my sleeping bag & be on my merry way again. My next stop is to the Australian Capital Territory, to visit with Snagrom & Melski.

Stay tuned for more Haggis adventures. GAME ON!!!

Brisbane, Australia - again!!

As soon as I got my very first invitation to a TOG Wedding, I was on my way again. I made sure I travelled first class so to get to my next destination on time. I found myself back in Sunny Brisbane, but this time it was not so sunny - I dont like thunderstorms or blackouts, but Southn_ Comfort reassured me that all would be ok.

For my first outing I sneaked into Kaos' bag when she went to the Brisbane Law Courts (I thought she was going to try & get me permanent residency, but apparently I have a few more years of travel left in me)


Here I am with Southn_Comfort outside court 6A


Southn & Kaos then took me on a boat ride across the Brisbane River - they told me I had to stay in Southn's pocket so that I didnt become bull shark bait.

My next big outing was to Kaos' Hens Night (bachelorette party). I felt so privileged to be the only token male allowed to attend this 'Secret Women's Business'....but I think I may need therapy now!!!

I was a little worried when Kaos came out with pink hair



Halfway through the night they changed Kaos' crown.....I had to get a closer look...OMG I think I blushed a little when I realised what they were, but it's too rude to put a photo up.

I thought you had to be in the water to go surfing....but Kaos introduced me to something called trolley surfing
I thought Kaos was so nice when she said that she would give me the house someone had given her.....I thought "finally a home of my own", then I found out that it was a gingerbread house.....in the gutter!!!!

I think I need some time to recover from that night!!!!!

We then travelled to Alma Park Zoo....We went with some of Kaos' friend who were visiting from Chicago - I told them I had stayed with MotherFlanker there - they live about 30mins from my TOG buddy.

I had my photo taken with a lot a strange animals
Peacock:
Koala:
some strange bird that is a relative to the emu:
Then I met Shrek's friend - Donkey:
Kaos held onto me real tight, as Bambi gave me a kiss:
Kaos said I was a real heart breaker, as all the animals loved me & either wanted to run away with me or give me a kiss:
but I didnt want to get too close to the mouths of some of them:
this zookeeper had to save me from the BIG olive python
& Kaos had her thumb on the crocodiles head while I went in for a closer look:

When I heard someone yell out "A dingo ate my baby", I got a little worried & asked Southn if he could take me home:
It has been an actioned packed few days & I'm exhausted, but the excitement is building in the Southn/Kaos house, as there is only 4 more sleeps to the BIG event, & I'll even get see a few more of my fellow Toggers.

Until next time....GAME ON!!!!
TOG|Haggis

Tulsa, Oklahoma USA part two

Another lovely Saturday we went to tour Tulsa a bit more. Celeste wanted me to know that Williams isn't the only big name in Tulsa (she thinks it's not a one-horse town but I have heard it's the smallest "big" city in America). The public golf course at LaFortune Park was hosting a flock of visiting Canadian geese. I would have gotten closer, but they started looking at me like I was a piece of bread. Run away!






After safely escaping the geese, we went back to the downtown side of town. Downtown is seated right next to the Arkansas River. About 2 miles south of downtown, there is a pedestrian bridge crossing the river (that's downtown behind my chubby little rear end).

To the left of that view, on the west bank of the river, there are many oil tanks (again, what's with my rear end? I swear I have not been sneaking extra helpings of Celeste's homemade breads and sweets and dumplings - really!).

The Pedestrian Bridge is actually a converted railroad bridge. The rails are still on top (but not in use). Pedestrians and bicyclists traverse through underneath, and it connects to the biking/walking trails that encircle the entire city. Nifty. It's very near the founding spot of Tulsa, the Council Oak and the trading post from 1868.

Now this park (below), Woodward Park, got its name from the Creek Indian who once owned it. Although it's only 2 miles from downtown, this was once considered "too far out in the country" in 1909. This area is called "midtown" now. This little bench is a popular place for people to get their pictures professionally done, and also on the bridge below, as the hill climbing to the left is covered with azalea blooms in springtime. Celeste lived across the street from here till she was four, when her folks moved 40 miles out - now that's really far out into the country.

I got to sniff a lovely pink bloom that was as big as me! But then a giant caterpillar caught my attention instead. Maybe when he grows up he will be a sandworm of Dune. Err then again, maybe not.

After my exciting tour was over, Celeste said she would ship me onward, but I ended up spending a lot of time playing with her desk toys instead. I even solved her Rubiks Cube for her.

In just another week, Halloween was here. I tried on some costumes. The Harry Potter look may be old, but there's just something about those glasses - they really work for me.

Then I got invited to some Halloween ritual. I know Snoopy is an imaginative fellow but this séance stuff is kinda creepy (plus I was getting splashed).

I decided to hide in the candy bowl.

Soon after the Halloween party, this trebuchet kit was delivered. It took awhile to build. I helped put it together because I figured it was going to be my only way out of here!

All finished. And I got a wedding invitation! I really must be going now. Now which way to Australia? And are you sure that counterweight is going to be enough to fling me all the way across the globe?

Wheeeeeee - I am on my way!