Invasions

There are lots of magpies around at the moment, along with rosellas and choughs. There are also LOTS of rabbits.

My tomato plants in the tubs out the front at Hill House have been eaten away. I suspect the rabbits. Although they haven't destroyed the tomato plants I got from Sister Stella's church fundraiser. Obviously protected by a holy aura :-D I am thinking of closing the gates at the bottom of the drive, blocking up the gap under the gates so nothing can escape and letting Hugo and Rupert out to chase away the rabbits. My tomato plants were doing really well ;-(

Fortunately, the tomato plants down at our place are also doing really well and so far have not been attacked by rabbits.

I refilled Hugo's paddling pool today. He was very pleased. Rupert enjoyed chasing the hose. So far, so normal on warm summer days. Then they went inside for a snooze. Shortly after there was splashing from outside. Hugo went to investigate. To his horror there was A MAGPIE swimming in his pool. He chased it away and then spent about 15 minutes patrolling so no more magpies could be quite so impertinent :) (The magpies do enjoy swimming in the pool - when Hugo and Rupert are not around). For the avoidance of doubt - the pool is a child's paddling pool. We do not have a human swimming pool at Hill House. Rupert, Hugo and the magpies do not know this!

We have also been invaded by cyclists and their bicycles. It is the week of the annual national bike trials. They colonise Buninyong, Mount Helen and various roads round about. Those roads are closed to traffic, for obvious reasons. The event brings lots of money into the Ballarat region. Not only are the competitors here but so are loads of bikey spectators, together with their bikes. There are public cycle related events as well as the trials and road races.

It is HUGELY irritating. My main routes home yesterday evening were closed (to be fair, I had forgotten about the very well advertised road closures ). It makes getting around locally very difficult. Quite apart from the road closures there are cyclists EVERYWHERE. I know, I know it's only a few days. Doesn't stop it being VERY IRRITATING.

I hear that Bendigo is very lovely at this time of year :-D

Though I don't know if there is an extinct volcano in Bendigo for the cyclists to play with.