Bird on a Wire

The only bird I saw on the way to work this morning, well, at least the only bird to stay still long enough for me to take a photo was a magpie, sitting on a telephone wire.

For some reason, it seems very regal there, by itself, looking out over the rest of the world.

Looking for shines, I'm sure...

I Tink I Saw, I Tink I Saw a Puddycat

On the way to work this morning, apart from the sun trying to blind me with its harsh gaze (and yet caress me with its warmth, confusing), fighting the urge to just curl up on the beautiful, soft grass and have a nap, serenaded by birdsong and the wind in the trees, I heard a commotion.

In one of the trees, a few birds were chirping away like mad, because a cat was leisurely walking beneath their tree. The cat didn't seem to be in any particular hunting mood though, and when it saw me, it slunk off in the aloof way that only cats can, as if to pretend it didn't care.

That's right, cat, walk away.

Oh, and then I saw a cute bird, that jumped up into a tree when I walked by.

Look! It's looking at me. Got a few good close up photos of it.

Isn't it just cute? Chirp chirp chirp.

This lil' fella made my morning into work.

Trivia in the Pub (7)

Another night of trivia in the pub.

I got there way earlier than everyone else, because I went straight after work, and everyone had to get there from other events. Excuses, I say.

So, after fighting for a table large enough to accomodate our group (And here it helps if the Trivia Mistress likes you, since she can use her mighty authority to make it happen), we started trivia. We did really well in the first round, moderately so in the second.

So, the drawings, as usual, loosely inspired by the trivia questions as well as suggestions (a.k.a. demands) from people (a.k.a. A particular person sitting next to me at the time. You know who you are.)

So we have Mozart, some gentleman, Hamlet, some practice doodles at the top, a laid out dinner table, a lady, the Mona Grinner and a spider. (Eek!).


Here, after being told to go to a new page, we have a practice cheerleader, followed by an actual cheerleader (I was told to draw her, ok?), a skull, a necklace, a pirate, a pirate ship, a ring, a cossack (attempt, anyway), a frog, a tree and the tree of evolution (made up).

Also in there somewhere is something I was *trying* not to draw this week (honest), but a glass of wine will do that to me.

Oh, and we lost trivia on the jeopardy question. Order of mammals with the most species. We answered ungulants, where the actual answer was rodents. Alas. Damn rodents.

Where Ideas Come From

When I run out of ideas...

Magpie, the Return

I found the magpie again on the way to work. It might even have been the same one, who knows.

Got a few good photos, then a woman came around the corner and I straight for the bird, I was sure for a moment that the bird was about to fly off, but fortunately, it just stayed ahead of the woman, keeping its distance before flying off to the side, so I was able to get more photos after all.


I wonder what people think when they see me taking photos. "What, has he never seen a magpie before? Weirdo". Heh, doesn't stop me appreciating them.

I'm also quite glad the magpies aren't attacking me.


The danger! It's almost palpable.

Birds of a Feather

On the way to work, I swear these galahs just aren't trying anymore. They're making it too easy, sitting on the ground, eating, waiting for me to come up and take photos. Where's the wild spark in their eyes? The rebel streak, playing hard to get? Gone. Like so many childhood dreams in the wind. *melodramatic sigh*

Anyway, the good thing is I got nice close-ups.

This galah gave me the stare as I walked by.

Then hopped up, probably figuring I wasn't a threat. Or just because the road is not a safe place for a bird.

And for some reason, when I see the galah below, I can't help but think "Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work we go!".

Then saw two more galah on a wire. Maybe they're the same ones. Following me...


Almost got to work when I heard a magpie call (over the sound of Gimme!Gimme!Gimme! playing in my ears).

And a closer photo.

It occurred to me as I walked closer, that I couldn't remember when nesting season was. I've been attacked by magpies before. It's not fun. They glide in on silent wings of death from above and strike at you like a hammer cracking a macadamia nut, resulting in not too dissimilar a sound but with the added inconvenience of blood seeping out.

I hope everyone appreciates me putting my life on the line for these photos. That's all I'm trying to say.

Trivia in the Pub (6)

Managed to get to trivia at the arranged time this week, which was good. There was a show at the theatre nearby, but it was due to start at 8:00, so there weren't crowds of people passing the time in our pub, which was also good.

I didn't have to go to the pub straight from work, so I didn't have my notebook with me, but I still had paper on me. I always do. It's the hallmark of a true artist. Or something.

Anyway, these are this week's sketches.


We have, starting from top left. No, wait, let's do it in chronological order. A vampiress, a queen, a lady's head, for which the rest of the body was drawn later (censored for the kiddies), an adaptation of the Birth of Venus painting. A Swiss papal guard. The Pope, Jesus, Jesus getting a mug-shot, New-York, some cats, a howling wolf, a tree silhouette, a little dog, some emoticons, some necklaces (upside down bottom of page), and in the bottom left corner, upside down, some tomb stones.

And that's everything.

Oh, and we lost.

... this time.