Life in the rough

Silverback log:

It’s been a great week living on the edge of the golf course. A few golfers have strayed over near the fence. It must be hard to concentrate on your shot with two dogs barking at you!

We’ve all had attention. Enzo needed annual vaccination, Bob the campervan needed a service and we both needed new glasses. Add to that a new iPhone for the Sparrow and catching up with family and it’s been busy.

Just to remind me that ‘you’re only old once’ I had to apply for the Seniors Health Care Card! On the positive side you get discounts on some government items like drivers licence and car rego. On the negative side it’s an incredibly tedious process at a time in life when tolerance of such things is waning.

The kangaroos were entertaining but were just part of the background by the end of the week. Their habit of resting in the shade combined with the bright sunlight and clear blue skies made them a more difficult photographic subject that we initially imagined. We never did manage a good shot of the alpha male flexing his muscle. He’s a very impressive beast.

We’ve got a couple of family gatherings still to go before we get back on the road. Art opening tonight for the Sparrows parent’s art group, then nephew’s birthday dinner Saturday. Sparrow’s dad is quite an accomplished painter.

We’re heading to south west WA next. No more desert, lots of rugged coastline and wineries. Enzo will be spending lots of time sitting under tables at winery restaurants!

Post script: the alpha male got up to stretch his muscles just as I was finishing writing. So I popped a couple of silhouettes in the extras. You’ll see he has very developed upper limb muscles compared to the others.

Of interest to students of comparative mammalian/marsupial anatomy: kangaroos scrotums are in front of the penis. They retract tight against the body during physical activity but tend to swing in the breeze a bit when relaxing. They are funny looking creatures in more ways than one!