On a drive to Rockhampton (Queensland, Australia) on Wednesday, I saw an emu on the road!  This is only the second time I've ever seen an emu 'in the wild'!

Imagine how quickly I needed to find my digital camera in my handbag & snap off these photos of it, through the windscreen & car window:

One can't expect an emu to be traffic aware:

Uhoh:

Whew:

Interesting curvy neck action while running:

See if you can guess the 5 letter word in less than 23 tries:

It's a bit like playing Mastermind, you remember, the guessing game with the coloured round topped pegs which you have to guess about, & the white & black pegs which indicate if you have guessed a correct colour, & whether or not it's in the correct position?

You can play this game online, free, here - & see if you can beat my attempt!  (Let me know how you go?)

The photos are dreadful, both the flash and not being aligned correctly, however here is the work in progress:

I think it's just about finished now, so would you please click here to see a larger version of the painting:  "A Twilight Flight of Fancy" (working title)?

This time I was inspired by the artworks of Richard Baxter and especially Anne Julie Aubry.

Ooh la la James McAvoy!  I've just seen him for the first time, in the movie "Becoming Jane".

He may be short (5'7"), with a large nose (it's manly), & 'non-American' teeth, but oh those blue eyes, that smile which evidences a love of life, mmmmm mmmmmmm!

Photograph credit:  The Internet Movie Database

Just in case anyone has been wondering why I haven't been posting often over the last few weeks:  I injured a knee, then caught the 'flu, & am stll having coughing fits, so have been feeling sorry for myself while housebound for ~ a month!

Did the heading catch your eye? It sounds exciting, doesn't it - rather more exciting than this dark overcast day here in Queensland, Australia?  I'm grateful that the temperature has only reached about 21 degrees celsius - ideal, for me.  Later:  it's raining, smells wonderful.

Click here for the Wikipedia entry for Bohemianism.  While I was there, I also looked into "Boho-Chic", & discovered the answer to the question in my mind about the flowery lace-like tentacled artwork I've noticed lately, on television graphics, & MySpace layouts for musicians - it's Boho-Chic!  :-)

I'd be happy to never work again.  I'd rather play, relax, travel, read books, watch movies, create things, come up with ideas, sleep, laugh, be with family, people watch, attend concerts, listen to music, give advice, give detailed instructions, cuddle cute babies (briefly), make the world a more beautiful place .... & I'd never miss working.

Later:  hmmm I think this must be genetic.  I have a brother who is a professional, & yet he prefers to stay in the country, pottering around doing odd jobs for our mother, living frugally, playing tennis, kayaking, attending festivals - between stints of work overseas.

I have a bachelor aunt & a bacelor uncle (different sides of the family).  Neither work for a living, although they did until they were probably in their 40s (a pattern is emerging).  He loves growing orchids.  She takes long walks & spends her life helping others, to avoid having to live another life(!)  Oh, & her brother worked overseas as a young man, planted a plantation of luxury products on what is now very much in demand real estate, & has been living off his plantation for several decades, now with his new second wife, who is not much older than me!

If you're a "lady of leisure", don't even think about taking up a paying job to improve your social life.  I discovered that that doesn't work.  Office politics just may be enough to ensure you'd rather stay home on your days off.  Remember:  "work won't love you back".  Oh, & by the way:  working outside the home is much easier than caring for a baby full time, & much much less fulfilling & life enriching.

I sometimes daydream of taking to the open road in a gypsy caravan.  You know the kind:  a brightly adorned wooden gypsy caravan built for only one (or two) - but I'd want all mod cons & a motor (no horses to take care of).  I'd want air conditioning, solar power, one of those wonderful machines which produce drinking water by sucking the moisture out of the surrounding air (!), a broadband internet connection, security windows, some kind of foldout or roll out or slideout or popup secure annexe system for extra space (a lounge/living/sitting room?) when parked, a high megapixel digital camera so I can take heaps of great photos & keep an online travel blog, & lots of cash for entry tickets, dining in great restauants, movies, etc etc etc.

I'd happily give up housework entirely.  I'd love to have a maid, a maid who wouldn't gossip about me behind my back, someone clean, tidy, organised, respectful, efficient, & pleasant to have around (sounds like a wife!).  I might cook occasionally, something new & interesting & delicious, which would be well appreciated by all tasters.

The only thing stopping me from living in my pyjamas is the fear of getting caught in them, by somebody audacious enough to arrive at my home unannounced & uninvited (usually collectors for charity).  I wouldn't wear my pyjamas out, of course, but then I'd only go out to have fun (if I could).

You probably think I'm joking, about all of this.  I'm not.