Doing my bit for natural diversity
Today as I was riding into town to complete my Christmas shopping (and this is an all-time late record for me, shopping on Christmas Eve), I saw a local variety of fresh-water tortoise on the side of the road. It had evidently gone wandering last night in the rain, and had gotten lost.
"Silly bugger," I told myself. "He's going to be squished if he stays there."
So I decided to take him back to the pnd from which he'd strayed, about fifty metres away. Of course, by the time I had made this decision I was already around the corner, so I backtracked and parked my bike against a tree and went and collected the terminally-endangered terripan. They're easy to pick up, just grab them by the shell - however, grab them from the back, so they can't bite or scratch. My little friend didn't appreciate what I was doing for him, but as we approached the lake, he stopped waving his little legs uselessly in the air and stuck his head out further, as if to say, "_This_ is more like it!" I put him on the edge of the water and off he went, faster than you could say, "Bye-bye." And I went off into the maelstrom that is Christmas Eve traffic, content in the knowledge I had done something small, but good.
This was emphasised by the fact that on the return journey I found another, less-fortunate cousin of Terry Tortoise most decidedly squished in the gutter.
And yes, my shopping expedition was as bad as I thought it would be. I had to go to Albury to get the book mum wanted, and discovered that the Department of Justice, rather than being nice and paying us _before_ Christmas, is waiting until afterwards (payday is Boxing Day, y'see). So I have the grand total of $9.37 in my account at the moment, and a credit card starting to groan at the seams. *sighs* Until Thursday, any way.
I hope.
But I have completed my shopping and the mailing of cards etc. Now for the wrapping part.
*dipsmooches the FarliChilde* Got your card today. Thank you!
"Silly bugger," I told myself. "He's going to be squished if he stays there."
So I decided to take him back to the pnd from which he'd strayed, about fifty metres away. Of course, by the time I had made this decision I was already around the corner, so I backtracked and parked my bike against a tree and went and collected the terminally-endangered terripan. They're easy to pick up, just grab them by the shell - however, grab them from the back, so they can't bite or scratch. My little friend didn't appreciate what I was doing for him, but as we approached the lake, he stopped waving his little legs uselessly in the air and stuck his head out further, as if to say, "_This_ is more like it!" I put him on the edge of the water and off he went, faster than you could say, "Bye-bye." And I went off into the maelstrom that is Christmas Eve traffic, content in the knowledge I had done something small, but good.
This was emphasised by the fact that on the return journey I found another, less-fortunate cousin of Terry Tortoise most decidedly squished in the gutter.
And yes, my shopping expedition was as bad as I thought it would be. I had to go to Albury to get the book mum wanted, and discovered that the Department of Justice, rather than being nice and paying us _before_ Christmas, is waiting until afterwards (payday is Boxing Day, y'see). So I have the grand total of $9.37 in my account at the moment, and a credit card starting to groan at the seams. *sighs* Until Thursday, any way.
I hope.
But I have completed my shopping and the mailing of cards etc. Now for the wrapping part.
*dipsmooches the FarliChilde* Got your card today. Thank you!
