The Lair of the Emerald Serpent

Izzie has finally offered her annual sacrifice to the evil greedy government goblins so can now have a guilt free lurk online.
Every year it is the same old ritual. This time is going to be different. Will do that nasty stinking tax return in July and get it out of the way. And every year it ends up getting done a week or so before the witching hour at midnight on October 31st

There is the minor matter of waiting for statements from managed funds that do not arrive in the serpent's owlery until August. But there's no excuse for not doing it then.
Yessss. It's scary how effective the threat of an externally imposed deadline can be. It's so so much easier to do stuff for other people's agendas because they'll squawk and squeal or threaten you with jail but to never set the same exacting expectations for one's own grand projects

And that's where the wickedly wonderful Nano November comes in. Getting others to impose deadlines for one's own pet projects works wonders.
Had been delaying that infernal tax return for ages and ages. Will just take a quick peek in Cyberia for 30 minutes and will then spend the next 60 attending to urgent goblin business. Yeah right. After a week or two at that game, was not going to buy it tonight. Just had to bite the bullet and do the deed.

But this morning was the last straw. Having set all the alarms to be up and about for this morning's public speaking group only to think "Bugger it" and then curl up again for another snooze was bad enough in itself. Would not have done that for work.
But to spend all that spare time snoozing all morning instead of biting the bullet and doing those taxes or at least some serious decluttering was really decadent beyond belief.
Instead of feeling refreshed and relaxed, felt annoyed at being such a lazy serpent, missing out on lots of interesting radio programs in that snooze time and having nothing to show for it either but also felt as tired and grumpy as ever.
But a whole day off is too precious to waste with more snoozing so up we got at midday, scrubbed the scales, sat in the garden and then got the bus at 13.30 to the city. After all, along with the taxes, the other big must do item was getting the train ticket for the annual lurk down south.

Had also intended to visit the geekish Scitech as their "Measure Island" show finishes at the end of this month. But was feeling so grumpy, frumpy, cranky and claustrophobic that it would have been a total waste of time and money.
The original plans of the day were to go to the public speaking group, then a coffee crawl followed by getting the ticket, going to the Scitech exhibition before finally watching the moonrise in Kings Park

The old eyes ain't what they used to be. Very good at guessing the approximate area where the moon will be when it peeks its little nose over the horizon but much worse at actually seeing it. Unless the sun has already set and it is reasonably dark - often do not see it until some 15 minutes after official rising time and often right exactly where it should be.
Same in the evening with the countless attempts to tick Aquarius and Pisces off the constellation list. There'll be a dark moon when down south this year so it will be the only chance to see that elusive pair.

Will be working tomorrow evening so will miss out on the official full moon. It's 30 minutes after sunset so should be much much easier to spot.
Counting the days now. Only five more till three weeks of holidays and lots of nano nuttiness

Ten days left to do all the serious plotting and planning. This year will be tricky due to the annual visit down south being all in November and adding an extra day. It was great for inspiration last time but will need more than that. Will need to clock up at least 10,000 words before leaving on November 4th or else it will be that much harder to catch up.
And squiggling on the eeny weeny netbook is an option of last resort.

So time to slink into the darkness until the next visit to Cyberia some time Monday evening

Strange day in Izzieland. For the first time in ages, finally got to see a proper bad moon rising.
Last month was cloudy and Izzie was also so zonked. Snoozed right past 5pm instead of slinking off to the city but the clouds were gathering so it didn't matter in the end

Today was different. A gorgeous crisp and crunchy day. With a bit of effort, after returning to the Lair from the day job at the toxic waste dump, scrubbed the scales and slinked on the bus at 2.40pm.
First stop was feasting at Delizioso - a pizza lovers paradise - especially after 3pm when it's 2 slices for the price of 1
Caught up with the gossip in the papers there before snatching a bottle and slinking up to Parliament House on the hill and the very spooky old astronomy tower with the spirally serpent ornamentation.
This is one of Izzie's sacred sites and places of inspiration. Listening to the radio about all the drama concerning Andrew Wilkie, The Mad Katter and the other independents holding the balance of power just added to the drama. Must post about it all later.

Just before 6pm started slinking off to Kings Park which is the best spot in the city for moon watching. It overlooks the city to the east with very little obstruction on the horizon and used to be a regular lurking ground for sunrises until the the faceless goblins changed the bus routes and this very special sacred site no longer became the last stop of the local bus. With sunrises, there's just no time for messing around with change overs. Such a pity because it used to be such a highlight of the winter months

Was drooling over the spirally ferns unfolding and remembering many moons ago about first becoming enchanted with such beautiful forms. Visited these very places that same day and the experience has remained indelibly etched in the old green cells
Everything was all so relaxed and wonderful until the neurotic instinct arose of checking the bus departure times to see if a trip back to the main road would be required or not. In the good old days, the park bus would have dropped Izzie off at the end of the street and the last one left at 11.30pm. But those days were well and truly over.

Noticed that there'd been some serious rearrangement of the park roads since the last visit. Went looking for the bus stop but it was no longer at its usual spot. Nasty cheap goblins never thought to put up a sign where the old bus stop used to be to say where the new one could be found.If not for a bus arriving would never have found it at all.
Turns out that the last one leaves at 6.38pm. With the moonrise at 6.33 no way was Izzie going to bother. But the fifteen frantic minutes of trying to find the stupid thing ruined the mood of the evening and by then it was 6.30
Due to the hills on the horizon, that would add a few minutes or so but still it seriously ruined the mood. Instead of being all relaxed and comfortable munching on a moonshine picnic. was rushing around like a headless chook and ended up never even opening the precious bottle brought for the occasion.
Did get to see the first golden sliver on the horizon along with a handful of Chinese tourists but was still somewhat agitated.
Why does Izzie lately always manage to stuff up such long awaited occasions with these annoying neurotic fits?
Last Thursday got totally ruined by such a thing - also involving bloody bus BS.

Will be spending lots of September lurking in Kings Park due to the annual wildflower festival but it was nice to get a head start. Maybe it would have been better to have gotten the bus straight there - would have saved all that frantic searching and would have had time to linger in the botanical gardens. But the Izzie had the urge to linger around that old observatory near the parliament - was there on Monday 15th September 2008 the day that Malcom Turnbull challenged Brendan Nelsen for the leadership of the Liberal party and Lehmann Brothers collapsed and the financial crisis truly went global.
Many many moons ago was there with the ma protesting against local labour laws which got defeated but eventually resurrected as the infamous Workchoices
So many magical memories

Will be returning to the same place for the September full moon and this time a bit more informed about the bus schedules so no excuse for being such a neurotic and silly serpent

Izzie is busy listening to a most intriguing tale on the radio about the Christian Identity Movement. Oh the joys of being a descendant of the serpent in the Garden of Eden. Not happy at all that these wacko conspiracists are sniffing us out.

But presently feeling rather more like a werewolf than a serpent. Strange that the first five days of the month was such a happy Izzie and then we end up getting a serious case of the grumps for our two days off - Thursday and today. The weather was glorious and there was even a big fat juicy full moon but the serpent was seriously neurotic and cranky
Even managed to stuff up the long anticipated moonrise picnic. Was sitting up at Memorial Hill - one of the few places around here with nearly 360 degree views of the horizon
Had the bottle of red, bread and cheese all ready for the big moment at ten past six. Or so we thought. It's rather cold and windy and very unprotected up there on the top of the hill so Izzie hid in a corner of the memorial reading about none other than the reminiscences of one Remus Lupin about his werewolf days. Was just after 6pm so it was time to come out of the hidie hole where we could get a better view of the horizon. It was then we seen the big red blob. It was half way up on the horizon slightly more to the north than expected. Did get to see it clear the horizon and slowly change to pink then yellow and then white but was still a bit miffed as this should have been the perfect opportunity to catch the moon before it was less than a quarter visible
Next time the Izzie will do a better job of checking. Thursday's official time was actually 18.02. Had got it mixed up with the 17.09 from the previous day. Normally it's at least ten mins after the official time that the critter becomes visible but yesterday just had to be the exception
That's the sort of state the silly serpent was in yesterday to get all in a tizzie about missing five minutes of moonshine. Totally irrational and silly. But trying to reason with demonic possession is pointless. The only thing to do is lie low and hope it will pass.
Never did have the picnic in spite of bringing all those nibblies up the hill. There was simply no point while being in such a stupid neurotic state. And today was not much better. Even a seriously long morning snooze did not work.
Beginning to wonder if there's a pattern as exactly the same sort of irritable crankiness and tiredness just appeared out of nowhere at the last full moon and lasted 3 days or so. But with the difference that there was not even an attempt at a picnic as it was raining all that week. Spent the time snoozing instead.

But in spite of the grumps, was still able to be amused by the observation that apart from Izzie, the only folks up on the hill admiring the beautiful red moon were those walking their dogs.There were lots of very happy dogs up there including one German Shepherd. Most appropriate indeed.
Tomorrow will be back at work. Like the last four weeks, Izzie has every intention to be up early to go to the organic market at City Farm with the happy hippie gorgeous permaculture garden. Will be interesting to see if the serpent ever gets there. Stayed curled up in the serpent basket for every single one of those last four Saturdays despite all those good intentions. Should also manage to get a quick peek in the City museum before pottering off to catch the bus for work at 2pm

This time last year, was not moon watching or slinking in Cyberia but glued to the tube watching the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. Hard to believe it was only a year ago. It sort of seems like centuries. A long gone age of endless possibilities of prosperity.
It was around the time of the full moon last September when the Goblin doom and gloom seriously escalated. Lehmann's turned out not to be too big to fail. Pity that AIG never did get to join them. All those poor merchant bankers jumping off windows. So sad indeed.
Wondering what sort of madness the next full moon will bring.

Izzie's been slinking about in the moonshine. Got a most decadent few days ahead. Originally intended to lurk about the Lair, do a bit of pottering in the garden and plant some banksias and some seriously elegant treelings
But the magic number 4.44 was too overpowering and could not be resisted.
Yesss. Izzie no longer needs to rely on the weather pages of the local paper to get our fix of moonrise times.
Normally, being payday our options for adventures would be rather limited as the loot does not usually arrive until some time after 6pm. But there was still 12 silver sickles in the serpent sack and enough floo powder to get us to Memorial Hill in Fremantle and back again.
So decided to slink off there straight after work with a detour to The Juicy Beetroot for Chai and cheesecake.

It was a most glorious day made even better by the fact that our loot was already in the vault by 2pm which meant that a bottle of red, some cheese and crusty bread would now be on the moonrise menu.
It was so very reminiscent of Monday 19th May which was one day before the official full moon and also spent up on this same hill around 4pm
Slinked up to the hill at 4pm and got there some 10 minutes later. Lurked about looking at the shadows and the sun to judge the most likely spot for the moon to peek over the horizon.
There was a small segment of horizon where the shadows seemed to converge and so watched it like a hawk. But once again the little critter sneaked out unseen to this half blind serpent. It was a good ten minutes later that we first seen a vague round outline. Is amazing just how even the littlest light from the sun makes the moon so invisible
But tomorrow moonrise will be about 15 mins after sunset and should be much much easier to spot. So so hoping to catch the little bugger before the first third gets over the horizon
Same place and same time but with a better bottle and the guest of honour.

Just come in from sitting in the garden basking in the moonlight. It was a chilly (by Oz standards) 4 degrees and there was mist and haze to add to the spooky atmosphere
But a bit sucky for star gazing. Noticed with much disgust that the new pole on the street has now got a light added to the end of it so it will be only a matter of time before it will be disturbing this serpent with its nasty stinking lightseses.

So looking forward to more moon watching tomorrow and then will be following the sun after that. Yesss - the solstice is soon upon us and the beginning of the end of the delightful darkness. At this time of year stinking 40 celsius summers are just so unimaginable.
Must stop our slacking and get the old finger out concerning those rainwater tanks before it's too late. So so much rain and not snatched a single litre of it for later.

Izzie was most peeved indeed after many weeks of working 7-1 on Tuesdays to discover that we got dumped with an evening shift this week. Normally it's no big deal but after a whole year of deprivation - missing yet another full moonrise made this serpent most miffed indeed
Most folks don't want to swap mornings for evenings (except the party animal sorts on Sundays) and accumulated time off is too precious to use for such an occasion - especially as we'll need every single spare minute for the Izzie sister's visit just before Easter

So figured that we'll make the best of a bad lot and go a day later on Wednesday. A bit of a bummer in that moonrise was just after 9pm and the bus was at 9.20. Miss that one and it's a two hour wait for the last bus of the day. Yesss. Daylight saving so so sucks. Under the old time would have had a whole hour or so for a proper moonshine picnic before catching that 9.20 bus.

Turned out to be a most pretty moonrise indeed - no trouble spotting it since the sun had already been gone 30 mins or so previously. Also got to see the moon in the morning turning a pretty shade of pink before disappearing behind a bunch of trees

Yesterday was also a rather mild 36 celsius. Well - not normally considered mild or pleasant but in the light of the big batch of 37s predicted for next week - five of them in a row and todays' 38 along with the 8 days of 40 plus since the solstice, can't complain at all
But it sure is a bummer keeping critters alive in the Lair - even banksias and grevilleas which you'd think would be used to this sort of thing
Really must get something done on the insulation front as relying on nothing but fans and evening breezes is no fun at this time of year

Those silly buggers at the solar shop still have not appeared so the big plus of such sizzling sunshine of clocking up the silver sickles on the big fat cheques from the local electric co is not yet on the agenda. Really must ring the buggers soon as they said back just before Christmas that there was a six week wait
Got until May until our pre-approved govt rebate runs out. Wonder what happens if the silly twits haven't got the damned thing installed by then

Been very busy on the home front with the grand decluttering project. The latest area on the agenda is the cupboard under the stairs.
But most amusing of all - managing to maintain the state of Dursleyish tidiness specially conjured up for the grand dinner two weeks ago. That was good timing - the one week of civilized weather in the low 30's. Slaving over a hot stove when the mercury is topping 40 would not be much fun at all
It is supposed to take 3 weeks or so to develop a new habit so maybe there's hope for this usually messy serpent
Is funny - beginning to acquire a liking for the look of empty tabletops and workbenches.

But yessss. There is a picture in the attic - or rather in Izzie's case - in our bedroom. This is where the old Izzie's bad habits still hold sway.
And that included being bad and buying a very beautiful book in an op shop today - all about Norse mythology and legends - with the actual stories and some very gorgeous pictures
That reminds us - must take up one of the fun projects on that to do list - designing that set of tarot cards

Today was so so unlike yesterday. No crisp cold sunny day. Just wet and miserable. It was so so tempting to curl up all day in our serpent basket. But it's a day off and we don't want to waste it. Lately the Izzie has taken to bringing the Preciousss to Angel's Cafe on Thursdays in order to get our fix of Radio National podcasts and other downloads. But since the pissy new short shifts start today and the Izzie has ended up with a 7am to 11am on Saturday, makes more sense to go then and we can also pop by the markets which are only open weekends to pick up our weekly fix of bunches of basil leaves.

But Izzie also had other motives. There's a little Italian deli enroute that sells the most scrumplicious parmesan cheese for only $$13 per kilo. If you buy half a wheel (around 4-5kg) then you get the reduced price of $$10. This stuff is actually not from Italy but Middle Earth (Known to muggles as New Zealand) and is just as good if not better than the ridiculously expensive Gran Padano.

Our last 4 kilo stash has finally run out and we figures that since we will not be hill climbing or hiking, that it would be a perfect opportunity to pop by on the way to St Brutus. Problem was, silly Izzie forgot to grab some gold galleons from the goblin machines at the bank yesterday. These Italian folks do cash only so we need to get the loot enroute.
So the Iz popped into some crappy little supermarket and bought a few things. Got to the counter, pulled out the plastic fantastic and requested a total of $$40 including groceries. Typed in our PIN and the usual. The check out chap said that our transaction was declined. Izzie was just flabbergasted. What the fuck. Our pay arrives around 7pm every second Wednesday. Well. At least it is supposed to. Never once entered the Izzie's ickle green skull that it wouldn't be there. Lucky we did have the cash but that was not the point. We had made this deviation especially for the purpose of getting our cheese money and now we would not be getting any at all. Bastards.

So got the bus straight into Freo without detours and checked once again at about 12.30pm. After all – the bus ticket was still valid until 1.30pm so there was still a chance to go there and back again.

Still nothing there so we decided to potter off to St Brutus as was our original plan after getting our cheese. On the way, had the sudden realization, what happens if our loot is still not there this evening? The Thursday following pay day is when the house goblins deduct their mortgage payments. If there is no loot in the vault, the bank charges an outrageous $$30 dishonour fee. But because Izzie's loan is split, there's two payment which means of course – two lots of dishonour fees. It's bad enough getting paid house elf wage rates but not even getting them is even worse. As if Izzie is so stinking rich that she can just toss away 6 hours of her life working to pay goblin bank fees. And this from a bunch of scumbags who have just brought in a whole bunch of pissy little four hour shifts so that it gets even harder to get enough hours to live on per week.
Izzie was most murderous. Memories of May 1995 when we once received a notification from the bank to inform us that we had been charged a bouncy bouncy fee of nine silver sickles because our wages cheque had bounced!!! Talk about adding insult to injury. Where is the justice in that – your employer screws you by having no money to back their wages cheques and then the bank shits on you for your employer's scrooginess?

At 4pm, there was still a chance to potter off to snatch our parmesan before the deli closed at 5pm but there was still only 27 silver sickles in the Izzie vault. By this stage, the Izzie was murderous. Filthy thieving goblin scum. Will be sending those bastards our bank fee bill. Let them pay. No doubt Dolores would snarkily say that we should learn to live within our means and have a nest egg available for just such occasions.

By 6pm, the loot was finally there. But it was only 300 gold galleons. So obviously, the mortgage payments had already been deducted but we have the sneaking suspicion that the bank goblins may have grabbed their 60 as well. Tomorrow, will need to go during bank hours to check and if they havc, will be straight off to the union to ask where we legally stand with demanding that those scumbags pay those bank fees. They have pushed the Izzie just too far this time. We wants blood. And we haven't even got to posting about Dolore's latest efforts in pissing off the house elves. Wonder how many more have resigned since Tuesday.


The big fat juicy moonrise from yesterday managed to make its way onto the front page of the newspaper. It was pretty but did not seem that much bigger than usual. Unfortunately, it was cloudy this evening so we did not get to see it rise again from a less hilly location.
At least, watching the moon and stars puts all Izzie's mundane muggle worries in perspective. Human beings are such pathetic puny insignificant creatures.

Izzie slinks in from a spot of moon watching. Been a busy serpent today. At this moment Privet Drive is engulfed in the aroma of freshly baked bread barely out of the oven. Most delicious with a glass or two of red, brie cheese sprinkled with zaatar and a very fat juicy moon.
Did this for the last full moon and might just make a habit of our little moon bread ritual. Funny thing – apart from measuring 500ml or so of water and the teaspoon or two of yeast to match, the rest is pure guess work. We toss in whatever is around which usually includes olive oil and sesame seeds. Today – decided to use up the rest of our rye flour. Silly really rye with pesto rather than the usual caraway seeds.

Our enjoyment was enhanced by having 3 days off until Saturday and the big day – today and tomorrow is crisp and crunchy and very sunny. Izzie loves really cold winter nights as long as it's clear skies, lots of stars and no rain.

Finished work at 1.30pm today and resisted the tempation to go snoozies. It's a gorgeous sunny day, you have all tonight when it's dark after 6pm to do that plus Thursday which is supposed to be raining all day. So instead, we scrubbed our scales and sat out in the garden toasting to the golden ball of sunshine around 2.40 or so as that was supposed to be the official time where the sun reaches its most southerly point. Not sure how they work all these things out but since when does Izzie need an excuse to party?
And anyway – there's a sunset to be seen (it hid behind the clouds but it's the thought that counts)

After many months, decided that today was just perfect for visiting the zoo. Not too far from home, lovely weather and there's lots and lots of new babies. The latest is an orangutang, a most gorgeous Gollumish Hamydras baboon – all pink and fluffy with big Dobby ears, a face to die for and a very pink little body covered in black hair, a baby Rhino and a pregnant cheetah.

There's been some shuffling of the deckchairs in the reptile house where the turtle babies have gotten very big since we last seen them, the death adder finally got her lease renewed after being evicted for a while and there is a new addition to the happy family. Baby blue tongued skinks and the most spectacularly gorgeous glow in the dark green Fiji Iguana.
Izzie gets a Friends of the Zoo card every year which costs just over 55 silver sickles or so and entitles us to free entry for 12 months. Since normal entry is $$16 or half price on Wednesdays, it does not take too many visits to pay for itself but bestest of all – you don't get that horrid compulsion to 'do the zoo' and see 500 animals in 20 minutes.
Izzie often only visits one area – such as the reptile or nocturnal house, Australian bushwalk, wetlands or African Savannah and stays for about two – three hours.

Was originally going to visit on Monday enroute to work – the bus that goes to the zoo goes directly to the Izzie day job. But we had a book due back at the library and decided to go today instead since the zoo is a better place for moonwatching or seeing sunsets than dreary downtown Dursleyville.

Tomorrow it's off to our favorite lunatic asylum with a copy of “Order of the Phoenix” and a nice moonshine picnic. Izzie hardly needs an excuse to read it again – but this is the last chance to look for clues before we get to see everything in 20/20 hindsight

Will save the latest tasty gossip concerning Dolores and the elf rebellion for another day. Suffice to say that in just the last week, 3 rats are abandoning the sinking ship. Dolores is just too damned arrogant and up herself to read the signs. Soon she will realise that telling the elves 'Do it my way or hit the highway” is no longer a threat but an invitation. Once folks are so pissed off that they start resigning – she has lost her one and only weapon.
But will save her sneering snarkiness for another post. But if she refuses to understand that there's just an itsy bitsy possibility that you will upset some one if you slash their take home pay by 15 hours a fortnight, then she's got a lot of learning to do.