The Relief of Birds

AM

Least: I woke this morning at about 7:30am to discover my ears ringing. The extreme lack of noise outside meant that the faint squeal from the inner reaches of my ears became the loudest sound in the room. The noise of big cities seems to hide and cause all kinds of ringing . The noise of industrial society need industrially loud music to drown it out. Five days a week I shut out the sound of the rails and endless announcements by listening to various variations of rock n roll. Maybe we could measure how close a town is to death by the ringing in ones ears?

Most: By 8:00ish am, some noise had crept into the backyard and relieved the ringing. The birds were browsing the grass for seeds or hapless insects in their daily struggle. Through the window, I could hear and see magpies, fairy wrens, crows, currawongs, satin bower birds (above) and the usual flying mice. As usual the magpies were busy bullying the other aviators out of anything of value. I've always been suspicious of magpies since they pecked blood out of my head when I was three. The crows here don't speak Japanese.

PM

Least: By almost 3:00pm, I had been the victim of several attacks of regional advertising. Universally terrible sound, lighting, acting and scripts set Gippsland television advertising apart from all others. A particularly appalling example repeatedly offended my senses today. During the ad for Bairnsdale Motel, we are given a demonstration to show that the rooms have enough room to literally 'swing a cat'. You are welcome to stay there for business or pleasure. It is not actually in Bairnsdale.

Most: Just after 12:00pm, I walked through the bush to to the old gold mining areas that boosted Omeo to former grandeur. I trundled past numerous examples of the environmental destruction of the past 140 odd years. Deeply eroded gullies, piles of river stones, weeds, decrepit fruit trees, a burnt-out pine plantation, ancient rubbish, dangerous shafts and tunnels make this well trodden track interesting. As kids we used to explore the old mines for hours with string and candles. It is amazing that the local environment is still reeling from the gold rush - but at least it made growing up in this town interesting.

Pancakes and Hiragana in August

AM

Least: By about 11:20am the daily thought that my knowledge of Japanese is appalling, pricked my conscience. I signed on to Smart FM and found that I hadn't studied in weeks. It told me to study fifty items today rather than the usual thirty. I should've learnt hiragana in February, but it's August and I still walk around like Miffy with no mouth and nothing to say.

Most: Near enough to 10:15am, I constructed some pancakes for breakfast in lieu of sugary Japanese bread. The box of Morinaga pancake mix never fails, possibly due to the cartoon instructions on the back. When the pancakes are smiling, they are ready to hit the plate. But in case you get stuck - you can watch the instructional video.

PM

Least: I returned home at about 10:18pm with a bag of garbage incinerator fuel from Family Mart to a chilly reception. The airconditioning had been left on all day, cooling, furniture, crockery, tatami mats, curtains and books. Thankfully, the TV tells me from time to time that nuclear power is incredibly safe and environmentally friendly. The electricity bill will tell me that it's expensive too.

Most: At about 10:05pm, I looked up and saw the the sky was incredibly clear tonight. The seemed to have a few more pixels that that factory haze normally allows. The thickish veil of smog that often invades the senses, smell a lot like burning garbage or a house that is aflame. If only the clear sky meant a cool crisp night.