Moths drink the tears of sleeping birds

Link here

Feet itch, spirits call

I'm considering a flying trip here, to Sai Kung, in the near future. Here is an account of the unruly white stone horse of Che Kung, who had to be buried and covered with incense to restore order.

Everything is OK because there is cricket

On Day 5 of the Second Ashes Test, when England were desperate to keep the run-rate down, Kevin Pietersen chucked a wild one that missed the stumps, adding 4 overthrows to Langer's 3 score- for a total of 7 runs off one ball.

It didn't attract much comment, but it made me curious about historical one-ball high scores, so off to virtual Wisden. The highest I have found so far is 17 runs off one ball.

Deepak Shah explains on All Experts:

Normally maximum runs scored off one ball is 6. It could be more, if you are allowed by the fielding side to run more runs (I have scored 8 in a college game in Ahmedabad, India in 1972). However, under these circumstances (like the ball gets lost within the field as it happened in my game due to tall grass) the fielding side can declare "Lost Ball" and I think batting side and the batsman (if the ball is hit) will get 6 runs plus all that he has run. However, the question of 17 runs off one ball can be explained as follows:

If the bowler bowls more than one illegitimate delivery (no balls) before a legitimate ball is bowled, all the runs scored COLLECTIVELY, will count in the score book towards one ball. e.g. a bowler bowls 3 no balls and is hit for all fours (12 + 3 =15 runs). Next ball is legitimate and he concedes 2 runs. In the score book that goes as 17 off one LEGITIMATE delivery.

This happened in the first ODI between India-Pakistan in March 2004 at Karachi. Pakistani bowler Rana Naved-Ul-Hasan conceded 24 runs in his first over with 4 no balls. I think he bowled 3 or all 4 no balls consequtively and ended up with 17 off one ball.

Invitation

My new workmate has one of these in her garden, and I am very envious.

I used to see the Eastern Bluetongue, Tiliqua scincoides scincoides, in every backyard, and in some peoples' loungerooms. Haven't seen one for a couple of years now.

When I weed my garden, I leave the dandelions, I plant strawberries, I provide rocky outcrops. I am now thinking of making a little crib cuddy for them out of rocks and rotting timber in the middle of my Brachyscome (daisy) patch.

C'mon, little bluetongues, come and live with us!

The big falla visits

One of my nephews is a fettler. His job has taken him out west for a while, and he stayed with me on the weekend, bringing good humour and some finely observed tales of country towns and life on the rails.

After he left, I had a look at the website of the Harden Shire Council. Every town likes to think it's lovely, and the site proudly boasts:

We would like to welcome visitors to the glorious Harden Shire, one of the most picturesque areas within the State. The region is notable for its scenic beauty - particularly during the spring when a wide variety of grain crops are in bloom. Combined with the green pastures and rolling hills, they provide a magnificent kaleidoscope of colour.

Not at the moment though, I guess. They desperately need rain.

On a page called About the council there are 3 short paragraphs. The first describes how the inaugural meeting of the Harden Shire Council took place in 1974. Then this:

The amalgamation of the Murrumburrah Municipal Council and the Shire of Demondrille was a marriage of convenience entered into to avoid an arrangement imposed by the New South Wales Govenment and repugnant to ratepayers.

They've clearly got long memories in Harden-Murrumburrah.

there was never a time in my life when she wasn't there

Today's discovery is my sister is riddled with cancer, and will be the first of us siblings to die.

Who shall watch the watchers?

The drunken thug, the true disgrace, is Glen Milne, allegedly one of Australia's more respected political journalists (not by me, obviously).

Contrary to the target Stephen Mayne's announcement, Mr Milne will not lose his job, and, of course, he's blaming his migraine medication, not his judgment. Funny how he'd never noticed the effects of mixing grog and well, choose your own poisonous side effect:

confusion, depression, difficulty with concentration, difficulty with memory, dizziness, double vision, drowsiness, fatigue, language problems, loss of coordination, nervousness, slowing of movements, speech problems, weakness

before. Don't these blokes ever take their medication at home?