Across Continents

Ken's Blog

On the beach

March 16th, 2011

On the beach from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.

Just because there’s no mention of crocodiles on the local warning signs doesn’t mean the little critters aren’t around. Not that literate.

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Off to the beach

March 15th, 2011

Off to the beach from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.

Queensland. Be careful to read the signs before going off to the beach. Takes a while mind…

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Rush hour at Newell Beach

March 14th, 2011

Rush hour at Newell Beach from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.

Bustling, thriving metropolis. Terms you’d be hard pressed to associate with Newell Beach. Which is part of its charm.

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Field of dreams

March 13th, 2011

Field of dreams from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.

After cane toads. Sugar cane fields. Newell Beach, far north Queensland.

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Coping with cane toads

March 12th, 2011

If you were ever to wonder why Australia’s so strict with its quarantine rules, two words. Cane toads. Introduced to tackle critters blighting the sugar crop. Laudable idea. But an ecological disaster. Didn’t make a jot of difference. Little devils too busy breeding. And noisy with it.

Seems everyone has their own way of trying to keep the toad population in check. Petrol. Bleach. Microwaves. Not so keen on the latter. Bit messy. Difficult. Not least because their toxicity means potential predators like dogs and snakes drop dead after a few mouthfuls.

And do be careful not to run over dead, bloated specimens often found at the roadside. Tend to explode. Not funny when you don’t have a front mudguard.

Good news is that someone’s just devised a spray that quickly renders the blighters unconscious. Then kills them. About ten minutes. Left me wondering if it’d work on other irritants I’d encountered in Queensland. Alas, that’d probably be manslaughter. Pity.

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Living with cane toads

March 11th, 2011

Living with cane toads from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.

Cane toads. Learn more tomorrow night. But, for now, enjoy – if that’s the right expression – the sound of these delightful critters..

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Spot of drizzle

March 10th, 2011

Spot of drizzle from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.

Queensland. Wet season. Enjoy.

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Culinary delights

March 9th, 2011

Culinary delights from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.

Ken shares one of his camping culinary delights. Not a single Michelin Star in sight.

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Journalistic desires

March 9th, 2011

My recent piece – "Someone’s daughter" – about a woman I’d joined for a sociable coffee – has provoked some interesting responses. Intriguing stuff. Curious about why we’d met. What happened next. Presumption that the person I’d described was offering services of an adult nature.

Truth is I can’t say for sure what services she actually offers. The advertisement in the local paper implies those of a sexual nature. And its placement in the Adult Services section strengthens this inference. All perfect legal. Perhaps all she provides is a listening ear. Or a shoulder to cry on. Couldn’t say. Didn’t ask.

Actually, I don’t want to know. Never did. Not being prudish. Or moralistic. Instead, only ever interested in meeting the real person – someone’s daughter – rather than an object of carnal desire. Learning more about who she really was. I’d suggested a coffee for this reason alone. Careful not to cloud the issue by letting slip I’d uncovered her alter ego. Afterwards, as I’d always intended, going our separate ways.

And how was I first introduced to her? The real person. The one you might bump into as easily as I had. Quite unaware of her supposed profession. Which is my point. Challenging pre-conceived ideas. Prejudices. Presumptions as to the sort of person who offers services of an adult nature. And as to how I first met her? In very respectable circumstances. A shared interest. Alas, to be more specific might risk compromising her identity.

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Camping in the wet season

March 8th, 2011

Camping.. in the wet season from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.

Ken describes camping at Newell Beach, far north Queensland. During the wet season.OBpostlogo

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