Saturday 5 January 2013

Swooping Season

....is over.

When I saw cyclists wearing helmets like this recently, I wondered in what name of fashion they were, ridiculous looking things for sure.


Then a friend explained how he was riding to work one morning and he felt repetitive hard taps on the back of his helmet. He said it was quite forceful and took him unawares.

One of the things I like about the suburbs in Melbourne is that they are very leafy and tree lined. In Spring, many produce the most beautiful blossom, the like I have never seen.



My favourite by far is the Jacaranda. The deep blue/purple blossom flower is so vibrant and so unusual.



However, as well as the tree lined streets being aesthetically pretty, the trees provide perfect homes for the nesting Australian Magpies.

They are larger than the variety we have at home (of course they are, this is Australia). During their breeding and nesting season they are extremely territorial and will attack any thing or anyone they deem to be a threat.


They particularly have an issue with cyclists, they have very fierce beaks and so it would seem the ridiculous head gear is necessary afterall.



It is known as Swooping Season but it's over now and peace and serenity will return once more to the leafy 'burbs.

"Mamils" (Middle Aged Men In Lycra) will however, continue to look silly just marginally less so now.

Bill Bryson was right Australia is a dangerous country!

2 comments:

  1. Great to find a fellow Aussie blogger.

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  2. Thank you Jim but I hate to disappoint and I am sure you will be as I am as British as they come, you know one of those poms! But I take it as a great compliment that in just the 10 months I have been here, immersing myself into a new culture that you think I am an Aussie. I shall peruse your blog, looks very interesting!

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