Yes, I'm so Happy! 2012

[Anthony Darby]

Is it different from this one Lesley?: I hear a lot of tuis and they sound very similar to this bellbird.

[maggiepie]

Anthony, speaking of bellbirds, you might enjoy this poem.
From one of my favourite Aussie poets.

[Paul T]

I bought myself a new (well new second hand anyway) car today.    I get it next week once money sorted and plates changed over (I have peronalised plates from my days of running a business).  Midlife crisis.... never!!

Did I mention I'm    

I'll be even moreso next week when I get the car.

[Maggi Young]

Paul,  "a change is as good as a rest" - go for it, you deserve some amusing diversion.

[Paul T]

Thanks Maggi.  I've actually been looking around for a couple of weeks, so it wasn't just a spur of the moment purchase either.  I've done too many of them in the past and I was determined not to do that this time.  I had my price possibility and stuck to it..... 

[Paul T]

And here's a quick pic.  Bright red, but came out slightly pinky as only on the camera phone, not my proper camera.

[Lina Hesseling]

Wow, Paul!
You can buy a lot of big plants, shrubs and trees and take them home in your pickup! (is this a propper word for the car?)

Good choice.

Lina.

[Anthony Darby]

Bea-ute Paul!

[Paul T]

Lina,

We know them here as a Ute, not a pickup.  Same sort of thing I think.  I tend to think of the American pickups as being larger 4-wheel drive types, whereas this is a normal car in that regard.  I was tossing up between this 6 cylinder and a V8, but I preferred a few things about this one, and it was slightly cheaper.  I love the colour, and red ones go faster. 

And Yes Anthony, I do think is Bea-ute!! 

[Maggi Young]

Good grief! What an extraordinary car... never seen one like that... a hybrid between a saloon and a pick-up  Great colour, of course. That might turn out to be a pick-up car in more ways than one, Paul 

[Hoy]

And here's a quick pic.  Bright red, but came out slightly pinky as only on the camera phone, not my proper camera.

Paul, you have gotten a new car for your plants, I see! And the colour fits in your beds too

[Paul T]

Trond, I'm actually intending to use it to take some of the weeds away.... and possibly on rare occasions carry new plants in..... but only very rarely!!  Honest!!    It will brighten the driveway, that is for sure.

Maggi.... yes....   would be best!!

The slightly disturbing thing is that in 90 minutes the car pic has been opened and viewed by more people than any picture in the Australian Plants at the ANBG Canberra 2012 topic I started 10 days ago.  One has to wonder whether we have more car hoons here than gardeners?  

I'll take it as a compliment to the car.   I am very glad people are enjoying it.

[Lesley Cox]

Good God! Does it have flashing lights and a siren?
A pick-up here is usually a half ton or 1 ton small truck.

[Anthony Darby]

Extremely common here in New Zealand of various makes, including Ford, Toyota, Holden etc. There's one that occasionally parks round the corner from us with the top open slightly at the back so it is open a few inches and slopes down to the front so two dogs inside are contained but can see out and get air. They were designed to allow farmers to carry bales, sheep, tools etc but still take the family into town in comfort as some of them have two rows of seats like a saloon or estate car. Here's the ultimate Ute, the Toyota Hilux: BTW, Hokey Pokey is pieces of puffy candy, rather like the inside of a Crunchie bar. Still think this ad is really funny.

[Paul T]

Good God! Does it have flashing lights and a siren?
A pick-up here is usually a half ton or 1 ton small truck.

Why Lesley, you thinking it is a police car?    Or are you meaning they're going to take me away to a psych ward (perhaps not a bad thing!  )?