"There are countless horrible things happening all over the world and horrible people prospering, but we must never allow them to disturb our equanimity or deflect us from our sacred duty to sabotage and annoy them whenever possible." -Auberon Waugh
Monday, March 10, 2014
Australians: the coolest people in the world
Australian responds to deadly snake bite: “I said to myself, if I’m going to cark it I’m going to have a beer, so I got a Goldie out of the fridge and drank that.”
Yeah Eastern Brown, I meet those out in the bush. The old ones keep their distance and I've gotten to like meeting them. They rear up in a weird s-shape when surprised. But the young half-size ones are clumsy and more poisonous and you have to watch you don't tread on them accidently.
I'm watching Justified Season One right now - I'd say Kentuckyans are the coolest people in the world.
You're right Bruce. To avoid surprising them, I always bang on the walls of my garden shed before opening the door. That gives them time to hide somewhere. A blue cattle-dog can be very handy if you do come across a grumpy snake.
Paco, I don't want to deter you in any way from your long-promised visit to us, but a few months ago a healthy young local bloke in his 60s was bitten by an Eastern Brown. He died in hospital. The anti-venom is usually successful, but some people are allergic to the horse-blood used in its manufacture.
Skeeter, there's your problem. Horses are for riding, except if you are a heathen European or desperate.
The guy is amazing. There probably aren't many who could maintain such composure. He reminds me of one of my uncles who was a veteran of WWII and the Berlin airlift. Many years ago, he and my Dad were working on the water pump. He was standing next to the pump house (aka wishing well) when the thing blew. Uncle Hank stood calmly holding his beer as shrapnel rained around him. I marveled at his calm. When asked how he maintained it, he said he was as safe there as anywhere, and if he was going to be hit then he couldn't run fast enough.
Yeah Eastern Brown, I meet those out in the bush. The old ones keep their distance and I've gotten to like meeting them. They rear up in a weird s-shape when surprised. But the young half-size ones are clumsy and more poisonous and you have to watch you don't tread on them accidently.
ReplyDeleteI'm watching Justified Season One right now - I'd say Kentuckyans are the coolest people in the world.
'Easily agitated'? Naaah. Very polite snake, bit grumpy.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I read, it wasn't the Joe Blake that nearly got him, it was the hospital treatment!
ReplyDeleteBruce: Glad you're enjoying Justified.
ReplyDeleteJim: It kinda sounded that way to me, too.
Who was it said of the 10 most venomous creatures in the world, Australia has 15 of them?
ReplyDeleteYou're right Bruce. To avoid surprising them, I always bang on the walls of my garden shed before opening the door. That gives them time to hide somewhere. A blue cattle-dog can be very handy if you do come across a grumpy snake.
ReplyDeletePaco, I don't want to deter you in any way from your long-promised visit to us, but a few months ago a healthy young local bloke in his 60s was bitten by an Eastern Brown.
He died in hospital. The anti-venom is usually successful, but some people are allergic to the horse-blood used in its manufacture.
Deborah... Bruce, you haven't met Texans.
ReplyDeleteSkeeter, there's your problem. Horses are for riding, except if you are a heathen European or desperate.
The guy is amazing. There probably aren't many who could maintain such composure. He reminds me of one of my uncles who was a veteran of WWII and the Berlin airlift. Many years ago, he and my Dad were working on the water pump. He was standing next to the pump house (aka wishing well) when the thing blew. Uncle Hank stood calmly holding his beer as shrapnel rained around him. I marveled at his calm. When asked how he maintained it, he said he was as safe there as anywhere, and if he was going to be hit then he couldn't run fast enough.