This month brings another batch of interesting topics and speakers.

On 1 October, Judy Boland, teacher and historian, will be speaking about her visit to the Antarctic.

Then on the eighth, John Bloomfield will give us a timely warning about the rising incidence of tuberculosis, the stealthy killer.

Emma King, speaking on the 15th, will tell us about non-conventional gas extraction or fracking and where it may occur – coal seam gas exploration actually places 90% of the Territory under threat.

On 22 October, former ABC presenter Annie Gastin will be sharing some of her life's little stories.

Finally, on 29 October, Jenny Bloomfield (and maybe Gayle Carroll) will be giving us another instalment in the 'Words' series.

This month marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Prussian naturalist and explorer Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Leichhardt who arrived in Sydney in 1842 with the intention of exploring the inland of Australia.

He undertook three major expeditions: a privately-funded overland expedition from the Darling Downs to Port Essington (1844 to 1845), an unsuccessful attempt, in 1846, to cross the country from east to west; he repeated this attempt in 1848, but this expedition resulted in the disappearance of Leichhardt and his entire party; no remains have ever been found.

Leichhardt Crescent in Fannie Bay recalls one of the most authoritative early recorders of the country's interior.

Earlier this year, the Queen signed The Charter of The Commonwealth which places particular emphasis on the principle of inclusiveness and 'implacable opposition to all forms of discrimination'. With this in mind, Sheila Telford, Chair of the International Consortium of British Pensioners, wrote to her Majesty at the end of August to point out that the UK government 'refuses to address the policy of continued discrimination by freezing the pensions of over half a million UK pensioners – almost all of whom are resident in the Commonwealth – who are treated as second-class citizens'. The pensioners affected do not receive the annual UK pension increase as their pensions are frozen at the UK rate which was in force at the time they moved overseas – in some cases that could have been decades ago.

Mrs Telford concluded her letter by writing 'we respectfully request that your Majesty instructs your representative at the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Sri Lanka in November to support a motion calling for the suspension of the United Kingdom from the Commonwealth. The United Kingdom, which discriminates against its own pensioners in persistent violation of The Charter of The Commonwealth, has no place in the Commonwealth'. So far, there have been no official reactions to this letter.

To find out more, you can contact British Pensions in Australia on 1300 308 353 (www.youle.info/bpia-blog/).

Part twenty-one : Possums again

Just a further note about Percy Possum. He did reappear for a few days and this time he was prepared to look me in the face. Previously, perhaps because his chosen "day-recliner" was only about 12 ft. off the ground, he very deliberately kept his rear end facing the patio. Probably in the hope that if he couldn't see me, I wouldn't see him ! This time, however, he curled up in the V of the branches facing me so I could see his little pink nose, black sparkling eyes and his sensitive twitching ears, which he seemed to spend half his daytime hours scratching at and washing, just like a cat does.

During the time of Wurrgeng, the Northern Brushtail possum is usually in romantic mode and I wondered whether Percy had been away making whoopee. This genus of possum normally inhabits and spreads itself between mangrove and forest (with the occasional foray into suburbia) but its circadian clock is often dictated to by the tides rather than by the day/night clock. This is because the tide could easily bring in tasty morsels which the possums will salvage with glee as a supplement to their normal hunting of nectar and fruit.

I didn't know whether to be glad or sad when Percy returned because I knew he would just love my bananas and pawpaws and devour them during some midnight spree before I had a chance to pick them. Although I don't mind sharing on an equal basis, I don't think possums actually understand that concept !

However, even though I did not issue an eviction notice, he finally disappeared for good after the next visit of the lawn-mowing man. Maybe he was required elsewhere for nursery duties ? Or maybe it was because, as the leaves continued to fall from the tree at an alarming rate, he realised it would not be very long before he was exposed to all and sundry as well as to the hot noonday sun.

Mango season may see him return as there is a mango tree just next door, The Tree will be fully clothed again and the far end of the garden will be too soggy to mow. And yes, I did manage to have my pawpaw untouched by possum paws and teeth ; the bananas are still to ripen.

A while ago I wrote about some human residents here in the community who regularly throw out bread and scraps for the animals and birds. And now I must tell you about one memorable occasion two wet seasons ago that still gives me a slight shiver. The extra rations provided by these generous people are more than welcomed by the Sacred Ibis who, from their perches high up in the gum trees keep beady eyes on the movements of their benefactors ! But most times their inner clock tells them when it is chow time and so they fly down and just wait patiently for the food to appear.

This particular day the rain was heavy with a monsoonal storm ; windy and cold. The ibis, about seven of them, were lined up on the back fence of one such food-giver, shoulders hunched, heads hanging low, feathers wet and dripping. To me they resembled a bunch of evil, grotesque gargoyles that were once placed on the corners of European buildings as part decoration and partly as an assist to drainage. They looked really creepy on that dark, thundery afternoon and although not especially superstitious, I felt they were not a particularly good omen.

Next month : Doggie do's.

Q: Doctor, I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?
A: Heart is only good for so many beats, and that it....Don't waste on exercise. Everything wear out eventually. Speeding up heart not make you live longer; it like saying you extend life of car by driving faster. Want to live longer? Take nap.

Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: Oh no. Wine made from fruit. Fruit very good. Brandy distilled wine, that mean they take water out of fruity bit so you get even more of goodness that way. Beer also made from grain. Grain good too. Bottom up!

Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have body and you have fat, your ratio one to one. If you have two body, your ratio two to one.

Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can't think of one, sorry. My philosophy: No pain....good.

Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU NOT LISTENING! Food fried in vegetable oil. How getting more vegetable be bad?

Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: You crazy?!? HEL-LO-O!! Cocoa bean! Another vegetable! It best feel-good food around!

Q: Will sit-ups prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Oh no! When you exercise muscle, it get bigger. You should only be doing sit-up if you want bigger stomach.

Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming good for figure, explain whale to me.

Q: Is getting in shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! 'Round' is shape!

There will be no meeting of the Music Appreciation Group this month; the next session will be on 20 October.

We have some very interesting subjects this month:

On 3 September, Peter Bailey will be discussing the facts and problems relating to the provision of housing at mine sites.

Then, on the tenth, Betty Woods will be telling us about another mining town – Broken Hill – with her memories of what still remains one of the world's great mining centres.

The following week, Allan Mitchell will be telling us about his experiences as a policeman at Borroloola.

Finally, on 24 September, it's up to members – please bring along your favourite poem (but not the complete version of Paradise Lost!) and read it to us.

Starting this month, the City of Darwin will be conducting its annual pre-cyclone season clean-up across the city. The aim is to remove rubbish and debris from residents' property which may become a dangerous hazard in the event of a cyclone. If you have items that you would like to be collected, you are asked to place your rubbish outside your property, but in such a way that you keep the pavement clear for pedestrians.

If you live in the northern suburbs (Alawa, Anula, Brinkin, Jingili, Karama, Leanyer, Lyons, Malak, Marrara, Moil, Muirhead, Nakara, Tiwi, Wagaman, Wanguri and Wulagi), you should place items for collection on the nature strip on 22 September, and the rubbish will be picked up in the course of that week.

For the rest of the city (Bayview, Coconut Grove, Darwin CBD, Defence Establishment Berrimah, Fannie Bay, Larrakeyah, Larrakeyah Barracks, Ludmilla, Millner, Nightcliff, Parap, RAAF Base, Rapid Creek, Stuart Park, The Gardens, The Narrows and Woolner), rubbish should be put out on 12 October for collection from 13 October.

Items which can be left out for collection include furniture, carpets, timber, white goods (fridges, freezers, washing machines.....), waste building products such as bricks and steel, television sets and computers. As recyclable items will be separated at the time of collection for recycling or reuse, residents are asked to separate recyclables from other rubbish.

The clean-up teams will not collect garden refuse, liquids, paint, asbestos or car bodies. For information on how to dispose of such items call 8930 0300.

If you require assistance to move large items to the nature strip for collection, call 8930 0300 no later than the Friday preceding the dates given above.

Drawn from the Wesfarmers Collection, Luminous World features 57 significant paintings, objects and photographs by 44 leading Australian and New Zealand artists, many of whom have never before exhibited in the Northern Territory. The exhibition reveals, from a range of perspectives, the imaginative and creative ways that artists have explored or utilised the phenomenon of light – both its presence and its absence – and the role it plays in defining and transforming our world. The exhibition has started its national tour at Charles Darwin University Art Gallery (Building Orange 12; open from 10am to 4pm on week days) as part of the 2013 Darwin Festival, where it runs until 4 October. For further information go to www.cdu.edu.au/artgallery.

The talk given by Allison Kelly last month about the work being carried out at Blaydin Point and Howard Springs was very interesting and informative. If you would like to be kept up to date on the Ichthys project, you can sign up for the regular newsletter at www.ichthysproject.com.au.

Part twenty: From no legs to 8 of them !

The months of June through September comprise Wurrgeng, or early Dry Season, which, during August, then extends into Gurrung – the hot Dry Season. October is the start of the pre-monsoon season.

Wurrung is the main cold weather time when plant growth slows down accordingly. Even so, this is also the busiest time of the year for our native bees who seek the orange nectar-bearing flowers of the Darwin Woollybuts and Northern Grevilleas, the purple Turkey Bush, the yellow Kapok and other native blossoms. In the absence of these favoured flowers the bees will do their best to pollinate plants like passionfruit or pawpaws and any other fruit and veg that we grow in our gardens.

While it appears to be the wrong time of the year, there seems to be any number of butterflies flitting around my pot plants also seeking pollen-bearing flowers. My passionfruit and winged bean flowers appreciate any available help for pollination as native bees seem to be in rather short supply this year.

Alas, these introduced plants encourage voracious grasshoppers, from the very small variety to the very large. THEY are not in short supply ! Because there is a "no insecticide" sanction in my garden, these pests chomp contentedly on the "growing nicely, thank you" bok choy, gai sum, mignonette, basil and any other such exotic plants they can decimate overnight. And, alas and alack, I must admit I am not very good with the squishing-thumb-and-forefinger method of quick demise for these pests, however much I dislike them.

We also have to contend with the brilliant Harlequin Bug and the Fruit Moth who, although they live mainly on the fruit of the native Cluster Fig, are also very partial to our five-corner fruit and guava, and even the odd tomato or two.

While on the subject of pests, I was recently moving a clump of pot plants and encountered a ginormous spider. Not waiting to identify whether he was huntsman, wolf or harmless daddy longlegs I rapidly back-pedalled to a safe distance preferring to leave him to his own devices. He had my blessing as long as he just STAYED PUT and didn't decide to MOVE HOUSE without letting me know !

With smoke haze hanging limply in the sky and the aromatic scent of burning wood drifting into star-space, the nights become colder and daytime often expels a dry searing heat. Surface water becomes scarce, placing stress on plants and animals alike. Reptiles which are normally diurnal often revert to night hunting in order to avoid the excessive daytime heat.

Late one hot afternoon while sipping Semillon on the patio, I caught a movement from the corner of my eye. Heading for a cool, secluded corner of the patio was a long, slithery snake. Discretion being the better part I leapt to remove my defenceless little mutt, and then to close the

sliding door. I did NOT WANT the snake inside the house ! Fortunately my frenzied movements discouraged him and he turned and slid away. Thankfully he kept on running and slithering because I never saw him again. Fingers crossed !

My most favourite visitor since moving here is a four-legged native animal. An introduced feral scourge in N.Z. and a bane to many an NT resident, Percy the Possum was a perfect guest while sharing my space. He appeared one day after I noted tree-cutters plying their questionable profession in a far corner of this enclave. He had undoubtedly lost his home due to their actions and so took up residence in my ex-green ant tree. Percy was a native Brushtail Possum and I enjoyed his company for about 3 or 4 months.

Unfortunately he heartily disliked my noisy lawn-mowing man with his mower, whipper snipper and leaf-blower. Maybe he will come back one day – I can but hope !

Next month: Possums again.

Part Eighteen: Disappearances and Returns

It is now mid-June as I write this and at last we are experiencing cooler weather. Usually with the onset of Banggerreng in March, the rain clouds slowly begin to disappear during April and the oppressive conditions of the wet season begin to diminish to cooler night temperatures and bearable daytime living.

Not so this year as it was not until 25 May that we woke to a wonderful energising temperature of 25?C. With almost no humidity and a stiff south-easterly wind, it completed the transformation from the Wet to the Dry. It was just cool enough to bring a slight shiver to our heat-dulled senses. The time of Yegge (May/June) has arrived. The fluffy cumulus clouds have mostly gone and the progression to dry, searing heat and vast blue skies has commenced. Late, admittedly, but we look forward to cold (winter) nights.

This late transition of seasons did bring some interesting changes to my HappHazzid garden and surrounding area.

In a previous episode, I wrote of the early disappearance of frogs from my garden even though I had supplied water containers and other inducements to encourage them to stay around. Our flock of resident ibis had also taken wing to parts unknown.

In 'The Case of the Missing Frogs', it was all to do with their need to find a quiet, cool, damp, safe possie (away from lawnmowers, blowers, whipper snippers etc) enabling them to survive the coming six or so waterless months ahead. Normally frogs will have completed their contribution towards procreation (and thus the continuation of the frog species) during our wetter months. This universal activity usually spans the period of December to April here in the tropics – the main monsoon months. Come Banggerreng frogs begin their search for cool, damp 'hibernating' spots.

Because of a lack of adequate monsoon rains this Wet (global warming ?), most frog colonies seemed to depart earlier than normal to burrow into the soft, moist places on their annual get-away holiday calendar.

As for the disappearance of the ibis, a similar reason prevailed. Because the automatic watering system in this complex is always turned off at the mere hint of rain, and because we received so little rain, no self-respecting worm, insect or beetle remained as surface fodder for the big birds. I also think that the ground was too hard for their long, slender beaks to penetrate, so greener pastures such as Fogg Dam or the Arnhem floodplains beckoned. I must admit it was actually quite strange to see the grass turn brown during a wet season.

Anyhow, it was also nesting time, and the rookeries fringing the mangroves of the flooded (??) river systems would attract many varieties of birds – cormorants, egrets, pelicans, herons, ibis etc – all enjoying the abundance of small aquatic life and vegetation.

Now the ibis have returned, but in much depleted numbers. And the automatic watering is on the blink ! I often see just a single ibis seeking caterpillars or just something to eat as he patrols the grounds of the complex, instead of the dozen or more that were here previously.

Next time: Feeding the birds