Of frights and laughter.

This morning, while drying my hair, my hairdryer exploded. There were sparks, smoke and flickering lights. My brain stopped. I dropped the dryer, jumped back, uttered the weirdest word - but I can't remember in what order. Maybe I did all three at once. 
The amazing thing is, though my mind when blank, I can remember two things.
1. The look on my face.
I happened to catch my reflection as it happened. Who knew my face could contort in such a way.
2. The word I said.
I invented a new word. Woashck. Actually, now I think about it, maybe it's three words compressed.
Anyway, the moment my brain started to work again, I collapsed into fits of giggles.
Yes I am one of those people who laughs in the face of terror.

Don't trip, fall, scream on a roller coaster, stumble, get a fright, hit your head etc in front of me because I will laugh. I care, truly I do, but I can't help laughing. I promise though that behind the laughter I'm genuinely concerned. I just can't help laughing. However, when it comes to the serious stuff I don't laugh - though I might chuckle afterwards.
Pretty sure it's genetic. My daughter does the same thing.

After the rain...

The recent summer rains have caused devastation all over the country, but where I live, the impact has been on the frog population.A few nights ago, I went outside to the car to retrieve my handbag, only to find the front of the house covered in dozens of frogs as big as my fingernail. The were on the sliding doors, the bricks, under the door mat. The joint was jumping!Driving home after a night with friends can be tricky, and it has nothing to do with alcohol. Our street was alive with frogs of all sizes. I crawled down the street, going under 5km, and think I avoided squishing any.
At night, the frogs' croaks drown out the crickets. There's nothing like lying in bed, listening to their chorus.
Frogs - they are amazing! The down side is - the snakes that eat them. So far, none of those. Fingers crossed!
I think this little guy on the wall  is a Southern Brown Tree Frog.

Sandro Botticelli and other discoveries.

In November, my family and I holidayed in Europe - Italy, France, Switzerland and England to be exact. As part of our travels we did the whole museum/art gallery thing, part of which was a visit to the Uffizi gallery Florence. Like other visitors before me, I marvelled at the art work, but was struck by one particular artist - Sandro Botticelli . I'd studied Botticelli's The Birth of Venus at school and university, and was familiar with that painting from the countless advertising campaigns it has been used in. I wanted to see Botticelli's work, but wasn't overly fussed,  There were other works I was desperate to see, after all, I knew The Birth of Venus, right?
Wrong!
Nothing prepared me for the sheer beauty of the original work. I moved from it to Allegory of Spring, again and again. I'd have stayed longer, but we had to move on.
Now I'm home, I can't help wondering why we let these priceless pieces of work be used for advertising. It seems to me such a demeaning use of such incredible skill.
 Just saying!