You know sometimes I miss Europe and feel very far away from the rest of civilisation "down here" (I migrated from England some years ago).

But at times like this I am very glad I live on a very large and somewhat isolated island far away from other countries and with strict quarantine laws.

Of course I know the world is becoming a smaller and smaller place with travel etc. but it still affords us some protection. I just hope we don't start losing our beautiful parrot population if it does reach here. We have some amazingly beautiful birds here. I've lived here 20 years and I still marvel when I am driving along a main urban highway and see sulphur-crested cockatoos flying across the road in front of me, screeching, or a kookaburra sitting on a telephone line. Along one road up at the Northern Beaches area, beside a lagoon, pelicans sit on top of the lamp-posts.

I get homesick sometimes, well, more nostalgic really, but I can still marvel at the vibrancy and colours of our birds and flowers here, and thank God and the government for shielding and protecting our beautiful wildlife as best they can.

I heard about the cats in Germany on the radio driving to work earlier this week Kirsten, and I did think of you.

Take care of your babies.
TC