#Looking a Property to Live in Australia

[realestateyourselfaustralia425]

Looking a Property to Live in Australia

Looking a Property to Live in Australia - Contact 488825810 and visit here - https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-rosemount-143285108

[goodbye-susan]

Inspected an apartment rental today that was $500 pw, looked like it should be $200 pw if this was 5 years ago, and was furnished with a framed psalm verse from the bible. We are in strange times.

[astrologylunadream]

Everything About Your Future Spouse +Traits & Initials 🌹👤💍 (Pick a card/Tarot love reading)

Hi it's Lunadream~ This is my first future spouse reading for you guys, so let me know if you wanna see more readings like this one.❤️ We will learn everything on your future spouse and specific details about them. hope you find your message🥰

Notice: Only take what resonates because the most important thing is your own judgement!♡ If anything doesn't resonate, don't worry! It's not your message right now <3 This is a general reading for many people! (Entertainment purpose only. All rights reserved)

Now, shall we begin~? ^w^ Think of the your person, and pick whichever pile that fits the energy you're feeling~❤️

Pile 1🌹

Pile 2🪷

Pile 3💐

Pile 4🌷

Take your time and choose carefully with the heart~♡

On to the readings —> 💕

Pile 1🌹

Sign energy: Cold, Darling, Concert, Silence, Provide, Saturn, Aries, 5th house, 4th house, Sun,✔️♒️♋️🫡

🌹All about your future spouse: I kinda felt there would for sure be some successful energy from this pile's future spouse lol. Not necessarily prideful but definitely they know their worth, and I'm typically seeing an entrepreneur/family business thing going on with you two😍🏠💼 I love this couple's energy so much. Idk why but I'm getting some of you may be Aries-Aquarius relationship or Aries-Cancer relationship. They could have Capricorn, Aquarius, Aries, Leo, or Cancer placements in their chart. Omg your spouse will know how to mix work and play so well!! Like one minute they are serious down to business and the next dragging you off to a concert and jamming out with you LOL🤣 You guys may tie the knot sometime in winter. It's in the cards my pile 1's this person WILL PROVIDE.💸💰💍 Like your future spouse will dedicate so much to their family, and they will make a great parent I'm hearing for those who are interested in that😭💗 Omg so like at their work space they are super cold and sooo different from the way they are at home with their spouse/family, at home they are literally so sweet to their partner and love playing with their kids but they DON'T PLAY at work oml like people they work with will have mad respect for your future spouse, I'm kinda getting boss energy so that could be because everyone is under your future spouse or working for them.😎🪜🔝 They show authority to others I'm seeing people greeting your future spouse like saluting to them (maybe they're in high position), bowing to your future spouse, ect. Your future spouse is so soft spoken and sweet with my pile 1's, meanwhile at work they may be more stern or harsh. They don't mind stepping on toes to give everything to their family.🥺💐💞 Ride or die for their family vibes. Seriously you will mean so much to this person, you will be a huge highlight in your future spouse's life. It's so sweet, so loving.🥹❤️

💬Initials: X, F, V, U, R

📍Locations: North america, North, Australia, South, Europe (These can be significant to you or them, or places you meet, travel or live together🥰)

💼Occupations: Entrepreneur, Public figure, Manager, Business owner, CEO, Finance, Artist, Politician, Media Influencer, Property owner, High status official, Entertainment industry

💌Messages from your future spouse: I can't believe it, I can't look you in the eyes, You left an impression on me, Come to your senses, I'm so tempted (😍) Extra cards: Public image, Connection, Synchrony, Sagittarius, Cupid

Thank you my pile 1's! If you feel this resonated, you may tap the heart to claim this message!❤️

I hope you enjoyed your reading! ʚ(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )ɞ If you did be sure to let me know pile 1 with the red rose emoji~🌹 Thanks for scrolling through, Hugs hugs hugs!! See you in the next reading💋

Pile 2🪷

Sign energy: Eyebrows, Decor, February, Train, Siren, Chiron, 11th house, Water, South node, Earth,🦋🍋😰🌁

🌹All about your future spouse: Okay so definitely getting water sign energy with this one. Your future spouse has such adorable traits!!😩💗 They may be born in february so Pisces is likely. Aquarius, Earth or Water placements too. They may work online or have an online business, it's something really clever and innovative I'm hearing. Your future spouse will have a very delicate occupation like it's nothing extreme or dangerous it's actually super simple and successful.😇📨 This may be designing, home related, advertising, ect. I just feel like their job is so sweet idk why. It really suits them and they have such a calm and gentle work space. Your spouse will make money online or that is a source for them💸💻💫 You may connect with them through social media or that is where you first see them. They are intuitive and have exceptional ideas, I feel like they really think out of the ordinary.💡 For some of you this spouse may have a job that requires getting on a train🚆 My pile 2's your future spouse will be unique and very interesting to you.✨️ They will heal your past, like you can depend on them.🫂 Their eyebrows may be a noticeable physical trait of theirs. Your future spouse may live near a bridge or water, also you guys may have a small thing of growing your own fruits or vegetables?? For some of you that may be the case, it's really cute omg.🥺🩷 This will feel like a very healthy relationship for you both, a breath of fresh air. I feel like this person can be whatever you want them to be, like they will change for the better for you.💗 Omg can can we talk about how worried they get over you?? Like if you get injured or they think the slightest thing is bothering you, they will ask you what's wrong and comfort you until you feel better.😢🌧💞 Like they just know. Your future spouse has soft siren vibes imo, not the intense scary kind but the adorable floppy fish vibes idk??😂🤣 They are just there for you whenever you need them💓 This is a really soft and innocent relationship you guys will have. :D

💬Initials: F, Z, L, W, J

📍Locations: U.S.A, Turkey, Hawaii, Indonesia, Australia (These can be significant to you or them, or places you meet, travel or live together🥰)

💼Occupations: Brand owner, Home design, Online marketing, Architecture, Interior designer, Online business, Editor, Graphic design, Freelance artist, Social media management

💌Messages from your future spouse: I get lost in your eyes, All you have to do is ask, I'll tell them myself, Have you thought of me lately? I think you're a great person (They love my pile 2's vibe😊🩷) Extra cards: Above, Blood, Embrace, Union, Unrequited love

Thank you my pile 2's! If you feel this resonated, you may tap the heart to claim this message!❤️

I hope you enjoyed your reading! ʚ(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )ɞ If you did be sure to let me know pile 2 with the pink lotus emoji~🪷 Thanks for scrolling through, Hugs hugs hugs!! Wish you the best and see you in the next reading💋

Pile 3💐

Sign energy: Love letter, Wish, Spouse, Chiron, Long, Cancer, Aries, Mercury, 1st house, 3rd house,😭🥲🦇👅

🌹All about your future spouse: Wow interesting my pile 3's your future spouse is so recognizable, you will notice them right away.😍😍❤️ Prominent signs for them are Cancer, Aries, Virgo, and Gemini. They will be so into you from the start lol like serious about you. They will confess many times to ensure they have you, They could have long legs or something long in their appearance, their tongue could be.😶 Anyways they will speak to you first I'm hearing, it will not be hard for them to strike up a conversation with you. You will be shocked by their forward approach, they may be surprisingly honest in the beginning like "let's get this thing straight, I'm into you" kinda thing🤭❤️ But like once you become closer you will see how romantic and loving your future spouse gets with you!! They will compliment you and flirt with you so much, and probably the type to keep telling you they want to marry you.🏠🌹They are witty and romantic as hell. The type to brag about their family with you (if you have one) and tell others how in love with you they are. They will talk up my pile 3's so much.🥺💞 Their job may involve communicating with many people. Your future spouse will help you through things that have been affecting you for a while. You will really want to commit to this person I'm hearing, once they got you.. you won't wanna leave😝 They speak openly about the things they want and leave it out there waiting for you to fulfill them💋 Like saying they want affection without actually asking or telling you they're cold just to see if you'll cuddle them.🥺 This is so sweet, they know all the words to say to make you blush.🗣💌 Your future spouse will know they want to marry you upon first meeting or the early stages of the connection, also for some of you this person has been wishing and hoping to marry you or find you for a long time.⏳️ Once they have you they won't stop telling you how pretty/hot you are😳❤️‍🔥 They are great communicators, like really smooth.😎 Kisses with them will be💋👅 And hugs will be🫂😇 That is all I will say about that🙈 My pile 3's your future spouse will be so caring and doting to you, they will take good care of you guys!!

💬Initials: N, U, X, B, K

📍Locations: Canada, Finland, Peru, Africa, India (These can be significant to you or them, or places you meet, travel or live together🥰)

💼Occupations: Writer, Poet, Personal trainer, Motivational speaker, Public speaker, An activist of some kind, Family business, Preacher, Blogger, Screenwriter, News reporter, Broadcaster

💌Messages from your future spouse: I can't help myself, Just dance with me, I wish, There's distance between us, So what if we're a thing? Extra cards: Listen, Kitty, Ego, Enchanting, Comment (Yeah they are one with their words💬❤️‍🔥)

Thank you my pile 3's! If you feel this resonated, you may tap the heart to claim this message!❤️

I hope you enjoyed your reading! ʚ(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )ɞ If you did be sure to let me know pile 3 with the flower bouquet emoji~💐 Thanks for scrolling through, Hugs hugs hugs!! Wish you the best and see you in the next reading💋

Pile 4🌷

Sign energy: Hater, Age, Walk, Leo, 10th house, 7th house, 5th house, Gemini, Moon, Chiron,🧱🦥🔞🦄

🌹All about your future spouse: There is a lot going on with this pile.🤯 Your future spouse is someone very important, on the top of success in their field.🔝💼 They are charismatic and good with all kinds of people, they know how to gain respect🤝 You guys may have a significant age gap with this person, I'm getting they are older than most of you. My pile 4's feel more youthful, that is the vibe I'm getting from you guys. Your future spouse has a masculine energy and approach to things, very dominant feel. I'm getting model/acting/CEO/millionaire/high up official vibes.✨️ Take what resonates but I am seeing not everyone will approve of your relationship with them.😬🚫 For some of you this could be your mom or someone who is protective over you, they may not want you to marry this person. Your future spouse will be very well off in terms of finance💸 I'm getting the vibe they may push you guys away at first, maybe you want to rush into things with them but they don't think you are ready.✋️🤨 They may put their walls up at first, but eventually they will realize you are worthy and successful in their eyes.👑💍 At first your future spouse will come off dismissive of you since they are used to having many admirers that get on their nerves, your future spouse may have issues with gold diggers💰🧲 I'm seeing people tryna put their hands on them and they're just like 🙄 get the fk away. LOL they hate it. Everyone thinks they are one of a kind and want a piece of them, your future spouse will recieve so much attention.👀 Also people will be jealous of you and your spouse like why her/him??😒😤 Your relationship will be sought after by many. Your future spouse may also take walks often, that could be something you two do together.🥰 They will protect and provide for my pile 4's, nothing will get in their way of you guys seriously.🥺❤️ When you two are finally committed things will get spicy aswell❤️‍🔥

💬Initials: W, C, M, T, D

📍Locations: Turkey, Hawaii, Canada, Brazil, Thailand (These can be significant to you or them, or places you meet, travel or live together🥰)

💼Occupations: Public figure, Business owner, Entertainer, CEO, Entrepreneur, Model, Acting, Investor, Marketer, Producer, Fashion industry, Brand ambassador

💌Messages from your future spouse: You're talking nonsense, Smile for me, We might move too fast, You're my addiction, Listen up (Lol they're like listen here pile 4 you belong to them😭👇) Extra cards: Skin, Beach, Compulsive, Beloved, Expand (I'll leave it to you guys imagination on that one😳)

Thank you my pile 4's! If you feel this resonated, you may tap the heart to claim this message!❤️

I hope you enjoyed your reading! ʚ(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )ɞ If you did be sure to let me know pile 4 with the tulip emoji~🌷 Thanks for scrolling through, Hugs hugs hugs!! Wish you the best and see you in the next reading💋

Wanna see more readings like this? Check out my tumblr for accurate readings for you!💗🌊🌸

Thanks for reading! \(*^w^)/💌 -Lunadream <3

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Welcome to the 1993 Bubble House in Karalee, Queensland, Australia. 3bds, 2ba, 4,477 sq ft. The price isn't available unless you sign in, but you can see the photos. (It's over $1m.) It has 11 domes and 20 rooms.

We're goin' in. It's actually very beautiful inside.

The hall is like entering a space tunnel.

Not bad, huh? It's not a new house, but it's so spacey, it's still relevant. So, this is a dining area.

The living/family room is round and clustered around an elevated fireplace.

The stovepipe goes clear thru the 2nd floor and out the roof. I'm thinking that this is a bedroom suite- look at the niches in the walls, and there's a door, possibly to a bath.

Down here there's a multi-level TV room with home theater seating. Look at the swirling window.

Off the main area there's a bar in a separate room.

A kitchen in the round. The island is round and makes a nice table when chairs are placed at the counter.

2 floor library.

Downstairs, there's a proper library, also.

That window looks like it should open, but I doubt if it does. Either that, or it reminds me of the Nautilus. I think that this could also be a bedroom with a lofted area.

Upstairs is a larger, more formal living room.

The round home office has room for 3.

The bath looks like a mini pool with an escape hatch.

Even the laundry room is spacey. And, there's also another fridge in here.

Out on the large patio there's a pool, an outdoor kitchen, and a terrace above.

And, here is another view of the house.

Check out the entrance gate.

The lot size is 1.27 acres.

https://www.realestate.com.au/property/79-81-elanora-way-karalee-qld-4306/9

[loveemagicpeace]

✨Astological Things🎄

Moon is your safe place. It is something that you emotionally need and where you feel most seen, safe and fulfilled emotionally. The moon represents what you need in your partner and what would work between you in the long run. When you have many moon connections with someone, it means that you are closer to that person and that you feel more emotionally fulfilled and seen. You feel that you can share a home with this person. To invite someone home is usually your moon.

Venus shows strong attraction and love. However, it is not necessary that the relationship will work in the long run because the moon shows more attraction and giving love, but not something that would last for a very long time. Which means a lot of venus connections don't always mean a long term relationship. However, Venus in aspect with Saturn is very good for the long term.

Countries ruled by pisces are: Spain, Portugal, Normandy. Places ruled by fish are oceans, ponds, water areas, wet and humid areas, spiritual centers.

The countries ruled by the zodiac sign of Aquarius are Abyssinia, Arabia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia and Sweden. Places ruled by Aquarius are hilly and uneven, places where small rivers flow, roofs of houses, overhangs. Aquarius also rules highways, airports, and things related to electricity and electronics.

The countries ruled by the Capricorn zodiac sign are Albania, Bulgaria, Old Macedonia, Thrace, India, Afghanistan, Mexico and the Orkney Islands.

The countries ruled by the Sagittarius zodiac sign are: Madagascar, Spain, Australia and parts of France.

The house position of Uranus always shows where instability or destructive qualities may appear at any time. Uranus in the corner house (first, fourth, seventh, tenth) in the birth chart means that aimlessness will radiate from the person's life. This also means that the person will move often. Uranus in the tracking house (second, fifth, eighth and eleventh) tends to produce a greater number of unexpected ups and downs in a person's life circumstances. Uranus falling in a house (third, sixth, ninth and twelfth) indicates that education and religious beliefs will fluctuate, causing problems in this person's life - usually alienation. It also means that work is done in spurts and irregularly.

Neptune in angular houses produces romantic personalities. This indicates frequent changes of address, estrangement from relatives and strong possibilities for travel. If badly afflicted, strange accidents may occur on these journeys. Neptune in tracked houses brings tendencies towards strange, obscure illnesses that are difficult to diagnose. It indicates restraint and imprisonment. Neptune in descending houses is the planet of substitutions, which means false teeth, glasses, wigs, wooden legs and the like.

Neptune tends to feel that the ordinary things in life are unimportant, too vulgar, and therefore the person is looking for something more stimulating, more mysterious and sensational. Neptune sometimes seeks a temporary escape and takes refuge in the dream world. Some people feel that Neptune is neutral. Other astrologers say that he is the bringer of evil.

Saturn in the first house or in the first quadrant (first, second or third house) in the birth chart tends to throw burdens on the native early in life. This is often due to the father's accidents. Saturn in the second or eighth house signifies the power of saving money. In the fourth house, the individual tends to build a property of great value. If Saturn rules the 12th house and is angular, it means that personal matters will be revealed in public to the great embarrassment of that person.

Saturn is a symbol of karma: trials that will come into our lives slowly and surely. Because Saturn causes or symbolizes our delays and losses, it becomes the symbol of fate, which sets the normal man firm limits to his efforts. Saturn is the greater bringer of evil and the bringer of tasks. On the other hand, he is also the best friend because you can learn the most from him.

Jupiter also rules sports, hunting, athletics. It also rules the love of animals, religion, marriage, philosophy. Based on the position of the house and the sign and the aspects of Jupiter, to be able to find out how a person thinks in a philological sense. Regardless of the aspect, it is considered very fortunate that Jupiter is in an angular house (first, fourth, seventh or tenth) because it is said to protect the person from major misfortunes.

Mercury at birth is the key to healing powers. If Mercury is positive in sign, house and aspect, it brings healing powers. It also symbolically indicates whether a person is able to heal mentally or is able to solve current life problems. A study of natal Mercury shows how the individual will approach solving problems. Mercury in a fire or air sign tends to produce healing powers because it allows the person's mind to focus strongly on the site of illness or problems.

Wherever you find Venus, there you find an audience of admirers. Whichever house Venus is in, that's where you find the greatest love for people, places or things.

Venus conjunct Uranus often symbolizes several fleeting relationships followed by separation. Venus is most important for chart comparisons because it shows what to expect and what type of obstacles will show up.

Cancer individuals are sometimes difficult to live with because of their ever-changing mental sides. The waxing and waning of the state follows the lunar cycle. When the Moon is waxing, they are in a good mood for two weeks and when it is waning, they are depressed for two weeks. They have cyclical ups and downs.

Virgos tend to be withdrawn and require a lot of attention and time for themselves. They are loners. Only when they end one relationship do they start another. They are quite gentle. They are sophisticated warriors. They are rebellious. Virgos usually have a very beautiful body that is soft and clean. Many times they don't like to put on too much makeup and prefer a natural look.

The nature of a Libra person is harmonious. It has a sense of relationships in an individual's perception, which gives balance to his worldview and/or artistic perception. Many painters and musicians are born under this sign because it gives them musical talent and a love for beauty and colors. A Libra woman is resourceful and seeks perfection. The man is honorable, outwardly balanced and kind, but not passionate.

Pisces: Be romantic. For water signs, romance is important: flowers, food, confetti, etc. If you do something for them, make it very personal: they are very personal. This applies to gifts as well as other actions and relationships. Let it be according to nil's taste. Don't do anything by standard procedures, make it personal. Make them care. They don't need a lover, but love in the form of tender care. That's the only thing that matters to them. Encourage them to express themselves. Inside, they are nervous: This concern has to go to plan. The pain they take on from others must be expressed outwardly. What I have noticed many times with fish, especially in the sun, is that they want to be seen and want someone who cared and felt things like they do. Pisceans can feel younger than they are and keep their good looks well into old age.

Leo people enjoy the good life, and eating well is part of this. They like rich food and fine wine. Fortunately young Leos have strong stomachs and good circulation, and keep in shape because they are active. However, time does catch up with them, and Leos must learn to eat correctly and cut down on fatty foods.

Moon in Leo -you have strong emotions and can be reached through your heart rather than your head. You are a quick and accurate learner when your feelings are involved. But if a subject does not arouse your affections, you have no interest in exploring it further. The sensory impressions you receive from the world around you come to you on an emotional level. In order to make you change your mind, someone first has to change how you feel.

🎸For personal readings u can sign up here: https://snipfeed.co/bekylibra 🎸

-Rebekah🩵🧚🏼‍♀️☁️

[fuckyeahgoodomens]

Living in Australia means you might have to accept coming across a snake or two on your property at some point. But one Sydney homeowner got more than he bargained for when a snake catcher unearthed 102 of the slithery reptiles hiding in his garden.

David Stein had spotted a few snakes in a pile of mulch in his backyard in suburban Sydney and called Reptile Relocation Sydney to take a look.

By the time snake catcher Dylan Cooper had finished digging through the mulch, he’d recovered a total of 102 snakes - five adults and 97 newborns, Reptile Relocation Sydney owner Cory Kerewaro told CNN on Thursday.

Red-bellied black snakes are a kind of venomous snake, and the females are known to congregate to give birth, said Kerewaro.

Red bellied black snake is the snek that snek Crowley was designed after, it seems that he was busy :D <3

[frazzledrazzled]

Thing's I'd put in the Australian version of Ghosts if I was making it

If you haven't heard, an Australian version of the BBC's popular show Ghosts has been confirmed! So far, there is a finished UK version, and ongoing (I believe?) USA version, German and French versions in production, and now the upcoming Australian version. (Now I know there's a bit of information out there already about the setup of the show but I haven't been able to access that so I know nothing about it aside from it exists.) So, as an Australian, here's what I'd love to see in it:

An Aboriginal ghost from thousands of years ago as well as an Aboriginal ghost from the last 30ish years - remind people that Aboriginal Australians are the oldest ongoing culture in the world

The mansion to have not always been a family home. Maybe like a boarding school or something, with some ghosts who were students there (or maybe teachers, as actors playing students would age much more noticeably. Actually a headmaster could be a good Fanny/ Hetty counterpart)

If not that, then maybe it's on a big bit of farmland - very Australian. Could let the livings discover news ghosts throughout the show as they explore all the nooks and crannies of the vast place

A different take on the main pair of livings would be cool. Maybe best friends, or house mates, or a sapphic couple?

Remember that ghost pigeon from the UK version? I want ghosts of extinct animals. Give me a megafauna kangaroo ghost PLEASE

If it's set in Victoria, some gold miners! There were a lot of Chinese gold miners too, so a Chinese ghost could be a chance to remind the audience that Australia is a multicultural society, and has been for a few hundred years

If in Victoria, and if there are gold miner ghosts, them finding out about Sovereign Hill would be a delight. (I say this even as my best friend's family are higher-ups at Sov Hill) the ghosts pointing out historical inaccuracies would be funny

A ghost who says he was part of the Kelly Gang (Ned Kelly's crew) a la how Black Pete from Our Flag Means Death talks about working with Blackbeard. Our claimed Kelly Gang member really only met Ned Kelly once, or was in the gang for only a week before dying in an embarrassing, unrelated way - Humphrey Bone core

A Kiwi ghost that they all ignore and shut down. Maybe they all talk about him like he's a lameass and a prick and all, then the livings finally meet him (he's been banished to a far corner of the property) and he's a decorated, brave ANZAC soldier who's very kind of heart and wants nothing but peace with the other ghosts. But the ghosts all hate him for being Kiwi (uniting the variety of ghosts in the show with a common "enemy"). Not to make fun of ANZACs or our war history, but more to poke fun at the way we hate Kiwis

Obligatory arrow-through-the-neck ghost was a camp counsellor who was shot by a kid who was on school camp with his primary school. Everyone has horrific injuries from school camp stories, so it could be a recent ghost and the living woman saying like "yeah and I once got a fishing hook in my hand on camp" "I once burnt myself trying to cook damper" and the counsellor saying "yeah well i once got shot and killed on a school camp, so."

FOOTY. Even as a Norflag truther, a ghost of a North Melbourne player from the early 1900s (when they were doing well) watching how badly they're going now would be a bit of fun

A ghost who died in the Great Emu War. The ghost: "I was in a war once" The living: "Oh my god are you an ANZAC? I had no idea" The ghost: "... not quite."

We have a great history of taking the piss out of our politicians, and also just not caring about them at all, so a Julian (from the UK version) counterpart would be very well received

KYLIE MINOGUE CAMEO (she was mentioned and cameod in the UK version)

And obviously, some cheeky references to the other versions

But whatever the show ends up to be, I'm really looking forward to it!

[polyhexian]

To be fair something like 80% of Australia's population live within 40km of the coast, so once you're like. 4 or 5 hours out people start being like 'oop yeah rural'

Like, my dad has a house near Coffs harbour, which is a pretty populated area but his property which is only an hour out is completely rural. I dunno tho I live in the western suburbs of Sydney so I'm just a westie LOL

That being said I hope you have a great time! Are you living here permanently now? My friend who lives here permanently now from the UK had some issues w the lingo but you defs get used to it over time!!!!!

- sincerely someone who's just very excited sorry hahaha

Lmfao. I'm gathering that, actually. Wait, is Sydney the west side of Australia? For some reason I thought it was east... I'm from eastern US so it's going to take some getting used to, being on the west of anything LOL. Hell, I even lived in east wangjing when I lived in China.

I dunno, I suppose I wouldn't consider a place rural if I'm within walking distance of a mall. I suppose this kind of thing is something I've missed since I moved north. I like jersey a lot, like, a lot a lot, jersey is very much a home to me, but it's also colder than my bones like, and there's more people and less land. I grew up driving past farmland on my home. I mucked horse stalls before school. I sat on the porch with my folks during low level hurricanes and watched the wind and the rain. I grew up searching for downed litters of squirrels and raccoons after storms and making fresh lemonade in the summer with my folks. I liked getting ice cream down by the river and watching the boats roll in. Whenever I visit them we go for long drives looking for second hand shops run out of old barns where you spend twenty minutes talking with whoever is sitting outside selling fresh honey before you can leave.

Its all very fond, I know, and bit rosey-glassed, but those are things I missed in the north. Everything is packed so much more closely. People don't have sprawling yards and old barns and sheds filled with endless junk there. People don't have the space for backyard gardens. I could go down to the river or the beach, sure, but they're fucking miserable places you really aren't meant to actually spend time at. Either it's explicitly tourist fodder or it's exclusively functional private property. It's usually ugly, too. The rain smells wrong.

And for Christs sake, they don't have enough goddamn reflectors on the fucking roads. It's insane. Any time I drive down it's so noticeable how suddenly I'm like actually I don't hate driving at night anymore, because I can see the fucking road. What the hell is this? I fucking hate the reflector thing and I never shut up about it

The spot I'm staying at is nice. It's beautiful weather. The shops are a brisk walk away, including the stuff most vital to me like a chemist and a prescribing doctor. Theyve got mountain dew for my Yankee indulgence and meat and eggs I can actually AFFORD.

Tho, also, it's a very small town and thus I have not heard another American accent since I've arrived, but I HAVE heard many comments on it lol. I'll have to get used to that again.

"permanent" is a word I hesitate to use- I'm not naturalizing or anything. I don't plan to, anyway. My current status is "I'm living here until I decide not to anymore." The states are fucking dangerous, and it isn't safe for me there anymore. I can't go back until I feel safe doing so, and I won't go back until I actually want to. If I go back it will certainly be to jersey, though. If my boyfriend ever gets his arcade open, I'd like to be a part of that. But I don't see that for at least ten years, honestly. I have future plans here I'm quite fond of, too. Lots to do with kitty cats.

One of the big reasons I left the US is that I'm disabled and in the US, i can't work enough to support myself. I can only work part time at an in person job and I can't keep regular hours. My stupid heart and it's stupid blood won't let me. Here, for now, I technically can't work at all, but if I can't work in either place at least here it costs less to survive. Most of my income is passive, from YouTube and redbubble and such; with commissions when I'm able. It's certainly not ideal or anything, but my options have always been pretty limited. Something else nice about living in the US south east is theres so much space it's much easier to just sort of hole up in a generous family member's attic and eat store brand food to skim by without asking too much of anyone or being too much of a burden. You can't do that up north.

Australia is nice. I want to buy a desk this week. Right now that's sort of where I'm at haha, remove clothes from suitcase, move bed against wall, acquire desk, reassemble computer. Try to make some money again. Eat bananas on the back deck in the sunshine.

[bethanythebogwitch]

Original Australian starter Pokemon revised

This is a revision of my starter Pokemon for my original Goorda region, based on a combination of Australia and Aotearoa/New Zealand. I've wanted to revise them for a while, both to update the hideously bad art into my current merely ok art and because I wanted to alter some of the concepts and inspirations I've used. Links to more of my fakemon at the bottom.

The grass starter is Womaca, the Wombat Pokemon, grass type. Womaca is a shy Pokemon with many predators, so it developed a nut shell on its back to act as a shield. When threatened, it burrows into the ground, laving only the shell exposed to hide from predators. Womaca live in burrows and rarely stray far from them, for fear they may be caught by a foe with nowhere to run to.

Womaca evolves to Punomice, the Wombat Pokemon, grass/rock type. The shell on its back has hardened to petrified wood, which grows in layers that accumulate on the top. The older a Punomice is, the more layers its shell will have. Because of its harder shell, Punomice is willing to venture further from its borrow as it is no longer as vulnerable as when it was a Womaca. Moss grows on its shell and an old Punomice's shell often looks green from the moss.

Punomice evolves to Rakidon, the Mountain Pokemon, grass/rock type. The shell of petrified wood on its back has developed into a mountain. This, combined with its great size, means Rakidon no longer fears predators and no longer lives in a burrow. Its fur is green from moss that grows on it. This moss is known for having medicinal properties.

Womaca and Punomice are based on wombats, which really are burrowing animals. The nut shell on Womaca is based on a macadamia nut, Australia's only native crop export. Petramaca and Rakidon are based on petrified wood. Punimice's shell is based on the pancake rocks, a rock formation found in Aotearoa that look like stacks of thin layers. Rakidon is based on a diprotodon, a giant, extinct relative of wombats. The mountain on its back is based on Aoraki/Mount Cook, Aotearoa's tallest mountain. Womaca comes from "wombat" and "macadamia". Punomice comes from "Punakaiki" (the village where the pancake rocks are located) and "pumice". Rakidon comes from "Aoraki" and "diprotodon". In my original designs, Punoice was named Petramaca and its shell was a generic boulder while Rakidon was named Dipwoodoo and it has a series of hoodoos on its back instead of a mountain.

The fire starter is Dingup, the Dingo Pokemon, fire-type. Dingup acts brave, but is shy and its curious nature often gets it into trouble. Because it is still small and young, it lives in a pack for mutual protection. Dingup often seems to react to things nobody else can see, leading to theories that it can see spirits. Dingup can be friendly to humans, but trainers are warned that it can act wild and is difficult to train.

Dingup evolves to Dingunji, the Dingo Pokemon, fire-type. Dingunji is wild and rebellious, leading it to leave the pack and set out on its own. However, it always remembers where it came from and truly values its friends. Dingunji sometimes chases things nobody can see. Legends say it is chasing dangerous spirits away from its friends.

Dingunji evolves to Warrighul, the Shaman Pokemon, fire/ghost-type. Warrighul has matured past its rebellious phase as a Dingunji and returned to the pack. It has the power to see and interact with the spirit world. Dangeorus spirits flee from Warrighul as its flames burn them. At the same time, it will guide friendly spirits to human shamans, leading to it being valued by spiritual people.

This line is based on dingos, the wild dogs of Australia. Their dangerous qualities reference that, while Dingos can be tamed and historically were by aboriginal peoples, they are still wind animals and do not have the behavioral traits that domesticated dogs do. They are also based on aboriginal religious practices in some cultures that used them as guardians and aides to shamans. They also come from the trend from all Pokemon gens except 2 and 9 where the fire starter is based on an animal from the Chinese zodiac. How could I not do the dog in Australia? Dingup comes from "dingo" and "pup". Dingunji comes from "dingo" and "bunji" (a word in multiple aboriginal languages that means "friend"). Warrighul comes from "warrigal" (another word for dingo) and "ghoul". This is the line that changes the least from its original concept. I really just updated the art and changed Warrighul to a ghost type. When I made the original post, i last minute changed Warrighul from a ghost type to a psychic type because ScarVi had recently come out and I didn't want a fire/ghost starter right after Hisuian Typhlosion and Skeledirge. In hindsight, that was dumb and I'm changing it back.

The water starter is Platid, the Platypus Pokemon, water-type. Platid's hairs are hollow and transparent and its body can produce faint light that shines through them. This allows Platid to change the color of its fur to blend in with its surroundings, making it good at stealth. It is slow and clumsy on land, but a skilled swimmer that hunts in the streams and lakes of Goorda.

Platid evolves to Platox, the Stealthy Pokemon, water/poison-type. Small spurs on Platid's forelegs have developed into retractable spears on Platox's wrists. These spears are hollow and inject venom into whatever they stab. After evolving, Platox will make a cape by weaving together reeds and its color-changing fur. It can hide under this cape and change its color to look like a pile of leaves, allowing it to sneak about undetected.

Platox evolves to Spylatypus, the Stealthy Pokemon, water/poison-type. As soon as it evolves, Spylatypus expands its cape into a full cloak made of leaves and its color changing hair. Its control at color changinc allows the cloak to function as an invisibility cloak, though when not used for stealth, Spylatypus indicates its mood by changing the cloak's color. It fights with the venomous spears that shoot out of its wrists and spikes growing from its tail in a dance-like movement. Spylatypus will only remove its cloak in front of someone it truly trusts.

This line is based on the iconic platypus. Male platypuses have venomous spurs on their hind legs that inspires the spears of this line. Their retractable, wrist-based spurs, stealthy behavior, and Spylatypus's cloak come from depictions of assassins, thieves, and spies from media like Assassin's Creed. The tails are shaped like Maori weapons called patus, which were wooden paddles. Their names come from "platypus", "hid", "toxic", and "spy".

This is the line that changes the most from the original design. The original design kept the wrist blades and patu-based tails, but wasn't stealthy. Instead, I made them dancers based on the Haka, ceremonial Maori dances. I changed this because the dances clashed with the assassin vibes and because I think I can use the Haka better on a different Pokemon with a different typing. Poison is often associated with villains, which isn't very fitting for the Haka, but does fit a stealthy character. I'm still not entirely sold on this line, especially Spylatypus, but it's better than it was. I'm also not sold on the names.

In addition to the regional starters, I also made regional forms for the Johto starters. While I like what I came up with for Cyndaquil and Totodile, my Chikorita line needed a do-over. Chikorita evolves to Goordan Bayleef, the Metal Leaf Pokemon, grass/steel type. Bayleef was first brought to Goorda by foreign settlers and they inhabited metal-rich soil. This caused metal to build up in their leaves, giving them sharp edges that can be used as blades.

Goordan Bayleef evolves to Kniflax, the Blade Leaf Pokemon, grass/steel-type. The metal-rich soils they live in caused them to develop shields and swords on their bodies made of metal and covered in pink petals. The leaf on Goordan Bayleef's head has developed into a sword on strong and highly-flexible stem. Kniflax are chivalrous Pokemon that protect their friends from peril and train in fencing with each other.

I originally had these variants be grass/fire type based on eucalyptus, but I decided to change it to give them a knightly feel instead. The European vibes of Kniflax references it it being an introduced species and European colonization. I decided that since my regional Cyndaquil and Totodile lines were based on Australian species (echidnas and saltwater crocodiles, respectively), I should have the Chikorita line be based on introduced species. Goordan Bayleef's more fern-like leaves are based on the Australain sword fern Nephrolepis obliterata. Kniflax's name comes from "knight", "knife", and "flax", specifically New Zealand flax, which has leaves comparable to swords.

Previous fakemon posts: New Zealand legendaries, New Zealand misc, new evolutions, misc 4, misc 3, single stages, non-natives, regional standards, creepy lines, regional variants, birds, early game standards, misc 2, misc 1, Johto starter variants, starters.

[realestateyourselfaustralia425]

First Time Home Buyer Houses For Sale in Australia

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[maccreadysbaby]

OPERATION: ULTRAVIOLET

alex rider + oc insert

tw: none

wanna read more? here’s the table of contents!

kai is NOT HAVING A GOOD TIME

part five

❝ TWO FACED ❞

WEDNESDAY — MAY 4, 2001 — 3:13AM

KAI HAD NEVER FELT AS STRANGE AND EMPTY AS THE NIGHT HE SPENT WITH LIONEL IN A MIDDLE CLASS, UNSUSPECTING MIAMI HOTEL.

For the first hour or so after their arrival, Kai pored over the three files his father had given him. The longest one was about Operation: Ultraviolet, which outlined the goals and development of the CIA’s plans to recruit a child spy. Kai was in it as the subject, never mentioned by name. The file had reports about all his training, which were updated by Joe himself every three months, outlining new things the subject had learned and the things he’d grown proficient in. There were reports that went all the way back to when Kai was four — the first time Lionel had taught him a few small self defense techniques. The newest reports were the pages Joe had typed up about the kidnapping, and Kai’s daring escape, which he viewed as nothing more than a show of skill. Like it wasn’t the actual kidnapping of his son.

The second file had only a few pages about some American Wildlife Activist, Leon Waters. Where he was born, all his living family (only a son, now.) his properties and jobs and endeavors. Kai skimmed what seemed to be his entire life’s story; how his father died and he inherited Haywire Enterprises, a company that bought and protected land and animals, owning dozens of wildlife reserves around the globe and about two-hundred rehabilitation centers and zoos in various parts of the world. There were also files and pictures about an isolated incident; a fleet of Haywire Enterprises planes flying into the Australian outback — very near to the River Rocks Summer Camp Leon Waters owned. The pictures showed the flight crew in hazmat suits.

Kai assumed that’s what he was going to be investigating.

The third file was about the other teenager who’d be accompanying him; Alex Rider. He looked at a candid photo of the boy which was paper-clipped to the inside of the folder, putting on display his fair, blonde hair and dark brown eyes. He was walking down a street alongside a redheaded woman, and looked completely unaware that his photo was being taken. Kai only scanned the first page. He read about parents who were dead, no cause of death listed — then about an uncle, whose cause of death was also not listed. Apparently Alex Rider lived with a housekeeper -- the redhead -- Jack Starbright. Like Kai did.

And that’s about as far as he got. He abandoned the rest of the pages about Alex Rider and folded up all the files again, flopping them down on the bedside table.

The hotel room they were in was nice; but not as nice as the penthouse he’d never left. It had two king beds sitting side by side, flanked with bedside tables. A single tv stand and television sat in front of them. Lionel had turned it on, and it had been playing F.R.I.E.N.D.S for the last hour, but Kai hadn’t paid much attention.

It was three in the morning. They’d be leaving for the airport in three hours, but Kai hadn’t slept at all, and he doubted he would. There was too much spinning and broiling in his mind. In the last six hours, he’d been kidnapped, held at gunpoint, told by his stepfather that he’d been training him to be a child spy for his entire life (and that he didn’t care about him, basically.) And now, he was being forced on a mission against his will, being shoved on planes to London and then Australia without any consent or even the slightest forewarning. Kai had never even been out of his house.

He had already been a ghost; living a life that didn’t exist. Now, he was living a life that wasn’t even his. Would he ever actually get to be Malachi Blackwell? Or was he just going to be a statistic, a project, a subject forever? Would he ever get to see any of the black and white again, or was his reality always going to be a lifeless, muddled gray?

The first spoken word between the boy and his housekeeper came during a commercial break from F.R.I.E.N.D.S., at almost three-twenty. Kai had laid down on top of the neatly folded hotel bedding, and had turned his back to Lionel and the television and everything. He didn’t really want to see it right then.

“Kai,” Was what Lionel said. He sounded calm. His voice was smooth and soothing, like it always was, like it always had been, though it did little to ease the grim gray storm that had swallowed the teenager whole.

Kai didn’t respond. For a few minutes, he just laid there, pretending he hadn’t heard Lionel at all. What was there to talk about? More lies? More things that had been hidden from him? Back when life had been simple, Lionel apologized to Kai on Joe Byrne’s behalf often; for missing dinner, or falling asleep during a movie, or for having to rush out in the middle of the night. But this time, Kai was sure there was absolutely nothing he could say that could even begin to cover it all. Maybe it would be better if they were both just… quiet.

A few moments passed, and the commercials turned back into the last leg of the F.R.I.E.N.D.S. episode. 

“Malachi,” Lionel spoke again, and Kai heard him move. “Look at me, please.”

Reluctantly, with a deep inhale, Kai pulled himself up and turned, dangling his feet off the right side of the hotel bed. Lionel was across from him, on the opposite bed. He looked… worn. Sad, almost, but Kai wasn’t sure why.

“Did you know?” The teenager questioned suddenly, looking down at his feet. Lionel had brought him a full luggage when he picked him up from the CIA building, including perfectly clean white tennis shoes, and had hugged him and asked if he was alright almost profusely on his arrival. He had also tended to his wounds when they arrived at the hotel, in silence -- which was why Kai was now sporting butterfly stitches on his right temple. “The training, my whole life -- did you know?”

Lionel’s dark eyes trailed Kai’s frame for a short moment. He wasn’t sure what the housekeeper saw, but whatever it was kept him from lying. Perhaps Kai looked fragile after his entire life got uprooted and thrown into the fire -- he wouldn’t doubt it. He had always been treated like a priceless antique, but right now, he felt more fragile than he ever had.

“Yes,” Lionel replied, simply. “Yes. I did. Your stepfather… recruited me specifically to be your warden. Because of my past.”

Kai nodded slightly. “And what? Is everything I know about you a lie, too?”

“No,” Lionel shook his head. “I’m retired from the Delta Force. Unmarried. My only brothers died in the service and my parents soon after. Everything you know about me is true.”

Kai inhaled and exhaled, nodding, looking back down at his shoes. “And what am I to you? A job? An asset?”

“Kai,” Lionel spoke softer now, slower. “I’ve been with you since you were born. In every way, you’re the son I never had. And I care about you as though you’re my own. You know that.”

“Do I? Because I thought the same about…” Kai trailed off, tossing a hand lazily to the side. 

Lionel sighed deeply. “He loves you-”

“Don’t defend him,” Kai ordered, and Lionel fell quiet.

“Alright,”

A moment of silence filtered through the hotel room. Kai merely stared at his feet, several different feelings swirling around inside of him like the beginnings of a hurricane.

He took a shaky breath. “I got kidnapped. He was sent a ransom video of a gun pressed to my head and when I got to his office, he didn’t even ask if I was okay.”

Lionel said nothing, and Kai shrugged, keeping his eyes low; on the floor, the legs of the beds, his feet. “What kind of dad does that? He wasn’t even phased. Wilhelm could’ve killed me and he didn’t even spare a second to step out of his stupid office!”

“Kai,”

“Don’t defend him!” Kai ordered, pointing a finger at Lionel for a split second. “Just… don’t.”

“You weren’t kidnapped,” Lionel replied shortly. Kai finally had the courage to fully meet his eyes, looking up at him with a mixture of skepticism and disbelief.

“What?” 

Lionel shifted on the bed, bringing one of his feet up to rest on the frame. “Your father wasn’t going to tell you this, Kai; but the kidnapping wasn’t real. It was set up and orchestrated by the CIA -- one final test before they sent you out of the country to see how you would hold up under pressure. Pressure you thought was real. Your father knew you wouldn’t be injured.”

Kai blinked, blankly. A slew of emotions passed through him, all loud and vile and unidentifiable, before he finally settled on pure and unadulterated hatred. He shot off of the bed with a sudden: “What the hell?!”

“Kai-”

“They had guns! They-they hurt you! They hit me, they… they were shooting at me, they could’ve killed me! One trigger pull and they could’ve blown my head off!” Kai shouted. One hand flew up to rake through his hair. “He gave me a whole speech about not being two-faced, but he planned to torture me and then lied about it? God dammit!”

Kai wasn’t really sure where he was trying to go, but he walked absentmindedly around the hotel room anyhow, finally settling on leaning against the wall right next to the door, staring at it, debating on leaving. Where would he go, if he ran?

The sounds of footsteps and shuffling came from behind him. A few quiet moments came and went, and Lionel’s gentle hand came to rest on Kai’s left shoulder from behind. He was trembling. When had he started that?

“Come here,” Lionel ordered quietly. When Kai didn’t move, Lionel tugged on him a bit. “Come here, son.”

Kai exhaled heavily, letting Lionel gently turn him around. He didn’t dare look at him, but stared down at both of their shoes.

Lionel didn’t speak -- he just reached forward and pulled Kai into a secure embrace.

Kai exhaled shakily, thumping his forehead against the man’s shoulder hard. “I’ve never had a dad at all, have I?”

Lionel said nothing. 

Kai’s rage simmered down to a hot anger that was just manageable, the space it left being filled by despair and something lonely. And so, in the safety of the hotel, far from the man he’d thought was his father and the CIA’s prying eyes, he cried. 

--

The morning came quicker than anyone wanted it to. 

Kai never slept. He didn’t cry for very long, but even the small spurt seemed to drain everything out of him, leaving him empty and silent for the entirety of the morning.

Lionel had gone with him to the airport, through customs and all the way to his gate. Lionel had been given Kai’s passport and paperwork -- the teenager wasn’t sure if it was real or fake, or what name was even on it, but it got him to his gate nonetheless. That’s where the two of them shared hushed goodbyes and Kai got on his first plane, in his entire life, by himself.

Lionel said he couldn’t come -- Kai wasn’t sure why, but he was sure it was just another way Joe Byrne decided to put a nail in the coffin where their barely-existing relationship had died. Was he planning to strip everything away from him in a span of twenty-four hours?

“If I could get you out of this, I would,” Lionel had said as they waited for the plane. “Be careful. Trust your instincts.”

Kai hadn’t said anything back.

The housekeeper had misty eyes during their final goodbye. Kai felt almost nothing at all.

Of course, he’d seen planes on tv, but he never imagined he’d be riding in one, let alone by himself. His father had booked him into business class. But even the bigger seats and better food selection didn’t help when it came to turbulence and the outright horror that was plane rides. 

Apparently, his terror was tangible enough that a little blonde flight attendant kept bringing him water and little plastic bags for him to throw up in. He never did, but even the fact that a stranger thought he would was humiliating enough. He wondered, the whole time, if his so-called stepfather was laughing somewhere, reveling in his every single discomfort.

Seven hours later, feeling sick and jet-lagged to the moon and back, Kai landed at Heathrow Airport in London. By himself.

Getting off and through customs, again, was a nightmare. He had no idea what he was doing, and one of the security guards at the post had to practically guide him through it all. Which was humiliating on top of the already humiliating plane ride.

Finally, he walked out toward the parking lots. He had no clue where he was going or what he was doing — no one had told him where to go once he got to London. So much for his father being thorough.

But, when he stepped across the street toward one of the parking lots, he saw a man standing outside the airport, holding a card in his hand. It read: Joe Byrne.

Kai briefly wondered if he’d ever actually get to live under his own name.

The man, an older guy in a suit and tie, took him to a sleek black mercedes. 

It was eight o’clock at night in London. Kai had left at sunrise and arrived after sundown, and his whole sense of time seemed uprooted and turned on it's head. He fell asleep in the car, but only for perhaps five minutes before the man pulled to a stop on a dark street. Lined with architecturally stunning buildings at every turn, Liverpool street was perhaps the most impressive place Kai had seen. Not that he’d seen many places.

He didn’t pay very much attention to it all, though; he was tired, and he had to work to follow the driver through the streets from where they parked. The man had assured him that he’d have his luggage handled — whatever that meant.

The man took him down the cool London street without speaking. It was probably twenty degrees colder than Miami there, and even in the nighttime darkness, Kai could see the gloomy clouds looming overhead. They walked in a still silence for a long while before the man finally stopped at a large bricked building with intricate stonework and a huge, black door.

The sign next to the door read: Royal & General Bank.

As Kai looked at the building ahead of him, and the man in the tie went in without as much as a glance back at the teenager, he decided that Royal & General Bank was probably just as much a bank as the Centurion International Advertising was an advertising company.

He was about to meet MI6.

—

tag list!

@skylathescholarly @flyrobinflyy @mcskullmun

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Adorable little Goth-y house in Clunes, VA, Australia. Look at the windows! 2bds, 1ba, offers between $450k - $495k.

It's like a little woodsy goth cottage with a pitched ceiling in the living room.

Nice fireplace and those goth windows are so cool. I wonder how it would look if you painted the old knotty pine over in deep gray or black.

Lovely sunny room with colored glass doors to the garden.

Large country kitchen. Look at the cute stripes on the cabinet doors.

Lots of storage and you could put a larger table by the built-in bench.

The primary bedroom is double size.

Unless this is supposed to be the 2nd bedroom. I don't know, they don't show another one, and there's a curtain separator.

The bath is pretty nice.

Lovely grounds. I like the way this hedge surrounds the house.

Beyond that, there's a lot more space.

Nice covered patio.

This is lovely.

I wish they would've shown the interior of this cool building. I can see that it also has goth windows and a great upper deck.

Beautiful grounds.

https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-clunes-145412916

[protocolpaintingtas]

Protocol Painting & Decorating

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[pynkhues]

Lowkey, one of my favorite things about your blog is your knowledge of the Australian entertainment industry and cattle farming. Tell me everything! The cattle industry seems huge but the entertainment industry seems so small. I got a VPN to watch The Newsreader and checked out a few other Australian shows on the ABC. Unfortunately I wasn't as impressed with their other offerings, save for Muster Dogs. And I'm utterly fascinated by the idea of cattle stations, & that people own (stole) land the size of small states in the US.

Oh! Hahahaha, perks I guess of having a man who worked in agriculture married to an amateur opera singer for grandparents, lmao.

But yeah, the cattle and sheep industries are both huge in Australia, which is - - mmm, complicated? The land here actually isn't really designed for it - all Australian native animals have soft feet / none of them have hooves, so the introduction of that has had an enormous impact on parts of the country (there's a good documentary on that called Where the Water Starts if you're curious) - but that's not a conversation the country's quite ready to have. A lot of the cattle and sheep stations are massive though, and just go for miles and miles and miles. In some ways, they kind of echo old European estate structure too in that workers might live in cottages on the property too. My aunt and uncle don't work at the cattle station they live at - they're both retired - but they live in a little cottage on the property with the cows among a bunch of other ones. It's kind of a funny system sometimes.

And Australian TV is pretty hit or miss honestly. I watch a lot of it because I work a little in it (and would like to work more in it, haha), and ABC I find does factual better than fiction a lot of the time. That said, there are some good shows on there! Obviously you've seen The Newsreader, but I really love Fisk, which is a very gentle sitcom about a corporate lawyer who ends up working in wills and estate planning after her life implodes, and it deals a lot with family, grief and preparing for death in a way that's more fun than it feels it should be, haha. It's an older one, but Jack Irish is a really good crime series starring Guy Pearce too, and I quite like Total Control too, which is a political drama that looks at the machinations between an Indigenous senator and the white Prime Minister.

Binge has better Australian TV to me though - Love Me (which Emma Freeman also directs!) is great, as is Colin from Accounts, The Twelve, Wentworth and I've heard Strife is really good, but I haven't watched that yet. Stan has some good ones though too!

[gumnut-logic]

“It’s the last house at the end of the street, Virgil.”

“FAB, Thunderbird Five.” It was said without the usual spark. The grey of the destroyed landscape sucked everything from everything. A pall of smoke and haze, black remnants of lives, homes and the tragedy of the night before.

International Rescue had been called to a massive bushfire in the Yarra Ranges in Victoria, Australia. The CFA had had it under control the previous day, John keeping an eye on it anyway, but an unexpected change in wind direction in the evening had it jumping firebreaks and tearing through an unprotected valley and directly through a township.

With the vast tall forests of mountain ash, eucalypts full of volatile oil just waiting to burst into flame, combined with the hot and blustery northerly, not even IR could stop the firestorm from taking lives and property.

Thunderbird Two had her fire suppression equipment, but the massive plane was a speck against the wall of flame.

There were forces of nature that just couldn’t be stopped.

The Tracys dodged and nabbed trapped people. Thunderbird Two deployed a huge water cannon, sourcing water from the local reservoir, as the CFA water bombed around them, desperate to protect what lives they could. But nothing was stopping the fire.

It tore through the town leaving agony in its wake.

Dawn was grey and dismal, but it brought rain. The sky rumbled, threatening to spark more fires in the ranges, but the deluge came and dampened the remaining flame enough to once again get the front under control.

But it was too late for the town.

It was gone.

Virgil walked the length of the street, his exo-suit rubbing on aching shoulders. Burnt out cars and collapsed homes lined the road from one end to the other. The skeletons of black trees marched off into the distance behind it all.

Haze hovered above ash-clogged puddles in the pavement.

It wasn’t what Christmas morning was supposed to be.

The last house at the end of the street had fully collapsed in on itself. A burnt-out car sat in the driveway, its trunk lid and one of its doors open.

Virgil closed his eyes for a moment, knowing what that likely meant.

He steeled himself and walked past the remains he knew he was going to find in the car.

Nothing could be done.

Nothing.

He focussed on the whine of his suit as his boots stepped in wet ash and strode across the front yard to the remains of the house. He had to clear his throat to speak to John. “Tell me where, Thunderbird Five.”

“Possibly in the basement? The lifesign is below ground level.”

The house had been old, the wooden floorboards disintegrating in the heat. Virgil leapt through the remains of a wall, landing on rubble in what had likely been a wine cellar. The heat had been so intense, that glass bottles had become slag.

Glass crunched under his boots. “Right or left?”

“Eastern side, southern corner.”

There was a mass of rubble collapsed against the only standing wall of the building.

“This is International Rescue. Can anyone hear me?”

He turned up the pickups on his exterior mikes.

Nothing. It was probably a blip. How the hell could anything survive this holocaust?

His shoulders dropped.

But then...something? A whimper?

Maybe?

Virgil began digging.

It took him a good fifteen minutes of solid work to move enough burnt masonry to reach a hole in the wall at the very base of the structure. And in what appeared to be the bottom of a dumb waiter he found the lifesign.

The little puppy whimpered at him, trembling with fear.

Aw, hell.

“John, lifesign is a dog.”

“One moment, Thunderbird Two.” The puppy stared, the green, yellow and blue of Virgil’s suit reflected in its brown eyes. “There is no dog registered at that address. Deliver to the local authorities. You are needed to airlift some survivors to Melbourne. Report to Scott on the other side of town.”

“FAB, Thunderbird Five.”

Virgil slid his arms out from the suit and bent aching knees. “Hey, little one, do you want to come with me?”

The puppy shivered and looked him up and down, hesitating.

“I’m with International Rescue, we’re here to help.” He took a step closer. “It’s okay, I promise.”

Maybe it was something in his voice, his stance, or simply because the puppy had no choice, but as Virgil reached into the box it was sitting in, the puppy made no protest as he picked it up.

A quick examination for injury revealed her to be a girl. She shuddered up against Virgil’s chest. “Don’t worry, it’s all over, you’re safe.”

Sliding one arm back into his suit, he started making his way out of the ruined building, turning his back on the tiny hole that had somehow saved the little dog’s life.

-o-o-o-

Perhaps it was because she sat so quietly with him. Perhaps because it was Christmas Day. Most likely it was because Virgil had reached his limit of pain.

When he found the RSPCA tent, specially set up for lost pets, he gently handed over the little puppy. She let out a whimper and began crying.

No barking, just this godawful crying that tore at his heart.

“You will be fine here, little one.” The attendant was one of those kindly older ladies and she hugged the gangly bundle of fluff to her chest as Virgil turned to leave, Scott in his ear.

But the puppy let out such a scream of anguish, Virgil turned around without thinking. She was struggling in the volunteer’s arms and before either of them could react, she managed to wriggle free and dash over to him, her little body trembling on his left boot.

He reached down and gathered her into his arms. “You can’t come with me. I can’t-“ But she was rubbing her head up under his chin, little sounds in her throat.

And he couldn’t.

Just couldn’t.

His eyes met the eyes of the lady volunteer and she smiled. “We will keep her details if you would like to take her with you. If anyone contacts us, we can let you know.” And the volunteer was just as hopeful as the puppy in his arms. After all, there was no life at the RSPCA unless a home was found.

He looked down at her little brown eyes again.

No, he couldn’t.

Damnit, Scott was going to kill him.

Maybe for just a few days?

The excuse provided a simple solution, so he took it.

Without a word, he handed his IR contact details to the volunteer, and, puppy in hand, turned his back to the tent and strode towards the big green hulk parked in the distant haze.

“Well, little one, you have definitely made an interesting choice. Let me introduce you to my big green partner.”

-o-o-o-

It was well past Christmas lunch, or rather the lack of it, before IR was given the all clear to return to base. During the entire time, the little puppy sat beside Virgil’s pilot chair, apparently unfazed by the deep bass rumble of Thunderbird Two.

When he picked up both Gordon and Alan the dynamic changed just a little.

Gordon dragged himself onto the flight deck first, a groan in every step. “Christmas just gets more exciting every year.” It was true. Nine out of ten Christmas Days were side-swiped by a disaster, to the point that the Tracy Christmas tradition was a modular and movable celebration nowadays. No guarantees and no defined day. It happened around December twenty-fifth, there about, when they could, between call outs.

Suddenly the little puppy was in his lap.

“What is that?”

Virgil looked up. His brother was covered in soot and looked as tired as Virgil felt. “This is Bo.” And he had no idea where the name came from, it just seemed right and the moment clicked.

“Bo?”

“Yeah.” Newly christened Bo peered up at Gordon around Virgil’s arm. “She survived the fire.” A swallow. “Her family didn’t.”

“Oh.”

Alan, as always, had more energy than any of them, and showed it as he waltzed into the cabin. “So why aren’t we moving?”

Bo let off a sharp bark.

Everyone jumped.

“What the hell, Virgil?”

Bo was literally glaring at Alan.

“Hey, Bo, calm down, that’s just Alan. He’s annoying, but tolerable.” The little puppy looked up at him, her gorgeous brown eyes just melting him inside. He was so gone.

“Hey!” That from Alan.

“Scott’s going to kill you.” That from Gordon, who was approaching slowly.

“Yeah, I know.” It was a sigh.

Gordon crouched down beside Virgil’s chair. “Hey, little one, what gave you the idea to attach yourself to this big oaf?” Pulling off one of his gloves, the aquanaut reached out and offered the puppy his hand. She eyed him warily before tentatively sniffing at his fingers.

She sneezed.

Alan snorted.

Bo blinked and stared at Gordon for a moment. The aquanaut kept still and eventually she sniffed at him again, before nuzzling at his hand. He blatantly took that as permission and gently rubbed behind her ear. “You are a cute little thing, aren’t you.”

She licked his wrist.

“Oh, I can see why our heavy lifter fell for you. You’ve got it all in those brown eyes of yours, haven’t you.” Gordon shrugged. “Though I will admit they are the best colour for manipulation.”

“And he speaks from experience.” To Virgil’s surprise, Gordon actually jumped. “Did you forget I was here? Not absorbed by those brown eyes are we?” He couldn’t help but smile at his brother. At least one was as besotted as he had to admit he was.

Yes, Scott was definitely going to kill him.

“Shut up, Virgil.”

Bo backed off, once again hiding behind Virgil’s baldric.

“Hey, Gordon, watch the tone.”

“Sorry, Bo.”

“Are we actually going home at some point? I have a date with my bed.”

Gordon stood up, pulling out the co-pilot’s seat. “No rush, Allie, she’ll wait for you.”

“Augh.”

“Sit down, Alan, I’m just finishing pre-flight.” Tired and cranky could easily become nasty if not attended to.

Bo curled up, nestled against his harness, as Alan grumpily pulled out his seat.

“Virgil, where the hell are you?”

Speaking of tired and cranky... “Launching now, Thunderbird One.” As if prompted, he received clearance from Australian Air Control.

TB2 rumbled beneath as he activated VTOL, ash and dust swirling up around them. As soon as he had enough height, he engaged her rear thrusters and tore off over the Alps, across the coast and out into the Tasman.

“ETA fifteen minutes.” At least they weren’t too far from home.

Bo fell asleep in his lap.

-o-o-o-

Virgil was on the verge of joining Bo in slumber as Thunderbird Two spun slowly in her hanger, eventually coming to a final stop.

So tired.

Beside him, Alan poked Gordon awake. “Ugh, what? Oh.” You could almost hear his brain booting.

Virgil worked around Bo as he did his post-flight checks, his brothers, well, mostly Gordon, groaning as they got to their feet and waddled towards the hatch. “C’mon, Virg, Alan’s pining for his bed.”

“You two go ahead. I just need to finish post-flight.” He didn’t turn around, but he could feel Gordon’s eyes on him.

“Sure, whatever.” And he heard the hatch lower to the hangar floor.

His brothers gone, Virgil let himself relax back against his chair, his shoulders sagging. He let out a long breath. “So, Bo, how are we going to do this?”

The puppy woke as if on command and turned to stare up at him. Gently her tail began to wag.

Virgil let a tired smile cross his face.

Encouraged, Bo jumped up and put her two front paws on his chest, reaching up, trying to lick his face despite not quite being tall enough.

The smile became a grin.

“Okay, okay.” He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her up as he pushed his seat backwards and stood. Immediately he was bathed in puppy drool. He couldn’t help but laugh. He surfaced above her licking and cradled her in his arms. “We need to get you some food.” His stomach rumbled ominously. “We need to get me some food.”

And a shower. A shower definitely wouldn’t hurt.

If he could hold off the sleep.

If he didn’t call it a stagger, it wasn’t a stagger, but he had obviously been sitting in his seat for far too long ferrying all those survivors to Melbourne on repeated trips. It was his turn to groan as both his back and legs complained loudly at the sudden demands for movement.

Bo started chewing on his glove.

Somehow he made it back to his rooms without encountering anyone. Shutting the door, he let Bo loose on the floor and began stripping off his uniform, hitting the buttons on his preprogrammed shower cubicle. Moments later he walked under the spray and let it wash the day from his skin.

God, that felt good.

As his muscles relaxed under the heat, sleep became more and more attractive, and by the time he stumbled out of the water, all thoughts of food had vanished.

He took the three steps across his room from the ensuite and threw himself facedown on the bed, still partly wet, still naked.

He was asleep within moments.

-o-o-o-

He was being kissed.

Her lips were warm, her tongue wet, her whiskers soft against his stubble...

Uh?

She licked his eye.

Wha-?

Virgil, always slow to respond upon waking, opened said eye only to get an eyeful of slobber. A soft paw thwapped him on the cheek. Huh? he blinked attempting to clear his eyesight, a hand coming up to defend himself.

Fortunately, his brain came online and memory kicked in. “B-Bo?”

A tongue wrapped around his nose and left it wet.

Ugh.

He wiped his face with his hand, stretching backwards on his pillow, desperate to get out of reach.

The puppy landed on his chest, her paws kneading his chest hair, her little claws completing his wake-up process rather abruptly.

Oh god.

“Bo, down, honey, down.”

He was completely ignored.

Sitting up, he attempted to grab her in his arms, but missed. The little puppy landed on things that puppies had no right to land on. Or stomp on for that matter.

He winced.

“Ooh, okay, come here.” He lifted her off his lap, holding her close, her tail pummelling his belly. “I’m awake, okay.” Again he found himself pinned by her brown eyes. “Aww, c’mon with the cute, Bo, you’re going to melt my brain.”

“Assuming you have a brain to melt.” And Scott was standing in his doorway.

Virgil glared up at him. “Don’t you knock?”

“I did. Grandma sent me to tell you that Christmas dinner is ready.”

Virgil frowned at his brother over the top of Bo’s ears, ignoring the glare the blue eyes were directing at the puppy in his arms. “I thought we’d do Christmas tomorrow.”

“We don’t know what is going to happen tomorrow. Grandma thought it would be best to sneak it in tonight, since it is Christmas Day, after all.” Scott’s lips thinned. “Where did you get that from?”

“She’s a rescue.”

“Usually we leave our rescues on the continent we find them.”

“She had no one.”

“Unfortunately, that is nothing new.” And one of his hands had moved to his hip.

Virgil sighed. “Scott, it’s fine, it’s only for a few days.”

“I’m going to hold you to that.”

Virgil held back his retort. He knew to pick his fights and now was not the time. “Her name is Bo.”

Scott looked at him and then at Bo. “Hurry up, your dinner is getting cold.” The ghost of a smirk. “And don’t forget to wear clothes.”

“Funny, funny, ha, ha.” But his brother had left.

Virgil let his shoulders drop. “Sorry, Bo, I think you’ve got your work cut out for you.”

Bo just licked him some more.

It wasn’t until he went looking for his boots that he discovered the wonderful deposits Bo had left for him on the floor.

Ugh.

And apparently one of his favourite boots had served as a meal also.

He closed his eyes and sighed again.

Half dressed, he cleaned up the mess, and five minutes later he waltzed downstairs, Bo in his arms and barefoot. Time to face the inevitable music.

-o-o-o-

A Tracy Christmas used to be snow, roast turkey, stockings by the fire, the occasional Christmas carol and family.

Since starting International Rescue it had changed.

Firstly, they were in the tropics. The only fires available in those temperatures were ones that required firefighting equipment. Having grown up with snow, it was still extremely weird. But it had its advantages. For one you could go outside in the minimum of clothing, something Gordon took advantage of every day of the year. There were no snowball fights, but these were fast replaced with water fights. There was no ice skating, but there was water skiing if anyone could get up the energy to get the boat out. And surfing, let’s not forget Scott’s attempts at that. Virgil would admit that he didn’t mind a little surfboard action himself. He wouldn’t say he was very good at it, but at least Gordon had never had to save him like he had Scott.

There were still Christmas trees and tinsel and stockings that no-one ever considered wearing hung from the nearest mantelpiece-looking piece of furniture.

There was still turkey and roast potatoes and all the yummy food crucial for a good Christmas meal, but it was often cooked outside in barbecue ovens and seafood and cold food had been added to the menu. In fact, the traditional dinner had become more of a banquet by the pool.

As Virgil walked out onto the patio, he couldn’t help but smile at the Christmas tree that had obviously been hurriedly moved out here from the comms room. It sat a little lopsided and the star on top was having a few issues with gravity. That was new, as was the liberal tinsel and Christmas lights strung from palm tree to palm tree, across the pool and back several times.

“Fifty bucks says Gordon tries to water volleyball the tinsel at least once.”

Virgil smirked as he stepped up beside his next youngest brother. “Not touching that one. I value my money.”

John was dressed in shorts and a t-shirt and had a beer in his hand. Bo was immediately interested in this new person. She strained towards John, her nose literally twitching towards the hand holding the beer.

His brother must have caught the movement out of the corner of his eye and instinctively took a step away.

“Oh, sorry, John, this is Bo.” Bo was climbing over his arm, desperate to get closer to the astronaut. Virgil held her tight, worried she would fall.

“Uh, hello.” John turned towards them, frowning. “Since when do you own a dog?”

“Since this morning.”

“Does Scott know?” They both instinctively looked over at their eldest brother who was hovering over one of the barbecues energetically discussing something with Grandma - probably how not to burn the food.

“He does.”

“And you still have it?”

“Her.”

“Her.”

“Yes.”

“Good luck with that one.” John drank his beer.

“She had no one else.”

John arched an eyebrow at him and then frowned. “Oh, Virgil.” His shoulders slumped.

“I am an adult now, John. It won’t be like last time.”

“God, I hope not.”

Virgil stared at his brother, only to see the genuine concern in his green eyes. A sigh. “It won’t happen again.”

John reached out and gently touched his shoulder. “No, it won’t, because you will remember that you have four brothers who are all here for you, won’t you.” God, that green gaze was penetrating.

“It will be fine.”

Bo yipped at John, her tail beating Virgil’s chest.

The astronaut smiled and offered the little dog his hand. She sniffed and licked him almost immediately.

“I think you have been approved.”

John smiled and Virgil couldn’t help but do the same.

“Virgil!” And Grandma was arrowing in on his position.

“Incoming.” John was smirking.

“Hey, Grandma.”

But his grandmother only had eyes for Bo. “Who is this?”

Virgil smiled again. “This is Bo. Bo, this is Grandma.”

Bo whacked him with her tail and literally leapt from his arms into his grandmother’s.

“Woah.” Suddenly with arms full of wriggling puppy enthusiastically licking her face, his grandmother was laughing. “Oh dear, you are a cutie. Let me have a look at you.” And she held Bo out at arms length, her eyes critical. “A little hard to tell at her age, but my bet says she’s of boxer stock, around three months old. Such a beautiful brindle and that face.” Virgil couldn’t help but agree. Bo looked like she had dipped her face in a pot of ink, her brown eyes surrounded by gorgeous black coat that quickly bled to brindle down her back with a spot of white on her front. “Where did you find her?”

Virgil looked at his feet, remembered why they were bare, and looked back up at his grandmother. “This morning’s rescue. She lost everything.”

Grandma turned her attention back to Bo. “Oh, honey. You survived the fire?” Bo licked her nose. “Well, you are safe here.” Grandma curled her arms around the puppy and scratched her ears. “Has Virgil fed you anything yet?” She glanced at him and he shrugged. He got frowned at for his trouble. Grandma turned away, walking towards the barbecues with Bo in her arms. “Let’s get you something to eat.”

Virgil rolled his eyes.

“Well, that didn’t take long, did it?” John was still smirking at him.

A series of barks and a yelp from Grandma, and suddenly Bo was dashing amongst legs in his direction. “Woah.” He crouched down and caught her as she leapt for him. She wriggled and licked, her little body trembling under his hands. “Hey, hey, honey, it’s okay, you’re safe.” She snuggled up under his chin. He couldn’t help but return the hug.

Grandma approached, worry on her face. “I’m sorry, Virgil, I didn’t realise.”

“It’s okay.” He reached an arm around his grandmother, bringing her into the hug. “She’s just had a scary day.” He pulled both of them close.

Scott was glaring at him from a distance.

John smiled at them and drank his beer.

Bo started chewing on his collar.

-o-o-o-

As the evening progressed, Bo slowly let herself part from Virgil as each of the members of his family, bar Alan and Scott, came to say hello or fed her from the table. There was one interesting moment when the little puppy encountered Sherbert for the first time.

Bo yipped.

Sherbert yapped.

And as the entire party fell silent, the two dogs stared each other down.

Virgil was poised for a rescue and Penelope was not far behind him, but a moment later Bo licked Sherbert across the nose, Sherbert gently butted the little puppy with his head, and from that point onwards they were best of friends, Sherbert quite proudly showing his new friend around.

But never out of sight of Virgil.

Bo and Parker had a staring moment not long after, but Sherbert barrelled on in and head butted the driver, snapping him out of it. It wasn’t long before the little puppy had him rubbing her ears as well.

Kayo stood her distance, assessing Bo as much as the puppy was assessing her. A calm arched eyebrow slowly rose as Bo tilted her head up at the security specialist. She pressed her lips together and faced Virgil. “There will be training.”

Virgil blinked and his sister turned and stalked off. Bo eyed her the entire time, only finally distracted by a yelp from Alan as Gordon threw him in the pool.

The engineer was left wondering if he should be worried or not.

The meal was delicious, of course. Scott had managed to keep Grandma away from the barbecues and MAX had been on task for a good part of the day. There was the mandatory turkey, and this year a couple of large snapper had been baked to perfection, along with some crayfish, oysters, salads and roast vegetables. This was followed by pie, oh, so much pie, Christmas cookies, and Christmas pudding with custard and the option of ice cream.

Virgil, as usual, made sure he took advantage of all the options. Consequently, post-banquet found him sprawled on a pool lounger staring up at the stars amongst the tinsel overhead. Bo, who had also eaten probably more than she should have, was curled up between his feet.

The soft sounds of quiet carols and muted conversation wafting across the water lulled him gently to sleep.

-o-o-o-

Scott felt like Scrooge. He was tired, worried and even a little angry. He was not enjoying himself, no matter how hard he tried. Grandma had cornered him at least twice, her hand on his shoulder trying to soothe his ire.

The annoying thing was that he wasn’t even sure what he was angry about. The rescue hadn’t been the best, but they had done what they could and some lives had been saved that otherwise wouldn’t have. The team had performed well, no one had been injured, they were all back home safe and sound.

And there was food, family and Christmas. There wasn’t really much more he could ask for.

His eyes settled on Virgil, asleep on one of the loungers, oblivious to the tinsel being draped across his hair by Gordon behind him.

Scott sighed.

But then a little head bobbed up between his brother’s bare feet and Bo barked at Gordon quite firmly.

Virgil was obviously far too out of it to wake, but Gordon looked appropriately abashed at the challenge.

Scott found himself smiling.

Realised he was smiling, dumped the smile and frowned.

Gordon scampered off leaving a sleeping Virgil in a crown of silver tinsel.

The little dog leapt off the lounger and chased after the aquanaut.

Okay, he had to admit the dog was adorable. He could see what had captured his brother’s eye, and Scott certainly had no objection to adding to their family.

But Virgil...when Virgil loved, he loved with his whole heart, and last time he had lost a pet, it had been bad, so bad.

They had lost so much in their lives already, why volunteer to lose more?

He sighed. It was stupid to think that way, but part of him could remember that devastated teenager, the depression and the mess that followed. Virgil had been as broken as the rest of them when their mother died, but when his dog died two years later, his reaction had been so self-destructive he had needed counselling and a therapist. Scott didn’t know if the two incidents were related or if it was how his brother connected to pets, or whatever. He only knew he never wanted to see his brother go through that again.

Their father was missing, and here was Virgil with a pet once again.

Sure, he was an adult now, and had tackled so much loss since, but...

Another sigh.

A yip and he looked down to see said dog staring up at him with a mouth full of tinsel, tail wagging.

“Gordon!”

“Yesssss, masster?” His brother sidled up with a bow.

Scott rolled his eyes. “Did you want to face your brother having to tell him that his new puppy died choking on tinsel?”

“Oh, shit.”

“Exactly.”

The aquanaut scooped up the little dog and with gentle words extricated the tinsel from her mouth.

A moment later Gordon held her up to his cheek and Scott had the experience of two sets of brown eyes staring at him adoration.

“Oh, for the love of-“

“A puppy?” Gordon grinned at him. “She is a rather cute, isn’t she?”

“Leave it, Gordon.”

His brother frowned. “What’s chewing on your underwear?”

“Gordon-“

“Hey, it was a legit question, bro. You’re a grumpy ass on Christmas Day. Where’s the merry? We have food and there will be presents. And there is a puppy. You couldn’t ask for more cuteness.” Gordon held up Bo who attempted to lick Scott’s nose.

“Gordon-‘

“Nope, so not going down with you, bro. We’ve earned some happy. We’re all here, in one piece, it’s lovely weather. Cheer up, for goodness sake.” Despite himself, Gordon frowned. “Here have some puppy love.” And suddenly Scott found himself with his arms full of wriggling Bo. Gordon turned and walked off, eventually calling out to Alan, no doubt looking for mischief.

Bo tilted her head to one side and stared up at him.

Aw, hell, weaponised cuteness.

She jumped up and licked his nose.

Scott sighed.

Voice low. “You know, you better look after my brother. He’s a good man and he does a lot of good things.” A swallow. “He’s a little prone to heroics. Perhaps we can team up in that department and help keep his butt alive.”

Her tongue lolled out one side of her mouth and she grinned.

“Maybe try that on the Hood and solve all our problems.”

He gave in and drew her close to his chest, rubbing under her chin.

“I really hope we don’t regret this.”

-o-o-o-

“PRESENTS!”

Alan’s voice cut through his slumber and shook him awake. Wha-?

“Time to wake up, sleepy head.” Scott’s voice.

A sharp little bark.

Bo.

He flung his eyes open, and immediately squinted at the fairy lights floating in the light breeze far above. A blink and to his left a shadow formed into his eldest brother. His blue eyes were smiling as he sat on the next lounge over, holding Bo, scratching her gently. She was obviously enjoying it.

Virgil frowned. “I thought you were pissed at me.”

“I was.” His brother shrugged. “I got over it.” Bo was licking Scott’s fingers.

Wow, the ability to tame the savage big brother. The little girl must be heaven-sent.

There was a whir of wheels and MAX tore out onto the patio decked out in tinsel and lugging brightly coloured presents. MiniMAX darted in behind him carrying a smaller present which was deposited carefully on the table before he disappeared inside only to return with another.

“You okay?”

“Huh?” Virgil peered up at his brother before stretching the length of the lounger. Several joints cracked and the ache across his shoulders from the morning vaguely made its presence known. A yawn. “I’m fine. Just tired. This morning sucked.”

Tinsel slid down his face. He sighed and threw it off. Gordon was getting repetitive.

Scott dipped his head, attempting to hide a smile, and looked down at Bo. “True.” He scratched her under her chin one more time before offering her to him. “Here.”

Bo didn’t bother to wait for him to sit up, she bounded out of Scott’s arms and onto Virgil’s belly. “Oof.” She then danced up and down on it.

Scott grinned at him. “She’s not going to be little when she grows up.”

“Augh, she’s not little now.” He managed to capture her enough so he could sit up, but she struggled free excitedly and dashed from his arms, jumping on the lounger, just as MiniMAX buzzed over with a small present.

Bo barked at him and MiniMAX dodged to deposit the present in Virgil’s lap. He caught it, but with his hands now occupied, he wasn’t fast enough to grab Bo before she let off another bark, jumped excitedly and latched her teeth onto the little robot.

The result was immediate.

MiniMAX shrieked, several of his legs caught in the puppy’s mouth, and with a whir of rotor blades, took off madly across the patio.

With Bo hanging on.

“Bo!” Virgil dropped the present and made a grab for the pair, but missed.

Every eye turned to see what the commotion was about. Virgil stumbled over the lounger and kicked it out of the way. He was vaguely aware of Scott doing something similar. “Brains!”

MiniMAX was obviously panicking. The little robot darted about trying to shake off his assailant. Bo was whining in her throat.

Virgil dashed after them.

Despite the puppy’s weight, MiniMAX still managed a great deal of height, Brains’ ‘build ‘em tough’ policy obviously carrying through to his robots. Despite having the strength to carry the puppy, the off-balance mass hampered MiniMAX’s navigation and they were wobbling all over the place.

All Virgil could see was a tragedy in the making. The pool, the concrete, anything horribly solid. He ran beneath them, desperately attempting to reach the now whining puppy. Family members and furniture were dodged and shoved out of the way as he clambered after them.

A chair ended up in the pool. Gordon squawked and almost joined it. Virgil leapt off an empty lounge, made a grab for them, missed and ended up in the Christmas tree.

Fake pine needles jabbed him in the face as he went down in a pile of tinsel and Christmas baubles. He swore, his clothing caught, his hair caught, and his everything tangled in tinsel, but he made it to his feet just in time to see Bo let go.

“No!”

Oblivious to everything other than the puppy falling, Virgil finally got traction under his bare feet, took a running leap and grabbed Bo from the air. He instinctively wrapped himself around her, rolling in midair, tinsel and baubles flung in all directions.

As he plummeted into the pool.

The splash took his senses, muffling exclamations, and repeated shouts of his name. There was dark blue, and wet, and, for a moment, blessed silence.

Then logic reasserted itself and he kicked for the surface.

Sound, light and cool air on his skin. He blinked water out of his eyes as he lifted Bo up so she could breathe, his legs kicking to keep them afloat.

She whined at him as if to tell him off, sneezed, and began enthusiastically licking the saltwater off his face.

He couldn’t help but grin, and he knew he wasn’t the only one as laughter drifted across the water.

“You trashed the tree, Virg.”

“I don’t think he cares, Gordon.” He looked up to see Grandma smiling at him.

And no, he didn’t. As Scott poked him with a pole to help drag him to the edge and Bo decided his ear might do for her next meal, he suddenly felt joy. It could simply have been relief, but he was going to tack it up as Christmas joy and enjoy it while he could.

-o-o-o-

“Only you, Virgil.”

“It wasn’t intentional.”

“I have no doubt of that, it never is.”

“Aw, c’mon, Scott.”

“If it was intentional then I would have to accuse you of doing it deliberately just to get out of helping with the Christmas dishes.”

“We have a dishwasher.” Bo let off a bark as MiniMAX flew past dragging a bag full of recyclable cups, plates and cutlery, giving Virgil and his dog an extremely wide berth. “And there are hardly any dishes.”

“You are still getting out of clean up.”

“C’mon, Scott, you know me better than that. Ow!”

“Sit still. I’ve almost got all of it.”

Virgil leant back against the lounge, Bo curled up in his lap. “I’m not particularly happy about this either you know.”

“You’ll be fine.”

“I know that, Ow!”

“Well, if you would watch where you were going, you wouldn’t have collided with the Christmas tree. And what’s with the bare feet anyway?”

“Bo ate one of my boots.”

Scott snorted and pulled out yet another tiny piece of glass Christmas bauble from the bottom of Virgil’s left foot. “She hasn’t been here twenty-four hours yet and she has already caused havoc.”

“She’s a puppy.”

“I noticed.” Scott sighed, peering through his magnifying visor at his brother’s foot. “I think that’s all of it. Please don’t do that again. You’ll be limping for a week.”

“I’m not planning on it.”

As Scott wrapped his foot in gauze, he eyed the puppy on Virgil’s lap. “And you, young lady, I thought we had a deal.”

To Virgil’s surprise, Bo’s head bobbed up and she looked distinctly guilty.

Scott arched an eyebrow. “Hmm, don’t let it happen again.”

Bo yapped at him.

Virgil stared at both of them. “What?”

“None of your business, you just lay back and look after yourself.” And Scott was smirking.

Ooookaay.

He relaxed back against the lounge and stared up at the fairy lights above.

Bo stomped up the length of him and licked his eyeball.

He coughed up a laugh and grabbed an armful of wriggly puppy.

“I think that was a Merry Christmas, Virg.” Scott held his injured foot and grinned. “Merry Christmas.”

-o-o-o-

[australianartistsdaily]

Katy Perry vs Katie Perry; The weight of a name in Australian intellectual property and the limitations it may always place on the law.

If I told you that I brought a Katie Perry shirt for my mother today, would you assume that I had misspelled Katy? If I verbally said it, who would you think I was talking about? More specifically, would you think that I meant that I had brought merchandise from international singer Katy Perry? Would the average person think the same? This assumption goes to the heart of a case that is set to be heard by the High Court of Australia by the end of the year.

In 2008, Australian clothes designer Katie Perry trademarked “Katie Perry” in compliance with the Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth), Australia's main trademark legislation. At this point, it should be noted that though trademarks can be given to names for specific uses/fields (in Katie's case, it was fashion), with very few exceptions, a name cannot have an overall trademark for every field. A year later, international singer Katy Perry created trademarks through the same system for her music and all things related. So imagine Katie's surprise when she was getting sued by singer Katy Perry. That's right; not fashion designer Katy Perry, singer Katy Perry.

So given Katy is a singer with a trademark that came after Katie's, you would think she would have no case right? The first court the case was heard in thought as such. But things aren't that simple. In the appeal hearing, though it was acknowledged that Katy did not have a reputation in fashion in the same way Katie does, Katy's team was successful in arguing that at the time Katie registered her trademark, Katy's reputation was already known within Australia to a level that the trademark could cause confusion; a red flag that should have led to the trademark being rejected off the bat. No doubt that part of this decision would have been made based on the fact that in the modern era, singers are known to and somewhat expected to create fashion related merchandise to promote their music.

“But Katy's trademark came after Katie's. Shouldn't she be the one who has to change?” Great question. Unfortunately for Katie, though the setting up of trademarks are legislated, most trademark law is handled through judicial law within Australia. So the fact that she got in first with the trademark may not change the fact that it should have never been given at all. At the time of Katie's trademark, Katy was already planning a world tour with Australian dates accounting for thousands of attendees included. She had had number one hits on our charts. And perhaps most important of all, she had already released fashioned based merchandise using her name.

It should also be noted that despite this case seemingly coming out of nowhere, before starting litigation, Katy's team offered a way for both Katie and Katy's to share the trademarks but was knocked back by Katie and her team. Additionally, despite Katie's calls that this is her name, neither Katy/Katie have used “Perry” as their legal name for the majority of their lives.

As unpopular of an opinion as it is to choose Goliath over David, if we are looking at the black and white letter of Australia's intellectual property laws, I think the appeal court made the right decision and would not be surprised if the High Court upheld that result. While I would not call myself an expert in law, now feels like a good time to mention that I have a bachelor's degree in law and have worked as a advocate and legal assistant within the legal field more generally. In saying that, that is not to say that I agree with it on a moral level. But the law is not based off of morality. While that is often a good thing, this case has shown how innocent parties can be hurt through that and how the discrepancy of power can be used to strong arm smaller parties. No matter the result, I wish Katie Perry all the peace in the world and hope she is able to continue her work that she is clearly passionate about.

This case has also shown the need for reform in the intellectual property sphere within Australia. Katie Perry did nothing wrong when she registered her trademark, nor by upholding what she sees as her legal rights. She went through the process, and the process let her down. Worse yet, the remedies she would have should Katy win are murky at best, and, I am sure, are not something that a woman who has been through years of court already would want to go through. At the same time, Katy Perry has done nothing wrong by attempting to uphold what she sees as her legal rights either. Though it may be easy to villainise Katy due to her wealth, regardless of the outcome, this case will help so many less fortunate than her. The only difference will be whether it supports a first in best dressed approach or a notoriety approach; because having the costs of a legal team and gaining a trademark takes time and finances that not everyone, even everyone famous/well known, has. And in many ways, that's the tragedy of this case in my opinion; there's no clear correct moral choice of who 'should' win.

The system is blurry, and unfortunately this case highlights the result of that. Lawyers, particularly those in the intellectual property sphere, have been calling for legislative change for years now; and though I would wish the circumstances Katie has had to go through on anyone, I hope that regardless of the outcome, legislators, judiciaries and the public use this case as a time to reflect and push for those changes. The globalisation of society and reality that most businesses no longer only sell products in one area has not been reflected in our laws. I do not have the answers of how that would be done, but if this case has shown anything, it's that we need to not only unmuddy the waters of what can be deemed as 'confusing' and when a reputation without a trademark is big enough to allege confusion could be had, but also have protective measures for smaller businesses like Katie's if a name is going to carry that much weight. The risks of not are too great, not just for the individuals fighting, but society as a whole. These cases clog up already backlogged courts, often lead to financial and emotional ruin for at least one side and ultimately bring out the worst in those involved and social media via the court of public opinion. So though I unfortunately don't think it will be, I hope that Katy v Katie is the straw that breaks the camel's back for change. But I guess only time will tell.