I’m blown away by all the lovely people who came by last week – from all across the globe! If I haven’t caught up with you yet, I promise to be around in the next few days. In the meantime, I thought you might enjoy a bit of Aussie talk.
It might surprise you to know that most Aussie neighbourhoods don’t in any way resemble the cast of Neighbours. Strange, but true. If you don’t believe me, check out this hilarious South Australian post, Writing, Not Bludging.
My neighbours think I am the biggest bludger on earth.
This wouldn’t be a problem if I lived in an arts suburb, like Brunswick. But alas, I live a much less glamorous existence in a block of units housing several retirees.
On one side is Ethel. Her biggest preoccupation is cleaning up possum poo so that her cat, Leo, doesn’t roll in it.
One day she handed me the broom and suggested I might like to have a go. I, of course, politely declined. I could see it in her eyes, Young people these days…Whatever does she do in there all day, anyway?
So as not to make an awkward situation worse, I scampered away back inside, confirming her belief that I’m a shiftless layabout. Later I heard her grumbling to Leo, “Those possums make such an awful mess! I don’t know where they keep on coming from…”
On the other side is George. He has many preoccupations – watering the garden, pruning the buggery out of the trees and Friday morning bin collection, just to name a few. He also dislikes possums.
One morning, as Pepi and I ventured on our walk, I happened to compliment him on his lemon tree.
“You know, the possums?” he booms, “They come here, from the golf-course, I think – ” he gestures, “Anyway, they come here – they eat the buds, you know? The buds!”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah! The buds. The skin. Everything…”
“Oh! No, I didn’t know.”
He proceeded to tell me how, when he chased the possum away with a stick, it ran across the power line.
“They are very clever, you know, but – yeah…they eat…”
Now, just in case you’re wondering, possums in Australia don’t breed in epidemic pest proportions. They are unique little natives to Australia.
Brushtail possum by dr_yew courtesy stock.xchng
The smallest, forest dwelling types, like the Leadbeater and the Pygmy Possums, are on the brink of extinction. Others, like the Brushtail and Ringtail varieties, exist in urban areas quite happily, despite our best efforts to run them out of town.
What I didn’t bother to tell George or Ethel is that I know exactly where our possum neighbour lives. And it’s not over at the golf course.
Outside Ethel’s guest room window stands a tall conifer tree. Invariably, there is always a small sprig of green that stands out at an angle from the tree. The OCD in me had always wondered at its messiness.
But then, one moonlit night, as I pulled up in my car spot, there could be seen the faintest outline of two ears and a tail.
Up there, sitting on that sprig of green, was the smallest ringtail I have ever seen. He watched me, curiously, from his open door.
We stared at each other for a long while, and then I went inside.
Over my back fence is another neighbour I refer to as The Gorg. Unfortunately, her main preoccupation is screaming at the kids before they go to school. I’m not talking a couple of minutes of raised-voice frustration. I’m talking spine-chilling, half-an-hour, top-of-lungs tirade.
The Gorg is growing a lemon tree by the fence so she can’t see us from her kitchen when we come out our back door. We don’t talk much, for obvious reasons, but her cat, Lollipop, loves to spy on Pepi from the fence.
Another moonlit night, I took Pepi out the back to pee. I heard a rustle, and assuming it was Lollipop, braced myself for a Pepi-sized tirade.
But when I looked up, it was my little possum neighbour staring from the fence.
While we stared at each other, Pepi wandered back inside, oblivious. And then, after what seemed like an age, my possum friend jumped back into The Gorg’s tree for a feast.
One tiny possum, eking out an existence against all odds, and quite despite our petty people politics.
I don’t know about you, but his secret’s safe with me 🙂
Alarna Rose Gray 
Beautiful post! I enjoyed it 🙂
With love,
-Naima.
Thanks so much, Naima – I’m pleased you enjoyed it! 🙂 (And apologies, I missed the comment yesterday…)
It’s fine!! Chill out! Have a good night!
-Naima.
Love it. Possums were imported here, and are considered pests because they eat the native trees and have flourished mightily. But I love them. Even the two who live in my garden and eat my parsley. No-one has ever heard of them eating parsley, but I’ve seen them. They also like our loquats. They panicked late one night when I was walking up to the garage, and they skittered all over the place, before finding refuge in the plum tree. I tried to re-assure them but I think they still speak Australian!
Haha! They indeed must still speak Australian 🙂 I love that your possums eat the parsley (it must be very fine parsley you grow). Actually, I was thinking of NZ when I wrote this post, as I remember from my visit there how they are considered pests. You probably are already aware that indigenous people here have to import the skins from NZ to make possum cloaks – they aren’t allowed to hunt possums in Oz. Anyway, I’m sure the little creatures will get used to you one of these days 🙂
My first look at an Aussie possum. Love those eyes. Looks like his secret is safe with you.
Their eyes are quite intense, aren’t they? You wouldn’t believe, I saw a crow poking his head into the possum’s door today. Maybe the secret is out? 😦
Peculiar post dear Aussie. I liked it much!
My friend Oliver the moonbeamed painter asks whether paintbrushes can be made from the coat of the opossum, and if so, he entreats you to send him one of those most curious creatures.
Big hug!
Sacrilege, dear Boy! Actually, their fur is much too soft to be turned into a paintbrush. It is better as a cloak (as once used by Australian indigenous people). Only now you would have to go to New Zealand for one of those – which I in no way condone 😉
Big hugs back to you, my lost Romanian nephew 🙂
Awesome post as usual, wise lady! I could feel the reality behind the expressions you shared. 🙂 😀
Rahul
Haha 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed a little peek into my ‘peculiar’ world 😉
hi 🙂 i just nominated you for the beautiful blogger award 🙂
Thanks so much – that’s very kind of you 🙂
Ah, I enjoyed the Aussie talk and hearing about your quirky neighbors! Those possums are pretty darn cute! I’m glad his secret is safe with you!
Quirky is the word, dear Lynn! But it keeps life from being boring 🙂
Loved the post!! Wish I had a sweet little neighbour like that little one!! And oh!! You must be feeling so special to keep such a special secret!!
Hugs,
Sumithra.
Hehe, he’s definitely my favourite neighbour. And I always feel very special when they let me in to their secret little worlds. I’m sure he’d love you too 😉
Aww… Thank you so much!! I would love to be loved by him!! 🙂
Very cool that you get to know your neighbors–even one tiny possum. 🙂
I suppose there is a bit of old fashioned charm to the neighbourhood, now that you mention it 🙂
A good education for this Midwestern American.
It’s like they say… we’re a weird mob 🙂
Delightful account about the possum and the peculiarity of neighbors.
They do keep things interesting 😉