Tuesday 10^th January 2012

Not so warm today…I don’t think I will be plunging into the sea at Cremorne with such alacrity as I did two days ago.  They have predicted snow to 1200 metres, I think.  No probs; all weather is good, in one way or another…

Pete has gone to a funeral – the second since we have been home.  This one is in Oatlands, the other was in a small chapel in the outskirts of Launceston.  I went with him, a bit reluctantly – I had never the very old lady, Aunty Dot, who had died at 91.  There were only twelve people in the chapel, close family members… They were thrilled to see Pete, whose parents were great friends of Aunty Dot and Uncle Bill, and were very kind and welcoming to me.  I tried very hard not to feel like a funeral crasher… It was all very nice, really.  Not too much sorrow, just some gentle reminiscences about a much loved mother, grandmother, great grandmother.

I have been meaning to write about the strange little sea creature Pete and I stalked when we were snorkeling in Blue Lagoon in the Louisiades.  It was about the same size and shape as a pug, and seemed to be able to move forwards and backwards with equal ease.  It had a graceful beige sort of frill around the bottom edge, and some sort of tentacle arrangement at the back or front, depending in which direction it was going.  It was very much aware of us and didn’t like us hovering overhead at all.  At first it just stayed still, hoping to be protected by its – well by its protective colouring!  It changed colour extremely swiftly as it moved over the sea floor, quite amazing to see.  At first it was speckled and brown, like the rocks, then as it moved over the reef it turned pink, blue, green, sandy.  We were entranced and followed the poor thing everywhere, for about ten minutes, no doubt making it feel very uncomfortable indeed.  We had no idea what it was – some sort of squiddy thing, possibly.  Since then we have identified it as something quite common – maybe a big cuttlefish.  But to us it will always be a mysterious and charming little PNG sea creature.