Photos from Brisbane trip posted, including many many animals.

Everyone likes animals.

They're digging a huge hole in our nature-strip, carefully avoiding the gum tree, to replace the gas main running down out street. Apparently that also means replacing something in the meter (high pressure value thingy?) so I'm home, on 12 hours notice mind you, to watch the dog.

If I had to guess, I'd say this might be why we haven't been able to get someone to read our meter.

Meanwhile, it fills me with confidence to wander out and watch at least 12 workmen (no women, but there are some boys) digging away up and down our street, at least a quarter of them actively smoking.

Gas and cigarettes.

Update: They're done. Hot water is lit. Heater is tested. 15 gas people at my disposal and not one of them will read my meter.