Six seasons in Australia, not four
Here’s a well-written book by Tim Entwisle with persuasive evidence Australia has six not four seasons. I reviewed the book for Spectrum in the Sydney Morning Herald, here. Enjoy Michael Read More
Of fridges, solar power and getting the most out of them
Yesterday’s tour of Sydney’s Sustainable House was packed both with people and the interesting stories and questions they asked. One email has come in from one of people on the tour, Peter, and here it is as it’s got useful information about using solar panels efficiently and meeting the energy demands of that gas guzzler, the fridge: Hi Michael It’s Peter, and together with son Simon and two friends, was in your clutches... Read More
Microbat houses up today – bring ‘em on
Murray and the microbat boxes in the tree Today the very marvellous Murray Cox, landscaper and gardening extraordinaire, put three microbat house boxes into the tree in my back garden. These tiny critters eat over a thousand mozzies a day which will be welcome here in mozzie driven Chippo. It can take more than a year for them to find it. I’ll know when they’re here when I see them at evening light and by guano at the base of the boxes. The... Read More
From bats to life, leaving, love, death and words
The Monthly magazine has become one of my favourite reads. This September issue is rich with good writing. The review by David Marr of Helen Garner’s This House of Grief is followed by a terrific review by Bill Henson on The Body Beautiful in Ancient Greece at Bendigo Art Gallery which has scored amazing pieces of classic sculpture from the British Museum. The last sentence of Marr’s article reads: “I’m not going to give... Read More
Microbat nests come to Chippendale
Microbat nest boxes Steve Fadel and his artisans from Paramount Properties – www.paramountpropertygroup.net….au – have built and given three microbat houses to me and our Chippendale environment. Microbats can be as small as a knuckle on a human finger. They eat mozzies – over a thousand a day! They have been dying out as we cut down trees in our cities. These new houses will provide a home and refuge for them... Read More
