Goatrider

We were all invited down to the country on Sunday, to the visit one of Michael's classmates. They were keen for us to take Winston too, as they are considering dog ownership.

They live at Mountain River - which sounds like a John Denver song but is a nice little valley near Huonville, south of Hobart. Fleur and Elf took Winston for a walk and introduced him to some cows who were fascinated by his lopey dopeyness.

Meanwhile Peter and I took the 4 kids down to the eponymous river, where they all got more or less saturated, rock-hopping. They've got a great swimming hole there, and lovely chestnut horses to look at.

We headed back to the house via the bottom paddock, home to 8 anglo-nubian goats - they of the long floppy ears. One, named Gilbert, is the pet-iest of them, and in fact lets the kids ride him. Marcus had a go, and rode him very comfortably for a couple of minutes. He has a very assured seat, considering he has had no riding training, and he was on a goat.

I didn't take my camera, but I did take that 21st century wonder the camera phone. I have a movie of the ride, but I have to edit out the hosts' kids before I show the world.

Before the other kids got their turn riding Gilbert, Fleur and Elf returned with Winston. It was decided to let him off the lead to wander free and befriend the goats. The goats did not like this idea, assumed a defensive formation and fled - no more goat rides. No harm done though - he came back when called. I am 98% sure he thought they were long-legged dogs.

Just walked up to the bakery…

… for a spiced goat and lentil pie. As you do. $4.80 take away (with superb relish). Question: at what stage do they spice the goat?

Wikipedia, goats, red hot tub, brain location

I love Wikipedia to bits. As I have been listening to Come on Feel The Illinoise by Sufjan Stevens, I have been reading the Wikipedia page devoted to the album, and following the links to the the people, places and things mentioned in the songs. (Work is a bit slow at present).

One song refers Chicago's baseball heritage, including the Curse of the Billy Goat. The people who edit Wikipedia are so devoted to categorising the whole world, that they have a link from this page to another entitled "Famous Goats". Of which they can only name two.

I am working on animations for a few Leonard Cohen Brothers songs at present. The LCBs are Nick and Mr Geale, who was my home group teacher at Burnie High in 1981, but now lives with his family in a swingers pad in Mt Stuart (with a large lipstick red hot tub that would fit all the members of Bucks Fizz and Abba at once). It is true that my last animation was for a tune by Radiohead, but they would probably not have heard about this yet. It has only been viewed by a total of five grown-ups.

Michael asked a few days ago "Your brain lives in your hair, does it?" He hasn't quite mastered the "doesn't it?" method of querying.