Message from the top of the Christmas tree....

Whilst maintaining my precarious position as the star on the Christmas tree, I have had a bit of time for thought....wombats are good at that....sometimes....

I thought how lucky I am to be with such a great group of colleagues, soon to be increased by some new colleagues in the New Year as our unit expands.
I thought how privelaged I feel to be able to accompany colleagues on travels and enjoy many of the sites and experiences that humans have both for fun and to work.
I thought how generous people are in supporting me and my extended family.
I also thought briefly about some exercise in preparation for possible over indulgence at Christmas, but got over that thought fairly quickly and may make it a New Year's resolution!

Have a wonderful Christmas and a safe, healthy and prosperous new year.

A Christmas falling star....

I was invited to be the 'star' on our Christmas Tree in the Burrow in George Street. I was a bit nervous....wombats don't climb you see and we can suffer vertiggles if we end up high off the ground.... a sort of wombat form of vertigo. However, I really wanted to do the job...so I got up there. I just had to tell you about what happened to me that was reported by a team mate to the Wombat News Flash:

This morning, Wazza took a tumble from the top of the Christmas tree, and I am happy to report he suffered no serious injury! Wazza's fascinator saved him (I have to explain that...I do like to dress up a bit...and my cousin Wilma, who came down for Melbourne Cup and now lives in the George Street Burrow wore it for Melbourne Cup....and I do like red).

When interviewed, Wazza said, "It all happened so quickly ...I don't remember the fall at all. Thank goodness my red fascinator hooked onto the purple tinsel garland. It saved my life."

An Emergency Services representative at the scene reported: "A wombat on top of a pine tree, wearing a fascinator, hanging upside down from some tinsel...I've never seen anything like it in my life! This is a timely reminded that fascinators can save lives."

Wazza was shaken by the experience, but like a true trooper that he is, he just got right back on top of the tree.

Cairns - what a fantastic place to visit!

As the Northern Hairy Nosed Wombat ambassador, I get to go to lots of wonderful places with my team mates. The most recent was up to Cairns. It was very exciting flying. (I am one of those seasoned travellers as you know, having been to Bali and San Francisco).

As I am an extremely deep thinker about life in general, I was invited to accompany some very important people to have a really good chat with the folks in Cairns about how to make Cairns even greater than it is. My team in the George Street Burrow had worked incredibly hard and I think we came up with a great plan!


When I can I will put a couple of photos of my visit.

Gympie Muster - what a great place to meet people and hear great music!

This is me in the camp kitchen.

I am sorry this posting is late....but I have been sooo busy travelling all over the countryside.

I love country music and was delighted when a wombat team mate took me to the Gympie Muster.

I made some great friends and heard some fantastic music. I even met a couple of famous people who were so charming. One very successful young lady who sings blues has invited me back next year to go on stage with her....I'd love that....but of course you know that wombats can't sing, so perhaps I could do that lip-sync thing. She was kind enough to sign a CD for me!

And helping in the camp bar.

I am really looking forward to next year! It might even be my debut as a jiving wombat - A Queensland first!

Rudd's Pub

This is Rudd's Pub... I didn't go inside, but I believe it has a great collection of memorabilia and historical photos. Steele Rudd author of the Dad 'n' Dave fame used to come here.

Some of the places we visited

Kaimkillenbun is 24 km from Dalby and is Queenslands town with the longest single name. The locals call it 'the bun'. Nicole Kidman made a movie here called 'Chase throught the Night' and Olympic Basketballer John Dorge was born here. The name came from a local Indigenous language word meaning the "rim of the moon coming over the horizon".

Ned and me!

Photos of my bike ride

But you can see the problem with my short legs!

See...I did ride!

Its really quite comfy....but a bit cool.

My tent...I mean our tent

Registration...I was so excited!

Toowoombat trip

The Boonarga Cactonblaastis Hall, Queensland Heritage listed building is said to be the only building dedicated to an insect. It was built in 1936 to commemorate the eradication of the Prickly Pear as a plant pest through the use of the Cactoblastis bug. It was said that the prickly pear wasw introduced as a garden plant in 1843 and by 1920 covere 58,000,000 acres. The bug successfully eradicated it.

Chinchilla Court House

Toowoomba Parole Office... no I wasn't reporting in!

As the ambassador for my fellow northern hairy nosed wombats, and living in Brisbane, it is very important for me to get out and meet people and visit places.

It also reminds me of my roots!

This trip wasn't on a bike, but I was in the same area as the bike ride. I have to say, the fact that I visited a number of legal establishments is not a reflection of my character...they are interesting historical buildings in their own right!

Darling Downs Cycle Queensland 2009 - yes I did it!

Well, I did 'ride' round the Darling Downs, with a team mate from RDS.

Here's the thing though...wombats have really strong legs....but they are short! This presents a bit of a problem on a bike...which is where my team mate came to the rescue and I accompanied her on her bike. I thought it was great fun and everyone seemed to have a good time.

I think there were about a thousand peddlers...and me! (yes I had a bike helmet). The trip left Toowoomba on Saturday 5 September and travelled via Goombungee, Kaimkillenbun (don't you love that name??), Dalby, Oakey, Pittsworth, Warwick and Clifton, and ended in Toowoomba on Sunday 13 September.

I was exhausted, (probably my team mate was too!!), but there was some nice scenery and lots of friendly people. Sometimes it was a bit chilly...but you get that out there! I had my waistcoat from the US.

Cycling is a great way to keep fit (I mean look at me!!) and if you want find out more about this great experience go to http://www.bq.org.au/ or want to try the next one which is from Yeppoon to Bundaberg I think...check it out.

I'll be posting some pictures soon.

clang clang clang went the... streetcar

My final challenge was to go for a ride in one of the famous cable cars. I didn't quite manage it, but I did fit in a ride on my preferred alternative, the F line, on my very last morning in San Francisco. Hurrah for restored 1930s trams, I said to myself, as we puttered down the hill.

the heights of academia.. and bicycles

Another challenge was to visit Berkeley, and purchase a book of philosophy from an importunate stall-holder. I didn't quite manage that, but I did do some good reading in a bicycle cafe, thus combining several key aspects into one adventure. The latte was really quite nice, but I do prefer a decent flat white, I will say.

challenge completed!

Before I left home, my companions in the burrow issued me with a few challenges. One of them was to find myself a leather jacket, and go for a walk down to the Castro. No problem. I met lots of lovely people, some of whom thought I was a prairie dog, but I soon set them straight.

green chile on everything, please

Once we left New Mexico and arrived back in San Francisco, I found myself pining for the open skies, the rocky hills, the scent of sagebrush in the air... and massive burritos. Fortunately, there was a New Mexican style taqueria just around the corner. I fear, however, I may have become part wombat, part burrito...

those americans know a thing or two about serving sizes

It's hot work, being a well-travelled wombat in New Mexico, so we stopped for a small beverage and some fruit. I needed a hand with both of them... ridiculous. It's back to a more sensible diet of shoots and leaves for me.

Jemez Springs

After all that excitement, it was good to find a quiet place by the river to get some sun on my fur and soak up the serenity...

News from the 111 burrow

From back at the burrow in 111, this is just to let you know Wazza, and your mate Al, that a new group is now esconced in our old burrow grounds....potential mouths for chocolate! You will also be pleased to know that your mate Clotilde forwarded an article about the re-location of one of your relatives to the new area being set up in N Queensland....a man made burrow...all mod cons and rent free. This is great news! Hopefully a new wombat commune is well on the way. Keep cool :)

finally, some sensible people who understand the importance of burrows

My travelling companion decided to whisk me away to the enjoyably dry surrounds of New Mexico. As well as enjoying the view from the car, we hiked around Bandelier National Monument, former home of 700 people in the 1300s or thereabouts. They were a sensible bunch, living in their own burrows carved out from the tuff cliffs... you can see a few behind me, as I relax with some well-earned water. I understood why people had discovered the benefits of cliff-dwelling after a few moments of walking in the heat.. hot work, I tell you, hot work for a creature of my usually nocturnal habits.

does this late afternoon sunlight make my fur look good?

well, after a very long flight, I emerged into to the sunlight of San Francisco. I went for a brief stroll up to the park, which features some fancy architecture and my new friend, oliver the labrador. I suspect he wanted to bury me, but I explained that I do my own digging, thank you.

off on another adventure!

I was barely back in the office, when I was given leave from my accounting and chocolate distribution activities to go on another fact-finding mission. Really, it was quite surprising the travel approval came through so quickly, given the current budgetary constraints, but I'm not a mammal to turn down any sort of adventure! I do wonder why MY picture isn't on the front of this silly travel document, however...

I've been to Bali too (March 2009)

Da plane.....da plane
Hey! That cloud looks like a giant wombat

Straight off the plane and that's me out the back, carving it up on 10ft sets at Ulawatu (I'm the one the look most like shark bait)

Argh.... sun, surf, sand and lot of relaxation

Hey bartender....!! (Don't tell my mother but I'm doing a little tiny bit of partying while I'm here)
This is one of the places I'm staying at....kind of puts the burrow back home to shame.

Just trying to work out if the locals are friendly

Help !!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Hindu gods have taken a fancy to me

I dont mind slumming it, but darling, a bed of Lindt balls is far superior to a bed of coconuts

who says wombats can't fly (over Mt Agung)

Kicking back and absorbing a bit of Balianese culture..... taking the barong dance back to the burrow

Hello and welcome

Hello everyone!
I am becoming such a well travelled wombat I just had to set a blog up to make sure all my wombat supporter mates could share my fun .

I can tell you I had the most fantastic time on my last two trips - Bali and then Outback Queensland. Just take a look at the photos. I think I am soooo photogenic!


I hear that Al is taking me to the US...and I might have a Queensland bike trip....hm..should I wear a yellow lycra outfit like my mate Harold...or perhaps a good strong green...hm

Catch you soon...and keep eating those chocolates!

Wazza