The build up continues..

...and not just for Jo's arrival in a weeks time either. It is starting to get seriously hot and humid now - aircon on each evening and the start of the nights just to get to sleep.
There has been a huge change in the vegetation as well. Next doors trees have become fully leaved again and their Mango tree is starting to produce fruit although not much and not off particularly good quality either at the moment but it is early yet.
The Palms in the garden are all now in fruit and you are in danger of getting dumped upon from on high every time you go out into the garden.
The main culprits are the Torresian Imperial Pigeons. They can be remarkably tricky to see at times

but eventually they show themselves

In addition the lizards and frogs around the place are becoming more visible and vocal.
This one is a regular visitor to some unused paving tiles

There has also been an increase in the number of baby geckos around, in fact I shared a shower with one yesterday that was no more than an inch long - very cute and very helpful as they eat any flies that get past the security screens.
Whilst we have not seen them yet the Green Tree Frogs are gearing up for the breeding season as every once in a while you hear a series of four or five "crawk crawk" calls - having looked on line these are the males getting excited!
As an aside at 0930 on Wednesday 19th Alice Springs passed its record for the longest dry spell on record - and it still has not broken.