Halloween for dummies

I know October was a while ago, but I came across these pics from when we lived in the States and thought I'd share them.

American pumpkins are a different variety to Australian ones. They have orange flesh like ours, but the outside is bright orange as well.

Perfect for carving Jack O Lanterns. This is the Pumpkin Carving 101 course I took while I was there (my wife did the carving, as I am not allowed to play with knives).

When the pumpkin is suitably gutted and carved, you just whack a candle inside and there you have it!

The perfect device for scaring away children when they come up your drive looking for handouts. God, I love Halloween!

Notes from a NASAphile

Our trip to Kennedy Space Centre in Florida was a real eye opener for me. Space travel is pretty mind boggling and so are the statistics that surround it. For instance, did you know that the shuttle silo pictured above is so big that the flag on its side is the size of a football field?

Or that this crawler used to transport the shuttle to the launch pad travels so slowly it is routinely overtaken by snails?

Or that Kennedy Space Centre has its own built-in security system (a network of alligator infested swamps)?

There is something larger than life about the whole place and once you've been there, you will never again entertain the idea that the moon landing was filmed in a studio somewhere. American space travel is the real deal.

Flat out like a lizard drinking

My grandson in America was given a school project involving a character called Flat Stanley. This little flat fellow with the big grin was required to have an adventure and be photographed doing so. As his grandma lived down under, what better place to send him, so off to Australia he went. After being snapped in a number of exotic locales, Flat Stanley returned to America and my grandson presented his school report on the most well-travelled Flat Stanley in the class.

It's great to celebrate

On my latest trip to the States, I learned what a big deal graduating from Highschool is there. Never mind University; the caps and gowns come out in the last year of Highschool, with all the pomp and speechifying of a full degree ceremony. Quite a sight to see all those mortar boards tossed skyward. The bare legs were allowed on this occasion due to the oppressive humidity, but I was glad to vacate the metal grandstand when an ominous thunderstorm began to rumble in the distance. I seem to recall the end of Year 12 at my Highschool was celebrated by acting up and wagging it for most of the last week. I think the Yanks have it right on this occasion. Certainly far more memorable anyway. Okay, back to the books .....