tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722735165669239585.post2492008364851193244..comments2023-05-24T23:33:57.516+10:00Comments on My Unwelcome Stranger: The electric meeting of Carmen and BellaDenis Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786035137418348609noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722735165669239585.post-36761262953945715212012-06-26T15:57:32.090+10:002012-06-26T15:57:32.090+10:00Ripper of a story, Bob. I was waiting to see where...Ripper of a story, Bob. I was waiting to see where the electric fence came in, but it wasn't needed. <br /><br />Would I be right in thinking that this wasn't a wolf-pack ready to tear you to pieces but a group hoping you were going to feed them? I know there was/is a conflict on that island between Wildlife authorities and Animal Welfare people over feeding and the dingoes might have been hoping you were the latter, with food. <br /><br />[Alternatively, they might have hoped you were the former and decide to eat you.]<br /><br />But it's amazing how often taking on an animal fearlessly can sort them out. It could be a bit of a disaster if the strategy fails though!Denis Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786035137418348609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722735165669239585.post-52717249974809330312012-06-26T15:39:42.467+10:002012-06-26T15:39:42.467+10:00Nahhh - cows are harmless – anything short of a st...Nahhh - cows are harmless – anything short of a stampede of Cecil B deMille proportions anyway. Bulls - a different matter. Be careful messing with bulls. As to eating animals, I'm sure if people had to knock them on the head and slit their throats instead of getting steaks neatly plastic wrapped there'd be an amazing change in eating habits - but would hardly go down well with me cattle rancher mates or down on the farm when the milkers passed their Use-by date. You know who you are!Denis Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786035137418348609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722735165669239585.post-61414362287209160632012-06-25T14:30:31.228+10:002012-06-25T14:30:31.228+10:00Good story Denis, and you got it right about elect...Good story Denis, and you got it right about electric fences and animal psychology. I had a similar experience to that of Carmen when our small yacht dragged anchor in Great Sandy Strait some years ago. While we slept, it drifted ashore on the inside of Fraser Island, balanced for a while on its keel in the mud, then crashed down on to its side. It was 3am, the boat wouldn’t float again till the next high tide; we couldn’t stay in it, so Julie and the poodle made up a bed in the dinghy. With nowhere to sleep (or sit) I set off in the pale moonlight to walk on the muddy ‘beach’ until dawn.<br />After a while I realised I was being followed ... there were three dingos padding along behind me. “Shoo”, I said, waving my arms, and they just looked at me in curiosity. Why should I worry, I thought, and continued walking. After a while I turned to check on them again; now there were five and they had closed the gap between us to 20 metres. I shouted at them again and waved my arms, but they didn’t move.<br />So, with great presence of mind, I ran straight at them, bellowing and waving my arms. Now this is where it becomes embarrassing, where my scheme went “a-gley”. Running at top speed, the slippery mud my feet beguiled, and I sat down heavily on my backside. But here, as with Carmen, a friendly providence intervened. <br />As I slid on my bottom at speed through the mud, yelling and waving, the astonished dingos looked at this incredible apparition hurtling towards them, turned tail and ran for their lives.<br />This was a valuable experience which I pass on to all those who might be pursued by a pack of dingos in the hours before dawn. Now you know what to do. Good luck with it.Bob Lakenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5722735165669239585.post-23501383087962290752012-06-24T10:12:09.906+10:002012-06-24T10:12:09.906+10:00Well, Brer Fox, I don't blame Carmen at all.Po...Well, Brer Fox, I don't blame Carmen at all.Poor thing, the touch of an electric fence is no fun! But it's good that when we don't expect something, at least the pain of anticipation isn't there as well to string out the horror. Even I, living on a big farm with lots of sheep and cattle,cannot get used to the fear when a bunch of large, heavy breathing cows chases me along the road, or steadily encircles me in the paddock. As for bulls -I just forgo my walk when they are in residence. I have learned now to shout and wave my arms at cows...and they are beautiful, with their sweet smell, warm bodies, and innocent brown eyes. In fact, I'm not so keen on eating them, these days...<br /><br />Julie xxAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com