An Australian Adventure (Park) - Part 1

[fanspired]

Hi everyone!

I know I've been very quiet lately. It's been a very busy time for me recently, but I promise I'll be catching up with y'all over the next few days. In the meantime, I couldn't let the first anniversary of spn_on_parade go unacknowledged. Yesterday was my birthday and, to celebrate, we took a day trip to our premier local tourist attraction: The Australian Reptile Park. And what better way to celebrate the "minis around the world" theme than to take my boys along with me. As it was their first big day out I was determined to keep them safe, so I employed the tricks I've learned from the best. (If you have difficulty reading the dialogue in any of these, just click on the pic to see it full size.)

Warning: rated PG for some coarse language and creatures with more or less than 2 legs.

OK, I might have gona a little overboard, but the pink scarf was really just to wind Dean up.

Unfortunately he took his revenge by responding with some very unsavoury behaviour on the inside of my socks!

but after a short, uneventful drive (save for the sound of whingeing yanks and poms) we arrived at our destination

and the minis wasted no time before they started making trouble.

That sign on the croc says "please don't climb on me" f.y.i. : /



First, a pit stop at the cafe to get our bearings and see what's on offer for the day.

I thought of making a comment about being selfish with his sausage, but I restrained myself :P



Sam was very keen to see the Tasmanian Devils. They're an endangered species, and he feels very strongly about efforts to save them and bought a wristband to support the cause.



Well, more of a headband in his case, but he looks very fetching in it. He bought one for Dean, too.



Um . . . well, Dean just kinda looks like a princess in his :P

First stop was the crocodile pit where the park keeps its most aggressive croc. The reptile park's male crocs have a reputation for trying to eat their mates, so they have to be kept separately.

Well, at least Dean doesn't try to eat his . . . um . . . well, you know what I mean :P

Now, these guys may look lovable and cuddly, but they can actually be quite fierce . . . though not quite as fierce as some local lore would have you believe . . .



And then we reached the Tassie enclosure. The park has a breeding program that is helping to preserve some of the few remaining Tasmanian Devils not affected by a disease that is fast killing off the species.

It would be a great shame to lose the Tassies. They're a unique animal . . . and totally bonkers. So aggressive and territorial, they're mental. I've seen Dean lick his food to stop anyone else eating it, but we once watched one of these little beasts crap on his own food. Now that's commitment. (Ew!)



Unfortunately, just then the sun came out, and we realized that none of us had really thought this day trip through . . .



TO BE CONTINUED . . .

Comments

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

First of all, young lady, why is your birthday not on my list of birthdays to celebrate?!? O_O Bad Fanspired, BAD! lol! I'm working on something now to say *love you* :D

Second, this is freaking hilarious, I adore your adventures! They are always so funny, so cheeky and SO FUN!

I could quote you back this entire post! :D But faves, Extinction is NOT an OPTION and Real mature Dean! Plus Spike on fire, LOL!

Thank you so much for taking part, for always being such a staunch cheerleader for the comm and the mini guys and for marking our anniversary ♥

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

Yes, I saw JJ's post, and it doesn't come up on my feed either!

[fanspired]

I have my LJ set not to display my birthday. I've never felt comfortable about advertising my birthday. It always puts me in mind of Wellington from the Daily Mirror "Perishers" cartoon, promoting his birthday for weeks before the event :P

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

heehee, fair enough!
I will secrete the date away on my calendar for future reference :)

[fanspired]

Sorry about the birthday secrecy. I was just explaining to Dizzojay below about the impression the Daily Mirror's "Perishers" cartoon left on me :P Thanks once again for the birthday pics, though. Love each and every one of them ♥

Really glad you enjoyed my contribution to the Miniversary. I love this joyous little comm and was very happy to celebrate it :)))

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

LOL that's fine honey, I was only teasing ;) As long as you had an awesome day, all is well :)

[ennisjackdean.livejournal.com]

Couldn't possibly add anything to what Emily
just said. Epic as always fanspired.

[fanspired]

If I ever can't use "fanspired" as a pen name, maybe I could switch to "epicure" :P

[celtic-forest.livejournal.com]

Looks like fun! And I love Sam's head/wristband :)

[fanspired]

Glad you liked it :) Love you nom, by the way. Have a bit of Celt in my blood, myself :)

[jj1564.livejournal.com]

This is an epic down-under adventure! I love Sam's headband and Dean hula-hooping with his one! I'm sad to hear that about the Tasmanian Devil, they may not be the prettiest of critters but they deserve to survive, well done Sam on supporting the cause!

But the icing on the cake is Spike's hair on fire and his "bloody hell!" made me laugh so much!

And Happy Belated Birthday! Hope it was a good 'un :)

[fanspired]

I did. It was very enjoyable and I'm glad you enjoyed the boys' adventure with me. Many thanks to you and Milly and Dizz for starting this wonderful comm full of so much fun and joy. So worthy of celebration.

[jj1564.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you, you're very welcome. We're just so pleased that so many people have joined in and embraced the comm to share the fun!

[matchboximpala.livejournal.com]

What a great adventure! I don't think I have ever seen Tasmanian Devils before and I definitely did not know they are in danger of extinction.

[fanspired]

They're quite a rare little animal, and getting rarer unfortunately. But hopefully the Devil Ark program will find a cure and a way to preserve the species.

I'm glad you enjoyed the boys' day out :))

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

Oh this is fantastic - I'd highlight my favourite parts, but I'd just end up rewriting the whole thing!

From Dean spitting in your sock (the obnoxious little peasant), to poor exploding Spike, I loved every part of this. It was so thoughtful of Dean to let you have YOUR apple, and with them climbing on the croc and all their other mayhem, I'm surprised you weren't thrown out :)

I love Tassie Devils too - such a shame they're all dying off - that's been going on for years hasn't it? I remember being told about that last time I was over in Aus in 2006.

Why do I get the impression there's going to be something creepy in part two ...? :S

[fanspired]

I do wonder what other people at the park thought about me, my minis and my camera. I'm sure there must have been some people thinking wtf o_O especially when Spike and Angel were padding around in their socks! :P

I'm glad you enjoyed my little celebration, and so many thanks to you, Milly and JJ for giving us something wonderful to celebrate!

[cuddyclothes.livejournal.com]

I thought of making a comment about being selfish with his sausage, but I restrained myself :P

*snort*

I'm so sorry about the Tasmanian Devils! We in America have no idea! Is there a website I could direct people to?

[fanspired]

Here's the Devil Ark website: http://www.devilark.com.au/

I really hope they succeed. I just adore these crazy little critters.

I'm glad you enjoyed this miniversary adventure :)

[jj1564.livejournal.com]

Hee hee, it was great to see this again, I love their headband/crown/hula hoop and Dean selflessly sharing the apple! I had a quick look at the link above to see how the Tasmanian Devils are doing, and it's so sad that their population continues to decline.

[fanspired]

It would be really sad to lose them. They're so uniquely bonkers!

[kattrip033.livejournal.com]

This is so cute and educational

[fanspired]

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it :)