#TASMANIAN DEVIL /POS

[h0ped3lusion]

Okay so there's my Retelling, Puppet Dance! Basically Worldless but more steampunk-esque, and some of the starfolks have animal traits. Edda's a tasmanian devil while Aven's a thylacine. You can read all the current chapters here.

There's also Dark Spear, which is basically the same as canon except Aven's the same species as Lightning Nightmare... but a dark variant of them! He's the last of his kind though.

Then there's Underdogs AU, which is basically "What if the Duo failed at stopping Worldless?" The duo (Edda and Aven) ends up dying during the fight with Worldless, resetting the universe. The war continues to rage on...

However, Aodh, a Shadow Legs, accidentally transcends with Edel, a fairy. Together, they take down opponents and finally kill Worldless... AKA an alternate duo!

And now there's Tunglsöng, which is basically "Edda gets forcefully turned into this deer wolf-critter in order to restore a fantasy world from this corruption that's turning to gods into monsters"-

Oooh!! The alternate duo idea piques my interest!

I'm also interested in the steampunk theme of Puppet Dance! AU. I've already seen the duo and I think they're pretty neat :D

You seem to really like creatures and critters that in my mind that's like your trademark at this point /pos

[boycritter]

I had a dream that you sent me an ask and the sheer power of “must reply to oscar” woke me up /pos

i had a dream that my dog became best friends with a tasmanian devil at the university of columbia

[blocodibujo]

16th warm up sketch about DC’s latinx and hispanic heroes and antiheroes, and this time it’s turn for Gregorio de la Vega, aka, EXTRAÑO (but don’t call him that), who’s also DC’s first openly gay hero.

Since we’re approaching the end of the characters created in the 80′s, you might’ve noticed that one of the bigger trends of the decade was trying to make the DCU a more expansive and diverse place, with a lot of international characters; while at the same time, failing almost miserably because most of the efforts where really tone-deaf (some directly, or borderline, racist) and mostly spearheaded by white straight creators who, while mostly good intentioned, weren’t the most appropiate voices for these characters and stories. And no other effort failed more catastrophically than what happened with EXTRAÑO (that’s spanish for “Strange”, this is seen as a parody of Marvel’s Doctor Strange, especially taking.into consideration that in spanish it also means “Weird”, because he was gay).

Everything basically started with the New Guardians, a new group of international superheroes created by the freakin’ Guardians of the Universe (of Green Lantern fame), intended to be their succesors and to represent the best of mankind (this was all fallout of the Millenium event, so it was a big deal at the time). These New Guardians where Gregorio de la Vega from Perú; Betty Clawman who was an aboriginal australian; Floronic Man (yes, the Swamp Thing villain) from the US; Xiang Po, aka, Gloss from China; Lyla Michaels, aka, Harbinger (from Crisis on Infinite Earhs fame); Celia Windward, aka, Jet, who was british-jamaican; Takeo Yakata, aka, RAM, from Japan; and Tom Kalmaku, the infamous best friend of Hal Jordan (who was played by Taika Waititi in the live action movie), who’s Inuk.

As far as I know, the original idea from writer Steve Englehart (as he recounts it on his website) was thas this was going to be a really progressive and realistic take on superheroes, that was supposedly going to tackle politics, sex, drugs and other stuff, but eventually DC backtracked from it, so Englehart quit, and the rest of the creative team was left to pick the pieces. It was actually Englehart idea to introduce Gregorio as DC’s first gay hero, but I have no idea if it was his idea to make the character a walking stereotype or not (he was flamboyant, he wore colorful clothes, he was both the father figure and the comic relief of the team, he called himself “Auntie”, etc).

Either way, there was another character who was rejected from the group, south-african Janwillem Kroef, who was a racist white supremacist. Enraged for this rejection, he created a whole lot of creatures, including one called the Hemo-Goblin, who was a vampire that gave HIV to people in a plot to get ride of non-white people. Yes, really. As a result of the attack, EXTRAÑO was confirmed to be HIV-positive (along with several other characters), but the comic left open the idea that maybe he had the disease before the attack. 

The whole thing was a total mess (this is the comic that gave us Snowflame, the colombian villain who was powered by cocaine), controversial for all the reasons you can think, and wildly unpopular, so it was cancelled, the team died (or where left for dead) and their story was resolved in the pages of Green Lantern, and EXTRAÑO faded into comics limbo where he remained for decades. 

Jump forward to 2016, when writer Steve Orlando brought Gregorio back in the pages of Midnighter and Apollo, with an amazing redesign (I asume by that comic’s artist, Fernando Blanco) and basically finally bumping him to the position of being DC’s answer to Stephen Strange. He even got married to fellow superhero Hugh Dawkins, aka, Tasmanian Devil, and they live in Lima in a magic house called “The Sacrarium” (you know, like the Sancto Sanctorum), with their daughter, Suri. 

Thankfully, EXTRAÑO’s presence has remained having appeared in various issues of Justice League Dark and Justice League of America, so here’s hoping he gets more time under the spotlight, now that he became one of comics unlikeliest success story. 

Just want to close thanking everyone who has supported this challenge, now that it’s been a month since I began.

[yahooin-feature]

5 things families must do in Australia's Gold Coast

Whether you're into nature and wildlife, amusement parks, or just relaxing on the beach, Australia's playground is the place to make memories that last a lifetime.

1st day? Straight to the sand and waves, of course!

The Gold Coast has almost 60km of beautiful white beaches. Top picks for a family trip are Broadbeach, and Burleigh Heads. Both are great for picnicking and barbecuing, and are good spots to swim or take your very first surfing lesson – they’re quieter, and the water is calm.

Immerse yourself in the rainforest the whole of Day 2

Lamington National Park is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia, the most extensive subtropical rainforest in the world. It's an incredible place to experience nature and trek, with more than 160km of trails. To really get up close to the rainforest, try the O' Reilly's Treetop Walk, a network of suspension bridges 15-metres high that takes you through the cool canopy of flowering and fruiting trees.

A day for the kids with cuddly koalas and more

Give your kids the quintessential Australian experience on Day 3! The Currumbin  Wildlife Sanctuary, a 10-minute drive from Gold Coast, is  home to all the species of Australian wildlife you might dream of. Residents include koalas, kangaroos, platypuses, wallabies, Tasmanian devils and red pandas. While you’re there, you can meet Kangaroos, cuddle Koala’s and take a tour of the wildlife hospital.  Little booklovers will also love the Gruffalo Trail, a walk inspired by The Gruffalo, British writer Julia Donaldson’s most famous work. With the onset of the whale-watching season in June stretching to November each year, hop on a whale-watching cruise from Surfers Paradise to witness these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.

Visit a theme park... or four

Dreamworld is Australia's largest amusement park. With rollercoasters, water rides, a 75km/h swing and the world's tallest free-fall, it's the perfect spot for thrill-seekers. Even the littlest ones can enjoy family thrill rides such as Escape from Madagascar and the Sky Voyager, a new virtual-reality ride that takes you on a journey over iconic spots like the Great Barrier Reef and Sydney Harbour.  There's also plenty to do for those who like to keep their feet firmly on the ground, including animal encounters and a DreamWorks experience where kids can get close to Shrek, Po, and the Madagascar Crew. The Gold Coast has many other theme parks and experiences, including SeaWorld and Warner Bros. Movie World. Warning, you may need more than two days to cover all these theme parks, so you can plan to visit them on Day 4, 5 or more!

Tour the city of Gold Coast in a fire truck

Hop on the coolest ride in Australia for a tour of Gold Coast. Board your Fire Truck at Surfers Paradise for your adventure that starts with siren sounds as you depart for an exciting ride to the Spit via Surfers Paradise, along the beachfront / Esplanade, via Narrow Neck, and past Sea World. Plenty of smiles, laughs and waving to everybody to be enjoyed as you ride aboard a real Fire Truck! At the Spit you will be able to experience operation of a fully functional fire hose & pose for photographs holding the nozzle & wearing authentic Fire Helmets! Kids love the chance to sit in the drivers seat for a steering photo and an up close view of the Fire Engine! Then it’s time for an introduction to the workings of the truck & pump, followed by another fun Fire Truck ride with the music on for the return journey to Surfers Paradise!

Experience the food throughout the trip

Forget taking your itinerary day-by-day! Relish every moment, AND food, for every palate and preference is catered for here, plus there's a thriving vegetarian scene. The glorious weather and fresh, clean air mean most restaurants have outdoor dining areas where you can look out on jaw-dropping scenery. A must-visit is Northcliffe Surf Club, which has gorgeous views of the coastline and a family-friendly menu with classic Aussie food. If you are craving Indian food by the end of your visit then head to Kokum by Michelin star chef Mural at Main Beach Embracing traditional Indian techniques and featuring handpicked local Australian ingredients. For the best breakfast or brunch scenes must do is Paddock Bakery in Miami, Bam Bam Bakehouse in Burgeligh or Cardamom Pod in South Port.

You can connect to Gold Coast from India via Singapore, from these cities; Amritsar, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Lucknow, Tiruchirappalli, Trivandrum, Coimbatore, and Vishakhapatnam. If you are planning to catch one of Scoot’s three-times-weekly flights to the Gold Coast via Singapore, head over here flyscoot.com/in-goldcoast to check out the deals!

[blue-opossum]

Time Gate (fascinating and life-changing outcome)

        Optimized 3 minute read.

        Saturday morning, 9 February 1991.

        Time Gate (fascinating and life-changing outcome)

        Dream # 8,818-01.

        Exactly three years after this dream, I arrived in Australia to meet with my real-world "dream girl."

        The beginning of my dream involves me becoming aware of the "sugar shack"/"old shack" dreams I had as a child that also had several inexplicable outcomes. In this case, the real-world Arcadia post office and the "sugar shack" imply the essence of a single location.

        The area is unlike waking life. It is more like an open field as I walk to the west. Despite the incorrect nature of the setting, I am near the Arcadia post office. I come to an area that reminds me of the isolated trellis I had deliberately used to leave the dream state many years previously. A large metal green fence seems to divide a mix of previous times from the present. I experience a vivid sense of timelessness. A mammoth, tyrannosaurus, and deer are all from different eras, but their life energy is intense and present.

        Behind the fence, I see a "realistic" growling tyrannosaurus and a grunting woolly mammoth as my dream becomes more vivid. There is a woman in black (a young Barbara Steele or the "mystery girl" or a mix of both), prehistoric deer and goats, emus, ornithomimosaurs, and various small animals.

        There are also a few robots in the "Magnus Robot Fighter" comic book's style. ("Magnus" is the name of the main character in "The Bermuda Depths" and the brand name of an electric organ that I often played when younger.)

        I have a vivid impression that something inexplicable is impending. I consider that part of the northern end of the "time gate" may be attached to the post office. I find a room resembling part of the King Street house - my L-shaped apartment (before I lived there in waking life).

        Susan R, a classmate, seems to be on a safari and exits a jeep with others and squats to study footprints.

        I hear a sudden stampede influenced by the Tasmanian Devil cartoons (where the animals run from him). Even so, it is far more realistic as I watch animals rush by the window, leaving a large dust cloud. The noise is incredible. I get a sense of being in Australia (where I had never been at that point) even though the setting is in Florida. The stampede means the "time gate" had been opened. I say, "Oh-oh." An unknown witness responds with "What?" as I again say, "Oh-oh." The post office building shakes.

        I go to the front entrance of the post office, wondering if the animals will destroy the building and if I will be safer somewhere else. I walk outside, and it now seems to be a quiet, sunny day. However, I turn around as a giant dove approaches me. It slowly walks from the building. It has a red heart symbol on its chest. I hold a burning sword, but I wake before anything else occurs.

        The dove from the post office reminds me of the American postage stamps featuring doves and heart symbols.

        As a boy, I was intrigued by coincidental patterns that emerged from different letter arrangements. A next-consonant, next-vowel continuity from JESUS is KITAT, LOVEV. When I tried it with my first and middle name, I got CLAUDECLARENCE, DMEAFIDMESIPDI, FNIEGOFNITOQFO, GPOIHUGPOVURGU, which I decided "might be" GPO I HUG PO VIRGO.

        After this dream (in March of the same year), Zsuzsanna and I communicated for the first time in waking life. We started regularly writing letters and talking on the telephone.

        Zsuzsanna is a Virgo, but I have zero interest or belief in astrology, tarot, or any other nonsensical system. (As a boy, I learned systems like astrology and tarot were wrong beyond the laws of chance, which I found odd.)

        The Postal Service issued its Love stamp booklet on Valentine's Day, February 1994, the year that Zsuzsanna and I married.

        I have recently recognized that the front fence of our home (same design with metal vertical bars) is a “miniature version” of the “time gate” of my dream. (The owner added the fence years after we moved here.)

        The birthplace of Zsuzsanna's mother is the antipode of the Arcadia post office. It is also antipodal to my place of birth (Punta Gorda).

        I was always puzzled (as a child) by how much a rotated Australia resembled North America - as if it was "on purpose."

        It is important to understand that our new fence appeared LONG AFTER my original image for this dream report.

[fitnesshealthyoga-blog]

New Post has been published on https://fitnesshealthyoga.com/sex-evolved-because-it-protects-against-rare-contagious-cancers-scientists-think/

Sex Evolved Because It Protects Against Rare Contagious Cancers, Scientists Think

A sperm heads towards an egg during sexual reproduction in this illustration. Getty

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: 6-JUN-2019 14:00 ET (6-JUN-2019 18:00 GMT/UTC)

Sex is a risky business. And yet, for some reason, so many organisms—including humans—do it. Now, a team of scientists argue it could be partly because the process protects against certain types of cancer.

Asexual reproduction doesn’t require a partner, so it’s much faster than the sexual type. It also avoids the potential costs associated with finding a mate in the first place. But sexual reproduction, meanwhile, is useful for a number of reasons: It involves two parents and so prevents harmful gene mutations from being passed on, and it helps with resistance to pathogens and parasites.

In an essay published in the journal PLOS Biology, scientists presented a theory which they say could answer a 50-year question of why sexual reproduction is preferred by 99 percent of eukaryotes: organisms whose nucleus is wrapped inside a membrane, from humans to mushrooms.

The scientists argue it could stop what are known as cheater cells, or transmissible cancer cells. Rare transmissible cancers exist in some animals including dogs, Tasmanian devils, and water-dwelling molluscs called bivalves. Cheater cells put the rest of a population of cells at risk by exploiting the community for selfish gain.

Organisms have evolved to prevent cancers—where cells multiply uncontrollably—with the help of processes such as those run by the immune system.

But in order to survive and reproduce, the first multi-cellular organisms had to fight internal cheater cells as well as infectious malignant cells from the outside. And as asexual reproduction makes identical organisms, this raises their risk of being invaded by transmissible cancers, the authors think.

Sexual reproduction, meanwhile, lowers the chance of an organism not only catching an infection, but passing it on to their children. Transmissible cancers are also less likely to be compatible with their host’s cells if they are made sexually. This could help the immune system pick up and kill nasty invaders.

Frédéric Thomas, study co-author of the IRD in France, told Newsweek: “The high prevalence of sexual reproduction in the natural world indirectly suggests that the selective forces behind the evolution of sex must be strong and pervasive.”

Until recently, explained Thomas, ecologists have ignored the roles that parasites and the microbiota (the bugs like bacteria, fungi and viruses which live on plants and animals) might play on the biology and evolution of their hosts.

Leaps forward in technology have enabled scientists to explore this link, and have made it impossible to ignore the role they might play, argued Thomas.

As processes which cause tumors in multicellular organisms are ubiquitous and the potential routes of transmission for invaders is diverse, evolution seems to favor sexual reproduction as way to make viable offspring with fewer roadblocks to their survival, “despite its associated costs,” said Thomas.

“To our knowledge, this selective scenario for the initial evolution of sex across the tree of life is novel,” he argued.

“More generally we hope that our perspective will pave the way for exploring the underestimated role of oncogenic processes [when a tumor grows] in shaping the biology, ecology and evolution of their multicellular hosts.”

Thomas said the research could one day help to find natural defenses against cancer.

“For instance, if our theory is correct, ancient asexual lineages that have persisted for millions of generations, such as oribatid mites, darwinulid ostracods and bdelloid rotifers, probably possess mechanisms conferring a high resistance to oncogenic processes.”

These could one day be applied to cancer treatments, he said.

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[yahoosg-feature]

5 things families must do in Australia's Gold Coast

Whether you're into nature and wildlife, amusement parks, or just relaxing on the beach, Australia's playground is the place to make memories that last a lifetime.

1st day? Straight to the sand and waves, of course!

The Gold Coast has almost 60km of beautiful white beaches. Top picks for a family trip are Broadbeach, and Burleigh Heads. Both are great for picnicking and barbecuing, and are good spots to swim or take your very first surfing lesson – they’re quieter, and the water is calm.

Immerse yourself in the rainforest the whole of Day 2

Lamington National Park is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia, the most extensive subtropical rainforest in the world. It's an incredible place to experience nature and trek, with more than 160km of trails. To really get up close to the rainforest, try the O' Reilly's Treetop Walk, a network of suspension bridges 15-metres high that takes you through the cool canopy of flowering and fruiting trees.

A day for the kids with cuddly koalas and more

Give your kids the quintessential Australian experience on Day 3! The Currumbin  Wildlife Sanctuary, a 10-minute drive from Gold Coast, is  home to all the species of Australian wildlife you might dream of. Residents include koalas, kangaroos, platypuses, wallabies, Tasmanian devils and red pandas. While you’re there, you can meet Kangaroos, cuddle Koala’s and take a tour of the wildlife hospital.  Little booklovers will also love the Gruffalo Trail, a walk inspired by The Gruffalo, British writer Julia Donaldson’s most famous work. With the onset of the whale-watching season in June stretching to November each year, hop on a whale-watching cruise from Surfers Paradise to witness these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.

Visit a theme park... or four

Dreamworld is Australia's largest amusement park. With rollercoasters, water rides, a 75km/h swing and the world's tallest free-fall, it's the perfect spot for thrill-seekers. Even the littlest ones can enjoy family thrill rides such as Escape from Madagascar and the Sky Voyager, a new virtual-reality ride that takes you on a journey over iconic spots like the Great Barrier Reef and Sydney Harbour.  There's also plenty to do for those who like to keep their feet firmly on the ground, including animal encounters and a DreamWorks experience where kids can get close to Shrek, Po, and the Madagascar Crew. The Gold Coast has many other theme parks and experiences, including SeaWorld and Warner Bros. Movie World. Warning, you may need more than two days to cover all these theme parks, so you can plan to visit them on Day 4, 5 or more!

Tour the city of Gold Coast in a fire truck

Hop on the coolest ride in Australia for a tour of Gold Coast. Board your Fire Truck at Surfers Paradise for your adventure that starts with siren sounds as you depart for an exciting ride to the Spit via Surfers Paradise, along the beachfront / Esplanade, via Narrow Neck, and past Sea World. Plenty of smiles, laughs and waving to everybody to be enjoyed as you ride aboard a real Fire Truck! At the Spit you will be able to experience operation of a fully functional fire hose & pose for photographs holding the nozzle & wearing authentic Fire Helmets! Kids love the chance to sit in the drivers seat for a steering photo and an up close view of the Fire Engine! Then it’s time for an introduction to the workings of the truck & pump, followed by another fun Fire Truck ride with the music on for the return journey to Surfers Paradise!

Experience the food throughout the trip

Forget taking your itinerary day-by-day! Relish every moment, AND food, for every palate and preference is catered for here, plus there's a thriving vegetarian scene. The glorious weather and fresh, clean air mean most restaurants have outdoor dining areas where you can look out on jaw-dropping scenery. A must-visit is Northcliffe Surf Club, which has gorgeous views of the coastline and a family-friendly menu with classic Aussie food. If you are craving Indian food by the end of your visit then head to Kokum by Michelin star chef Mural at Main Beach Embracing traditional Indian techniques and featuring handpicked local Australian ingredients. For the best breakfast or brunch scenes must do is Paddock Bakery in Miami, Bam Bam Bakehouse in Burgeligh or Cardamom Pod in South Port.

You can connect to Gold Coast from India via Singapore, from these cities; Amritsar, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Lucknow, Tiruchirappalli, Trivandrum, Coimbatore, and Vishakhapatnam. If you are planning to catch one of Scoot’s three-times-weekly flights to the Gold Coast via Singapore, head over here flyscoot.com/in-goldcoast to check out the deals!

[laykju]

I release my little Tasmanian devil. Nádherný pohľad na naše Tatry z vtáčej perspektívy. Nie je nič lepšie, ako sa prejsť po horách, niečo pofotiť, zalietať si a dokonale si oddýchnuť. Hashtag zone: #djisparkdrone #djispark #drony #droneoftheday #dronetravel #dronovanie #dronephotography #dronepic #dnesfotim #dnescestujem #daybyme #vysoketatry #slovensko🇸🇰 #tatry_official #tatrymountains #tatryphoto #tatry #tatrywysokie #tatry🗻 #tatryslovakia #slovenskehory #lesy #túra #mojeslovensko #mojefoto #refresher by #laykju (at Vysoké Tatry) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnD_nDRH_bZ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1tynbjietri0k

[alstravelblog]

World Trip 2014 - Part 7

Let's talk about Australia, as I do like visiting the colonies. Alex (whose blog this is) and Lachy (her fiancé/my brother from another mother) met me at the airport, holding a sign with my name on to make me feel special. We drove back to their kickass studio apartment in one of the hippest parts of Melbourne - that's right, I said hippest - where I was given a quick tour before bed.

So the situation was this: I'd hang in Melbourne with these guys for three weeks, and we'd nip out and do all sorts of activities. So I don't bore you all, I'll list the highlights of my stay.

1. We drove down to the coast to stay at Point Lonsdale (Bonus: we had his brother's dog Biv with us). We drove along the Great Ocean Road, threw stones for Biv on the beach, visited the ACTUAL lighthouse from Round the Twist, and made homemade pizzas before watching Doctor Who.

2. We took in some culture in Melbourne. I saw baby penguins being fed at the SeaLife centre, I saw the skin of the famous racing horse Phar Lap and went underneath an indoor forest at the Melbourne Museum, we saw Interstellar at the third largest cinema screen in the world, I went swimming at an open-air local pool, and ate a ton of food from quirky local restaurants (like Trippy Taco and Po Boy. Also Nandos. Although It hasn't reached the dizzying heights of quality like it has in Britain - they don't even do halloumi.)

3. We visited Healesville Animal Sanctuary so I could get my fill of Australian wildlife. Kangaroos, wombats, wallabies, dingos, echidnas, Tasmanian devils, possums, kookaburras, lyre birds, I done seen 'em all. They even have an animal hospital there to look after anything that gets injured in the bush fires. Speaking of which, this country has fire danger levels ranging from low to high to code red. Yep, code red. That's when the whole country just explodes. So yeah, it's taken me this long to realise that wombats and echidnas are two of the greatest animals on earth. Also, dingos are fluffy as hell.

4. We drove up to the Blue Mountains to stay on top of Mt Buller. This was one of the most picturesque places I saw, just endless gumtree-covered mountains stretching off into the distance - and they look blue due to the eucalyptus, little fact for ya there. There's a town of second, or third, homes on the summit, but because we went in the Australian a summer it was a complete ghost town. Very cool. On the peak there's a metal pyramid, where rangers keep an eye out for bush fires (of which you could tell there had been a fair few). While we were here, we took a walk in the humid forest below, following the river, and saw two poisonous snakes and the biggest spider any of us had ever seen. It's like Australia was putting on its best performance for me. We finished off with a balcony barbecue, a dip in the jacuzzi, [Alex note: only Lachy and Al were in the jacuzzi, with beer and nachos.] and the four of us (including Alex and Lachy's friend Tatiana) playing dungeons and dragons. Go team.

5. We went to Equitana, a big horse festival at the Melbourne showgrounds, where we saw all sorts of horseback events -including cutting, where the rider has to separate a cow from a herd and prevent it from rejoining said herd. At one point I found myself at the cowgirl riding school demonstration, and the woman on her horse said "Anyone else a D-cup?" Woahh, hello. Some people put their hands up. "Well I wear two bras, cos these bad boys will knock you out if you're not careful." Then I noticed I was surrounded by women, all murmuring in agreement. It sounds great, but then I realised I was a bit of an outsider - I don't even like horse-riding, let alone have breasts.

6. A bit more "culture". We went laser-questing, bowling, served ice cream at a charity event, attended a 'psychadelic' 21st birthday party in fancy dress (two words: free bar), went to an open air cinema by the beach to watch David Bowie in Labyrinth, I saw penguins climbing on the rocks of St Kilda to feed their babies, and I ate vegetarian schnitzel. Oh yes. We also played a feck load of Mario Kart, I'm counting it as culture because I played it with Aussies.

7. One of the weirder things we did was attempt an Escape Room. The idea is you're locked in a room, and you have a time limit to solve the puzzles to escape. When the timer runs out you're just let out, so the only real worry is feeling stupid because you can't solve anything. The theme was called 'endless dream', and we were trapped in this little room full of clocks, locked boxes, a painting of a brain, and some tough-ass puzzles. We asked for like five hints, but we made it out in the end. There's thinking outside of the box and then there's THAT. Still, the five of us left as more cohesive, oiled machine of friendship or something.

8. We visited an old timey town called Sovereign Hill. Who knew Europeans settled in Australia much the same as they did in America, with wild west towns built around gold mining? We panned for gold, tried old-fashioned bowling (you have to set the pins yourself, not worth it mate), took a horse drawn carriage ride, wandered round a gold mine, mimed a shoot-out in the street, drank ginger beer at the saloon, and saw gold being smelted. Interesting fact, the gold bar they use is 19 years old and gets smelted and cooled 10 times a day. Madness. It were a grand day out, I even got one of the old fashioned police blokes to arrest me whilst he told me how sexy ankles were (in character, I hope).

9. Yoghurt, blueberry jam, buttermilk cookie pieces, and protein clusters - that was an ice cream flavour. If there's an ice cream metaphor for Melbourne, it's that. They were both amazing. So there we are. There was plenty of other stuff too, mainly food, drink, films and good times. Oh, and vlogging: I made three guest appearances on Alex and Lachy's book-themed Youtube blog where I pulled a load of book reviews out of my arse on camera. That sounds horrible, I just mean I made them up on the spot.

Saying goodbye to a country where I heard the phrases "far out" and "rad" used in conversation without a hint of irony, I set off to the airport with a taxi driver who asked whether the UK and the US are linked, and if you can drive between them. I had no words. I can't thank Lachy and Alex enough for having me so long, and for sacrificing their privacy for me. I only hope I acted as a catalyst for flipping great times to occur. Final stop: New Zealand.