Scurvy Dog

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Gawd you lot stop upsetting Walt lol :D

Glad you enjoyed the review.

 

As to your question about opposums, I think Scurvey Dog has done an admirable job in describing the early history of possums down under. One can clearly see that he does indeed have a soft spot. Apparently raised in Woop Woop, he must have had ample time to study this marsupial as he walked the 15 miles (2.08 3/4 leagues) to school.

 

Allow me to continue from where he left off. The Australian possum is much smarter than the one you and I know. They apparently were so cute that they succeeded in getting themselves protected by law. For example. if one is living in your attic and tearing the place apart you must get a permit to trap it and once trapped (I swear I am not making this up) you must release it within 50 Meters (63.87 1/8 feet) of where you trapped it.

Thankyou Sailor Jack for the measurements and knowledge..Ahh yes I do have a soft spot for possums and I do care..it's just that I don't care very much and the soft spot has slightly calloused over, over the years...2.08 3/4 leagues everyday walking on your hands in possum mitts will do that to a person :D ..as I now live in a town (not Whoop Whoop I moved to a place near "The Black Stump") that has approximately 3.76 possums per square meter, Possum poop is a constant problem (I'm sure they poop more than pigeons) and being able to trap them but only to have to release them at your letter box does nothing to alleviate the problem at all.

Yes possums are very, very smart, how else would they find there way back into your roof when you release them 63.87 1/8 feet from there home?...I actually get quite concerned when I see a passel (the official collective of a group of possums is called a 'passel') of possum's gathered around at dusk obviously discussing GPS co-ordinates and SWAT tactics just in case they are caught and relocated...it has got so bad, that when the "Passel Squad" is out and about my 6 Bull mastiff dogs hide under my bed. Hence, why now if we go out after dark personal protection is needed.

I had a bad incident on my last cruise when I came back to my cabin after a few frothies (beers) and was confronted with what I thought was a possum in my cabin, after I called security, I was relieved to find out that it was a terry towelling koala that my cabin steward had made for us..It did nothing to my pride, as every time I walked around the ship people would snicker and stare..:D

Yep possums are cute and you can't but help to love and hate them all at the same time :rolleyes:

:D

Sailor Jack - We enjoyed reading about your trip.

 

One question about the possums: are they the same as in New Zealand? The New Zealand species is not the same as the dimwitted, scraggy, rat-tailed version (opossum - called possum) we have in Ohio, USA.

 

On our cruise, while in New Zealand ports, the Kiwis tried to get us to take possoms home with us as souvenirs. We told them that ship security would frown on us bringing aboard extra mouths to feed. We did however bring home some possum fur socks. They are the best socks ever! Warm, soft, never feel wet...the perfect souvenir.

Hi Altlasali..thank you for yor intrest on all things possum :)...I trust Sailor Jack would not mind me hi-jacking this thread for a moment to speak to you about our beloved possums?? :D.

You must understand that the Possums in NewZealand are there for a reason..being that Australians are wise and like a practical joke...and who better than to play a joke on, than our Anzac Kiwi brothers :D..hence because it is cold in NewZealand and they don't have any furry cute animals. Some bright spark decided to send a bunch over the Tasman to NZ to see if they could start up a fur industry so they could sell furry warm socks to tourists I guess..the fur industry initially failed but possums apparentley love there new home so much so they are a bad pest.

The possums in Australia and NewZealand are marsupials (same family as kangaroo's hence there young are reared in a pouch, I guess this is why they make such great socks) so hence different to the American possums.

On saying that I do have a soft spot for them, when I was young we were so poor we couldn't afford shoes and we had to walk 15 kilometers(Sailor Jack can you help with the maths here?) to get to school and that was on our hands, because we weren't allowed to scuff and wear out our only pair of shoes we had. Hence we used to wear possum mittens. We also used to keep a live possum in our bag and when it really got cold you could pull that out and wear him as a cap.

A couple other things I know about possums, one they bite :o..my dogs go nuts when they walk along our fence..and they like to party in your roof at stupid hours in the night and they tend to like Johnny Cash music played really loud.

 

:)

 

I have been hearing some scary stories about possums in Australia. Like you need a permit to trap them? Oh, well - I guess I'll find out myself in a few months.

 

Jack

Hi Sailor Jack :) thankyou for your concern on possums..did you wish to go on a possum hunt whilst in Australia?..I am sure we can arrange this no probs :D..care of possums is something that is dear to everones heart esp those on Cruise Critic on the Aussie/NZ posts..and you are right possums have a fearsome reputation..we can arrange NFL football padding and also riot helmet's and shield's for you and Sailorjill if you so wish?..on normal possum hunts I normally just wear a icecream bucket on my head and just wear my 70's jump suit (as this tends to confuse them) for a shield I use a Garbage Can lid..:D

For those who are intrested there a couple of threads that have been written in our forums that relate to possums

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1419643

this form started out with badges that we present to people who show great promise in posts on our forms and then has sections relating to possum care lol :)

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1413945

the following post is more to do with kangaroo's and koala's (everyone loves those two furry critters) but has questions and answers on possums.. you will all agree after reading these posts that it is an emotive topic and one that should not be taken seriously :D

Cool website... some very good humor there.

 

As Debsta mentioned on your board, we will be in Australia in November...visiting Darwin, Port Douglas, and Sydney. It will be our second trip to your part of the world - we were in New Zealand and Australia on a diving trip to the reef a few years back. We are looking forward to seeing more.

 

By the way, you have something in common with Jill's mother - she is also amazed that we are still married.:)

 

Jack

Yes Debsta did mention that you where coming over to grace our shores..I am sure you will have a great trip esp if you are diving again...at this moment I am trying to organise a mass breakout of Kangaroo's and Possum's from Taronga Zoo for your arrival. Something I am sure everyone would agree, should be a standard ceremony upon arrival in Australia I was going to include Koala's also but they are just too doped up on there gum leaves to care :D...glad you all liked the link to David Thorne, all of us Australians specialize in being pests of the highest calibre :D

Sailor Jack nice work on all your reviews :)..You have quite a fan base generating on the Aussie/Kiwi down under postings..Being no stranger to constantly being in varying depths of trouble myself I find it refreshing that one you use your gift for good, two I am amazed you are still married, three I can relate to those moments where I know I shouldn't open my mouth but it just happens.

Please feel free to visit us on our down under postings where I'm sure you will at least get a laugh or two and I am sure you can use your wit to excellent use..:D..once again thanks for keeping it real.

ohh by the way I think anyone who likes Sailor Jacks humour may like the link below :)

http://www.27bslash6.com/

Good job Kiwi keeping this updated fot everyone by the way :)

1st of June Pacific Jewel South Pacific