Let Me Tell You About...

• Ginger Ants

These ants, go by many names. Ginger Ant, Big Headed Ant, Coastal Brown Ant, pain in the absolute BACKSIDE.

They are tiny, maybe 2.4m-6mm long, but fierce. And as a relative of Fire Ants, I can see where they get their punch! My favourit (official) name for them? The Tropical Fire Ant. Fits perfectly - vicious and up here! Solenopsis geminata is their Latin name, used by the scientists among us. Two things I can tell you from experience, 1: They Are Visciuos Carnivores AND WILL EAT ANYTHING THEY CAN SMELL...even if's its not there anymore... 2: They can get in ANYWHERE. Sealed packets we haven't even opened, sure no worries! creepy things.  

Remarkably enough, Talcom Powder sprinkled around the wheels and legs of the van keeps them at bay...until the rain washes it away.

Note the white powder

Ok, so this little ant research I have undertaken in the last half hour has left me pretty confused...there are too many dam ants in the Northern Territory intent on eating you! But what I did find out that most stinging ants - green ants, bull ants etc will bite, then spray the wound with poison. These ginger ants however, must have had a few wasp lessons, they will bit you with one end, and sting you with another! And not just once, like a bee...over and over again. Especially when they are cranky. (they don't like it when you spray them with insect spray)

Here's a bunch I hit with powder, cos they don't like it...
...and I don't like them

I would reckognise these critters anywhere. They have been introduced, goodness only knows why, and have been known to eat inverterbrate animals. I'm thinking its not long until they move to vertabrates, I have been attacked one too many times and Now....ITS TIME FOR LISA TO WAGE WAR ON THE GINGER ANTS!!!

Now, these suckers will probably put up a fight....they are tough beggars, we had to replace Caleb's laptop charger when we first got here unawares, because one got in and chewed the wiring. I like to think he got fried, although I have witnessed them survive being microwaved before. Hopefully, they don't decided to launch nukes at us humans, because I can guarantee these critters will survive while we are incinerated. So, to save humanity, and our van from being overrun, they are going down. Sprays, chemicals, they dont work. No, I'm going all out, and hitting them with Home-brand talcom powder! It actually works...at least, it keeps them out of the van, and we are in need of another coating (after the vicious shower attack, I'm fed up....nobody messes with my towel, then bites my eyelid and gets away with it!)


MANGOES

Mmmmmmm Mango

Possibly the best fruit in the entire world. When God created the Garden of Eden, I am willing to bet it was filled with mangoe trees!! (Along with strawberries, lichies, watermelon and nashies...) Although, if this hyperbole was true, it would mean the Garden of Eden was situated in Asia - as this is where the mango is native to. It's just kind of a bonus that they grow really well in some parts of Australia. Like the Top End!

Yes that's right, it's mango season. There is a tree at Caleb's work, so this means, free mangoes for about 3 weeks or so - yahoo!

Although, due to the current abundance of mangoes, one does tire of eating them all day long so I have attempted to take advantage of the plentiful but brief supply and try a couple of cooking adventures...

Firstly, an attempt at placing mango in a chicken stir fry. You must excuse the bright blue plastic plates and my 'plating up' ability. A caravan is not the most glamorous place for fine dining. Next we have the chicken and mango skewers. Chicken and mango actually go really well together, much like apricot, but due to the van's one deficiancy (there is no oven) I couldn't effectively do a chicken/mango bake. This was the next best thing, the idea was to take a bite that consited of one piece of chicken and one piece of mango. Finally, is the attempt at mango sago pudding.

Oh and by the way, I'm not the only one who has taken on this challenge. The pastor of Katherine Baptist has created his very own mango jam, which we are currently consuming.

• THIS PAGE

This page is a list of things that is designed to pick random topics I feel like telling you about, but don't believe it merits a post due to its unprofessional waffle