Species various of Goa: ox, frog, flying ants, amorous poultry, hermit crabs and Goa-Ts

.. just a way of bundling small anecdotes!

Some time ago we left our delightful property and were confronted by - and passed - a begging woman leading a white cow. A minute later Bob commented on - and Ruth realised she had missed -  the fact that it had a full juvenile hoofed leg protruding from its shoulder. What was that all about?

We have had a near daily meeting with this frog that has taken up residence in the bathroom. It seems quite tame, but does eventually go back behind the cistern in an impressive motion up the wall!

Last Wednesday and Thursday the evenings we marred by huge flocks of flying ants attracted to light (and humans). There is not much you can do to deter them! We encountered them on the beach in neighbouring Patnem, where we were enjoying another session by the Goa-Ts (read on!). It seems such invasions are a known short-lived seasonal feature. There were thousands round the stage light and Matthew of the band said that another unnamed shack had had to close because of them.No problems since!

Our nearest neighbours -apart from the Germans upstairs - are the occupants of a basic enclosure based on an old bath. When we first arrived we had a rooster and three hens - same as last year! After a couple of weeks of standard early morning crowing it was All Change! First we saw one hen being extracted, and then the rooster! They both put up a fight and they have not been seen since! Then along came two manky ducks. and our mornings are now blessed with one of them attempting to mate with the hens, It is a very noisy business, during which the hens try to get through the netting! It does not appear to be consensual, and the drake doesn't seem to learn!

Some guests did but we still have plenty!

Until this Wednesday Greyrocks suspected it had caused an ecological disaster! Last year a daily beach task was the collection of shells.  There were plenty to be had, although in reality they did not figure prominently as planned in the wedding party. and are in both Fuerte and the car awaiting some craft project! This year we have just looked casually on the shore on our less focused walks and have seen very few. Had we eliminated hermit crabs from the whole area by removing their homes? Guilt was felt, and then overnight they were back. Bizarre!


Finally, we have had three very pleasant evenings with South Goa's finest on the rock and blues front! The Goa-Ts won our affection last year and now with added drummer it makes an experience of note for Greyrocks! Unashamedly aged (well two of them anyway!) they have this on their website. We went first to a session with dancing at TATTWA (see later post) and then on two occasions we went Tantra at Patnem. We also come across The Professor (Mark) at quiz nights. Last week we asked for  a dedication of "Sea Cruise" as we would be off next day on one! But more of that later!