I've been a few times and you're right; it's not particularly secular. PDAs were almost non-existent [not that I was looking for them, mind].

*Confesses* I've never partaken myself. But a little teppanyaki place I used to frequent in Sydney was all about cooking up the prawn [sorry, SHRIMP] heads/shells/tails for crunchy consumption, and I gobbled those up. Tasted like seafood corn chips. :-)

Yes, they ARE loud! They're something — as I said — of a soundtrack to an Aussie summer [and you do get used to them]. I used to love it when the days got warmer and the cicadas started getting noisy. There are lots of noisy creatures in Oz though; kookaburras, cockatoos [my GOD those are loud little feckers!] ...…

Oh poor things. I guess dogs shouldn't eat a gazillion of them though ... but it's never harmed mine. The fact that 'city' and 'farm' cicadas do come into contact with all manner of poisons/pesticides though, is worth remembering though. :-(

They're pretty cute actually. And if I — notoriously edgy around bugs'n'things — could get into contests as to 'who could find the most' from the age of five onwards, then they obviously have their merits. :-)

Well, I'll say one thing. Ballerinas have much bigger breasts in the future. Obviously, the whole starving-oneself-for-one's-art thing isn't going to help you fight this sort of cyber-battle.

Inscrutable, isn't she? :-)

You're probably aware then, that these harmless bugs are the least of your problems in Australia [sorry!].

We have a multi-region player, the better to jump between UK, US and Australian DVDs [all different regions]. Couldn't live without it.

Yep. My dogs love'em. That said, depends on where they're from. If they've come in contact with pesticides, obvs they're not going to be very good for you. But 'in the wild', they're fine to eat. You wouldn't want to live on them, but yes, they're edible.

Oh you lucky lucky people. Cicada chirruping = soundtrack of my youth. We used to collect them! And collect their shells! We used to compete as to the 'best' colours [there are over 200 different types in Australia] and they all had nicknames, a few being:

Your two-year-old is still acquiring very basic speech and can understand more than she can accurately express. But because she's still in that learning phase, she may not fully understand that she's lying by answering, 'No!' to the dirty diaper question. Instead of answering your question, she may be responding to…

He didn't do every night, but luckily we were there for when he hit Indigo nightclub and played up a storm. As good as — but different from — the main gig. And totally worth the ruched eye bags/exhausted body the following day.

Right up there in my Top Three, certainly.

Isn't he though? I saw him at the O2 in London and he was ... compact at best. Played a mean acoustic version of 'Little Red Corvette' though.

Thank you. Thank you from the bottom of the spot where my heart should be. *Dashes off to dig up old Blake's 7 DVDs for some eye candy*

Ohhhhh yes indeedy. Heavily populated my dreams and more. *Whispers* Still does, on occasion. ;-)

What's on his face? I use something like that to steam momo.

Thanks for the recommend.

*Bangs head on table* I want to read it now! I needed a new read. Sigh!