A trip to the Olympic park and the dreaded paralysing tick.

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Sunday 23rd

Blooming 'eck them mornings are cold. 8 degrees and very chilly. Once that sun comes out the warmth is loverrrly but what to wear first thing???? Long trousers and jumpers only to find one is too hot and have to change into T-shirts and shorts. Things will improve....or so the Aussie weather girl said, so fingers crossed.

Didn't go out that day as Lizzie (eldest niece and bride to be) as well as Jenny (youngest niece and bride to be next March) turned up for a family get together. Our first BBQ in Aussie and very nice it was too. Cooked by Big Brother there was steak, snags (sausages) and kebabs all washed down by copious amounts of wine.

Andre and Sally's pad

L to R Jenny (youngest niece) and her fiancé Mat, Ian, Andre, Lizzie (oldest niece getting married on Saturday) and Sally

 I mentioned in my last post about how unwell Ned had been. Well, yesterday (Monday) Ned still wasn't his usual self and, walking around the Olympic Park, he dragged his heels somewhat. Deciding to drive to another part of the park, Ned managed to get back in the car with a struggle. I was cradling his head when, suddenly, discovered what I thought to be a wart. Wrong!!! It was a tick and one of the most deadliest ticks found here in NSW. It's called a paralysis tick and does exactly what it says on the tin!. 

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Paralysis ticks, Ixodes holocyclus, are found in bush areas that are inhabited by bandicoots, the ticks’ usual host. Ticks commonly reach suburban yards by hitching a ride on native wildlife, or on your pet after a walk in the bush. The parasite bites your dog, burying its head under the skin to feed on blood and inject a neurotoxin. As the poison is absorbed it causes paralysis, as well as affecting the major organs and can cause death if not treated quickly.

Photo from the web

 Foregoing the rest of our tour round the park, it was straight to the vets who confirmed my brother's worst fears. Poor Neddy. He had to be admitted and an antidote given by cannula over a number of hours. Expecting the worst, it was such a relief for us all to get the phone call to come and collect him. Not out of the woods yet but now have high hopes of a speedy recovery. If I hadn't found it well.....the outcome may not have been a good one.

It was a shame not to have seen more of the Olympic park but hopefully, when we come back from our 6 week tour around the southern part of Australia, we will be able to visit again.

One of the stadiums

Every one of those posts has the name of athletes and park volunteers

The Olympic logo

Olympic Cauldron now and...

Taken from the web

At the park,

Noisy Minor

Magpie

Ibis with tags