When I climbed out of the car the day we arrived back from Pulau Tiga, it was to the sound of a desperate scrabbling – rather like the noise made by one of the those TV lotto draw thingys with all the balls inside being spun.

So nosey me had to investigate. Of course.

And paid dearly. Just as I was ascertaining the cause – a huge monitor lizard unable to climb out of the empty rubbish skip – I slipped on the wet and mould-slimy pavement and pulled ligaments in my foot. Ouch. And tomorrow I leave for a twelve day expedition to Tawau Hills Park and Sebatek Island (a border island, half Indonesian). I am supposed to be surveying the avifauna of a mountain, which activity entails climbing the blessed mountain first…. Double ouch.

Anyway, I am off tomorrow, so if I don’t post for a while, you know why. I shall be leaving up a nice meaty subject for you to talk about though, so do chat to one another while I am gone.

Which reminds me. I started this blog a year back. And I want to say thanks to all of you, especially all you quiet lurkers who faithfully and quietly drop by. You are the reason I write. Love y’all.

Photo: sunset, Pulau Tiga. All these latest island photos were taken by my sister, Margaret.