So now the VS is out of the Tropics and well into southern latitudes. We are not in the cyclone belt (Brisbane is), there are no more crocodiles, nor deadly jellyfish, nor the world’s deadliest snake, nor the world’s deadliest octopus. But this being Australia of course we can’t relax:

 

 

 

This sign is no joke. Sharks have been tracker tagged for research which reveals that they go everywhere in the Harbour. The bathing beaches in the Harbour have shark nets to protect them and two people have been attacked locally since we got here. One surfer lost both hands while a girl lost a large chunk of her calf to a 1m (!!) shark while paddling. We have been strongly advised against entering the water to do boat work – advice we are heeding.

Actually, more people are killed by lightening each year in Australia than by sharks – and to underline that point there were two fatalities in Sydney last week, one a young lad on a beach which just goes to show you’re not safe anywhere. We have had three spectacular lightening storms here in two weeks but it’s still much more dangerous crossing the street, of course.