Scorpions

Hi folks,

Well, I'm heading into my final week, and I'm going to be so sad leaving my lovely casita. I've been so happy here over the months, and it's better, rather than worse, for all the drama.

The pic of the week is a scary view of my latest scorpion, who gave me another nasty sting.

Hidden Scorpion
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The other day I was getting ready to go out for my walk. I finish working about 5 or 5.15, and with sunset now at around 5.40 I'm always in a bit of a dash. I grabbed my bag, lifted it up and put it on the bed. I put in stuff like my book, my camera (just in case the sunset is particularly spectacular), my little iPod thing. When I was ready I grabbed up the bag to put it over my shoulder.

As soon as I touched it, I immediately felt the sting. This time I was awake and alert, so I knew what was happening. It takes about 10 seconds for the full force of the sting to hit you. I was over at the sink to run cold water on it. Unfortunately, at that time of the day there is no cold water, it's warm. It was on the index finger of my right hand, and more painful in a concentrated area like a finger, rather than my leg.

I still hadn't seen the scorpion, but I knew the sting by now. I got the spray, went back, and moved the bag a bit, and sure enough there he was. Lurking right at the back.

I tossed the bag so it went on the floor. He still clung on. I sprayed the bag. Then I saw him move out onto the floor. He didn't seem to be reacting to the spray. I sprayed again. He went into convulsions, writhing around lashing around with his tail. After just a few seconds he stopped. I sprayed again to be sure.

I left him there, but when I came back, put him onto a sheet of paper, and took the pic you see above.

Quad bike
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I collected the quad on Wednesday. I want to be able to explore the area a bit more than I've been able to do on foot. Given the state of the roads, I've only been able to explore the beach really.

It was really nerve wracking when I started driving it first. If anything, the state of the roads seems worse on it. Going into the huge potholes full of muddy waters unsure if there are any rocks or stones out of sight is difficult. And when I tried to skirt the edges I was leaning at an angle that made me feel it would overturn.

I'm getting used to it now, and I was able to drive all the way to the end of Mal País yesterday. It gave a wonderful feeling of freedom. But the concentration on these roads, particularly driving back in the dark, is immense.

Thunderstorm
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Thunderstorms are not unusual here, and we normally get a few a week. The one on Tuesday night was the closest yet. The noise was deafening and I would literally jump as it hit. At one stage I went to the door with my camera to take a video clip. One of those instantaneous strikes happened when it was so close that the light and sound are together - the only time I've heard something louder than the tree falling - that I jumped in shock, and then afterwards my hand was shaking. You can see the jump and shaking hands in the video.

The Travelling McDonaghs
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My family are truly on the move at this stage. My sister is teaching in Seoul, South Korea since March, and on Wednesday my mother (who's a Brady!) moved to Nigera, to volunteer for three months. As I travel around between now and Christmas we'll have fun trying to keep in touch. Sharon and Enda are still maintaining a token family presence on the auld sod.
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Well, that's it for this week. Next week is my last. I'll be throwing out everything I possess during the week in an attempt to travel light!

Until next week,

Chau,

Éamon

Today's Headline in La Nación: Waste makes absurd journey to arrive at landfill