Sunday, January 11, 2009

Hop To It

Mate, There's A Kangaroo On Ya Runway

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON


As most of you would know, we've been away on the west coast for a family wedding - which is why I haven't been able to visit your blogs and collate the normal Post Of The Day nominations. But we're back home at Casa Authorblog now and life is (slowly) returning to normal.

This shot was taken as our flight was about to leave Perth airport. As usual I was craning my neck to look for interesting sights when I spotted this other Boeing 767 through a window. You can guess what happened next.

Yes, I had to jump up, get my camera out of the overhead locker and take this shot, specifically for Camera Critters. Mrs Authorblog, she just pretended she didn't know who I was.

The flying kangaroo, as the recognisable Qantas symbol is called, simply had to be photographed for this post. So there I was, in an aisle seat, twisting and contorting myself so that I could shoot this just to the side of Mrs Authorblog's stunningly beautiful profile as she sat in the window seat.

By the way, here is a trivia question for all of you. The term for a baby kangaroo is exactly the same as a character from Friends. Do you know what it is? If you don't, scroll to the very end of this post for the answer ....


Check out the rules at Camera Critters or go to Misty Dawn.

ANSWER: A baby roo is called a joey. (Sorry, Ross and Chandler.)

42 comments:

Anonymous said...

Very clever take on the theme! And the answer is: Joey :-)

janet copenhaver said...

Well I didn't know the answer but it was easy to guess.

Thanks for coming by my blog and actually leaving a comment. Heading back to read a bit more of your blog.

Smalltown RN said...

now that is very creative for the theme...I like it very much...and no I didn't know that answer...so again I learnt something new...

Alyson | New England Living said...

Love the vibrant colors of these shots.

Reader Wil said...

Ah Qantas! BTW I had a post about kangaroos and wallabies two or three weeks ago.

Carin said...

Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving such a nice comment.

Like the way you write about taking that picture of that other Boeing 767. It brings vividly before me how it must have looked. LOL

Sandi McBride said...

Why a Joey of course! I've always wanted to see one up close and personal, but my pal Julie tells me I don't really! We're all so glad to have you back. Hugs to Mrs. Authorblog and and the bloglets...specially the returning world traveling bloglet!
Sandi
ps
tell her when she's ready to take the American tour, she's got a friend (and a room).

Grammy said...

How cute so was it a bouncy ride on the kangaroo flight. lol Just kidding. Hope you had a great time.

Lee said...

Great theme for this post, David! I love the red and the simplicity of the Qantas symbol. It's clear and striking. The way it angles with tail in the air to fit the tail of the plane is great graphic design. Is that a usual stance for a roo? Even the popular Crocodile Dundee movies only showed them in the dark, so you didn't get a good view of the real creature. Would love to see a video of them in action.

Cheers!

tammy said...

Love the shots!!!

Don't worry, my mister often looks the other way while I am simply being myself. It's most definitely a marriage thing!

I'm looking forward to visitng more often.

Maggie May said...

Yes, I knew it was a joey!

You just had to take up that opportunity to snap the Quantas logo, you really had to and it didn't matter about causing a disturbance on the plane while you got the camera. I am very surprised you even put it in the locker as I am sure there must have been plenty to snap!
I would have done the same. It is a virus I think. Caught it from somewhere.

i beati said...

excellent catch - always loved that look.Sandy

angie {the arthur clan} said...

I just love stopping by here to see your creative submissions. Fantastic photos!

~Angie
www.thearthurclanphotos.blogspot.com

Gypsy at heart said...

Aaahhhh...the QANTAS symbol....reminder of many happy flights and some very happy years spent "down under."
Of course, I knew the "joey" riddle. One of our favorite places to visit was a wildlife area where the kangaroos, cockatoos, galahs, wombats, etc., were up close and personal.
Thanks for the memories.....

Unknown said...

Very clever! And the photos are so gorgeous - crisp and clear.

Tessa said...

The white, the red, the silver against an azure blue. Perfection.

maryt/theteach said...

I knew it was a joey, David! Never been to the western side of Australia but I know people who live there... Thank you for the great pic! :)

Carolina said...

Hello, I was pleasantly surprised to read your comment on my photo's (or is it pictures?). Thanks very much. Thought that nobody but a few friends visited my blog. Anyway, you can imagine that my day could not get any better when I found out that you are a professional photographer and writer. Wow! I am regretting that I never thought of writing my blog in English (or at least something that resembles English ;-) )
Thanks again for taking the trouble to leave a comment. Your blog looks very interesting, I am going back to it now to read a bit more.

Bye

Dianne said...

I'm betting a baby kangaroo is a lot smarter than "joey" was ;)

love the shots

Cecelia---Sis---Mom said...

One of my favorite critters, kangaroos. Great photos.

Cece

judi/Gmj said...

Cool beans!

TheQueen@TerrorsInTiaras said...

This line just cracked me up: "Mrs Authorblog, she just pretended she didn't know who I was." Oh, how many times has my husband done that to me, and I to him? Funny.
I liked your take on the critter theme. Nice photo, even at the expense of Mrs. Authorblog.

Mimi said...

Ha, great take on our theme. I remember Quantas commercials here in the states featured a koala called Riki.

Really to watch American TV, Australia is all about, roos, koala's & "shrimp on the barbie"!

Unknown said...

Yes... I have the same reaction when I see the Koru symbol on a plane :-)

And I knew it was a 'joey; having grown up across the ditch :-)

The Muse said...

I'm so proud...I guessed "wisely" !

Leslie said...

Oh I loved that picture David - glad I had put down my cappuccino before I saw it. Gees it made me laugh.

Memories of Mackay airport, as a teenager - and wallabies grazing on the runway.

Louise said...

Why was your camera in the overhead compartment?????

Anonymous said...

cute spin on the critter!

Gemma Wiseman said...

There is such a homey feel about that Qantas symbol! I remember when I was in Los Angeles airport and saw that symbol lined up with the myriad other aircraft there. Suddenly I felt OK and less like an alien!

Claire MW said...

Thanks for visiting my blog today, and leaving a comment! I'd love to see those merino sheep, not to mention the kangaroos. Really, I have always wanted to see a platypus, but I hear they are very elusive.

Now, if I could just get over that infernal fear of flying that I have, maybe I'd make it over. It's bad enough for me to head over to Europe. I can't imagine the drugs I'd need to keep me calm enough to make it to Australia.

Must go read the rules on this critter thing...I have many critters...

Jane Hards Photography said...

Roo did it again. Joey of course cute but dumb. Aren't
Qantas and BA merging.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful pictures on every corner of your blog. Loved the words: "Mrs. Authorblog." Very creative!

Thank you for stopping by my blog today. I would love to hear from you.

All my best,

L.T. Elliot

Unknown said...

Cool shot David!

SaraG said...

Great photo and post!!
Take care and enjoy the rest of your weekend

Leslie said...

Crikey mate, that was a while ago.

The airport with the wallabies was when I was 13, and I was there on a visit.

But I lived in Mackay for a whole year, and did Grade 12 there. Ok - will make it a blog project and will go get out the old photo album and see if there are any pics. :)

Hccm said...

Joey...lol

Swarna said...

Good one!

Merisi said...

Joey,
are you leaving with your mamma?
Pleeease say it ain't so!

Happy Sunday, David!

Akelamalu said...

I saw real live joeys when we visited Featherdale Park just outside Sydney! That's a great shot David, I can't understand why Mrs Authorblog would disown you! ;)

Chuck Pefley said...

Pooh, Tiger, Piglet and Christopher's friend Roo of course :) Owl, on the other hand, is much to learned and refined to refer to the young marsupial by other than his full title of Kangaroo :)

And I have to inquire as well ... why indeed was your camera in the overhead?

Misty DawnS said...

Mrs. Authorblog must be constantly entertained ;-) Camera-Critters is honored that you take photos specifically for the meme.

And, yes, I knew the answer without you telling me.

katherine. said...

sorry Ross and Chandler....

(rolling my eyes)