 |
| Jo Jo n Paul |
Jo is the brains of the outfit being both a Uni graduate and successful business manager, while Paul is generally lucky to remember to wear pants ... Both though have a deep love of nature and started Garden Guests in 2008 in an effort to raise awareness of the animals that share what we all often consider to be 'our' environment. While at the same time trying to reduce the hysteria regarding some of their 'guests', [snakes, crocs, spiders etc] that is prevalent in the mainstream media.
Jo originally emigrated to N.Z from the U.K where she met Paul and together they moved to Tropical North Australia - Jo deserves credit for many of the fantastic pics on this blog - she deserves more credit for not smothering Paul in his sleep ...
Jo is also able to build snake cages and parrot perches, make amazing chutney, [just ask her neighbours] and capture incredible images on film she has also been known to rescue animals that go on to rule both of their lives.
In Paul's own words Jo is - 'the very, very best thing that ever happened too me that I probably don't deserve but I'm keeping that quiet' ...
Paul has worked in a multiplicity of industries and even the odd profession but blatantly denies having anything akin to a skill set and becomes vague and incoherent when threatened with responsibility. If he can't be found peeking under rocks, wading through swamps or rifling through leaf litter - there's an excellent chance he'll be having a beer and pouring over a book on wildlife... [though he claims he can't read and just enjoys the pictures]. Despite this, he is a loyal and kind hearted sort of bloke which may have been why Jo married him in 2011 [but we suspect it was more likely because the begging and pleading was getting on her nerves].
He has always been fascinated by nature and on one memorable occasion as a toddler, hopped down from the dinner table walked over to a fly that was trapped on the inside of the window and promptly ate it - much to the stomach churning horror of his family. When asked why he did this, he carefully pointed out that he had seen a frog do the same thing and felt that was sufficient reason to emulate the behaviour ['Planet of the Apes' was henceforth banned from the tele].
Garden Guests has undergone a few face-lifts since it's inception and for the most part this happens when Paul has nothing better to do - still, it keeps him away from the kitchen and we can all be grateful for that.
He is currently working on a contact page, which if true to form probably won't work - and you'll end up emailing someone in the defence department and getting arrested ...
At the end of the day Garden Guests isn't a 'science' blog, it's a record of the wildlife many of us share our homes and gardens with - albeit, unknowingly. And a journal of some of the remarkable creatures found on their travels. So the authors try not to get too anal about identification or rabid about the referencing of sources [usually a link will be provided if one is needed]. But for the most part a smattering of general knowledge and the odd guess are the order of the day...
The final word on the character of this blogs authors should go to the WWF:
 |
| Jo's inner animal |
 |
| Paul's inner animal |
If you'd like to find your 'inner animal' - head here:
WWF Inner Animal Quiz
"We hope you enjoy your visit to our little blog and find something of interest - oh, and thanks to everyone who comments, we appreciate you taking the time".
Paul and Jo :)
