Firetop

After dinner this evening my wife and I made the short drive up Box Hill for a walk on the National Trust maintained network of public footpaths. I took my camera as I was expecting some nice sunset photographs… and I also took my Australian bullroarer. You’re probably wondering what a bullroarer is… it’s an Aboriginal painted piece of timber on a string - made famous by Mick Dundee in Crocodile Dundee 2 to ‘make a telephone call’. When swung it makes a loud roaring noise, which the Aborigines used as a sign for women and children to keep away from their secret ceremonies. Just for the crack I’d see whether the one I bought in Western Australia would freak anybody out on Box Hill or down in the valley (if the noise would travel far enough). Unfortunately as you can see from the short bullroarer video footage - all did not go to plan (and yes, I AM mad)

As well as being good for walks and photographic opportunities, Box Hill used to be great for DXing on the CB Radio, taking the car up there and seeing how far away one could communicate (with burner assistance of course). My CB is all packed away at the moment so I didn’t force Suzie_Q to put up with even more Box Hill madness. We did discover that madness and Box Hill go together historically though; buried on the south side of the hill is ‘Major Peter Labelliere, Aged 75.’ I liked his gravestone engraving: ‘An Eccentric Resident of Dorking was buried here head downwards. 11th July 1800′. Yes that’s right - buried standing on his head two hundred years ago… hope my bull roaring didn’t disturb him.

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