Jan 20, 2010: Retriever

[sandypossum]

Yarragon, where Bronson & co live, is not far from us. We have copperheads and tiger snakes on our property too. We've been planning to train our new labradoodle pup not to approach them, but haven't got round to it. This is reminds me that we should do it sooner rather than later.

Our snake rule is: if they're in the paddocks or by the dam, they can stay. If they come into the garden - and especially near the house - they're dinner. No, really, dinner! Last summer we killed a big copperhead on our veranda. We peeled him and cured the skin. And then when he was nekkid, my other half said we may as well eat him. So we marinaded it and fried it up... mmmmmmistake! Tastes like chicken, but with the consistency of bicycle tyre. He was showing photos of it to his colleagues that week (he's a "new Australian" so this was his first big snake encounter) and the Chinese and Vietnamese colleagues almost pissed themselves laughing at the way we cooked it. They said snake has to be chopped up small and stewed. We now have a waiting list for the next snake dinner (Chinese, Vietnamese and British/West Indian). Strictly speaking, all snakes are protected in Australia, so this is the only way for them to eat snake. (Okay, take it away Sheldon!)