On 12/2/09 22:22, in article , "Yuri"
wrote:

snip

It was April and the Aboriginals in a remote part of
Northern Australia asked their new elder if the coming winter was
going to be cold or mild.


Since he was an elder in a modern community he had never
been taught the old secrets. When he looked at the sky he couldn't tell
what the winter was going to be like. Nevertheless, to be on the safe
side, he told his tribe that the winter was indeed going to be cold and
that the members of the tribe should collect firewood to be prepared.

But being a practical leader, after several days he had an
idea.

He walked out to the telephone booth on the highway, called
the Bureau of Meteorology and asked, 'Is the coming winter in this area
going to be cold?'

The meteorologist responded, 'It looks like this winter is
going to be quite cold.'

So the elder went back to his people and told them to
collect even more wood in order to be prepared.

A week later he called the Bureau of Meteorology again.
'Does it still look like it is going to be a very cold winter?'

The meteorologist again replied, 'Yes, it's going to be a
very cold winter.'

The elder again went back to his community and ordered them
to collect every scrap of firewood they could find.

Two weeks later the elder called the Bureau again. 'Are you
absolutely sure that the winter is going to be very cold?' he asked.

'Absolutely,' the man replied. 'It's looking more and more
like it is going to be one of the coldest winters ever.'

'How can you be so sure?' the elder asked.

The weatherman replied, 'Our satellites have reported that
the Aboriginals in the north are collecting firewood like crazy, and
that's always a sure sign.'

Oh my goodness, that is perfection. Another one for the file!
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
Perennials & shrubs online