A long time ago I worked for a software startup. I loved it, but I was hired as a programmer and got shifted to sales. I was ok at selling projects, but it wasn't what I wanted to do and I left.

One time I was presenting to a truck company. He was sort of interested, and starting asking about prices. While I went into the costs his hands slowly crept up and covered his ears, and he started twisting back and forth in his seat, as if he was saying "No" with a stiff neck.

"Hmm", I thought, "Maybe there IS something to Body Language."

Hold that thought.......

Yesterday I was setting up the river pump. I took it in for a service last year and have just got around to putting it back. Its a big pump, capable of drawing water uphill 10 metres, then pumping it over another rise of 10 metres along a length of 200 metres. For it to work properly the head needs to be in the river in a depth of more than a metre. So apart from reconnecting fittings I need to drag the hose end into the river and weigh it down in a clear spot.

Its not far but I drive down, as I often have to go back and forwards to find a tool or plumbing fitting that I should have brought with me.

There's no one around, I just strip down to undies and boots and wade in. Its still pretty fresh in the river...all the snow melt has gone, but not that long ago.

Miraculously it was all done in half an hour. (When I first started here that task took me two months!).

Drive back still wet and underdressed, park the buggy in the shed, get out and roll the massive 4 metre high sliding door shut.

Kobby the Jack Russell had his head under a pallet. We have mice in the shed, Kobby is often pouncing on a mouse. His stalking strategy is to jam his snout as close as he can and snuff and puff, then run around the other side and do the same. Eventually the mouse makes a run for it, and occasionally Kobby catches one.

But this time it was different. He was growling, and darting his head in and out. I know what that different body behaviour is. I shouted at him to come away, and moved towards him to grab him. The snake he had cornered bolted across the floor to the shed wall and Kobby chased. My wife was there, and the two of us were really yelling at him now.

Kobby ran ahead and the snake emerged from the wall between him and me. It turned away from Kobby, towards me and faced up, raising itself almost a metre in the air, hissing.

In a microsecond I thought:
1. An Eastern Brown snake
2. My legs are bare
3. I won't be able to get the door open in time

Kobby attacked from behind and grabbed it in the middle, and gave it the death rattle. This was incredibly stressful to watch: I saw our previous dog do the same thing and die. Kobby dragged it backwards, shaking, but our combined shrieking at him convinced him to let go and back off. The snake was badly wounded and I grabbed a shovel and chopped it.

Bertie lasted 20 seconds after his snake interaction before he collapsed. I ran over to Kobby and checked him out...flecks of blood on him, but not his. 20 seconds ticked by.
No wound, no bite or, say, a sore foot. Unscathed.

No point buying a Lotto ticket this week.....