Not to be beaten, I returned to my Japanese Origami book (all instructions and nomenclature are in Jap) to try to learn conventions and symbology on a simpler model, given how the centaur yesterday turned out I figured I should start simpler:

I like this model – a Japanese figurative Koala (probably folded from an idea, not by someone who has ever seen one) – the tummy is full, it has a “stoned” expression on it’s face and it’s posture is satisfying.

I had never seen koalas in the wild (except for far off blobs someone else tried to convince me was actually a koala and not a dead branch) until Jo and I traveled to Cape Otway in January 2011 – to see them in such great numbers, clambering skillfully in trees, close enough to touch was a rare privilege (and a secret safe because no one is following this blog:P )