Saturday, August 27, 2011

New love

I have noticed over the last few weeks, especially since Chris and I got back from Cairns, that my Big Boy 3 (BB3)  family have disappeared from my feeding zone.

At first I was a bit upset - why did they go?  What happened to them? But this morning the penny dropped!  Duh! They are teenagers, young adults, searching for a mate and a good time - maybe even love!  How romantic!


All of our birdlife here has gone quiet, except for those who have already perhaps found their life partner. That's nice.  But it hasn't stopped me from thinking and wondering about them. They were an amazing assortment of birds to watch, (for someone who really isn't a bird-watcher) but I loved their antics and their behavioural patterns. 

I look forward to seeing their off-spring if we are still here.

I found this interesting link to the English view of magpies--worth a read.  Obviously they have not met my birds, and the entire Big Boy clan which has been here over the years - what lovely birds, and always showing direct eye contact, and almost the need to learn to speak--BB3 and I had been working on that--anyway, see this link and make up your own minds:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1369614/The-picture-21-birds-tree-proves-magpie-population-control.html

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

I'm back!



Chris and I have been in Cairns looking for a possible new home up there.  We looked at some amazing houses and properties, and in one day looked with various agents at 7 properties---we were exhausted by that night.  But it was all worth it.

We spent about 4 days just meeting agents and viewing potential properties.  It has been a confusing and tiring experience.  Each property in certain ways had so much to offer, and we had to measure each property on whether it offered exactly what we required.  It was a very tough call, but in the end, I think we have found the ideal home.  Only time will tell.  We have to settle our property here first, and have inspections made in Cairns, so there is still a lot of work to be done.  But it is exciting.  A new start.  A new life.

There is so much about Cairns that we both really like, the climate (very similar I would think to Honolulu, Hawaii), and the colour of the area--very green and blue with cane sugar and rainforests thrown in.

But what really struck me this last time was the people.  I had such a good time with everyone I met.  There are just so many really honest, down to earth people, who like us, just like life, and like living the life they have.  I really appreciated being surrounded by that.  It is infectious you know.  Like laughter. There should be more of it! 

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Great mates

After Chris found out that I wrote about Seamus, (apparently fairly accurately!) he told me another story, which is very believable and understandable.  But first, I have to explain....

I have come to believe, after living with my 'boys' Jock and Strap for all of these years, that whatever the surprise is that they have for us, we just love them for it!  My boys never fail to amaze me on how well they understand what we are saying.  When either Chris or I speak to them, and if they could actually master our language, they would use it proficiently.

Typical example: 

Strap sees  me opening the back door and more or less says:  "You're here!  Your arms are empty! You're not carrying any bags of stuff, and you said 'Hello, Strappy', ....that means you want to play with me!"

"Sorry.  Not now Strappy, I have to go somewhere, but you can walk with me until I get to the car shed?", I say as I head that way.  Walking in that direction, we pass Jock who is asleep on the lawn and then he rouses.

Jock:  "Did someone mention  food or cuddles?"

Strap and I looking distractedly at him "No!", we both reply, with a knowing twinkle in Strap's eye, as he knows that on my return, I will give my boys their favourite treat....

(As an aside, we got caught out the other day.  I was at the door giving the boys their favourite Lucky Bone treat, telling them to keep it on the low, when I noticed a presence behind me.  Chris was standing right behind watching the whole thing!  Drat!  Caught out!  But the boys were cool about it, they still kept their backs turned, ignoring any Chris presence after getting their treat, and ate them greedily, with their backs turned to the door the whole time - sort of like ...what you can't see us doing, you can't blame us for! )

Anyway, to make a short story even longer, back to my original point --

Chris and Seamus.

Chris told me that at times he would sit quietly on the back step of his house in Canberra, out in the sun, and just think about life, and Seamus would come along, and sit next to him.  Seamus would put his head on Chris' right shoulder, fitting his head in close proximity to Chris', and then would place his left front leg and paw on Chris' left shoulder and just sit with him.  Two boys, sitting, thinking, and hanging out together.

I like that image of them in my head--two mates just taking some quiet time together........



An Irish Red Setter, deep in thought.