jmgoyder

wings and things

Rooster rage 1

Take a good look at this gorgeous rooster (named Tina Turner for obvious reasons) because you may not see him again.

Why? Well, quite simply, I have fallen out of love with him.

Why? Because he attacked my left leg the other day (the same leg attached to the twisted ankle) with such ferocity that he drew blood in five areas above and below my knee.

Ming had a friend visiting and, as I limped back to the house, I showed this friend my blood-stained jeans and he was very sympathetic (not).

Okay, so for the next few days these puncture wounds got bigger and infected and I could hardly walk and I had to get antibiotics. The worse it got, the more determined I became to outwit my foe.

Keep tuned for the next enthralling episode.

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Floundering

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Sigh

Bubble: I miss the emus.

Seli: So do I.

Woodroffe: So do I.

Angelina: So do I.

King: So do I.

Okami: So do I.

Pearly: So do I.

Malay: So do I.

Phoenix 1: So do I.

Ming: Well I DON’T!

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Greener pastures

Yesterday I made a snap decision and gave the emus away to neighbours who run a farmstay up in the hills north of here – not very far away. The Emerys will now be able to run around more freely instead of being penned in and taken for ‘walks’. I am going to miss them so much!

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Bulldog

One of my blog friends has the interesting nickname of ‘bulldog’. You can find his blog here:

http://visitstothepark.wordpress.com/

Recently, he sent me a special photograph and I am now sharing it here because it reminds me of how an argument can clear the air.

Thanks bulldog!

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Duck dynamics 2

Zaruma: Julie, I spoke to Tapper and she was quite defensive and just said she felt so sorry for Daffy after he lost Dotty. Apparently, Daffy thought Dotty was just laying eggs somewhere but it’s been too long now, so he has accepted that the fox got her, but he is grief-stricken.

Me: I know, Zaruma, and it is great to see that you’ve developed a bit of empathy.

Zaruma: I just miss those frolicking, rollicking days before Tapper changed. I concede that I feel sorry for Daffy – yes – but I do have a solution if you are willing to listen, Julie.

Me: Okay, I’m listening.

Zaruma: Just cook Daffy for dinner.

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Duck dynamics 1

Me: What’s wrong, Zaruma? Why are you hiding?

Zaruma: I’m not hiding, Julie, I just need to be alone for awhile to think things through.

Me: Well come out and socialize soon please. I don’t like to see you like this.

Zaruma: I’m a bit sad – very sad actually – about Tapper. I thought she was my girlfriend but now she seems to like Daffy. I didn’t know she was a fence-sitter when we first met.

Me: I didn’t either, Zaruma, but according to my research, monogamy is not a requirement in duckdom.

Zaruma: But how can she compare my handsomeness to that daffy Daffy’s? I would really appreciate your honest opinion here, Julie.

Me: Okay, Zaruma, it’s quite possibly due to your lack of hygiene. Clean yourself up and go and have a talk to Tapper, then come back and we’ll discuss it further, okay?

Zaruma: Thanks, Julie. I’ll meet you at the back veranda door at 5pm. I am just warning you that I might have to bite Daffy in the meantime.

Me: You do what you have to do, Zaruma – you were my first duck, so I fully support whatever you think is best.

Zaruma: I’m a drake, Julie, not a duck.

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Spring’s onslaught

It is now the fourth day of Spring here and it hasn’t stopped storming – ferocious rain, wind, and a very frightened sun that tries to peek out of the black sky and then withdraws again. The whole house is rattling with this extraordinary weather and I don’t dare venture out even though it is already after 2pm. I await a lull so that I can go out and tend to the birds.

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Spring has sprung

It’s the first day of Spring over here and I want my heart to gallop with excitement but it won’t cooperate. Yesterday afternoon Ming and I had one of our serious talks. These always resemble the kind of discussion a grandfather might have with a small child (Ming = the grandfather; Julie = the small child).

Now it’s not particularly pleasant to be scolded by your teenage son but after much to-ing and fro-ing of our discussion, Ming finally summarized things by saying, “Mum, I just want you back the way you were. I want us to have fun again, I want you to be happy again.” (This was after he told me my office was an appalling mess).

“Is it Dad or me who is stopping you?” Ming asked.

“It’s Anthony, Ming. I just can’t seem to adjust. Come on, give me a break – he’s only been in the nursing lodge for six months. Give me a chance to breathe my grief!”

“You’ve been doing that for too long already, Mum. Please stop. We have to get this place in order – you have to help me!”

“Oh you’re not going to say that dreadful word again are you?”

“Yes, Mum. Teamwork, teamwork, teamwork!”

“Poo, poo, poo!” I retaliated (Ming loathes that word).

Anyway that was yesterday and now it is today. I just saw a blue wren and I am going to vacuum the inside veranda and it’s raining but sunny and later on I will go see Anthony and I will not cry when I get home again because if I do I will have to suffer another Ming discussion.

It’s the first day of Spring here and my heart has begun to walk again. I hope Ming doesn’t get too much of a shock!

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Why wait?

I have been so excited about my idea for a Christmas present for Ming who has become so musical over the last few years and is now doing his Certificate 4 in music.

So anyway, he started volunteering at a local school called Djidi djidi Aboriginal school a few weeks ago. Coincidentally, he had become a great fan of Xavier Rudd’s music.

So my brilliant idea was to get Ming a didgeridoo for Christmas. I got it today and have hidden it so I can give it to him later this afternoon. Why wait!

Sneak peak:

Oh I love surprises! Ming knows he is getting a present but he has no idea what it is so I said if he helps me feed the birds and put them away, he will then have to sit at our picnic table and close his eyes until I say ‘okay’!

Excitement makes me a bit incoherent – ha!

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