Odd friendships (Emery 2 and Baby Turkey)
Intimidating friendships (Bubble 1 and Uluru)
Alliance friendships (Tapper and one of the guinneas)
Fashion friendships (Tina Turner and Phoenix 1)
Uneasy friendships (Queenie and Phoenix 1)
Terrifying friendships (Doc with the two Bubbles)
Supervised friendships (The Bubbles, Baby Turkey and Jack)
Childhood friendships (Zaruma 1 and Bubble 1)
Avocado tree friendships (Phoenix 1 and King)
FUNNY INCIDENT 1
Anthony and I just had a nostalgic talk on the phone about the Captain Stirling hotel (where he thought he was last night). He remembers vividly his delusional episode which I find rather remarkable. I remind him of our stay there when I was heavily pregnant.
Me: You took me to the cheapest hotel in Perth, with a room that didn’t even have a bathroom so I had get up and go to a communal bathroom a million times during the night because of being pregnant and needing to use the loo. Your were such a tightarse!
Anthony: I thought it was quite romantic.
Me: You really ARE deluded!
Anthony: Remember bumping into Ed in the bar? [distant relation around Anthony’s age]
Me: How could I forget that! Remember how we didn’t understand why the bar was so crowded with middle-aged women?
Anthony: And Ed told us is was ‘Grab a granny night’!
Me: It was appalling! So why did you think you were there last night?
Anthony: Because it looked exactly like the Captain Stirling.
Me: So you’re okay today?
Anthony: Yes, I’m not there today.
Me: Where – at the Captain Stirling?
Anthony: Yes, I’m back here.
Me: Okay, I’ll be in later – I love you.
Anthony: [mumbles incoherently – this is happening a lot now]
Me: I can’t hear you – what did you say?
Anthony: I love you.
Me: Well it’s about time you said that!
Anthony: I couldn’t remember the words.
You gotta laugh!
FUNNY INCIDENT 2:
Ming and I have the usual mother and son conflicts and after a particularly horrible argument, which Ming later insisted on analysing every nuance of until we were reconciled (rather exhausting), we had this conversation-
Ming: Mum, I don’t want to see any of my friends for awhile.
Me: Why? What’s wrong?
Ming: Nothing. It’s just that I want to work on repairing our relationship.
Me: You really are unique, kid!
Ming: I try.
We both laugh!
FUNNY INCIDENT 3
Adolescent peacock 1 [we have too many for me to name them!]: Is Julie watching?
Adolescent peacock 2: She’s trying to take pictures you idiot! Turn around.
White adolescent peacock: I think I’ll leave you guys to it.
Angelina: Those two peacocks are getting very cocky aren’t they, Malay.
Malay: Hey, watch your language!
Tina Turner: Don’t worry, New Kid, around here this is considered normal behaviour.
New Kid: How do they do that feather thing?
Tina Turner: I don’t know and I don’t care!
Phoenix 1: Their need to flaunt themselves deeply saddens me. It’s a sign of the times. I prefer to let my beauty speak for itself.
Adolescent peacock 2: I told you to turn around. Do you think Julie wants a picture of your bum?
Adolescent peacock 1: I can’t turn around because you’re in the way. I’ll try again tomorrow – I’m exhausted.
New Kid: I’m having a bit of trouble adjusting to this place, Malay.
Malay: Don’t worry, New Kid, I was born here and I’ll look after you.
I love peacocks,
and peahens!
15 is a good number to own!
A pianist in our paddock (yes, I know I posted this photo previously but for some reason the comments went off automatically).
Last beautiful picture of Anthony with Doc (who died several weeks ago). Jack in the forefront, who I have re-named ‘Jumping Jack’ because he jumps like a kangaroo, will outlive all of us I think!
How to make a Harley Davidson motorbike cake ….
My good friend, the madcakelady herself, on the left, and me.
A son, sitting on the best surprise Christmas present ever! (Anthony is in the background).
Anthony’s pride and joy, the Aga – the hub of this house.
A scoliosis surgery success story.
Love.
Angelina: It’s a bird blog primarily, of course, but Julie keeps going off topic.
Queenie: I’ve noticed that. She keeps blogging about silly old men!
King: Like me?
Queenie: Darling, never – your tail feathers will grow back soon!
Baby Turkey: I have now held this pose for several hours but Julie still hasn’t noticed!
Diamond: Me too.
Guinneas: I’m sure she’ll get back on topic soon. We always do.
Phoenix 1: She hasn’t taken much notice of me lately either, which is a bit hurtful.
Godfrey: I suggest we all start biting her. Watch and learn.
Emery 2: Noooooooooooooo!
Tina Turner: Yes – Godfrey is right!
Today has been eventful.
A lovely place has been found for Arthur (see previous post) and he will be leaving in a day or so. Ming (Son) has told him the hut is no longer safe and we have to have it inspected for wiring (which we do).
One of the guinnea fowl was cowering in the corner of the emus’ lean-to, so Ming helped her get out. I think she wants somewhere safe to lay eggs, so here we go again!
Ming and I went out for lunch despite suffering from gastro. We had to go because it was a promise we made yesterday when we had our long discussion. I had chilli prawns and now feel amazingly better!
Anthony got angry on the phone this morning (first time ever) and said he was hurt (first time ever) that he couldn’t come home for the night so I have arranged to pick him up for the day tomorrow. His uncharacteristic upsetness has cast a shadow on today, but tomorrow will be better.
I have nearly caught up with the washing and folding of clothes.
Ming is a happy chappy.
I am too but I seem to have this spare water balloon full of tears that keeps landing in front of me, making me afraid to smile, or take the next step.
Ming said he read the post about him on Facebook and hated it but then he grinned.
One of my two PhD students has finished and submitted his thesis.
Anthony just asked me on the phone (I ring him several times a day when I can’t get in to see him) if I still loved him and I said yes.
During lunch, Ming said we were not to talk about Anthony so we didn’t.
The ute is making a funny sound.
I had a dream last night that I was having an argument with someone and a hippopotamus squashed her.
The main car’s side mirrors are smashed and I still haven’t rung the insurance company.
Nearly all of the young peacocks now have long feathers.
Wild galahs and 28s are everywhere.
There is a rat in the washhouse which only Ming has seen, so I need his company to do the washing.
I have a mother who is a best friend.
The electricity has not gone off now for a couple of days.
I have resigned from my job at the university.
I will never, ever wish for a different life.
I will never, ever wish for a better life.
This is a better life – this is the best life.
Anthony (Husband): Would you mind putting the car away, Jules?
Son: Put the %$#@*^#@** car away, Mum – the peacocks are pooping all over it AGAIN – aaaarrrrrggggggghhhhhhhhhhh!
Me: They’re sweet aren’t they!
King is our only adult peacock (not counting Queenie, his wife, who is a peahen) and, as some of you may recall, he moulted his magnificent tail feathers some time ago and is only now gradually growing them back. Until that happens, he prefers me to just take head shots. This photo is of him looking at himself longingly in the back veranda window reflection, wondering when he will get those feathers back!
And the following photo is of him flaunting himself (a few months ago) in a winning competition with our adolescent white peacock.
Unfortunately for King, the white peacock’s tail feathers are growing faster (perhaps because these will be his first?) This is him now.
I can’t wait to take a photo of this guy doing his display thing! It won’t be long….
jmgoyder 