Bertie

Bertie Chirpington came to stay,
On a feathery, fluttering,
Valentines day.

I said, "you're the prettiest thing I know"
He said, "I'd really rather go"
I said, "You're just a baby, so very sweet,
here's a finger on which to perch your feet",

He stretched his wings and flapped away.
Surely he'll return my love some day?

Speaking softly I stroked his breast,
He said "I miss my mothers nest".

They said "He's happy in his cage"
He twisted up and squawked with rage!
I said "It's far too little for his needs".
Then fed him up with honeyd seeds.

"We'll get plenty of money,
and buy a big aviary"
I promised my darling blue boy.

And so it started, my epic search,
For the ultimate Budgie perch.

I flapped and tweeted,
On facebook I bleeted,
Eventually I found it!
A home for his harmony.
Flat packed and bubble wrapped
and flown in,
from Germany.

Bertington Chirpy,
My blue flapping birdy,
I love your exoticness.
As you call to the wild birds,
from an open window,
I'm reminded of your restlessness.

If I let you out
would you flap about
With terror and surprise?

Or dance a feathered tango,
In a butterfly rainbow,
Bringing joy to my eyes.

Chirping all night long,
Your happy Budgie song.
Flying home in dewy hours,
With cherry blossom flowers;
Coo,cooing your dovey love song,
Just for me.

In my crowded little cage,
Of dust and anxiety.

Bertie Chirpington

It's been a while since I last wrote, and there is a good reason for this.

His name is Bertie Chirpington, he has very pretty violet blue feathers, bright black eyes and a very cute manner, he likes fraying string and wearing his little silver bell as a hat.
He also squawks loudly if he feels ignored (or for any other reason) and has an unhealthy attraction to Felix our cat.

Almost ten years since remarking to my husband on our honeymoon about a display of caged tropical birds, in a park, "poor things, I can't bear to see birds in cages" my dearest, thought it would be romantic to buy me a Budgie for valentines day!

Foolishly I fought my desire to say take it back, I don't want to be responsible for caging a bird!

I looked the ball of blue feathers in the eye, and saw how beautiful he was, I noted the make of cage he was in was called a Bertie and thought it was a very apt name for the blue one it contained.

I could see how stupid the whole idea of having a caged bird in our household was, reasons being :

1. Felix intrepid and highly efficient hunter.
2. Open plan house, therefore no where (apart from the conservatory or outside) to put the bird where he will be safe and out of ear range!
3. My sanity, how to paint or write when being squawked at, as well as knowing that I am responsible for having a bird in a cage?
4. We know nothing about budgies.


Therefore I spent the next few weeks researching Budgies and seeking a cage in which he could actually spread his wings and fly! Eventually I bought one, on line,  it was made in Italy and had the right dimensions, but when it arrived, I found that it was too flimsy to withstand feline attack, and I could see no way of assembling it, so I resumed my search. Finally I found a stronger, more attractive one, an indoor aviary, that had approximately the right dimensions (80w x 150cm h) and was made in Germany.

I enlisted the help of my father-in-law to put clear perspex around the base of the cage to protect the bird from Felix, and to put small wheels on the legs so we could wheel him out to the conservatory and back in to his shadier corner of the lounge when it got too hot & vise-versa.

All was going well until Father-in-law returned to complete the job, he hadn't noticed that Bertie's little cage was hanging from a different ceiling beam and promptly walked straight into it, head butting it straight into the coffee table, it ricocheted off and landed upside down on the floor!
Just as I thought " Bertie's dead!"  he flew up and out of the tiny broken cage and headed for the front window, luckily the nets were drawn so he didn't bash into the glass.

After our repeated attempts to catch him, I finally got him when he flopped exhausted onto the sofa side table, I stood with him playing in my hair while Father-in-law completed the new aviary.

Bertie was very happy with his new home! also I realised that Bertie did consider his cage to be his home and not a "cage" he felt safer there, than flying freely around the room, it is after all, what he knows.
But I could see he was lonely, they are flock creatures, so next I had to get him a friend!
Following advise, I bought a turquoise male from a local show budgie breeder. This budgie I've called Sidney (after Sidney James, actor)
He is a big boy, a diva, with long fluffy feathers, very strong claws and beak and a very raucous squawk, ear piercing in fact!
Bertie instantly loved his new friend, and took him on a tour of his new indoor aviary, letting him eat his millet spray first and taking him to the water bowl!
This was my error, the squawking of happy budgies has now reached new decibels!

Birth and Death in one weekend

Saturday, mid January, we visited my maternal Aunt and cousins for the first time,since the birth of my four month old, second cousin.
Mother and daughter are both beautiful and equally lucky to have each other and a very proud father. My cousin is a "mature"  (Yummy) Mummy and nearly died following a Cesarean with complications. I was very relieved to see them both looking so well and happy.
Some people can be negative about mature parent-hood, but I can see how their baby girl will benefit from this-they adore her (we all do)! - How many young people have children they weren't really ready for, and how miserable this makes them all?
This baby will be treasured, respected and loved, and probably break a few hearts, when she's sixteen-Good!

I returned home on a cloud, so, sooooo happy!

Sunday evening, our darling fluffy cat Purrdy, died.
She had been ill for months, but her pain relief drug (metacam) and a "business as usual" outlook, had kept her going far longer than anticipated, by us and the vets.
She developed breathing problems, so despite our plans to call the vet to her for her euthanasia, (it being a Sunday night, none were available for a home visit). We rushed her to the out-of-hours clinic.
The lady vet on duty was wonderful, she sensed my panic and calmed me down, and saw that my husband,(Purrdy's "owner") needed time to agree to her final injection.
Purrdy's death was very easy, very quick and virtually pain free. I hope when I go, it will be that easy.

Meeting my baby second cousin for the first time, the day before, had put my feelings for our cats into perspective. I was able to see them as cats again, not as the surrogate babies I had made them into. Maybe this helped me to cope with Purrdy's death.

Purrdy is buried by her favourite, sunny garden bench, near compost heap and hedge which she used to "stake out" for mice. 
I dreamt about her a few weeks after her death, she was curled up on the pillow next to my head and purring in my ear, it was "just business as usual" for her, bless her!

Purrdy

Soft spreading paws
stomping,
Large and light
as shuttlecocks,
little whirlwind
through our home,
Lovely tabby
hearth rug,
short speedy,
rushing legs.

Huffy fluffy,
perfect pussy.
Bowled us over,
with your special
brand,
of feline affection.
Rushing from dinner,
to a secret convention.
With the mice,
or, the yowly Toms,
Our Bouncer of the
conifer corridor.
Spread belly up
Purring in the sun.

We are your loyal household
You were our
darling Queen,
we loved your wild ways
and wide eyed humour.
The house feels empty now,
despite the youngster's miaow,
you can be called
no more.
Supper is just for one.
You played your part
With perfection.
But now,
your earthly days are done.

Christmas thoughts

It's been an interesting year for me.
I had to overcome my hospital phobia in order to have another laparoscopy which this time made me better, and  renewed my faith in the medical profession. (The last one (in a London hospital) left me with M.E., lost me a well paid job, my home,my garden and boyfriend (you soon discover who your friends are, when you are ill long term))
My eternal thanks to Dr Hamilton and the nurses in the overnight stay ward at the Treatment Centre, and the absolute angels working in the A&E Dept. all in Hinchingbrooke Hospital. I owe them a massive debt of gratitude, They are Brilliant!

This year I took part in the most art exhibitions I have ever done, and held my own solo exhibition. I cannot say it was a huge sell out success, but I learnt a lot. The last exhibition, at Cottenham Village College, was in a very impressive exhibition space, totally gorgeous actually.
I'm now working on a commissioned cat portrait, my favourite subject, a very fluffy black cat with a cute turned up nose called Coco. I took a few nice photos of her before she became more interested in sitting on her "Mum's" lap with her back to me!
When working from photo's you may have to adjust the perspective of the image, so that the head isn't too big if it was nearest, or the body too small if it was furthest from the camera lens. That's what I'm doing now, sketching/ ironing out issues of perspective.

Now that Christmas is over, yippee! (apologies to fans of the Christmas madness thing) I thought it would be good to look forward to the Spring. I love watching the birds at this time of year, being near an RSPB reserve and the fens there are many to watch. Recently I was surprised to see a massive Heron land at the end of our garden. He then just casually strutted 150ft to our cottage, after looking through the Fairy Gateway we installed between gardens (for easy access to all the drunken fairies that live under our apple trees) and, after sussing out that the neighbours pond was empty, took off and flew over our roof tops. I suppose he was heading for the next pond on his (good restaurant guide) list. Amazing wing span!

Anyway here is my poem offering for the forthcoming season, written last year at the same time.


A Spring Sunset

Greasy black birds,
 flying by,
Dip dark wings,
In a liquid gold sky.
Glowing ember clouds
Kiss the sun,
Even as its last rays are done.

Smokey clouds
Roll and curl,
Embracing the gold,
With rain filled desire.
Creating purple and rosy blushes,
On a pale aqua sky,

As the evening chorus begins to cry,
Then Hushes.



Happy New Year!

A Poem about Felix our crazy black and white cat, " A Happy Cat"

I have a daft,

dribbly pussums,

going gooey

on the cat-nip,

he smells of the tiddle,

on the Juniper

in the middle.

But you have to forgive him,

when he's a purring

and a dribbling,

and he head-butts

your hand,

for a fuss

on demand.

Even when your writing,

his pink nose is so inviting,

his soft cuteness,

so delighting.