Have you met Poseidon / Smurfie?

On Saturday night Mo surprised the kids by bringing home yet another pet - a budgie. Initially I was a bit miffed at not having been consulted, but after holding it in my hands, I melted. Feeling its little heart racing with fear, evoked my protective instinct and I couldn't help but try my utmost to make it feel safe and protected. After a few minutes it was nestling cosily in my hand, and while I stroked its head, its eyes closed sleepily.

It was so precious.                                                             

Immediately we named him/her Smurfie because of its pretty blue colour. But its colour made Shakeel (13) feel that s/he should be named Poseidon because the name denotes strength (of the ocean). He insisted that the reason for our quaker parrot's strong personality is that he is simply living up to his name - Titan. So we played around with  the name Poseidon for a few hours but this was later shortened to Possie.  (However with Aisha (2)'s mispronunciations of this word, it soon became apparent that we'd be facing many horrified gasps at our baby's vulgarity should we stick with this nickname).

For now, Smurfie / Poseidon is settling in well and is claiming his/her place in the backyard.

Introducing Hayley and Riley

Have you met the latest additions to our family? In addition to to the quaker parrot + two (no longer 4) goldfish + one painter + the 6 of us (described here), our family now also comprises of two guinea pigs, named Riley and Hayley.

They are so incredibly cute - even Aisha (2), in one of her foulest moods, is unable to resist these sweet adorable balls of fur. They make the cutest sounds, each of which has a very specific meaning. You just cannot help but love them.

Chilling with the birds

Titan, our quaker parrot, has always been free to roam about the back yard. Whenever weather permits, we leave his cage outside with its door open, so that he is able to come and go as he pleases.

For the past few summers we noticed that he'd been getting some visitors. At first, one or two sparrows hopped over to his cage tentatively to share his food. Later his cage became 'the place to be' for all birds in the area. I was surprised at Titan's popularity - he is not exactly the most charming individual. Once in a while I can be seen streaking across the lawn from the washing line in terror, with Titan at my heels - trying to attack me for my audacity at disturbing his peace and quiet. So, it's quite amusing to watch him become the popular kid in the playground - looking all aloof and colourful amongst his duller-looking devoted hangers-on.

In the colder months we moved his cage into the separate entrance at the back, leaving open the door of the building and that of his cage. But this did not deter his posse, who just moved the party indoors.

Once in a while, however, some of his more adventurous groupies, will wander into our house. On many occasions I've entered the kitchen, just to find two (for some reason they always enter our house in two's) sparrows chilling on the counter tops, with an air of casualness - until they spot me, which is when they'll fly about hysterically and aimlessly looking for the nearest exit.

Recently they have been travelling further into the house - the two below actually entered at the kitchen, flew past the bathroom, down the passage and into the girls' bedroom. I found them relaxing on the desk. They then spotted me and then spent the next few minutes trying to find the nearest exit. In their panic they did not realise that the window was closed, so you can just imagine the unfortunate escape attempts they had to endure before I opened a window and liberated them. 

 

Behind the curtain - with freedom so near, yet so far