An impromptu mid-week day visit - Joostenbergvlakte

One week day recently Mo, Aisha (2) and I headed out to Joostenbergvlakte after dropping the older 3 kids at school.

Mo had heard that the bird breeder, from whom we had purchased our quaker parrot, Titan , had opened a bird breeding supplies store at his home in the beautiful suburb of Joostenbergvlakte. His home, like many others in the area, is located on a smallholding - which makes it an absolute fantasy home for me. Oh, how I'd love to raise my kids surrounded by such wide open spaces, perhaps with a few horses, cows, sheep and chickens *dreamy sigh*

Anyway, upon arriving in the area, we did our usual drive up and down the quiet roads, dreamily pointing out our fantasy homes - which, incidentally, are not mansions, but ordinary houses on extraordinarily large properties, upon which animals grazed lazily; hardly paying us any heed at all.

 

We found the breeder's home and then made our way past the main house, following the arrows and signs showing toward the bird store. On our way we encountered more chickens than I have ever seen in one place - big beautiful birds that strutted about with their chests pushed out, as if they owned the place. I couldn't help but expect to be attacked by one of these birds, as I was reminded of a huge coc.k, which my uncle had owned while we were growing up. This aggressive bird would charge anyone who dared to near the gate of my uncle's home. I, too, had on numerous occasions been charged by this terrifying unfriendly bird.

But, happily, we were spared such drama as these birds were too busy eating and enjoying the delicious sunlight to take much notice of us. We made our way into the pet store, where we were greeted by the loveliest shop assistant. This woman was clearly passionate about birds and knew so much about the  respective personalities and quirks of her charges.

Newly hatched conures and African Greys

 

Mo persuaded me to pick up a little newborn conure , hoping that I would fall in love with the bird and agree to him purchasing it. I was nervous at first (suffering Titan's painful bites has definitely left me wary), but the young lady immediately put me at ease - in fact, she handled them with such ease and skill that all I had to do was follow her cue - and my bonding with the little one began.

 

We were introduced to the newborn African Greys (Oh, I'd so love to own one!). They are such sweet adorable birds.

Then there was the beautiful majestic macaw. The lady explained that this bird, in fact, belongs to her - she brings him to work with her each day. It was so amusing to see how this large bird cuddled with his owner. She actually held him in her arms like a baby. It was the cutest sight.

When Aisha started to cry to take a bird home, we knew that it was time to leave. She became very excited to see all the quaker parrots, who looked exactly like Titan (very likely his parents or siblings).

Our pet, Titan

''See all the Titans!!" Aisha yelled excitedly

On our way to the car, we said goodbye to these beauties

In the car, as we were leaving,  Mo jokingly (or maybe not), told Aisha that she had not put enough effort into her crying/ tantrum (to be allowed to take a bird home). He had been hoping that her crying would result in us purchasing one of the birds. While I really don't mind bringing home another bird, I feel that we should firstly try to improve the living conditions of all our pets. I would like a proper aviary or just an open space indoors, in which the animals can wander about freely.

Our next stop was the Cape Garden Centre nursery. Although this place also boasts enormous play facilities for kids (both indoors and outdoors), we tactfully steered Aisha clear of these attractions, from which we would, no doubt, have been unable to tear her had she been allowed near them.

Although I just came for the purpose of obtaining new spinach and coriander seedlings, I also spent time roaming about and mentally drafting my gardening wishlist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In true Capetonian style (and much to the mocking amusement of many Jo'burgers), the first thing I did upon leaving the place was to establish my whereabouts in relation to our city's most famous and impressive landmark- Table Mountain.

 

Aah, what a beauty!

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