I thought it was high time introduce all of you (who don't yet have the pleasure) to a friend of mine. This is a friend who has been with me through thick and thin, for longer than many of my friends and certainly in closer proximity than most. His name is Oscar. He is a budgie and he has just clocked up 10 years. Yep, 10 human years!
Oscar first entered my life in the very warm summer of 1999. I had just moved to Adelaide and a friends sister called me and invited me round for a BBQ. Being new in town, with not many friends, an outing was quite appealing, so I went along. It was February 14th. I had a lovely lunch, meeting new people etc etc. As we were all sitting round enjoying a cuppa, one of the family members said "We've just hatched a clutch of budgies. Would you be allowed to have one in your flat?" I wasn't 100% sure, but I figured there was no harm in asking. The took me out to the avery and showed me all these cute little birds flitting about. I was pretty taken by them and I had nobody at home to talk to, so I promptly contacted my land agent, who granted permission.
On the 4th of March 1999, he arrived on my doorstep, in a cage. I was brought up with dogs and cats, so a budgie was a bit of a new concept. I watched him for hours, mystified by his funny habits and behaviour. Slowly (yes, it did take some time) we bonded. I started to notice patterns in his noises. He made a really happy sound whenever I walked in the door, he made a really angry sound when he was playing with his toys (swinging mirrors etc). I realised very soon that I was attached to him.
Oscar and I lived happily together for 2 years in a flat in Kensington Park. We then moved to a house in Hampstead Gardens. Our flatmates were another girl my age and her cat. Oscar told me that he wasn't so sure about the cat, but trusted me to keep him safe from her, which I did.
Nine months later, we moved to another place in Hectorville. Our flatmate this time was something much more sinister and dangerous than a cat. It was a pot smoking lout. Oscar told me that this wouldn't do and we had to get out. After another nine months or so, we did. During that time, Oscar developed a series of 'stress lines' in his tail feathers. His tail feathers are a dark turquoise so the pale coloured lines stood out.
We moved to a flat in Kensington, Oscars stress lines grew out and he told me he was happy again. We lived there happily for nigh on 7 years before we decided to have a tree change and move to the hills with Andy. Which brings us to now.
Oscar is quite elderly now, but he is still bringing about lots of happy noises in our house. Recently, he suffered some ill health, to the point where I thought I was about to lose him. It was then that I realised how much something that weighs all of about 30gms, really means to me. I've had times where I have taken him to a friends place to look after while I am away and my house feels empty without him.
I suppose those who have never had a pet, let alone a budgie, wouldn't understand the enormity of the bond that people have with their pets. I didn't set out to fall in love with a little ball of feathers, but I have, and I make no apologies. And if you met him, you'd fall in love too!
Oscar first entered my life in the very warm summer of 1999. I had just moved to Adelaide and a friends sister called me and invited me round for a BBQ. Being new in town, with not many friends, an outing was quite appealing, so I went along. It was February 14th. I had a lovely lunch, meeting new people etc etc. As we were all sitting round enjoying a cuppa, one of the family members said "We've just hatched a clutch of budgies. Would you be allowed to have one in your flat?" I wasn't 100% sure, but I figured there was no harm in asking. The took me out to the avery and showed me all these cute little birds flitting about. I was pretty taken by them and I had nobody at home to talk to, so I promptly contacted my land agent, who granted permission.
On the 4th of March 1999, he arrived on my doorstep, in a cage. I was brought up with dogs and cats, so a budgie was a bit of a new concept. I watched him for hours, mystified by his funny habits and behaviour. Slowly (yes, it did take some time) we bonded. I started to notice patterns in his noises. He made a really happy sound whenever I walked in the door, he made a really angry sound when he was playing with his toys (swinging mirrors etc). I realised very soon that I was attached to him.
Oscar and I lived happily together for 2 years in a flat in Kensington Park. We then moved to a house in Hampstead Gardens. Our flatmates were another girl my age and her cat. Oscar told me that he wasn't so sure about the cat, but trusted me to keep him safe from her, which I did.
Nine months later, we moved to another place in Hectorville. Our flatmate this time was something much more sinister and dangerous than a cat. It was a pot smoking lout. Oscar told me that this wouldn't do and we had to get out. After another nine months or so, we did. During that time, Oscar developed a series of 'stress lines' in his tail feathers. His tail feathers are a dark turquoise so the pale coloured lines stood out.
We moved to a flat in Kensington, Oscars stress lines grew out and he told me he was happy again. We lived there happily for nigh on 7 years before we decided to have a tree change and move to the hills with Andy. Which brings us to now.
Oscar is quite elderly now, but he is still bringing about lots of happy noises in our house. Recently, he suffered some ill health, to the point where I thought I was about to lose him. It was then that I realised how much something that weighs all of about 30gms, really means to me. I've had times where I have taken him to a friends place to look after while I am away and my house feels empty without him.
I suppose those who have never had a pet, let alone a budgie, wouldn't understand the enormity of the bond that people have with their pets. I didn't set out to fall in love with a little ball of feathers, but I have, and I make no apologies. And if you met him, you'd fall in love too!
No comments:
Post a Comment