Animals

The first three pics are devoted to our beloved Albert, who went to the great golf course in the sky last year at a ripe old age; the first is him in his prime, on his beloved golf course. Picture 4 is Gypsy, the companion of his old age. Picture 5 is my own bushpig Daisy, and the next is her after one of her rabbiting expeditions; she cannot open her eyes as they are full of sand, and she never catches any actual rabbits. Pictures 7 and 8 show a baby wood duck who adopted us last spring; we were also adopted by a baby rosella, who can be seen in Picture 10. Both birds flourished, and were in the special care of two of our German visitors, friends of the family who have stayed with us for months. Sophia's duckling was initially happy with anybody but soon grew jealous of her "mother", and would sit on her shoulder in the evenings, peeping softly. As she matured she would sit at Sophia's feet on the verandah and chase the dogs away, and the rosella, whom she did not like. Jasmine's rosella, however, was a gregarious bird, and once he got past the incessant loud and piercing stage was a very pleasant companion - although if he was hungry you would have to sprint to and from the house for fear of wearing a rosella hat. Both birds "released" themselves this summer and seem to have found new and more appropriate friends. Picture 9 is of the inimitable Maxie Bubba, in his summer coat. 11 is mum's favourite joey of her latest crop, Ned the wallaroo, a cunning and friendly fellow. Last but not least is Nolan the Nobhead, escorting his favourite toy and the only one he has not been able to destroy.