Bad day to be a bird

On Wednesday night our lovely little Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep passed away. I know you probably didn't know that I had a budgie, but we have been looking after him for quite a few months now. We gave him a nice sunny spot on a special hanging pole, collected cuttlefish for him to nibble, gave him his first favourite- broccoli, and then at the end his new favourite radicchio. Yes he did have strange taste, but he was very cute and had the loudest chirps ever. This is how we got him really.
B found him and rescued him from the back yard of her childcare centre, but he was too chirpy for the kids. Too loud and distracting, especially during nap time. So B lovingly took him home as she had the blue tongue lizards, and chickens she passed on to us as well. But when it came time for B to move in with Pip he did not approve of Chirpy at all. He barked and growled and went crazy at his cage. So we got to get Chirpy after that.
He developed what we can only assume was a tumor on his shoulder, it just got bigger and bigger. So gross to look at, but you couldn't look away. I like to think that it just got so big that it blocked off his blood flow and he had a stroke. The nicest and most painless option. So RIP Chirpy, I was never too comfortable with the idea of keeping a bird in a cage, so now you are truly free.

Part two of this story takes place at my parents place. On the same night one of the chickens wouldn't go back into her house at the end of the day, and ended up becoming the foxes dinner. I don't think we will replace Chirpy, but on Monday it's off to a free range chicken farm to find a replacement or two- before Mum gets home from her holiday!

The Sculptor

http://diamond-valley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/multimedia-the-sculptor-eltham-legend-matcham-skipper/

This is my eccentric grandfather. His commissioned sculpture has just taken pride of place in a new section of the Eltham cemetery. The unveiling was a huge success and quite a family reunion. You couldn't help thinking, in that setting, it was a funeral for Matcham while he is still alive and able to enjoy it all. No one mentioned the trials and tribulations involved in getting the piece to where it is now, all the conflicts between everyone involved, the 'costume malfunctions', or how many times it very nearly didn't happen thanks to various parties. But now there it stands, nestled next to Montsalvat, overlooking all the past legends of Eltham in their final resting places.

What a lovely afternoon for it

Such a nice evening for a run through the neighbourhood. That's right I'm running. On day 33 of the 84 day challenge and going strong. Excercising every day, with all good food and no cakes, hardest of all is no cakes. But so far I'm doing pretty well, just ordered some extra supplements to help keep me running straight.

So, for the first time today it was actually nice weather and I had to fit in my fusion work out in the arvo. I'm not sure what I'll do when the sunshine really sets in, it was pretty warm in the home gym today, but out running on the street it was gorgeous. So many beautiful roses and I swear every second house must have a port wine magnolia in the yard, such sweet scents in the air. It would be a shame to join a gym to get out of the weather and have to miss out on that.