Attitude…

So, I was terribly busy at work chatting on the phone to the local printer who I have become good mates with. She thinks like me, says what she likes as I do and even has the same name.  Doppelganger…almost. Anyway we were talking about chooks. She has some. I want some. So we wasted work time and discussed the care and maintenance of said chooks. Other than the odd snake to deal with, the worst thing about chooks? They have attitude. Excellent. “They can be absolute bloody terrors,” she said. “Contrary little buggers who do what they want.” Perfect. I refuse to have wimpy pets.

Chookery...

When I went down south to visit my father at Easter, I met up with one of his carers who had a vast knowledge of chooks. That’s chickens to non-Aussies. I’ve always been interested in having some chooks as pets. So, we had a long discussion on chickens with the carer. My father listened in and added in interesting comments like ‘your mother always liked ants because they look busy’. I think that’s why I like chooks. They’re birds who look like they have things to do and places to go. Anyway, I now know exactly what I need when it comes to chookery – possibly a made up word. I do understand they only lay for a couple of years and then ‘it’s best to get rid of them.’ My father chimed in at this saying ‘Oh Amarinda can’t kill anything she names.’ I agreed that was indeed correct because I do give names to all sorts of things and once named I feel honour bound to animals, birds, insects, lizards and horny, misguided bandicoots called Neil, to make sure even if they are retired and wonky in the legs with age, they still will be able to hang out or wobble around my backyard without threat of the chop.

So, with all my new found knowledge in mind, I have started looking for a hen house. There are lots of abodes for chooks to live in. At present, I am undecided what housing requirements I want the chooks to have. I like a lot of room to do stuff in. I expect no less of any chooks who wander the grounds of XH, my home. I did check out some abodes in my lunch hour but none appealed to me. However I did buy several toys for the budgies, who are spoilt rotten for toys, while looking at chook housing. I wonder what chooks like to play with….hmmm…

Pet Me...

So, I’m off to the RSPCA – Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals – it’s a shelter – to look for a pet. Yes, I have been going to get one…not going to get one…getting…not getting…now I’m back to getting. Why so indecisive? I am totally aware a pet is a huge responsibility so I had to get in the mindset of looking after another soul apart from my own. I’m in the headspace now. So I’m going to look and see what appeals to me. I could just come back with anything…

Commitment issues...

After a great deal of decision and almost after buying a cranky looking cat, I have decided that I cannot possibly own a pet. In essence, I’m a selfish, non-committing-to-any-relationship sod who likes to live alone and pick up at a moments notice and piss off into the wild blue yonder without considering if the cat/dog/ferret/antelope has been fed or wonders where I am. So there. I am pathetic. I admit it. I am, however, considering investing in a sock puppet as a pet….just worried about the commitment issues with it…

The Pet Question...

Next month, if all the planets align as they should – if not I’ll be bloody kicking them into alignment - I’ll be in my new house. And, I’ve been thinking that I’m probably grown up enough now to have a pet. But what sort would have the patience to live with me? Years ago, I did have the legendary Marlene the goldfish who lived with me for 7 years. She was easy to deal with. She ignored me and I, apart from saying hello to her, ignored her. But now I’m thinking I could probably have a grown up pet but what? I did want chooks (chickens) but due to the snake threat I can’t have chickens. Bugger. I was reading about a hissing duck with attitude and that appealed to me but again - snakes. So, I’m thinking a tortoise or a weird looking reptile that just wanders aimlessly around and only expects three things from me – food, good conversation and that I won’t step on it. When you think about it that’s all anyone can ask of another isn’t it?

Amarinda Jones
Penn Halligan
www.amarindajones.com
www.amarindajones.blogspot.com
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