Monday 6 January 2014

Our Wildlife Just Got Wilder!

We have waved goodbye to all the visitors, taken a deep breath and listened to the silence of our little village settling into normality again. We grinned at the north-bound traffic pulling trailers and piled high with bicycles and children and we smiled and waved as they stared at us for the last time as they drove past our house kicking dust in our eyes!

We had a lovely visit from Rob's daughter Angie who was wheelchair bound due to operations on both her feet, so Vanessa was the driver, porter, coffee maker and wheelchair-pusher! Alfie was delighted to see them and became quite lazy at walk time! At one stage, Basil was quite keen on joining Alfie, but that would have been pushing his luck.

Alfie enjoying a ride!


Phillip has been busy with orphans. Apart from Nicola's goose that is now full size and still following her to the beach, he was 'given' six tiny Egyptian Gooses (geese?) to raise to flying size. They were found in the road in Saldanha, seemingly abandoned by the parents, and in danger of being driven over. Peeta the goose has adopted them and is happily showing them the ropes and warding off danger (he/she has tried to bite Basil's tail a few times), and Nicola is ready to run up and down the road flapping her arms once it's time for them to fly!

Peeta guarding his/her babies!

Yesterday at walk time, Rob and I meandered Alfie down to the beach and on our way back we heard a strange screaming sound coming from Phillip's lawn. Alfie was intrigued and set off to investigate. We followed of course. It was a kid! (Correct context there!) Somebody had found it in the veld, all alone and shouting loudly for it's mother. Fortunately I had a baby's bottle (don't ask me why), so I gave it to Nicola (who else?) and she brought the kid over to meet Angie and Vanessa. And Basil.

A meeting of friends! Basil is behind Rob's legs.

And finally, this is really scary. Basil narrowly escaped injury and possible death, when he was suddenly attacked by a croc! In the garden!

Rob bravely took the photo.

And he was innocently bird watching.

Basil recovering after his traumatic attack!

Told you that our wild animals were getting wilder!

Ha, gotcha!

3 comments:

Unknown said...

It will be piranhas swimming with the koi next! Life on the weskus is never dull is it. The only thing we have here is hadedas trying to kebab cats with their beaks, even Ruby gives them a wide berth!!

Anonymous said...

I find your weekly writings fascinating, keep it up !
Keith

Pauline said...

Hello Keith, thanks for the positive feedback! I am so glad that you enjoy reading my ramblings!!