The little bird with the big voice

This past week has been Bird Week here in my part of Australia and twitchers, birders, birdwatchers and ornithologists all over have been out and about identifying and recording bird calls and sightings to go into a national count. Run by the group Birds in Backyards,  even amateur bird lovers such as myself are encouraged to download the app and sit in their back yard and listen and watch for 20 minutes whilst recording the number and species of birds that they observe. This enables the group to compile a report on the changing habitats and habits of our little feathered friends.
So the past week has seen me with phone and field guide in hand ambling around my garden or seated in our outdoor entertainment area observing.

Happiness Tip #1

Tell others you love them

On a Sunday afternoon in July 2009 I was pottering around my home when the telephone rang. Picking it up, I heard “Hi Sis”.
It was the voice of Peter, my baby brother calling from his hospital bed.
Although Peter had been ‘through the mill’ health-wise over the years, battling leukaemia and GVH (graft versus host disease) after a life saving bone marrow transplant, he had been admitted to hospital a couple of days earlier as a precautionary measure following a routine visit to his oncologist. In the days prior, Peter had been knocked low with the ‘flu and his blood work didn’t look too good so he was now found himself occupying a hospital bed.

Catching Waves

On Australia Day last year, I guest posted on the blog of the Opiniated Man –  HarsH ReaLiTy with my post “Catching Waves”.
Sadly, my original post is no longer there. Luckily, I have a copy of it.
So, why am I talking about this old post now?
Well, a couple of weeks ago I was chatting with a beautiful and amazing young woman who has been a part of my life for almost as long as she has been alive.  I love her very much. Unfortunately she is facing a battle with the insidious disease that begins with the letter ‘C’.
During our visit, we talked about all manner of things not related to her diagnosis, because after all who wants to talk about sad things all the time? Of course, the topic of conversation often drifted back to her diagnosis, treatment and her views on life.

Wisdom from Seniors #4

Today was an interesting day.
We had an outing to the beach for those of the seniors that wished to go. We didn’t actually get to sand, but sat and ate fish and chips on the broadwater under an awning.
The funniest thing was that we were joined by an Asian tour group who were astounded at the sight of a group of white haired ladies and gents eating fish and chips out of the paper they were wrapped in. We were the subject of many photos. Some even sat at the table with the seniors.