I think it must have flown into a window and become disoriented; at first I thought it had broken its neck but it was responsive when I picked it up. I think it is a female of one of the local wren species... it was so small - compare its size to the small jam jar lid we filled with water! Anyway, I put it into this basket with the water, on top of the verandah table so that the dog couldn't get at it, and it eventually flew off.
As for the rest, it's no wonder we've been cranky. We're still waiting to be paid the first instalment of the money we're owed, and it's just plain boring having to talk to people on the phone and explain it all again, and it's tedious pinching pennies all the time. But before you tell me off for whining (sorry!), I'm also aware of how lucky we are to live where we live and do what we do, and in the end my mother's yardstick doesn't apply: nobody died. I have been ploughing through stuff as fast as possible: a bookbinding class for a friend's children one weekend (photos will be up on the Rhubarb&Ella blog shortly), writing mountains of stuff for the school Board's upcoming AGM and Annual Report, refereeing academic papers for a conference later in the year, blah blah blah. I don't know that my fellow Board members are happy with me, * sigh * I've always been under the impression that confidentiality is a huge issue on Boards and within small school communities, but apparently my decision not to name names isn't popular... I'm familiar with the aphorism that it's impossible to please all of the people all of the time but right now I'd happily settle for pleasing some of the people some of the time!
There has been one bright spot, though: yesterday I went for an informal chat at the local North Coast Institute of TAFE about the possibility of me teaching printmaking/papermaking/bookbinding there. Whoo-hoo! I'd love to do that part-time so I am crossing all available fingers and toes in the hope that this might turn into actual paid work before the end of this year.
8 comments:
I'd have a stab and say I think your bird friend might have been a white-browned scrubwren (and possibly a girlie at that).... but I aint no birding expert... here's hoping its a bird of good fortunes though (fingers crossed that good things come your way soon) ...
Hope the North Coast Institute of TAFE job comes off - you absolutely need some regular income (preferably before the end of the year!) and it would be a bonus were it something you wanted to do.
Good to hear from you and I think you have full permission to be cranky about those payments - its ridiculous! Beautiful bird; good and hopeful news re the teaching - that would be fab. Take care F
Of course you can have a moan about the non payment - what a hide those people have. I think you're right about the confidentiality thing, I hope you get some support. And I certainly hope you get the teaching job - that would be fabulous.
I agree - you have official rights to be cranky and a licence to whine. I think it would drive me nuts. The little bird was a lovely distraction and sent me on a whole web journey looking at Australian bird species. I found some lovely pictures of a bird called a fairy wren and also one called a Splendid and a Superb Fairy-wren! What a great name for a bird. This is the bird Ronnie mentioned:
http://www.ozanimals.com/Bird/White-browed-Scrubwren/Sericornis/frontalis.html
I think you bird looks more like photos of birds called fantails - there are a few different types. Although this one is the wrong colour it looks more like your bird than a wren - wrens have a very distinctive beak. Sorry to be such a twitcher ;-)
http://www.ozanimals.com/Bird/Rufous-Fantail/Rhipidura/rufifrons.html
Good luck with the teaching job - it sounds great. The books on your bookbinding with children on Rhubarb & Ella look gorgeous.
Hmmm, the ornithology is taxing! Thanks for the various suggestions - I'm not sure we've found it yet! My friend Sally who works for National Parks and Wildlife reckons it's something like a russet-backed wren but I need to check the exact name with her. I'll let you know when the mystery is solved...
Aha! Russet backed something or other sounds like its on the right track :-) If you find out lt me know. Thanks for sharing these lovely pictures. It sent me on a lovely internet journey looking at Australian bird species and made my realise how clueless I was about the amazing variety of birds over there. You are very lucky. I am still tickled by the Fairy Wrens especially the Splendid and Superb ones!
Hi Sara My name is Annette Edwards and i am soon to be in your class for printmaking I am looking forward to meeting you and working on printmaking again see you then . Love your work. Annette.
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