Birds, Books & Reunions

I felt I was having a senior moment.  When I checked my e-mails for the first time in a couple of days, there was a string of messages asking me to confirm my appointment for yesterday at 4.15  -  news to me, since I had the appointment written for tomorrow on my calendar.  I phoned the clinic and they confirmed that I had had a booking for yesterday.  I apologised and told them I'd be there on Friday.

It was troubling for a few minutes.  How had I messed up my annual visit to have my health plan updated?  Slowly a thought percolated through my mind.  I would not have made a late-afternoon appointment for a day when I was going out for dinner that night.  The chances of being delayed were far too possible.  It came to me that I must have asked for an appointment on Wednesday and the woman at the desk had written down the wrong day.  I know it sounds like "passing the buck"  but it seems a logical explanation.

We shall see if they're expecting me when I turn up on Friday.

*

A READER'S HAIKU:

O Literature!

Ninety three weeks of reading?

Thank you my Kindle.

May in the bibliosphere:

SCIENCE FICTION 101 by Robert Silverberg (2014) ***

THE CASES OF SUSAN DARE by Mignon G. Eberhart (1939) *

BRITISH COLUMBIA AND THE YUKON by Ryan Ver Berkmoes (2009) ** Lonely Planet

UNCANNY STORIES (1916)   from Pearson's Novel Magazine **

A COUNTRY DOCTOR'S NOTEBOOK by Mikhail Bulgakov (1927) ***

THE CODED BLUE ENVELOPE by Anna Elliott and Charles Veley (2020) Sherlock & Lucy #22  **

THE WILD ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES #5 by Will Murray *

UPPER FOURTH AT MALORY TOWERS by Enid Blyton (1949) *

100 GREAT BOOKS IN HAIKU by David Bader  (2010) *

YOU KNOW YOU'RE A CHILD OF THE '70S WHEN... (2006) by Mark Leigh & Mike Lepine *

IN THE FIFTH AT MALORY TOWERS by E. Blyton  (1950) **

FLYING TOO HIGH by Kerry Greenwood (2000)  **

THE OLD MAN IN THE CORNER  by Baroness Orczy (1908) ***

[Explanation of the symbols - 

* means I read the book to the end; 

** I read the book and enjoyed it;

*** I read the book and applauded the author; 

**** classic/iconic/sensational ]

*

The Bird Bulletin for May:

I know they say you shouldn't feed wild birds, because it makes them dependent on you and stops them foraging for their natural sources of food.  But when I inherited a flock of chickens from my sister, I soon noticed a pair of Spotted Turtle Doves hanging around looking for any leftovers when I fed the poultry.  Being a soft-hearted old codger, I put out a small dish and filled it with wheat every morning so they didn't have to compete with the hens for breakfast.

The routine went on since then.  After a while, another pair of doves joined them - kith or kin, who knows?

This year more doves joined the breakfast club, and I had to put out a second dish so they weren't competing to see who could get food before it was all snapped up.

Then last week I was a bit late getting up to feed the chickens in the wintry weather.  When I opened the back door, there was a line of doves sitting on the roof of the house next door, waiting patiently for me to start putting the food out.  I counted how many were assembled (it looked like a scene out of Hitchcock's THE BIRDS) -  the total was a startling 15 birds.  And that's why I went out this afternoon and bought an extra sack of wheat.

*

I may have mentioned my "flying visit" to Melbourne in May, but not the reason for it.  I went to Victoria for a family reunion six or seven years ago - just before Covid shut down any interstate pleasure jaunts - but as time rolled on, it was time for another such occasion.  As usual, I stayed at my favourite hotel in Little Collins Street, within walking distance of the luncheon venue  - Chloe's Restaurant on the upper floor of Young & Jackson's.  I sat between my cousins Ivan and Margaret, looking down at the famous Flinders Street Station clocks across the street.

It was a most enjoyable lunch, and I extend my good wishes to all who were able to attend.  Sadly as the years go by there will be more empty chairs at the table.   Don't be one of those people who say "I must catch up with old so-and-so one day soon" !

*

OTR - Old Time Radio - this month's listening:

The Amazing Mr Tutt 1948-08-23 the liberty of jail

SciFi874 Wherever You May Be by X Minus One  1956

StrangeTales793  The Believers by The CBS Radio Mystery Theater 1979

Suspense 1956-06-12 A Matter of Timing

Suspense 1956-06-19 A Sleeping Draft

Suspense 1957-05-05 Celebration AFRS#629

Fibber McGee & Molly 1955-03-23 sales resistance

Tom Corbett, Space Cadet 1952 The Missing Rocket Scout

Redbook_32-06-30_ep06_The Goat of Private Hibbs

Challenge of the Yukon - A Swill O' Gunpowder

Sam Spade - The Red Star Caper 01_12_1951

Mark Trail_50-03-06_ep16_vampires_from_the_deep