fajrdrako | The little feathered guys...

Not all was well on my return from the Caribbean. One of the little feathered budgies who lived with me died while I was away. Rest in peace, Peter.

It seemed unkind to leave Jubilee all alone in her cage, so today I got another budgie - another green one. Her name is Emma Frost. She weathered the trip home from the pet store just fine, but wasn't happy about going into her new cage, and eluded me,

explodedteabag and the tea towel. "Don't let her fly into the bedroom!" I shrieked, but it was too late: she flew unerringly into my bedroom and climbed my bedroom blinds.

We chased her out (without being able to catch her). "Don't let her fly into the kitchen!" I shouted, and she went straight there. I threw myself into the doorway and she veered. I slammed the kitchen doors shut. Whew. Let a new budgie into the kitchen, you're asking for trouble.

Eventually we manhandled Emma into the cage. She clung to the bars for a bit, and then sat on a perch. Jubilee looked curious. A few chirps were exchanged. Emma is visibly tinier than Jubilee, being young still. She tried to stick her head through the bars. Jubilee edged closer. We played budgie music (Galaxie Nature) and let them sit and get used to each other.

They're both chirping now, and sitting side by side, the way Jubilee and Peter used to. I think it's going to be all right.

1. Emma hid behind Jubilee as soon as she saw my camera.