Perhaps not quite that much activity, but we certainly have characters in town. In a small community, Beverley is a microcosm of the Big Smoke. Over the last five years, we have learned who are the jokers, the good guys, the quirky, the edgy and the treasures. There are a remarkably small number of people that we would not consider to be our cup of tea. Which is fine. We can't be expected to like every person we meet.
Take Lorna, our delightful next door neighbour. A Bunbury girl, Lorna has lived throughout the agricultural areas, had three husbands, six of her own children and countless adopted children. Her property is four acres of paddocks, trees, ponds and her house and sheds. Named Freedom Hollow. She has been known to fly the Jolly Roger and now has an extended family of several million.
And she has birds, sheep, dogs, cats, kangaroos and an endless supply of ongoing orphans who she hand rears. Sometimes, they come to her looking so scruffy it is difficult to recognise the breed. She has pig sat and horse sat. Most of her menagerie suffer from severe personality disorders where they have no clue as to what type of creature they actually are.
Take Bently for example. Bently was a magpie who thought he was a dog. Or Reggie, another magpie who thought she was a chook. Or two miniature horses who thought they were sheep. Lorna was forever receiving frantic phone calls from well-meaning passers-by who thought her horses were unwell as they were lying down. Roosters who attempt intimate relations with ducks. Or a winter lamb, born in the middle of a storm, who thought he was a puppy.
Lorna's three hand-reared kangaroos are all female. Her fencing is not particularly high as none of the girls has ever shown the slightest desire to leave the paddock. At least not until Romeo came on the scene.
Romeo thought all his Christmases had come at once. Nice yard with feed, shade and water. And three young ladies. We have never quite worked out if he is a wild kangaroo living in the burbs or someone's pet. Romeo did not care in the slightest. He quickly took up residence and no doubt had his wicked way with one or all of the girls. Harriet was the one who had stars in her eyes.
Then he became restless and took off again into the wild blue yonder. With Harriet. Who had never been beyond the boundaries of Freedom Hollow. Harriet was missing for several days. Romeo returned first without her. What a cad!
Eventually, Harriet was located and returned to the bosom of her family. Lorna was severely displeased by Romeo's behaviour. He had blotted his copybook big time. Lorna leaves water out for Romeo but that is all. She is actively discouraging any further conjugal visits.
Which is why, in the early morning, we looked out and saw Romeo scheming how to get over the fence back into Lorna's yard and the arms of his beloved Harriet. Typical bloke - he was playing with his private parts...
just pause for a quick scratch...
and make myself presentable...
off to capture the heart of my beloved Harriet
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