Often when starting something new it can all seem like such a big deal. Difficult and risky and maybe scary. Somewhere along the way an invisible line is crossed and new and different becomes everyday. Easy. No problem. Whatever.Some sixteen years ago, when we were impoverished uni students, we got our very first pet. The decision to get a pet was greatly debated. It is a big responsibility afterall. Eventually we agreed on something suitable and home they came. Goldfish. They were great. And then they were boring. And then they died.Lets get a rabbit, I said. It will be no trouble, I said. His first mistake was letting me go alone to pick the rabbit up. How is it? He said. They are cute, I said. It was going to be lonely on its own. Of course, they both turned out to be boys and fought like crazy and sprayed each other and us with warm, stinky urine. We paid for them to be desexed. They still sprayed wee. They escaped from their cage and burrowed under fences. We built them new enclosures, they escaped again.Let's get a dog, I said. It will be easier than a rabbit, I said. There was some debate, and home came Hank, our first golden retriever. Everyone loved Hank, even when he ate some fresh horse poo and later vomited it up on the carpet under my parent's dining room table. During dinner. Sadly, Hank died and we were without pets for a while.Let's get another dog, I said. Barely a murmur from my husband this time. Along came Cooper, our second golden retriever. He is lovely, and happily still very much with us.It would be great to have fresh eggs, I said. The kids don't use their cubby, it would be a great chicken coop. We just need to build a fence to make a yard for them. Maybe, he said. And so six hens joined us. Guinea pigs would be great for the kids, I said. I guess so, he said. We bought a small cage and Cocoa and Patch joined us. We got a male guinea pig today, I said when he got home. By the way, the guinea pigs will need a bigger cage to fit in all the babies. I really like those guinea pigs, he said. I'd like a puppy for my birthday, I said. Have you already picked one out? He answered. Umm, yep. Home came Saffy, a golden bundle of mischief. She jumped fences. We built new ones. She jumped them. We built higher ones. No problem, she can jump them too. How bout a pony for Christmas? I said. No worries, he said.
So Fabros the paint quarterhorse joined us.And then we moved to a whole lot more land. Here's a great pony for the girls, I said. Looks good, he replied. The chooks aren't laying, let's get some more, I said. Good idea, he answered. So just last week Milky and Silky joined our family.
Look at all that grass- we should get something to eat that, we said. Not yet though, we said. So much to do with the renovations and all. And that fence for Saffy. And getting rid of the barbed wire so it's safer for the horses. And building a new dome for the chickens. Then a few weeks ago we went to Tocal Field Days. We should buy those sheep we said. The fence isn't sheep proof and what'll we bring 'em home in? Pfft! Mere details, we declared. What can't be achieved with a few zip ties, some wire and a bit of old reo? So we drove along with a crazy gleam in our eyes and our makeshift cage rattling on the trailer. We collected Mary and Molly, two Wiltipoll ewes who are most likely pregnant, and they have joined our menagerie.
Can we get some chicks, the kids asked, while we were at Tocal. Why not! we cried. Clucka, Sweetie, Ginger and Shadow now also call this home.
BTW, I think we need to move to somewhere with more land. And, no kids, Mummy will not ever buy an elephant. Promise. Probably.
