I know, I know. There has been a deathly silence in this little corner of cyberspace. My drafts folder is littered with half-written posts. No major changes – life just keeps happening while I make other plans. And my energy levels are zilch. Who says older people need less sleep?
Today was supposed to be a day off. Yes. At around 9:30 this morning I get a call that our vehicle has been found. She was stolen around a year ago. She was insured, we were paid out, but not enough to get another double-cab pick-up. We ended up with a second-hand (‘pre-loved’ – yeaaah) mini-hatchback.
So, not our vehicle, but they wanted us to go and identify her and make a statement. Which we duly did. She looks to be in running order, but what amused my warped sense of humour is that she had an alarm installed. She had originally been supplied with only an immobilizer – obviously less than successful.
The engine number and VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) had been removed, but she had Microdot technology which showed the original VIN. Pity the Microdots (clearly marked label on the windscreen) didn’t dissuade them from stealing the damn thing in the first place.
We finally get home, late for lunch. Open the door, cat saunters out and starts hassling a bird. Forcibly remove cat. The bird turned out to be a swift. It looked confused, if anything. No visible injuries. I often just put wild birds in a quite place and give them a chance to recover. Very often they perk up after a while and can be released.
This one didn’t. They are insectivorous, so I couldn’t give it seed or anything similar. I start phoning around – I know when I’m out of my depth. Was referred to “Fallen Feathers”. In case you are interested, swifts have soft beaks and can be given a small ball of raw mince. If you can get the beak open. Yes.
Point number one, it was around six o’clock at night. I have no mince.
Point number two. I can open a pigeon’s beak, but they’re much bigger! And no soft beak. From out of my depth I have gone to needing a snorkel. The address is more than 35 km away. I’m not great at night driving. Not all of the street lights are working and the road marking are faint.
I did manage to get there and back in one piece. I hope the bird makes it, although I will admit I am not hopeful.
notewords 
I’m purraying the birdy survives and thrives. I love, love, love watching birdies, but don’t mess with them… and will give anyone that tries a whackypaw!
Purrseidon
Pity you can’t come past and give my furball a whackypaw… 😉
This would be very difficult, but I have given William Snakespear, the black racer who lives in a fencepost, several whackypaws for daring to look wrong at my back yard birdies.
Purrseidon
Love this post.
Thanks!
You are a very responsible cat owner! Aren’t swifts migratory birds and should be in warmer climates at this time of the year?
I’m in South Africa. It’s summer here. We tend to have very hot Christmases… 😉
Oops, yes, SA (likewise Australia) have summer right now. I am slightly Northern Half-centred … apologies. If you want to feed that bird, have you ever tried larvae (they are sold in fishing shops). Of course I am not thinking of those really big larvae …
Didn’t think if that. 🙂
Oh my giddy aunt! A heck of a ‘day off’! Grt post 🙂 Energies (whatever I can push down the line) heading your way 🙂
All help appreciated! 😉
Love what you’re working on.
A car found, a bird lost… it was really an unplanned day!
Hope the birdie will survive ❤
Ciao
Sid
Thanks!
I would bet the truck was stolen and resold. Are the insurance company going to give you guff because the stolen truck they paid out on has been found? Also, how did they manage to find it after a whole year?
The insurance won’t give us trouble, just the truck now belongs to them. We were paid out and bought another vehicle.
They might have found it when checking licences and registrations in a road block. one of the policemen told us that’s their best way to find stolen vehicles.
Well I hope the bird surprises you
That is so ironic about your stolen vehicle. SO Ironic.
Goodness – that was not a relaxing day off! Hope the bird makes it OK – you were very kindhearted to make the drive to get it to help 🙂
It makes me happy that you saved the bird. Cats are little killing machines. (I am both a cat and bird lover. When we had cats that went outdoors they had little bells on their collars.)