The flapping of wings I could hear from the kitchen, and I thought it must be a bird in distress.

But it wasn’t it was the three strangers* standing in my back yard, the gesticulator doing all the flapping, the other two were focused on a nearby tree where a flock of black cockatoos had settled and were doing what they do best, making a lot of noise.

The birds obviously intrigued them as they were totally engaged in their observation. I took the opportunity to go out and explain to them what the birds were and that they were flock birds who lived mostly out in the bush and who in my opinion had two sounds, loud and louder.

The note taker stopped when I said that last part and looked at me as I smiled at her well aware of the joke I had made.

I was well…