Episode 2: Driver’s licence renewal for the elderly

17 February 2016

Having come to terms with the fact that my incredible age renders me ineligible for a 10 year driver’s licence, I venture into Services NSW to complete the (rather short 5 year) renewal. The quick and friendly service are an unexpected joy. It is only at the picture taking stage that the cold hand of reality taps on my shoulder. When I wittily quip to the helpful service person that I hope he has taken a good picture (this is probably the 305^th time he has heard this today, but he retains his composure and smile) he assures me that it is and offers to show me on the screen. The face that greets me surely belongs to 1. A serial killer and  2. A person of such advanced age that they couldn’t be trusted to live much beyond 6 months…leaving me reluctantly to agree with the policy of 5 year maximum licence. If I manage, against the odds, to survive to the next licence renewal, I might ask if it’s possible to have the ID picture taken while wearing very large and very dark glasses.. and possibly a paper bag.

Advanced years

16 February 2016

Filling out my driver's licence renewal and see that the 10 year option that I was going to take up is only available for sprightly folk under 44 years of age......sigh....feeling very old.

Yes, it would appear that, according to Roads and Maritime, the likelihood of living, or being capable of driving, past 54 is questionable at best. The questions about riding offences also had me a little confused about the correct answers because, if my dressage scores are anything to go by, I am a serial offender, and probably should not be issued with a licence of any kind. Off now to check out deals on local nursing homes that will accept the odd house rabbit and exceptionally large 4 legged friends, and exceptionally feathery two legged ones.

Confessions

9 February 2016

My name is Nettie and I am a rabbitaholic.

Bling

7 February 2016

Etoile Filante and Milky Way are doing their best to brighten up the paddocks with their sparkliness and all-round chicken gorgeousness. They seem to be doing pretty well at this, which goes some way to make up for a less stunning performance in the egg laying arena. 

Straya Day

24 January 2016

The Veggie Garden Burrower is taking the opportunity to have an extended long weekend in celebration of Australia Day. Getting into the holiday mood she is settling down for an afternoon rest, in preparation for an evening of partying hard. She’s hoping to be able to indulge in some favourite games like Excavate the Vegetable Garden Until it Looks Like a Construction Site (she is quite good at this one), and hopes the cockatoos will enter into the spirit with a raucous chorus from the sidelines of “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Dig, Dig, Dig!”.

Bonne année

3 January 2016

The cockatoos convened a round-table (or more accurately round-pool) meeting to discuss their New Year’s resolutions. The consensus was:

1. Resolve to eat more from the bird feeding tray.

2. Step up the training of the Bird Feeding Tray Replenisher via negative reinforcement – ie chew the nearby wooden window frames every time the feeding tray has failed to be replenished within 30.5 seconds of it being emptied.

Although it is only day 3, they are sticking to their resolutions remarkably well. They are suitably impressed with their own abilities…the Bird Feeding Tray Replenisher is less enthused about their progress. 

Equestrian pursuits

28 December 2015

With the emphasis on dressage at Joyfallee, Chocolate Bunny, being a team player from way back, has decided to join in. As a novice he is, sensibly, taking up all things equestrian in small increments, starting by practising balancing as close to terra firma as possible.  

O Tannenbaum

13 December 2015

Etoile Filante attempts her best feathery impression of the oh-so-lovely Christmas tree, which came direct from the house of Pallets with APeel.