Sunday, January 20, 2008

Traffic

20/1/2008

We've had quite a turnover of assorted animals through our household lately.
The chicken population has exploded, thanks to new-year presents from several villagers. At its peak, we had fifteen chickens of various sizes running amok in the yard. It's down to a (slightly) more manageable 12 now. Two were curried, one fried.
Pak Leo, the village headman, has temporarily parked his scowling cow in our front yard, as the river that runs by his house is in danger of overflowing its banks.
[Picture: Scowling Cow]

Our two piglets have died. To be more precise, one died (malaria?); and the other looked moribund, so we killed and ate him. 'Tis life.



[Picture: Moribund Pig.]


Bagong, Pedro and Darling we picked up from the new litter at Pak Leo's. It's a challenge to get my slippers on every morning, with a trio of month-old puppies suckling my toes.


[Picture: Disgustingly Adorable.]

Sadly, two of our other dogs have met untimely deaths under the wheels of some 4WD hurtling along the road in front of the house. Chocolate, we buried. Taus, eaten by our neighbours. Ouch.

Of course with this many animals loose in the compound, the primary question to ponder is, 'but does it bite?' The answer, I've discovered, depends on the particular specimen's personality as much as on the species it belongs to.
So far, I have survived three chicken-bites.

-raj

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

i hope u are doing well. will keep you in my thoughts and prayers and remember that you are doing a good work down there in timor! God bless you raj and keep you safe!

*love*
faith