Pearl the Parrot

Time was when our visits to deepest Dorset were purely on the tourist trails or work related.  Now it’s as much to meet up with Pearl the parrot as well as the family.
In fact I guess that Pearl is part of the family and has her residence firmly fixed with Rob and Jo, our son and daughter in law.  That’s as well as the newest member, Roma, a boisterous and energetic young Staffordshire bull terrier.
You always know that you’re in for an interesting time with each visit. The Staffie is playful with the sort of energy I can wistfully barely remember.  If only I had that sort of get-up-and-go oomph now. This time when we arrived she was being taken for a daily walk or romp across the fields, so we anticipated it would be a peaceful greeting when she and Jo returned.
Not on your life. If anything the romp across the fields and the nearby common had fired her vigour levels. It is a lovely greeting, but you need the strength to withstand her enthusiastic launches towards you from any part of the house.
Now, with Pearl it is a much more tamed and refined greeting. She’ll sit up and look around, and if you wish to stroke her feathers or tickle her neck and throat she is more than willing to respond and will probably want to chew your finger as a sign of welcome.
But first thing in the morning is when you are really aware of her presence. Once it’s daylight and she picks up any sound or movement, there’s a cheery ‘hello.’  And it will get louder and louder until you respond. Even that is not enough, because she will instantly launch into a constant mostly unintelligible chatter.
Work visits to the county in the past were rather muted in comparison. We had good times in Dorset over a number of years. But today’s welcome is altogether more entertaining!

Oh yes, and it’s great to see the family as well.