Myrtle xxx

Let me tell you the story of Myrtle, I’ll take it from the top.

The boys were their usual germ filled selves, but adamant to go to school. On this occasion I was worried about Harry’s nasty cough so worked from home expecting a call from the teachers to come and collect him. The call never came, but his cough is still here so you figure out the math.

The conservatory doors were wide open letting in the beginning of the Summers sun. Then there was a scuffle and what appeared to be a close call between Holly our mini schnauzer and a Magpie.

I started forming a text in my head to send to hubby along the lines of, one for sorrow, two for joy, what do you get if your dog catches one? But never got round to sending it.

The day whistled by and soon it was time to collect the snot rags. The twins are so full of germs at this point they might as well be referred to as handkerchiefs.

They’d done their reading and were playing in the garden whilst I was making dinner when Harry alerted me to the fact he could hear a noise and decided that an animal was hurt.

I’d like to point out that, as is always the case, I still had many jobs I needed to achieve, but downed tools and went to investigate.

This is when we found the magpie, sheltering in the wild flowers and promptly named it Myrtle. Not being able to speak it couldn’t give us its pronouns or protest to the name, so it stuck.

Harry insisted it was to be saved, blew out his chest, let his cape flutter in the wind and announced,

“I’m not leaving an animal to die in MY garden!”

Technically it’s a bird, but not the time to deliberate.

He was all set to jump in, but this is when I taught him, fail to prepare prepare to fail. A wise little nugget indeed.

Dogs locked away, out comes Google.

Google states to pop in a box with a lining and air holes and store in a dark place until out of shock and stronger.

I should probably make you aware that Myrtle didn’t appear to have any injuries, just wasn’t able to fly.

Right, time to makeshift.

Out came the old hamster cage, out came the multicoloured paper tissue bedding. Small bowl for water and small bowl containing soaked dog biscuits for nourishment.

Meanwhile Ollie is in a world of his own wandering around playing with a Fortnite figure.

Ooh, where’s my gardening gloves Lee got me?

Right, we ventured in to the garden and I’d asked Harry to carry the lid and place it on gently once I’d retrieved Myrtle from the bracken.

I told Ollie he could put the clasps on after just so he wouldn’t feel left out.

Harry kept chomping at the bit to help and I explained hanging back and being ready was helping.

Of course Myrtle was now hiding right at the back behind a big, sharp bush which clawed at my hair and dropped spiders on me.

I managed to cup her safely but she instantly screamed at me which was quite unnerving.

I gently carried her back to Harry and popped her in the cage.

Harry just watched her and shouted out “OMG” which gave her time to jump out and back in to the bush.

“Harry! You had ONE job!!”

So back in I went and this time Ollie got to put the clasps on the cage.

In the Summerhouse Myrtle goes and I breathe a sigh of relief.

Whilst Harry gently chatted to her to reassure her that everything would be okay, I Whatsapped the Mum group to ask what to do.

Secret World seemed to be the general consensus so I called them. As requested I sent them a photo and waited for their call as to how to proceed. Obviously I had all the time in the world on my hands!

They came back pretty promptly, actually I have to say they were truly lovely and doing a grand job protecting all our garden creatures.

They believed Myrtle was a fledgling and in great shape. On further inspection her parents appeared to be watching from the Willow tree. Not quite “Birds”.

The best course of action would be to pop Myrtle back where we found her and allow her parents to keep providing for her and teaching her to fly.

I asked how long this could take, mainly thinking of the dogs. She was unsure, days.

So we got Myrtle out, at which point Ollie let the dogs back in to the garden, well done Ollie! Tilly wasn’t going to run for fowl which hadn’t been prepared for her and Harry snatched up Holly and whizzed her back in to the conservatory.

I’d just about managed to catch up and the boys were finishing their dinner when Lee got home.

Ollie ran up to tell him the excitement of which he hadn’t really been a part of.

Lee went out to water the garden and asked if he could let the dogs out. Upon inspection Myrtle had already gained her wings, but definitely with some encouragement from us.

All that fuss! If I’d just waited a few hours!!

Hope you’re having a relaxing bank holiday weekend xxx