Pancake's resting place (red dot)

Pancake was attacked by a yellow billed kite at approx 0830 am on 31 December 1998. After putting everyone outside in chew bush and going back inside to get my tea, on my way back outside heard shrieks of panic and saw a hawk flash past the front window. I stormed outside and round the side of the house to get Pancake as she was shrieking the loudest. I was just about to pick her up when the Hawk (Brown with yellow feet) flashed in front of me and tried to get Pancake who was about 1 meter in front of me. Pancake took off and flew North (very surprising as her wings were clipped towards Durban about 50 metres from the house the Hawk dived bombed her out of the sky I noted were she fell. I went to search the area.

After trying to search for some time with only my moms dog to help me. I realised the task was too big for me on my own, the bush was very thick and I have never seen so many Green snakes in my life (not forgetting we lived there for the last 25 years) and that Hawk was searching above me in the same area.

I went to ask our neighbors for help. They very obligingly came to help but they gave up and left because of the snakes. I stayed and called and called. I eventually despaired of ever finding her, and started to pray for help and prayed. I decided that the best thing to do was to go to all the neighbors and let them know what had happened and ask them to return Pancake should they find her. I spoke to one neighbour and went back and prayed some more. I whistled for Pancake and heard a answer (Prayer answered).

I went off in the direction of the whistle and then heard the sound of a Cockatiel in distress I ran in the direction of the noise and found Pancake being attacked by two dogs. I stormed the dogs and they seeing me armed with a stick bearing down on them left and I got Pancake I was so pleased I cried. She was in a terrible state. Dripping wet and bleeding. This is the second time I saved her life. I thanked God for helping me and rushed her to my dear long suffering friend Dr Alan Dean who dropped everything to help Pancake.

Poem to Mighty Birds Something beautiful evolves and flies through the skies with beautiful brothers and sisters Stretch their wings Flex their muscles They soar and claw to the heavens BUT there it stops (now what?)   and waits for us on the other side -   And we are blessed. Alexandra Johnson

White Lilly's for Pancake

After I gathered myself together and went and told the gang what had happened. They just sat there silently and looked at me. Dead quiet from the bird room after that.

A little later after I gathered my things and and my wits, I told them we are going to collect Pancake and take her home to my mom's for burial. I got out the bird taxi and called them one by one to come to Daddy. They came to me one by one no arguments, no fuss, no exuberance, no problems, they just quietly came to me and sat on my finger and let me put them in the bird taxi.

On the way to Dr Pringles dead silence in the car, they just sat and looked out the windows, very surprisingly it was quiet. There is normally a competition to see who can make the most noise and get the best spots. Not this time.

I collected the little body from Dr Pringle and he explained to me she had died from having her intestines damaged in a couple of places as a result of the attack and this had got progressively too much for her despite my nursing.

After I got Tuths I went to a near by Garage and bought bunches of flowers. I surrounded her little box with the flowers and then proceeded to go home.

Just after I pulled away from the garage the gang in a spontaneous gesture, climbed over to me and came and sat all over me not in their usual spots. I was covered in birds. I was very surprised but touched by their gesture.

We drove like that till Kelso about 60% of the journey suddenlyTwee-um and Candy went berserk much to my ire. They tried to get out of the car through the back window and would not calm down no matter what.

Later nearer home they calmed down and we arrived at about 1945 with my mom to meet us. We decide to store Tuths in the fridge pending burial the next day. Later that evening I re wrap her and make sure everything is ok. The birds are put to bed with no fuss.

After a terrible night battling to comprehend what has happened to us. I got up early and dig her grave before it gets too warm, its in front of Chew Bush her favorite spot. Ever tried to dig a hole in the ground and you can't see for the tears in your eyes. That was a new one on me.

A little I get Pancake out of the fridge and prepare her. I unwrap her body from the paper towel and I am promptly attacked by Coco and Twee-um and Blanche who comes to see what I am up to.

Coco goes mad and bites me, the flowers, the box, everything, except Pancake. Blanches sits on my shoulder and just watches me andTwee-um and Somnatiel start creating a terrible racket.

My mom comes and rescues me from Coco who is still running around biting everything making it impossible for me to finish.

I prepare Pancake by taking Carnation Petals and layering them between her body and the crisp paper towel she came to me in, in such a way, there is a layer of petals between her and the paper towel. After I give her a goodbye kiss I took a clean tea towel from my home in Durban and carefully wrapped her in it.

I took a bunch of flowers and removed the stems, carefully I surround her body in flowers. I took the remaining flowers and stripped them for their petals and sprinkled the petals over her body. Then I carefully laid the flower petals on top of her.

At 0900 we gathered together and sit with Pancake who is lying in state even my mentally challenged brother joins us and we just sit and wait out till 1000.

At 10 I got up and closed Pancakes Box and with my mom moved to go outside. At this point the birds went berserk again calling and calling. I go and talk to them, they quieten down. We went outside to her spot. I said a private prayer and my mom said one too. I said good bye and put her little box in the grave and again said good bye my little friend. I looked at the Gang who were all watching us intently. I then took a spade and filled in the hole. I covered it high and put the remaining flowers on it.

Pancake You have now gone to the rainbow bridge Wait there my love and soon I will be there too Together we will be For immortality I miss you My companion My little love My little friend " Daddie "

If you could when you say your prayers please remember little Pancake I would be most grateful. We lived a good life together and she was very Special.