In the old gum tree

A rainy morning - with one sick child home from school, and a spirited toddler destroying the place - meant just one thing. As soon as I could commandeer the TV channels in my favour, it was time for a cheerful programme not intended for a child audience. Live! with Kelly won.

(Photo source)

At some point during the show, there was a wildlife expert on. His name was Peter Gros, and he had the most bizarre, helmet-like head of hair I've seen since Ken doll.

Studly, no? Debonaire? (I've always wanted a reason to use that word.)

He had brought with him an assortment of animals, the cutest being a 6-week-old tiger cub, drinking milk from a bottle. The Faery was most impressed. There was a also a beaver, swimming in an inflatable Disney Princesses paddling pool. I'm sure there's a good joke in there somewhere.

However, it was the last animal brought out onto the stage which set my heart a flutter. As soon as I saw its cheeky grin, I hoped I'd get to hear it singing... and it did. A wonderful sound that made me feel like I was home. Even the Faery - whose associations would be a lot hazier - stopped in her tracks to listen, and was awe-struck.

The bird I'm referring too? A kookaburra, of course. I have such clear memories of singing the nursery rhyme "Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree..." as a littlie at school, and am a little sad my girls won't have the same memories - do they even teach it at school these days? I should probably teach it to them - it's one more thing I've been neglectful with.

There's nothing like the sound of a kookaburra. As much as I'm not a morning person, whenever I'm away from the city and am woken up by their call, I love it.

Is that not the happiest sound ever? A true belly laugh, as though they're in on a big joke we know nothing about.

Feeling somewhat homesick now.