Death of the Pub Galah
I ……… will give thanks to you, our Merv
That all the cold Trotters Ales are
Fulsome of flavour, fresh and crisp
Unfortunate it is we learn that
Charlie our sulphur crested galah has died.
Kicked off his perch within his prime
I heard he was 1 for 31, one time
Now what will we Piglets think of that ?
Did Foodge suspect it was George the cat ?
Instead, should we search out a granny wedge or
Expect that we should blame the hedge ?
Distressed it is we are, our Merv, may we have another serve.
Note: Psalms 9 and / or Ten were alleged to be acrostics.
Window Dresser's Arms, Pig & Whistle 
Paint it blue, nail it to the perch, and flog it off at a pet shop.
LikeLike
Pub parrots are known for their exceptional mimicry often calling out (and sounding like) regular staff and habitual clients.
I remember popping in(for a counter lunch) with a couple of friends, who were over from Uzbekistan for a visit.
I had to explain (translate) the constant chatter.
It went, “Who did 911 then? Who did 911 then. Wot a naughty boy. Mumble, mumble, Down with The yanks, down with the~~~~“` mumble “`everybody. Down with everybody. NO WEDGES FOR YOU!!”
And just as we were leaving, ”
Just a closer drink with Thee,
Grant it, Merv, is my plea,
Daily drinking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Landord, let it be.
I am weak, but Thou art strong,
Trotters, keeps me from all wrong,
I’ll be satisfied as long
As I drink, let me drink close to Thee
And keep it coming , cold and free.
LikeLike
When I was a kid our family befriended a very religious little, old lady, who never drank or swore, but her parrot had learned to say ‘Ah, fucking shut up!’
LikeLike
Hi Big, When we lived in Java, we had a green parrot which we took back to live in England.
After we collected it from quarantine, which wasn’t long in those days, we took it by train from London to Southampton to get the ferry to The IOW.
It copied a lady on the train who kept sneezing. It was a marvelous talker-right up to its death….Killed by a civet cat …that we also imported from Java.
It was called a Musang in Indonesian and it was a dear family pet, so we didn’t want to leave it behind. The Musang’s name was Frisky and it lived in our airing-cupboard on The Island. It was my sisters pet really. One of the local TV channels did a short programme about it–back in the sixties..sigh!
There you are Helvi: a story!
LikeLike
Did you feed the civet coffee, Jayell
LikeLike
I know what you mean Algy. I’ve read about that coffee.
No it eat meat-so I don’t know how that whole coffee thing started.
Must have been an Australian salesman; maybe the one who sold the Eiffel Tower & The Golden Gate Bridge?
LikeLike
Sorry Voice, I meant ate!
LikeLike
Jayell, this is a story, I had to google ‘civet’, never even seen the word before.
Write about your travels, about your past travels, latest travels…
LikeLike
You could have made a fortune JL.
LikeLike
Looks very much like a cockatoo to me and I say good riddance! They make a dreadful noise – really really irritating. Get a real galah next time. But I do love birds, truly – just not in cages.
LikeLike
I’m with you there, Viv. I dislike them in the wild, but in cages we add cruelty to nuisance. I’m glad he’s gone and I’m hoping that there’s no resurrection in Pig’s Psalm 10 / 11. But we’ll wait and see what comes in 🙂
LikeLike
I detect an inconsistency of attitude between the uplifting words of the psalm and the admission of gladness he’s gone, Reverend. Keen for that top position on the Patrons de Porc Non-Bird Keepers Committee, are we? 😉
LikeLike
Geez Emm, what happened! Was it the hot weather we’ve been having.
LikeLike
Very clever Mikey
LikeLike
It’s a fooken corella.
LikeLike
E’s stunned. Well, he’s…he’s, ah…probably pining for the billabongs.
LikeLike
…ees only kipping.
LikeLike
I lovely epithet for Charlie. We will miss him, and his antics.
Perhaps one ashtray too many of Trotter’s Ale?
LikeLike
Scarily prescient, Big. It smacks of someone dangerously familiar with the archetypal pub ! I think we’re up for a Pig’s Psalm about cheddar cubes, Jatz and those little boy frankfurts and sauce. Away you go ……
LikeLike
I got it!
LikeLike
Any plans to get another? It’s not a pub without Charlie. He was the best pickpocket I ever met.
LikeLike
Well, there’s always Pig’s Psalm 10 !
LikeLike
George the cat says he aint got nuthin to do with it. And it’s true, they looked more like orange bellied beauty he was carrying around. Sorry, endangered species.
LikeLike
Not forgetting that FM’s cat is also called “George” – well the (former) boy half of the pair at least.
LikeLike
I love it when that happens !
LikeLike
Bury the bird, and have another one…it’s hot out there…
LikeLike
Nice riposte, H 🙂
LikeLike
Milo hates parrots and has got a couple in mid flight swooping down on him.
He is forever scanning trees, especially those white ones as shown in the picture. Strangely enough he always ignored my leghorns and the Rhode Island reds. Parrots are his thing.
Milo did not get the Galah.
LikeLike