The Hood

So I made it back to Canberra. My trip was great - thanks for asking!

I went to my local shops this evening on the way home from work as the cupboards were almost bare. On my drive home I turned the corner and was stopped in my tracks. Wowser! I couldn't even begin to describe the vision in front of me, so I went home and grabbed my dog and camera.

Now I have to give you a bit of history. A few months ago my friend and I were walking the dog and we went past this very house. A man yelled out at us and we looked up...he was up there on the roof installing a bird feeder. We had a long talk about king parrots and the like, and he asked if we thought the birdies would like his creation.

About a month after that I went past this house again. The bird feeder (which was originally a broom stick with a plank nailed onto it) had some additions. A coffee percolator was strategically placed on the top of the feeder and it was balanced out nicely with a mug on either side of the plank. 

So back to tonight...I've only been gone, what 3 weeks, and I returned to this:

The photos don't really do it justice so I'll try to describe it for you. There seemed to be a sign on the roof and a box like device surrounding the chimney. The bird feeder still seems to be there, but is now set off by some party lights. I hope they are turned off in the day - they might scare the king parrots. There is now a large wooden cross in the front yard, and to the back of that, a construction made from wood which seems to be some sort of a platform with a directors chair placed on top. All in three weeks. Impressive.