PENISTANDING KELOD UBUD BALI

SATURDAY 24TH JULY 2021

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Special day today albeit still in lock-down, in, out or up – even may be away – and no HASH run. Word is they’ll let us out tomorrow. Then what? On verra. Dunno about you lot, but I now have a plastic Sertifikat Vaksinasi COVID-19 which I must carry with me at all times, and which presumably pronounces me clean as a whistle.

Okay, so what’s special about today? Well first of all it’s my mother’s birthday: were she still alive, she would be one hundred and seventeen today. It’s also the birthday of a celebrated Frog – Alexandre (pere) Dumas – author of the greatest novel ever written – The Count of Monte-Cristo. He would be two hundred and nineteen years old today. Voila!

I see also from my special Bali Kalender that today is full moon, to wit Hari Purnama Sasih Karo. I feel quite light-headed, and shall proceed to the pub for a recuperative pils: must remember to remove my mask before taking the first sip. Easy to forget.

Already afternoon and strangely silent, excepting the occasional chatter of bulbul and tekukur of dove. Tekukur, I must explain, is the onomatopoeic name given by the locals to the widespread and very common Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis. But, hold on, what was that frightful racket emanating from the undergrowth at the back of the house just then? Sounded like scummy bathwater draining down the plughole – pretty clogged up one too I should say – or sucking up the dregs of an organic chunky fruit-juice through a narrow plastic straw. Yes, what else could it be but the ubiquitous White-breasted Waterhen that invades every paddy and kitchen, given half a chance?

Such an elegant bird.