Quail Café

Each night for a family of four I make up six meals; one for me, one each for the girls, one for darling husband, one for puss, and one for my quail and budgies. We had chooks growing up, as we had a few acres to play on, and I always remember the drill of throwing leftovers into the chook pot under the sink to which pellets or mash would be added to it at dinner time. Even today, most leftovers I can't bring myself to throw away. There are always peckish little Sparrow beaks waiting in the trees outside for their morning, midday and nightly offerings.

Last night my quail and budgies had a piece of french baguette, fresh broccoli florets, peas, sweet corn kernels, red pepper and some grain bread. You would imagine they'd look a picture of health, but truth is some must be positively ancient and even the ravages of time don't exclude our feathered friends. Tufty plumage, a few bald patches, creaky limbs. But they always look forward to their nightly dinners and rush eagerly up to the plate. 'Bon appetit' I have taught Lucy to say, when she takes her turn delivering their meal.