Stars 7 days of hope 04-10 April & happiness with Claire Petulengro
Carla Brown, 46, from Orkney, had to apologise for her naughty pet parrot...
ARIES
21 March–20 April
You’re handed the gift of the gab, as yours is the sign that’s most able to talk the rest of the zodiac into doing what they want, when they want. Being on time for appointments is key to building a positive relationship with those you meet for the first time in the week ahead. Games in love seem a good idea, but can be your biggest downfall this weekend.
Call: 09058 170 710*
LEO
24 July–23 Aug
You’re finding it hard to get the time alone you wanted with a certain person. I have to say, my friend, that the way you’re dealing with current problems has somewhat of an immature feel. Take time out to view things from where others stand and you’ll soon work out what has to change and why. Investments you make into education now pay back tenfold, so take the leap!
Call: 09058 170 714*
23 Nov–21 Dec
You’re still trying to make sense of what recent events really meant for you on a personal level. Don’t think, but feel your way to what should happen next. It’s the key to you making your next move your best move, my friend. Paying for travel you can get for free is a setback you can and should avoid right now, Sagittarius. Make sure you stand up for yourself.
Call: 09058 170 718*
TAURUS
21 April–21 May
The sun highlights family issues and you begin to form a clearer idea of who needs to be your priority and why. Money you invest in the home may seem like you’re throwing good money after bad – but it’s your chance to make something that was a promise into something legally binding. It’s a week to trust your own instincts, Taurus, and not those of third parties.
Call: 09058 170 711*
VIRGO
24 Aug–23 Sept
You’re finding it hard to admit your true feelings to those close to you. Aspects tell me you’re frightened they will disapprove of your plans – but I know that if you believe in them, then others will believe in you. Check your diary. There’s a birthday or celebration you need to mark, my friend. Changed phone numbers give you reason to start a new personal narrative.
Call: 09058 170 715*
CAPRICORN
22 Dec–20 Jan
You’re finding it hard to know how to get others to agree to what you’ve now set your heart on. Don’t be afraid to speak and act from the heart, Capricorn. It’s key to you getting others to view your future options from where you’re actually standing. A great week to go for job interviews you were lacking confidence in. Saturn is on hand for the structure required. Aim high, my friend!
Call: 09058 170 719*
GEMINI
22 May–21 June
Time alone is clearly important to you from here on in, Gemini. You’ve had more than enough opinions on what should happen next – but I can see you need to feel your way to what occurs next in your life journey. Legal forms go in your favour, if you’re upfront and honest about the details, and not just the emotions, of all that transpired. I know you’ve got this.
Call: 09058 170 712*
LIBRA
24 Sept–23 Oct
Beware of telling tales on those who were only ever trying to give you the backup you needed. Could it be that you’ve decided to blame everyone, rather than no one? It would seem so, Libra. Gossip about your past this week links to a face that has jealousy behind their actions and words. Rise above it and claim back the life you want to live. Stay strong – it’ll work out in the end.
Call: 09058 170 716*
AQUARIUS
21 Jan–19 Feb
Try not to confront those about issues you only have half the facts or information on. If you are not careful you could end up agreeing to make a sacrifice that was not yours to offer, Aquarius. Time you spend with family this week helps decide the best fate for an older face who has come to mean more to you than you’ve so far admitted. Don’t be afraid to make your true feelings known.
Call: 09058 170 720*
CANCER
22 June–23 July
Mars encourages you to say what others are thinking, but do not have the courage to say out loud themselves. You’ve been more than flexible with those who wanted your help, Cancer – now it’s time to put some boundaries in place so that they don’t make you feel as if you’re the scapegoat for what others were clearly at fault for in the beginning, but never the ending.
Call: 09058 170 713*
SCORPIO
24 Oct–22 Nov
There is a more secretive feel to all you are doing. Are you embarrassed, or are you just trying to save the emotions which others are having trouble dealing with in recent days and weeks? Work commitments you agree to now begin your most successful professional chapter in a decade. A good time to make clear what and where you see yourself going forward.
Call: 09058 170 717*
PISCES
20 Feb–20 March
The need to see someone who is in your heart does not come with the guarantee that they will be willing to move forward with you. What it does offer is the opportunity to show them how you do things – and to create a more open mind for what can happen next. Study and work you sign up to now of your own accord brings the promise of great things to come.
Call: 09058 170 721*
Standing outside, my winged friend wrapped his claws around my fingers. My pet macaw Blu perched on me, his leash wrapped around his foot. ‘Go and fly,’ I said. Flapping his blue and gold wings, Blu took flight, hovering above me.
Keeping hold of his leash, Blu wouldn’t stray too far.
When my husband Derek, 54, spotted an advert for a blue macaw on the website Preloved back in 2021, he instantly showed me.
‘Why don’t we take him in?’ Derek said.
We weren’t looking for a pet at the time!
Growing up in South Africa, I’d taken in cockatiels, budgies and a macaw before.
I miss having a winged friend, I thought.
So, Derek and I took the leap and adopted Blu.
Our children Jordan, 25, Logan, 18, and Dalton, 15 were absolutely thrilled.
Cheekily wrestling Dalton’s hand, Blu always made
46* everyone laugh.
He quickly became attached to us, even coming with us in the car to do our weekly shop. ‘He’s my baby,’ I told Derek. While I’d seen other parrot owners free flying their birds without a leash, I never planned to with Blu.
Only, as we were getting out of the car one day, Blu suddenly took to the air.
He flew in a loop before returning to my shoulder. All without a leash.
Maybe he won’t fly away. So, we started going to quiet, local areas where he could safely fly. We chose open spaces so we could both
keep an eye on him.
Soon, we were heading out to a footie field down the road to fly Blu almost daily.
While Blu was sometimes chased by seagulls, he always flew in a loop for a few minutes and returned to me.
The idea of a huge eagle attacking him made my heart jump, but I didn’t want to keep him indoors all day.
So, Blu always came everywhere with us.
Only, on 25 August 2023, Derek and I arrived home from town in the evening and Blu flew out of the car.
‘I think he’s off to the perch,’ I said – we had one built in our garden.
But as we watched him, everything took a turn for the worse.
Four huge seagulls suddenly soared at him.
I was frozen in fear. Squawking loudly, Blu flapped his wings.
Then, he zoomed off. ‘He’s heading for the footie field!’ I yelled at Derek. We both ran after him. And while Derek got there first, luckily, Blu flew straight to his shoulder.
‘He stopped the football match!’ Derek exclaimed.
Looking at the pitch, the players were frozen – Blu had soared through them all.
I was glad to have Blu back, but I was a little embarrassed he’d interrupted them.
Logging into Facebook, I posted an apology to the teams – Stromness and Hotspurs.
We are very sorry for interrupting a football match, I wrote online.
But when Blu interrupted the match, Hotspurs had been leading the game 4-0.
Only, after the fiasco, Stromness made a huge recovery and won the match.
‘Maybe Blu was their lucky charm,’ I laughed to Derek.
Since that day, we still free fly Blu in public, even though that incident gave us a fright. Now, he’s a local celebrity! ‘Mum, you’re Orkney’s parrot lady,’ Jordan told me.
And that has become true, as we rehomed a red macaw, Scarlet, four months ago, too.
But Blu will always steal the limelight – he’s im-peck-able.
Suddenly, four huge seagulls swooped at him