Raewyn of decocraftsdigicrafts invited me to take part in the Five Photos, Five Stories Challenge. Thanks, Raewyn! The challenge is to “post a photo each day for five consecutive days and attach a story to the photo. It can be fiction or non-fiction, a poem or a short paragraph and each day nominate another blogger for the challenge”.
Day 4:
© irene waters 2015
Although possums get their name from their supposed resemblance to the American oppossum it is not related. There are about 70 varieties of these small marsupial tree dwellers scattered throughout Australia, New Guinea and parts of Indonesia. New Zealand also now has them as illegal migrants from Australia and there they are a huge pest. We had friends that lived in the Pelorous Sounds and they had made it their business to rid North Arm Cove of the destructive creatures who were wiping out the New Zealand native animals and birds. My friend’s husband would climb through the bush twice a day — once setting the traps and once checking whether he had captured any. They helped supply the countries growing trade in possum knitted garments and I have to say my gloves are so soft and warm I love them.
In Australia, however, they are a protected species. Here in Queensland we have a rusty-red ring tail possum but in Sydney I had a grey brush tail. In the bushy suburb that I lived I had a tame one that visited me with her family. I would feed her fruit and she didn’t seem to have any fear of us.
I hadn’t been going out for very long with my not yet but is now husband and I was keen to show off my family of friendly possums. I said to him to hold the fruit in his fingers but not to feed it until I had snapped my picture (I wanted a picture of him not the possum in reality). It took me so long to set up my camera that the possum became impatient and took not only the fruit but took a bite of Roger’s finger making him release the food.
Not only did it not endear the possum to him but it also resulted in him refusing to pose for photos in the future. I guess it also made me quick with my trigger in the future.
So now I’m supposed to invite someone else to join in the fun. That’s easy, I nominate Marigold from Versus Blurb. No obligation, Marigold!
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
Adorable possums! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your possums are waaay cuter than ours!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I believe yours are more ratlike but I have never seen one.
LikeLike
Ouch! Poor Roger. Glad he still wanted to marry you after that. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad he wanted to also. Mind you it was a couple of years after this incident before he proposed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I guess he wanted to make sure you didn’t make a habit of photographing hungry possums. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didn’t know thr was a difference bertween an oppossom and a possom? Cute story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have to admit I have never seen an oppossom but I believe it is more ratlike. Thanks Kayti
LikeLike
Oh dear. Great photo though. Yes they are a pest here as there is no natural enemies to keep them in check. And I have a beanie and gloves with possum wools. So warm and cosy. Love this post Irene.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Raewyn. Mine are a lovely red and I agree they are beautifully warm.
LikeLike
Ooops…so much for that photo of poor Roger then 😦 You did well to get that photo of the possum Irene…quick on the trigger indeed 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
They really were quite tame. The person who owned the house used to walk around with one sitting on his shoulder. I don’t think he teased him by holding on to food though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow…who knew? I didn’t…
LikeLiked by 1 person