Midnight Visitor

Have you ever

Stared into the owl’s eyes? They blink slow, then burn:

Burn gold in the dark inner core of the snow-shrouded cedar.”

Robert Penn Warren

Hey, Lovelies.

I had kind of a crap day yesterday.

Unexpectedly, late in the day, I received bad news. The kind you can’t shrug off or ignore. The kind that keeps you up at night.

I was alone in my treehouse, because Ben and the dogs were away, and I lay awake for hours, tossing and turning and trying to turn my mind off, to no avail.

Finally, I fell asleep, only to be woken up a short time later by a loud scream.

I sat up in fright, my heart thumping in my chest. The noise came again, and I realised it was a screech, not a scream. The screeching came closer, and the haunting sound filled my room.

Gooseflesh covered my body.

I knew that sound…


Something landed on the long sloped roof outside my bedroom window. It was a large owl. It sat on the roof, a few meters away from me, facing toward the forest. Then, ever so slowly, it angled its head around and stared straight at me. A Barn Owl.

It looked at me for the longest time, and then it turned away and screeched again. An answering call floated back, and off it flew into the night.

The last time I saw Owls like this was when I was in the Kimberley. Yesterday afternoon, three Black Cockatoos flew overhead, and I was reminded of my Aboriginal Aunties. So, I felt that this Owl was a message of reassurance for me. And a hurry-up too. Girlie, finish dat book. Tell dat story.

It doesn’t matter that I had bad news, a crap day, another hiccup. All that matters is that I find myself here, in my treehouse, supported by forest, with space and time to finally get that book written.

It’s time.

I’m ready. No more excuses.

That re-write I need to do? I started this morning. I’ll keep you posted on my progress.


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6 thoughts on “Midnight Visitor

  1. So good to hear you are writing again, Nicole. I hope today is better than yesterday, in every way. Thank you for sharing your owl and black cockatoo message. Xx

  2. You write it, I’ll buy it! I have a special place for Barn owls, well I did anyway, but in particular because we were facing the prospect of losing the pony I’d had since I was sixteen (in fact, I’ve just noticed, the one in my avatar there) and he was rising four, he had had thirty five good years and was only going out due to infection that just would not heal without invasive surgery that the vet said he was unlikely to survive due to his age. I was heartbroken. At the same time my Mum was having some heart issues and that involved minor surgery, well they said it was minor, I was freaking out regardless. Between the surgery being repeatedly cancelled due to various issues and the impending vet I was an absolute mess. I have a habit of wondering around at night, we’re a rural area, not as rural as you I don’t think but the last bit of road before our place is unlit and not well used. There is an old piece of fencing that has long since slanted at a drunken angle, just the one piece with massive brambles either side of it, the field joins ours, and I go past it every night when I come home. For three days straight before the day of the deed, a beautiful barn owl sat on this fence, waiting for me. The first time I saw him he flew in front of my van and landed on the fence.. The second day I was on foot and he sat, watched me go past, and stayed there, I have never been so close to a wild owl before. The third day partner and I were in the car and again there he was. The day came and it was done. As gentle as these thing could be done, the same day my Mum went in for surgery. That night as we were coming home after visiting her very late due to the vet booked for the afternoon that owl took off and majestically flew along the road, before swooping into our yard and vanishing into the trees. The message was clear ‘he is safe, he is being guided to the other world’ I will never forget it.

    1. Thank you for sharing this very poignant story of your pony and the owl. I know the lifelong love of a childhood pony and am touched to the core of my being by the love you have expressed here. Thank you again.

  3. Nicole, I love knowing that you have so clearly landed in the right place. It brings tears to my eyes. I have a resident owl where I am living and it’s so sweet and reassuring knowing it is nearby. I’m sending you big hugs.

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