Guess we have all read about the bother we have when fireworks go off -- not only the birds but with our other pets too.

Well lucky for me my birds were OK (I left a radio on) but my wee Chihuahua- Rabelou was terrified and instead of hiding he had started running about the living room barking every time he heard a firework go off.

Last night about 10pm - it had all quietened down . Rabelou was in his bed and seemed settled so I decided I'd have an early night too.

I was no sooner in my bed when-- listening to the noise Rabelou was creating, you would have thought the fireworks were going off in my kitchen. My thoughts of an early night were quickly disappearing

I found Rabelou in a frenzy - he was not only barking but jumping all over the place - seemed the higher he could get the louder the barking.

Just what was he trying to catch? At first I thought it may have been a butterfly as I have had a few recently in the kitchen. No butterfly to be seen.

By now I was losing my patience and was about to catch Rabelou and lock him in his crate when I noticed him becoming very still and staring up at the curtains!!

There sitting on my curtain rail was a BIRD.

Now how on earth did a wild bird get into my kitchen at this time of night??

The birds I had in the house were all in their cages and this bird was definitely not a cockatiel or a canary!

Then the 'penny dropped' the only other birds I had in the house were the gouldians in the utility room. The bird that was on the curtain rail was the young gouldian that was just starting to colour up.

How did it get there!!??

Now the 'fireworks ' really did start - but I was the 'firework' -- First to catch the dog- and no way was he going to let me do this -- he didn't want to miss the chance of catching the bird before me!!

I eventually won that battle

Now to catch the bird-- big problem-- now I couldn't find it it had disappeared!

I checked the gouldian's cage - the older gouldian was sitting quietly on a perch -- now there was another surprise all the doors were closed- so how did that one escape? I had only recently bought that new breeding cage for them!

I'll not go into detail of how and when I did catch it because it was a nightmare I wouldn't want to repeat! My thoughts now were - "Guess this wee bird will not survive after all she's been through".

Once I got her back into the cage I checked the cage again and I finally discovered how she had got out. There was a larger space at one end of the cage front I was surprised she managed to get through that.

That space has now been covered with a bit of cardboard until I can figure out a way to fix it properly.

I think I've learned a lesson - next time I buy anything - I'll make sure that a bird with a nice slim body wont be able to escape.