You don't see this every day. by onewing

You don't see this every day.

I was in the bank when I noticed that the chap in front of me, in the queue, had a parrot on his shoulder. You don't see that every day, so I asked him if I could take his photo.

It wasn't until I got home that I thought - the bank is in our shopping centre and you aren't supposed to take photos in the shopping centre. Uh Oh!!

Then I thought, they have CCTV camera's in the bank and I will probably show up on there taking photos

I hope nobody robs that particular branch in the next few weeks or they will probably think that bird man and I were casing the joint!! I could end up on Crimestoppers!

Never seen him before in my life, honest!!!

I saw him later in Woolworth's and he had a young lad with him and the lad had a budgie on his shoulder - like father like son I suppose.

Don't know how long they lasted in Woolworth's with birds and all that food around. If they were escorted out that could have been another photo opportunity couldn't it!! Missed that one.
Never heard about the rules not taking photos in the shopping centre. He looks so comfortable for you to take the photo.
August 2nd, 2013  
Great story Babs and a wonderful capture. You will have to get special dispensation to use 365 when they lock you up!
August 2nd, 2013  
Lol Babs your story really made my laugh and a fabulous portrait you have taken here too! I am going to fav as I love the photo along with the story! So when you go shopping are you supposed to leave the phone somewhere?
August 2nd, 2013  
Haha that's brilliant! And a great picture :D
August 2nd, 2013  
Great smile and glad you were able to get this - even if it means doing time ;-).
August 2nd, 2013  
That's awesome!
August 2nd, 2013  
Thank goodness you had your cam with you!! Good shot, Babs love the colours
August 2nd, 2013  
Haha great shot and good for you for asking to take a photo, all this crap with not being allowed is rubbish, let's face it, if you were casing the joint you would have a hidden camera! And you still have Woolworths there? How? All ours went bust! My first ever job was as a Saturday girl in Woolworths!
August 3rd, 2013  
@christinehosey Thanks Christine. I did take this photo on my phone so it could look suspicious I suppose!!!! Woolworths here is not like the old Woolworths in the UK. Well not like I remember Woolworths to be. Here it is a supermarket chain in some States Woolworths and in others Safeway. Like your Safeway, Tesco or Sainsbury's. Don't know if you still have all of those over there. Haven't lived there for 24 years.
August 3rd, 2013  
Ian
Fabulous story :) great shot! And that is the beauty of always carrying a camera these days!
I remember the Aussie Woolworth shops from my time there. My favourite supermarket, lovely lamingtons !
August 3rd, 2013  
@yaorenliu Thanks. He was very friendly. It only seems to be our local shopping centre which has the problem. I have taken photos in other shopping centres without any problems.

@derekvickers Absolutely Derek. Can't stop 365 can I. should make some interesting photos from 'inside'. ha ha.
@elaine55 Glad it made you smile Elaine. They don't have a problem with taking the phone in there, just don;t take a photo with it. A friend Nic and I were told not to take photos in Kmart when I took a photo of the ceiling there. My daughter Deb @gypsy6 got escorted out of Chadstone shopping centre in Victoria for taking photos, but she did have her camera and a tripod with her!!! Being arrested seems to run in the family ha ha.!!!
August 3rd, 2013  
@ginnykoppenhol Thanks Ginny. Glad it made you smile. I do love living dangerously!!!
August 3rd, 2013  
@sbolden Thanks Scott. You have got to smile haven't you. There is a notice on the door of the shopping centre which tells you not to take photos. Must take a photo of it and post it on here. I'll take it with my phone though. Don't want to be too obvious, they may take my birthday away!!!
August 3rd, 2013  
@humphreyhippo Thanks. If someone tells me I can't do something and I think it is ridiculous I've got to do it haven't I!!! The devil made me do it!!!
August 3rd, 2013  
Oh Babs!!! hahhaha! What a great photo first of all. Love the bird and the young mans smile is fabulous! I would say I will look for you on America's Most Wanted...but I guess that won't work either....Maybe they will use it as a plot in a movie or a book...."Babs and the Bird Man Capers"....I'll be watching for it!!
August 3rd, 2013  
@joeyc Thanks Joey. It was only taken on my phone, but I have taken photos in shopping centres with my camera. Think I may be coming to the end of my nine lives though!!!
August 3rd, 2013  
@streats Thanks Ian. Only took this with my phone. got more canny these days. They know me in this supermarket now!!!
You can't go past lamingtons can you!! How long did you live out here?
August 3rd, 2013  
@onewing lol Babs! I have heard that shopping malls are not classed as public places so photographs aren't allowed but people still do it unless they are told by security not to.
August 3rd, 2013  
@onewing yes we still have those supermarkets .. Although Safeway has been taken over and is now Morrisons ... Still, great shot you got there!
August 3rd, 2013  
@eyesmile Thanks. Not sure I will make America's Most Wanted, not unless I go and rob the bank myself. Could be world famous in Port Stephens though!!! We are such a small community, most people know me here, strange as this may seem!!!
August 3rd, 2013  
HAHA ... Guess you should crop the picture tighter and blur the background so that no one can tell where you were! Your secret's safe with me!
August 3rd, 2013  
@havrotb Good idea, but as I was probably seen on CCTV camera taking the photo in the first place, I decided that they know who I am anyway. Good to know that you will keep the secret though.
August 3rd, 2013  
Hilarious story! Great Shot!
August 3rd, 2013  
Great story and shot. You made me smile.
August 3rd, 2013  
Ian
@onewing haha, phones are so handy for this project too! Lived there for a year, six months travelling the country and six months in Sydney, but it was many moons ago. One of my favourite places in the world though!
August 3rd, 2013  
Jo
Love this story - I am sure we will all visit you in jail and bring you nice treats from time to time!! great shot:)))
August 3rd, 2013  
Lee
Great story Babs, made me laugh, and fabulous photo too.
August 3rd, 2013  
@joluise Thanks Jo. That is very reassuring.
August 3rd, 2013  
@gamelee Thanks Lee. It's good to make people laugh. Glad I could bring a smile to your face.
August 3rd, 2013  
What an interesting day you must have had, not every day you see people walking around a shopping centre with birds on their shoulders - or maybe it's different down under!
August 3rd, 2013  
@paulaw Thanks Paula. I suppose it is a bit different here. We do come across people with their pet parrots on occasion, but usually out in the open, not in shopping centres.
I have a friend who has a sulphur crested cockatoo and when he takes his dog out for a walk (the friend not the cockatoo) he takes the cockatoo with him too perched on his shoulder. We are all a bit eccentric down here!!
August 4th, 2013  
What a great, happy shot. It does pay to be a little braver in asking, doesn't it.
August 17th, 2013  
Nice pic of bird & smiley man. One question...you have WOOLWORTHS there? They had them in Philly where I grew up, but all closed down long ago :(
August 18th, 2013  
@tryingforsighs Thanks Rachel. Give it a go. I must admit though that I think Australians are a bit more eccentric!
August 18th, 2013  
@judy365projectorg Woolworths here is the same as Safeway and is a supermarket chain. In some States here it is Woolworths and in others Safeway. Same store different name. When we lived in the UK Woolworths was a bit like Kmart.
August 18th, 2013  
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