Thursday 7 May 2009

Winston

I know, I promised to tell you about Winston ages ago, and still he's a mystery...not any longer!
I was privileged to get to know Winston and be part of his life back in Spring 2004 - at that time, I was living in London but looking for a new city to move to, as we had grown quite tired of the metropole. Wendy, who at the time was temporarily rehoming some of the bunnies she had with her, asked me to take in Winston until she had some work done on her place, and so one evening he came.
Back then, I had only one housebunny, Sir Harvey (I know... I should tell you his story one day as well!), and I was hoping that maybe the two would become friends. Sadly, Sir Harvey was a no-bun bunny, and much more friendly to humans than other creatures (one day I shall tell you the tales of Judy and Dusty too...), and when Winston had his time-out in the living room, and Sir Harvey was locked in his pen, whenever Winston came too close to Sir H's run, the latter tried to give him a beating. Winston, cool as a cucumber, didn't care, and kept on binkying happily and do his bunny5oos all around the pen and going up and down the sofa. He was so funny, Wendy used to say he did "old man binkies", LOL! He was a very affectionated character who loved his ear and head rubs and tooth-purred for England.

When we moved to Nottingham, in August 2004, Winston had to go back to Wendy. By then, we had another member in the family, Nik the Dutch bunny, but this is again another story.
Back then, Wendy told me that Winston was already an elderly bunny, probably aged 6. If this was estimated correctly, Winston would be now 11!
Eventually, Wendy found new homes for her bunnies and my friend and bunnysitter Amy was then looking for a companion for her elderly bunny girl, Mary. Mary used to be a love with humans, but quite fierce and territorial with other buns, so she was hoping that Winston would change her mind. And so it was that the two became a couple.

Mary, in April 2007, sunbathing

In fact, Winston is such a laid-back bunny that helps Amy in socialising new foster bunnies, and he does the job so well. So far, Winston has been pal with most of her bunnies, Neville included :)
Sadly, Mary passed away in 2007, and Winston found in Snowdrop a new girlfriend. It is so funny because Snowdrop was a feisty one as well, growling when a human hand tended to pet Winston for too long - she was very defensive of her bunnyman :)
Snowdrop passed away too, due to heart failure, early this year, and now Winston has found a new companion in Ebony. I have no pictures of the new girl, but a visit at Amy's is due soon and then I will take a few shots of the happy couple. The pictures here were all taken in April 2007 and he still looks more or less the same... well, he has "grown" a bit of a skirt on his back, or a floor sweeper, also because he has a bit of arthritis, for which he is on medication. Still, for his age he is doing brilliantly, don't you think?

14 comments:

Edward of PathGhana said...

I would love to know how you keep up with Winston. Is he not a bother to you and you friends.

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YowlYY said...

Hi Edward, not in the least. In fact, he is one of the most laid back bunnies I've ever met, and he does not chew either!

Edward of PathGhana said...

YowlYY, great to know such a nice rabbit doesn't come with worries. I think I must try out a pet one of these days. Any tips for me?


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d. moll, l.ac. said...

WInston is quite a fellow, so hard working, socialising new bunnies and all! Nice that he can find girl friends so easily, I guess that's one of the job benefits.

Annette Tait said...

wonderful to get to know Winston!

he is looking good!

Ann (bunnygirl) said...

What a fine old fellow. Go, Winston!

Deb Cushman said...

What a great old bun -- and quite a ladies' man, too!

RG said...

The perfect Winston. Our Winston shall look up to him and try to act accordingly!!! Thanks for the story ... and next????

PJ said...

Winston is quite a warbun, taking care of so many newcomers. We should all be so agreeable. And prone not to chew (I don't want to talk about it).

Maartsi said...

Well well, is Winston a littele bit a ladies' man! ;)

I was reading old postings in Disapproval Rabbits and who were there, Hugo and Miss Eve.

Crafty Green Poet said...

he's a lovely bunny..... good hearted too from what you say

Anonymous said...

Poor thing, losing so many girlfriends must have been hard.. yet he remains so good natured. Winston's really a bun of great character!

Anonymous said...

Winston oh winston :D

RoadBunner said...

He looks like quite a distinguished little fellow!