3 Jan and where's PPO?

In the wee hours of this morning, I awoke to the sound of rain falling hard on the roof tiles. I got up and checked on the chick, and found it huddled under the small plant in the pot - its feathers water-logged and wearing a sorrowful expression on its face.

Pot Plant Owl stood on the neighbour's rooftop looking much the same, as the rain hammered down. There was no sign of Pappa.

When I eventually got up this morning, I peered out the window and found our little chick still in the pot. The rain had subsided and there was now a steady, softer rain but no sign of PPO.

I went out into the garden to look for her but couldn't find her anywhere.

About an hour later, I went back to check on the chick, and PPO was standing on the wooden perch next to the nest, preening her wet feathers. She looked up at me with a surprised look on her face as if to say "Where did you come from?" I felt like replying to this 'look conversation' we were having with a "A fine question to ask me when I've been here all the time. What about YOU, Mamma? Where were you?". But I figured I wouldn't get anywhere with her, so left it alone.

If there's one thing that I've learned in five years is that PPO does what she wants to do, when she wants to do it.

Maybe PPO decided to take a break, or hide under covering until the rain stopped.
Or maybe PPO was playing her own game of Hide 'n Seek with me (as she watched me skulking about in the garden trying to find her.

Who knows! I've given up trying to work this little lady out. Whoever said that species of the Animal Kingdom don't have minds of their own and aren't capable of rational thought (or irrational thought sometimes), should spend a bit of time with PPO. And all I can say to them is 'Good Luck!'