Thursday 29 May 2014

An Old Bird



I met this old bird in town today, he didn't say anything and was not all that keen on his visitors. As the dear kiddies are off school this week for yet another holiday (teachers have such an easy life don't they?) the shopping centre in town puts on events.  Yesterday a couple of shetland ponies from a rescue centre ignored the kids and today a menagerie appeared.  White ducks, rabbits, a bored dog, sheep, chickens and a goat or two, oh and a bored pony.  Small pens kept the beasts from the animals (yes that is the right way round) and it reminded me of the old pictures of the town when market day really was a market.  Similar stalls stood in front of the pubs while folks sold sheep, pigs, horses and cattle. The pubs did a roaring trade as they fed and watered those coming a distance to market.  The Victorian way was everybody around one big table and eating when the landlord got things ready.  I think such a scene happened in one of Dickens books but I may be wrong. 

     
Goats and horses are always happy together I am informed by those who know, this pair prove that. Possibly bored, possibly just weary they made it difficult to obtain a picture when both had eyes open. The little pony and his mate were content however and the pony happily rested on his mate. Interesting how these two creatures get along so well.  


The other big chick was not much more impressed than his friend.  I suppose as I was discussing preparing 'Cock-a-leekie' soup with a woman he was offended. I had to be careful with the explanation of the soup also, English women are not very bright at times.  Still he was a beauty of a bird and both have been well prepared for their day out.  I suspect they both have practiced that suspicious expression of theirs for some time as it was very wary.  I was surprised at just how big two these birds were however, this is not how I imagined them up close.   


I always considered such beasties as wee birds, or at least not this size! Possibly they are shown at er, shows, as well as paraded around for the kids.  I am quite glad they chose not to show us just how loud they could be however.  Every so often a news report indicates newcomers into the country have complained to the local council re the noise of such birds crowing early in the morning.  Some have been known to grumble, which I never do, about cows 'mooing' too loudly in the fields nearby.  Not that long ago a young couple objected to a town clock that insisted on chiming every 15 minutes and clanging away on the hour!  Now if you retire to the country for peace and quiet you might well find it but if you don't do the homework a council, on some occasions a judge, will tell you to move back into town if you can't stand chickens or cows.  They make noise, that is what animals do!  A clock that has rung continually for a couple of hundred years will not cease because you are a spoilt brat either.

That said I am glad to have found the beasties. It brightened up a poor day. The brain is not quite functioning yet as the bug still leaves my mind weary and I have written and rewritten the intro to the war for the museum exhibition booklet around a hundred times, and that only this morning!  That was the reason I went out, to oxygenate my brain.  It failed.  I'm going back to bed.

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13 comments:

Jenny Woolf said...

Those are really great close up pictures of the birds. I am a bit short sighted and I never dare get that close in case they peck my eyes out so I have never had the chance to admire them in real life. These seem better than most photos I have seen of chickens.

Adullamite said...

Jenny, Digital magic! Get the beast in focus and shoot.
back home enlarge the bit you wish and cut the rest. That is all I can do with my little camera. Otherwise a telephoto is required.

Lee said...

Cocks and goats...do the two go together as horses and goats, I wonder? They probably do.

the fly in the web said...

Do these animals and birds do a circuit?
To be hired out for a display?

Cock-a-leekie soup!
Bliss!

Adullamite said...

Lee, Don't chickens go with everything, bar fox's.

Fly, I think they appear at 'events' as they look in very good condition. I didn't notice where they came from. Often such events are used by animal homes as it were.

Lee said...

No...chickens are too chicken to go with everything....

Actually, I made a big pot of chicken and vegetable soup for myself yesterday. Perhaps that's where the chicken went....

Unknown said...

When I first saw the title to this piece, I was expecting a picture of an old hen we have both grown to love. I guess you chickened out--huh?

Adullamite said...

Lee, Chickens go with everything in this house!

Jerry, I canny think who you mean.....

Kay G. said...

That first photo of the rooster belongs on a book of HORROR!
Hope your brain is properly oxygenated now. :-)

Adullamite said...

Kay, That is a fine old bird Kay dear!!!! :)

Lady Di Tn said...

Those of us who grew up in the farm country of Tennessee, love to see farm animals. If Prince would let me I would quickly fill up the yard and pastures with chickens and goats. I am glad you used the adjective English when referring to women. Also the complains of noise reminds me of those who move to the subdivisions near train tracks and complain of the trains horn. The train was here first just like the animals. Peace

Mike Smith said...

Soup? That'll be the pea and ham. No, Hughie, that'll be the chicken soup. Pea and Ham? Fae a chicken? Now that's clever...

Adullamite said...

Lady, You need to speak to Kay! She loves the country but did not appreciate the bird. Tell Prince you need chickens for he eggs!

Mike, I've decided to make lentil soup.....