Nice people thread 2 - now even nicer

Davesnave

PasturesNew wrote: »

One of my siblings (about 11-12) pushed the other one up the shops in a pram (about 1) years ago, left the pram outside, bought whatever she was there to get, walked home ... and was then asked where the pram was.... had to rush back and get it. Of course it was still there, things were back then.

Yes, I left my newish bike in the Town Square, one evening in 1963. I only lived 100 yards away and completely forgot that I'd ridden there.

Three days later, I discovered it was missing, remembered, and panicked.

There was no need; it was at the Police Station, waiting for me.

PasturesNew

Exocet wrote: »

Maybe it was a particularly ugly child.

No, I was left at home.

PasturesNew

A friend of mine was on the Isles of Scilly, and drunk. He made a phone call from the phonebox, but managed to drop loads of money on the floor. After the call he went home, fell asleep, woke up the next morning, washed, dressed, had breakfast, went out for a stroll ... and there was his money, still in the phone box.

Exocet

PasturesNew wrote: »

No, I was left at home.

Phew, phew and treble phew. I knew you would see it as a joke, but I wondered while you made me wait for my thankyou...

Davesnave

On a completely different tack, I was in the Big Town today, where I saw Johnny Kingdom of 'stalking wild things on Exmoor' fame. He was in the market with his wife, Julie, selling signed, framed photos he'd taken, plus his books & DVDs.

I'm not sure if this means he's on the way down now, or if it's a regular thing, but anyway, he was doing pretty brisk business. From reading his biography I know that he & I have a mutual friend, but it wasn't the time to talk about that.

I suppose his stall is one of the minority that reflect what the market was set up for; the sale of local produce & craft. We'd dearly like to get in there and run a plant stall, like we did in Bath, but I'm not sure we could do that now and sustain things here on the smallholding....and it's a 45 mile round trip.

As LIR still isn't with us, I will give a quick chicken report. Tonight, at dusk, we sneaked into the run and kidnapped both groups of chickens from their small coops and, placed them in the new shed we've been preparing. Until now, the two groups have remained separate with the bolshy Vorwerks and a large Welsummer telling the others what to do. When they wake up tomorrow, I suspect there will be a bit of social readjustment, but no bird will have an unfair advantage....I've arranged the perches so that they're all at exactly the same height!

misskool

Do chickens have specific social groups?

Davesnave

misskool wrote: »

Do chickens have specific social groups?

These do. The first group comprising Vorwerks and a Welsummer arrived about a month ahead of the second, made up of Silver Dorkings and a couple of wimpy Welsummers. The first group graduated to the orchard before the others and had the better housing there, so when the second group arrived, they had to be kept in their place, pushed away from the best food etc.

Originally, the largest Welsummer was in overall charge, but she has lost confidence recently and a Vorwerk has taken up the dominant role. There is a Dorking in charge of the later group, which is still giving way to the Vorwerks, but Dorkings are big birds and, ultimately, she will have a size advantage. Could be interesting!

Lastly, there's an 'innocent,' a Silver Dorking which often acts in a chick-like manner, begging crumbs from the others, or wandering off into its own little world, and that one is tolerated by all and rarely bullied. It is also very tame.

Like people, if you change the environment, the behaviour will alter. Now, with a new house, which neither group 'owns,' they must become one large group and work out who's in charge, who's next and so on. Once they do that, they'll get along fine.

silvercar

Like people, if you change the environment, the behaviour will alter. Now, with a new house, which neither group 'owns,' they must become one large group and work out who's in charge, who's next and so on. Once they do that, they'll get along fine.

Sounds like the House of Commons.

Davesnave

silvercar wrote: »

Sounds like the House of Commons.

Yes... But I'm hoping the outcome will prove more harmonious than I expect the current ConDem stitch-up will be, in the longer term!

fc123

vivatifosi wrote: »

For a change of mood, I thought I'd post a link to my favourite song of the moment. Its the best anthem I've heard about what its like to grow up working class in the UK in ages and has a really good hook too. I can't believe this band is in the download charts yet haven't been signed yet:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYaYldgp4OY

Just had a listen....I like it too. Sort of Indie/rap. Clever song though.

I've just finished reading Trick or Treat . Fairly heavy/chewy and quite disturbing in parts....esp the stuff about the drug companies. Saw it recommended on another board.

Moving?...I still haven't recovered from moving end June...and now we are moving studio again....which we will try to do as seamlessly as possible though it will be during our peak selling season. Dreading it but excited too.

I also decided to freecycle half the kitchen to see if it made it more spacious (it did) and if we could fit all the stuff in far fewer (less?) cupboards (we can't).........so we now have half a kitchen and I can't decide how to re-fit it now.:o