Spirit That Won The War


I didn't get back home until 9am. I spent the night working on the wards and much of my shift I found myself looking after a patient with serious mental health issues , so getting back to the fresh cool air of the field was a fantastic way of blowing the cobwebs away.
I was just filling the goose puddling pool with water, when I spied a chap standing at the gate.
I recognised him , for he was a fellow poultry keeper from the next village, a chap who I had donated one of my very first cockerels to some six years ago.
Something was obviously wrong. He looked tearful and upset and after a brief hello he asked me simply if I could take some of his hens off his hands today.
I didn't ask him why he needed to " get rid" so quickly. His tears said enough.....I just asked him how many  he needed to relocate.
" 24 hens, 2 young cockerels and a few chicks." He said hopefully
He added that Eirlys ( my friend from the other side of the village)  had just agreed to take a load from him at short  notice as had several other poultry keepers in the local area but he now had 28 stragglers left
so what could I say?
He was obviously in dire straits .....
Like me,this guy loves his birds
"When do you need me to collect them?"I asked him gently
" around 8pm?" He said sadly
" 8 pm it is" I said
" how many can you look after?" He asked
" I can take them all"I told him

73 comments:

  1. John you are a stellar human being,you really are.

    Cheers Karen near Gympie.

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  2. I wonder what's happened - some sort of enforced relocation?

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    1. I know he rents the land where his birds are
      I just felt it was too much to ask him " why" there and then

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  3. You are such a lovely man.

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  4. Young hens are costly...I am not being at all altruistic

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    1. I don't believe that for one moment!
      Poor bloke. Thank goodess for your kind heart.

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  5. Ours is not to reason why...

    John, you did the very right thing on both counts. I applaud you.

    LLX

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  6. Good for you. I would expect nothing less!
    Cheers

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  7. That's very kind of you Earl. Sometimes it's best not to ask questions but I do hope that eventually you get to find out what brought the poor chap to this impasse.

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  8. Poor man, I'm so sorry for him. Very good of you to help out but I'm not surprised. From a short time of reading your blog, I know that you're a man to solve problems without fuss and instinctively helpful and kind.

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  9. Whatever is up he'll feel so much better knowing that his birds are all in good hands. The Ukranian village is becoming a town.

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  10. Well done...you must have made him a much less un happy person...

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  11. the more, the merrier? good for you!

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  12. Anonymous10:24 am

    Poor guy. I'm glad you could come to his rescue. Good grief....when those hens settle down you are going to have eggs galore.

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  13. Oh..............poor man.....makes me sad....
    I would have taken them all too....
    Your a good fellow...

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  14. I expect it would have been some small comfort for him knowing that you will take such good care of them. Poor man.

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  15. Anonymous10:50 am

    You really are such a kind bloke.

    Chicken curry. Chicken cacciatore, Chicken Maryland, chicken schnitzel.

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  16. Sounds like a crisis; you obviously did the right thing.

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  17. Hope he is doing ok - so good of you to do so though...

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  18. He sounded terribly distressed. So glad you were able to help him, no questions asked. Hope the newcomers settle in quickly.

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  19. So is this a temporary relocation John? Very kind of you to help him. You are going to have to increase predator patrol!

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    Replies
    1. Full time I am afraid..
      It was an ultimatum from his missus

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  20. Beautiful.
    For some reason the photograph reminded me of the movie 'Underground'. Or maybe it was the image of you emerging into the daylight from a hard shift. Have you seen it? The movie I mean. :~)

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  21. That's kind of you. Maybe you can offer him visiting rights, if he's had to get rid of them for 'land' reasons.

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  22. Sad...so glad he thought of you for help.

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  23. You are the dr Barnodo of the poultry world......

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    1. I want a statue of myself on Prestatyn prom

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  24. You are so lovely...yes you are.
    Jane x

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  25. Can you imagine the relief he felt when you said "Yes".
    I know what it feels like to find a kind person to help with homeless animals. I've been in rescue for years and the relief is enormous. I hope it all works out for you with your new flock.

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  26. John Gray, I was first attracted to your blog due to the whacky, warped and delightful content. Returning every day to peruse your comments and pics I have grown to respect and honour your character and generous spirit. I am a new blogger and hope it is appropriate to enter this comment here. Thank you.

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    1. You've put my own thoughts into better words than I could.

      Nancy in Iowa

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    2. Bearly..you are very sweet..and so are you mom.... Even though you flirt outrageously with jason

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  27. He knew he could count on you John.

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  28. If times and circumstances were a little different, I could see your house filled with children....from everywhere!
    You just gave this poor fellow, John, the greatest gift of all, kindness and compassion.

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  29. Bless you and your feathered heart.

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  30. What a very kind thing to do :-). It will have taken a load off his mind that his birds will be superbly looked after by you

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  31. Life is full of ups and downs. I hope that man feels better, knowing that his birds will be well taken care of.

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  32. You really are a big softie, with a heart as big as the universe. I can only imagine how much lighter his burden is today, knowing all the birds are resettled in new homes.

    Nancy in Iowa

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  33. You are just the best, John! 28 chooks will relocate to Paradise in your little piece of normality.

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  34. Oh, poor man! I hope he is well!

    Lots of newbies to care for. Lucky chicks.

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  35. What a kind thing to do. To offer practical help and not "just" words ( although words are also good!)

    Where are they all going to live?


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    1. I have two " chicken free" hen houses in the Ukrainian village

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    2. A couple of spare houses " just in case" - sounds like this place!

      You are a lovely lovely chap and I wish you were my neighbour :)

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  36. Can you at least name one of them after me? Els, Elsewhere, Anything else, Nobody else... so that I can enjoy your love and care vicariously?
    Well done, John.
    Els

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    1. Els
      There is one pretty little bantam with a single chick in tow....I have named her Els

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    2. 'A pretty little bantam' - that's a term of endearment I can live with very well.
      And a little chick too - I am truly blessed.
      x
      Els

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  37. All of the above and more!

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  38. Ah, it's going to have to be renamed the Ukranian Town Center. You'll have your own train station soon, no doubt. I don't think I'd have had the presence of mind to stop myself quizzing him about the circumstances. You do have a big heart. Good thing you have a big field, too.

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  39. Anonymous5:49 pm

    Ah, you're okay. ;)

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  40. Well, you will need patience, feed, cleaning coop strength, feed, and rest inbetween all of that and work...did i mention feed?

    Sending all of those positive thoughts your way...

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  41. The words 'big' and ' hearted' spring to mind here John.

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  42. Anonymous6:37 pm

    thank you John for helping this man out...I've had to leave animals I loved behind...he has my sympathy

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  43. Everything has been said already in the comments above. Poor bugger, at least he knows his hens will be looked after by you and Eirlys. No doubt the reasons for having to give them up will become clear in due course.

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  44. You are indeed 'that' milk-man delivering his wares despite the ruination of bombed streets.
    You are a "Superhero" with a heart the size of Texas.
    If only I lived closer, I would bring you a barrow full of Scotch eggs, and help do chores on the field in my wellies :)
    One in a million !
    ~Jo

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  45. God bless you, John. You have such a good heart.

    Love,
    Janie

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  46. This made me cry.

    If i lived closer, i'd be there right alongside Jo helping with the chores.

    x

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  47. Anonymous7:18 pm

    We need more people like you in this world, John. Bless your sweet heart.

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    1. Again, I must say, I wasn't being overly kind...I now have 20 odd laying hens extra!

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  48. Would love to have chickens of my own, John - but the fox lives the other side of the fence. I am not going through that pain!

    What a lovely big heart you have. Well done.

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  49. Well done you ... Shame more people can't be more accommodating when others are in dire straits.

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  50. If I understood one of your replies correctly, the guy's wife was the problem. I guess this is a bad thing to say but hopefully you will have spare room for the guy if at some points he wants it. And I suspect he will...

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    1. It's a complicated problem me thinks

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    2. I have this vision in my head of that poor man standing at your gate in tears, and it's heart wrenching to think about it. I certainly hope it's not because she just doesn't like chickens. I could never break the heart of someone I love just because of my dislike, so hoping that was not the case.
      (Maybe she is allergic to them and he had no choice)
      I think your real kindness to him was that you simply didn't require an explanation. They say the true measure of a person is what you do when no one is looking, and I think you do a fair amount of wonderful and unselfish things when no one is looking. You are a good man John, a good man indeed.

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  51. Very apt title and picture! Dedication, perseverance, going the extra mile. It's all there.

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  52. You done good, John, you done good.

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  53. You are a darling.

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  54. Sometimes the only word is 'yes'.

    You must have set his heart and mind at rest when you said you would take them all. You really are a lovely guy.

    The Ukrainian village will be fully occupied, but I guess there will always be room for another little refugee if the need arises.

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  55. Aww, you big softie you! Lucky birds!

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  56. I am not sure if Multiple Hen Syndrome is in the DSM yet...

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