What have Mikhail Zolotovitsky, Paul Gavin,Terry Hughes and Robin Govier (pictured) got in common?
According to the official website, the torch will pass a mile or so south of Trelawnyd and I for one will be waving my Union Jack with game gay abandon as one of the chaps passes by.
I am a fan of the Olympics....and I am pleased that we are hosting the games.
I am not a sports fan though....all that running and jumping stuff leaves me a little cold, but as a celebration of positivity and a most welcomed panacea to the bloody awful mess the bankers have wrought on the world, I cannot wait to see fellow blogger Nota Bene and the other thousands of volunteers waving their collective flags at the opening ceremony.
It will, I am sure bring a tear to my eye!
Closer to home, I have been witness to a certain change in the power base within the hen community on the field. It had to come I suppose...a kind of Shakespearean tale is developing where the existing king ( the old cockerel Stanley) is becoming physically less dominant and noticeably frailer whereas his son (The buff but slightly nervous Badger) is developing into a magnificent adult bird.
Stanley is around seven, which is a fair age for a male who is constantly supervising and shagging a large group of gals during daylight hours, and like any ageing lothario he has got to a stage where the mind is willing but the body is weak.
Fairly soon the king will be dead.....and I will be thinking and saying "long live the new king"
This morning Stanley has an inflamed and closed right eye. He has lost a little weight and feels a little thinner than he used to be. I have treated him with antibiotics and have set him up by himself with extra food and water in his own run in sight of his adoring ladies.
He is an ideal cockerel. He is a gentle natured, vigilant protector of the flock and during the occasional threat from a marauding fox has always put himself into harms way to keep his own hens safe and I hope his son, who is the spit of his father, will eventually take over the mantle and the responsibility of the old king with such dedication and bravery.
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| The Old King |
Our hens are just for eggs; so no Cockerel. But years ago we had one (named Big Business) who ruled over his roost with an iron comb. I always liked to see him scratching around for his hens, but never eating whatever he unearthed; everything was for the harem. I'm afraid that BB was eventually eaten by the fox.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful tribute to the old king.
ReplyDeleteWhat a loving post. I would really like to have a cockerel because unlike most I enjoy the sound they make and find it relaxing. Hope Stanley sees out his days without suffering. Lily. xxx
ReplyDeleteYou sure you posted the right picture? On my screen there is one man, two girls and a tiger.
ReplyDeleteI do truly like Stanley, but how is my beloved Eric getting along ? Now thats a cockerel, small but dangerous ! He is great. Ps he is now the proud father a a small white chick.
ReplyDeleteIs Mikhail Zolotovitsky a Welsh name? How come you weren't chosen to carry the torch instead? I'm sure you'd look nice in a pair of Matt Lucas-style skimpy running shorts or perhaps you'd prefer an extra large guinea fowl costume.
ReplyDeleteJohn, I was hoping to catch you on my last batch of nights,but we always seem to be there at different times. I just wanted to let you know how truly sorry I am to hear about the loss of Mabel. I too have tragically lost a four legged friend and from time to time still shed a tear. This is over four years ago ! It's the most awful feeling, having a dog shaped hole in your heart. Thinking of you Greta x x
ReplyDeleteRoosters are a cocky bunch.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant. I love the chookpen sagas.
ReplyDeleteWhat a thrill to see the Olympic torch bearers go through your town. I, myself, would be a cry my eyes out if I was witness to such a sight in my little town.
ReplyDeleteLong live the king!
ReplyDeleteI hope I and my fellow performers will do you proud!!
It goes right past my sons place in Aberystwyth - it doesn't come that close to our house, but I think my wife is going to drive into Gillingham to see it...
ReplyDeleteYay! We have to get up at 5am to see it in our neck of the woods (ah, you thought you were rural) but we're going!
ReplyDeleteGot tickets too! Weightlifting. Lots of weightlifting.
Enjoyed the succession tale.
The runners will have to carry torches? Are they passing through at night then?
ReplyDeleteJane x
jane
ReplyDeleteno they will just carry the olympic torch
Poor old guy...I hope he comes to a peaceful end.
ReplyDeleteEveryone should be as well thought of as the old king.
ReplyDeleteGood ol' Stanley.
Pearl
How rare it is for a chicken to live out a natural lifespan! Factory farms raise the poor things packed in cages and treated cruelly. It is wonderful the Stanley has been granted that luxury through your kindness.
ReplyDeletethe Olympics pretty much define my sports interest too! how nice that you'll get to wave your flag and pay honor to a torch bearer!
ReplyDeleteSad that #1 rooster is in his decline, however he's had quite a happy time and he's been well loved by you and the hens ;)
I loved reading about Stanley.
ReplyDeleteIf i lived in a place where i could see the torchbearers going by, i'd make every effort to be there.
I rather miss Mr P's rooster and geese; they're doing lots of work on his house now, so i'm guessing either a younger family member will ultimately move in, or perhaps they're making it more handicapped accessible for Mr P. Even if he returns, i'm doubting he'll have more birds :0(
How wonderful that you will be seeing the Olympic torch runners. I'm almost ashamed to say, when the Olympics were here in Atlanta in '96, I watched everything on TV. Most of us locals stayed as far away from all the activities and crowds as we could. Traffic here in ALWAYS abominable, so we were warned in advance to avoid the city if we could. And we definitely could.
ReplyDeletestill trying, in my own mind, to work out how you flip flopped me from olympic games to the tale of two cockerels!????
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Hope Stanley's son does him proud!
ReplyDeleteI had a real stupid moment when the torch passed through our small town, couple of years back. I was a little surprised that the person was walking with the torch (I could have sworn, in 1984, that the person was running)... and that it looked like a giant spliff... as it passed, I turned to my husband and said, "Is that it?" He caught it on video and still teases me about that.
ReplyDeleteMagnificent cock, John. Let's hope Stanly Jnr lives up to his Dad's highly moral and brave example.
ReplyDeleteGreat post about the old master and the young 'un waiting in the wings. Hopefully Stanley will have little bit more quality time before the inevitable: "Le roi est mort, vive le roi"
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the torch relay.
They're holding the Olympics in Trelawnyd? I thought it was London's turn. What plans have you got for lighting the flame?
ReplyDeletePerhaps when old Stanley passes on you could have him stuffed with his wings spread. Then if Badger doesn’t live up to what’s expected you could give a loud screech and then fling Stanley at the cocky bugger????? Or maybe not.
ReplyDeleteSP
ReplyDeleteAuntie glad's knickers
When does the torch pass your area? I think that's very exciting, and I hope you'll post photos.
ReplyDeleteI never realised cockerels were brave enough to take on a fox. Wouldn't the fox make mincemeat of him?
ReplyDeletecockerels ( well a good one) will always run towards a threat initially... they don't take on something like a fox but will face it off briefly in order to let the hens escape.
ReplyDeletea few years ago I lost 8 hens to a fox. the single cockerel was found furthest from the coop, quite dead... he had tried to face off the fox first
Badger? Is this little, orphan Badger? Bosom buddy to little orphan CJ? Badger who got his name from surviving a Badger attack?! He's going to be King of the entire yard!!?
ReplyDeleteI can't believe it! I'm beside myself. My joy for his rags-to-riches rise knows no bounds! Where does CJ figure into all this anyway? Does Badger even talk to him anymore or did they long ago...sadly but inevitably...part ways and return to their native peoples?
Here's hoping that his brave but humble origins serve him (and his flock) well in future days. Amazing.
Dxxx
P.S. Hey John...do you even read comments on posts this old? I'm going to come back and check in a few days and if you haven't responded to this one I'm going to stop doing it. I'll combine all my catch-up comments into one on your current day's post instead. I can handle many, many things in my life but going completely unnoticed is not one of them. :-)