I took the Welsh out for a walk around 9 pm
It was dusk and the bats started to race their way in zigzags down the lane
I was reminded of nights past when I had lots of animals to care for
And I mourned those days just a little tonight
This blog entry was written 14 years ago
“
........It is 8.30 and the evening remains warm, dry and quiet. I am sat under the elm which borders the Churchyard and from this advantage point I can see every corner of the field. No sightings of Mr Fox as yet!
George is sat quietly in Maddie's old spot at my feet and the Welsh terriers are tied up next to the water butts and look asleep in the evening sun. Everything seems calm and serene.
The pace of the animals is slowing down in preparation for the night. The four female turkeys have separated from their daytime meet up and in two groups of two are ambling slowly towards their respective stags. Jane and Lizzy (the slate and Bourbon girls) make their way down towards Bingley in the far pig house and Gloria and an almost bald Theresa wait patiently just a few feet away. They know I will be shortly moving them into their shelter with Boris, who is still huffing and puffing away in the back ground.
The indian runners stand uncertainly just beyond the turkeys. They are eyeing me nervously and are also waiting for me to direct them into their duckhouse. I am late tonight and they know it............. and I am just that little bit amused that it seems to bother them.
The hens are all gliding their way to their own hen houses in groups of two and three. The buffs swinging their fat bottoms as they walk heavily home. The only birds that don't move home wards are the six ghost hens in the furthest coop. They remain still and silent in a sad looking flat group in the warmth of the sun, yet the very fact they have all taken the chance to leave the safety of the hen house proves to me that at least the natural light and heat they now feel is in fact healing.
The two new foals in the field beyond the stream are galloping around is silly circles together and I can see Albert sitting on top of the Church wall watching them with some interest before he jumps down into the grass and rubs his head against those of William and Meg waking both dogs up.
The guinea fowl totter past and leap the 6 feet to enter the old Graveyard. They chatter noisily when they spy Albert, then move on to sit under their roosting tree, muttering to themselves like grumpy old people
I take a long measured breath in, as one of the roosters crow
And think to myself
I am home
I found you in 2011 and fell in love with your barnyard (allotment) stories and your menagerie. I always now have to think a moment when you say you took the Welsh out. I imagine you leading everyone in the country on a walkie.
ReplyDeleteA time before bulldogs
DeleteI think you were born to care for others, be they animal or human.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely narritive and I hope some cat or dog with soon have the good fortune to join your household.
ReplyDeleteHome, what bliss.
Hugs!
This is so reminiscent of “The curfew tolls the bells”…for heavens sake at least think about writing that bloody book!
ReplyDeletePerhaps not my place to comment, but I know John thought about it long and hard some time ago, and even began planning, at least, but decided it wasn't in him. Perhaps he will rethink, but if it is really in there it will likely come out, eventually. He'd at least get a few sales from the readership in here. But the lack is not due to the lack of thinking about it, I believe. Perhaps the blog is "the book" - it's all there for anyone to read from the start if they wish.
DeleteWell said--the blog IS the book, each day saved and generously shared.
DeleteAfter all, I doubt if anyone ever told Samuel Pepys to write a book - he just wrote a diary and that was the book. Although perhaps a blog archive widget in the sidebar would help people who want to to see everything from the start. I wonder how many words? A big book altogether I reckon.
DeleteI still think a television series could be done from the blog, if someone knew who to try to sell it to/through.
DeleteThere's a blog archive widget way down in the right side bar, for anyone who wants to read earlier posts.
DeleteThank you lizzy for describing that x
DeleteAndrew 18 years worth
DeleteI see the Archive widget now but it is hidden away. Would be better right at the top I'd suggest.
DeleteWell said Andrew - the blog is the book.
DeleteHopefully that will stop the continuous "one for the book" "write a book" from the same readers.
Read the archives people!
Sounds like you have always had a sweet family of animals, John!
ReplyDeleteChris bought me my first dog at 40
DeleteReminiscence is so bitter sweet. Happiness, or just contentedness, can be so fragile that looking back can threaten it in several ways.
ReplyDeleteLooking back it feels like another country Andrew x
DeleteAnother one for the book. Contentment in every word. xx
ReplyDeleteThe book it already there in diary form
DeleteI loved those posts back then. Another life, another world. It shows how worthwhile it is to write your blog, all was/ is captured and can be revisited.
ReplyDeleteYes, there are certain ones I can find and explore regularly . Births deaths and marriages
DeleteHave you ever asked yourself why do you run around like a blue arsed fly all the time. Gigi
ReplyDeleteYou had a farm!
DeleteA whole different side to you
Amazing
Lee
Lol hardly but at one time I had 121 animals
DeleteContentment... I read it, I feel it in the words.
ReplyDeleteYou felt right
DeleteI wasn't reading your blog 14 years ago, so I appreciate these flashbacks.
ReplyDeleteI think a few readers are still with me from those times Weaver for one x
DeleteMe too, me too! [waves enthusiastically. ]Those early posts were like a Herriot novel, but more real. As I recall I found your blog soon after I began blogging, in 2009. And read from that first shy post where you got no comments.
DeleteYou are such a true animal lover, John.
ReplyDeleteAnd I didn’t have the pigs and the geese then !
DeleteJust I cubat d 22 eggs. Thrilling actually. Am brooding them now and they joy two roosters. At least I think so given their pin feathers. Hope you are motivated to have creatures in. The allotment. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteCheers!!!!!!!!! I think xxx
DeleteIt was a time of long hours, hard work and commitment I think. But how well that piece describes the joy in your large "family" of characters and I remember the pleasure I had in reading about them. I can feel the atmosphere of the evening and the animals waiting for you to put them to bed. Good times!
ReplyDeleteHappy, tired days
DeleteAs nostalgic as looking through old photo albums. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteThat’s exactly what I did last night .
DeleteI remember that blog post. It was nice to read it again. A blog is much like a diary. - Jackie
ReplyDeleteIt was always designed in my head as a diary
DeleteGorgeous writing, John; you set quite the scene. You pay attention to the littlest, most defining details. Having animals that rely on you, and the routine to care for them can be quite comforting.
ReplyDeleteI had more energy back then
DeleteReading this , with three large allotments to attend to as well , I needed it
Beautiful. And this evokes memories of my own chickens and how much I loved being their chicken mama until the fox came along and took them one by one. Oh, how we miss them and the way they fit right into this little piece of land we call ours, which we too, call our home.
ReplyDeleteI remember your posts , as affectionate and as whimsical as mine dear lady x
DeleteI like that you find joy and contentment at home and away from home as well.
ReplyDeleteBucolic days
DeleteI miss Albert !
ReplyDeleteSo do I.
DeleteMe too
DeleteSuch a lovely descriptive memory.
ReplyDeleteIt was easy to write about, the narrative was right in front of me
DeleteEven a stupid troll couldn’t find fault with this
ReplyDeleteKeith
Xx
The stupid cow will probably try something keith
DeleteYou could have so easily lost your home but you pulled your socks up and fought to keep your Trelawnyd life together. This is something you deserve to take pride in.
ReplyDeleteYes, I d forgotten the cottage was up for sale only four years ago , it doesn’t derserve thinking about
Delete