Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2017/10/02
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Thanks to Ric, Jim, Jayanand, Philippe, and Howard for the responses! There was no pigeon waiting for me this morning when I went out to get my bike and head down for my daily swim in the sea. I must say it's got a bit colder today, and though I'm still wearing budgie smugglers, I'm seriously considering inventing pigeon smugglers which I could stuff more copiously, and keep warmer. A possible side effect might be it could increase my comeliness to the odd wandering maiden. Douglas On 02/10/2017 03:00, Howard L Ritter Jr wrote: > +1! > > And if an opening for Chief of Staff in a certain House in Washington, DC, > should open up, I?d recommend Douglas and his car submit their application? > > ?howard > > >> On Oct 1, 2017, at 7:45 PM, RicCarter <ric at cartersxrd.net> wrote: >> >> i believe that his is one of the best natural histories i have ever read >> >> ric >> >> >>> On Oct 1, 2017, at 7:38 PM, Douglas Barry <imra at iol.ie> wrote: >>> >>> I discovered the internet lied to me. >>> >>> After a day without some beady eye affection, I realised I was missing >>> the pigeon. However, my temporary pigeon deprivation wasn't to last. My >>> wife went out to her car today, saw a movement behind it, and discovered >>> a pigeon. I came out on her call, realised that it was the same one, >>> and that the poor thing was obviously entranced by the quality of the >>> Flahavans Pinhead Oats that I had given it when it was here before. I >>> say this confident in my understanding of the knowing and hopeful looks >>> it gave me. With our cat asleep in the house, my wife headed off, and I >>> cycled down for my daily swim in the sea. When I pedalled back a half >>> hour later, there was the pigeon waiting for me. >>> >>> However, being a pigeon hotel proprietor is not in my life plan, so I >>> rang John the owner of the stray pigeon to say that it was back with me, >>> and had it returned to him, and then changed its mind? He said that, >>> according to his records, it hadn't been raced by him for at least a >>> year, and that someone else must retrieved it. After some desultory chit >>> chat, I got the distinct impression that John didn't really see himself >>> getting back with this pigeon, especially as he lived on the far side of >>> Dublin. "Could I give it to someone else - a local pigeon owner?" I >>> suggested. He didn't think so, as he thought they would be afraid that >>> all their pigeons might get some sort of plague. He thought that maybe I >>> might like it permanently. I said I couldn't see it living happily, or >>> very long, with my pet cat. After a silence, he then suggested I let it >>> revert to its feral state. >>> >>> I asked him how I would accomplish that. He recommended that I shoo it >>> away, and, above all, not to feed it or give it water, as it was clearly >>> bonding with our garage which it now associated with rest and >>> refreshment. The internet site I had read a couple of days earlier had >>> recommended feeding and rest and stated that once it recovered (24 to 48 >>> hours) it would fly back to its loving owner. Some chance with this one, >>> I thought. I asked about our cat, and John said that once it sees a cat, >>> it'll clear off anyway. I went out to it and did some heavy shooing. It >>> shot under one of the cars and there it stayed until I went back into >>> the house. >>> >>> At lunch, my wife spotted it just outside the patio window staring in at >>> us eating. I went in and woke the sleeping cat and put it on the other >>> side of the window. The cat spotted it, stiffened, flicked its tail, >>> paused for a minute or so, and then leapt at the window. The pigeon did >>> its best Kim Jong-un impression and didn't look in the least bit phased >>> by the Trumpian showboating. It stared back and didn't move. The cat got >>> more enraged. Eventually, I had to go out another way and flap my >>> swimming towel until the bird retreated and flew off to the garden wall. >>> I then let the cat out, and it became clear that this was one cool bird >>> who knew how to deal with cats. It remained high enough to keep well >>> away from it, and stayed staring down at an excited cat. >>> >>> I decided that I wasn't really abandoning an ingenue to its fate, but >>> really reminding a mature thing of the limitations of its expectations. >>> I went off and did other things. However, here is a photo my son took of >>> the cat and the pigeon. >>> >>> http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/DouglasBray/NHLFs/Target+Acquired.jpg.html >>> >>> I hope the bloody thing has moved to pastures new by tomorrow. >>> >>> Douglas >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Leica Users Group. >>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information