Comments on: Can we go home now?

By: oldgreypoet

oldgreypoet — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 11:06:17 +0000

I suppose I ought to say ‘big (by British standards)’ …

By: oldgreypoet

oldgreypoet — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 11:04:56 +0000

The visit to the planning people was to discover what one of our neighbours is up to. The only building work we may be undertaking in the future is the removal of the non-structural wall between the kitchen and the study, to create one big living kitchen — about 30 feet by 12 feet. That will not require official planning permission, though we may seek advice from building regulations.

By: Andrew Duffin

Andrew Duffin — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 10:18:32 +0000

Planning Officer, John?

See you and your tantalising hints…

I suppose we will find out what’s up in the fulness of time.

By: Brigitte

Brigitte — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 09:19:32 +0000

That’s interesting that peacock feathers were blamed for bad luck. Here, in Austria, at the turn of the 19th century they were very popular with upper class people, having them as part of a flower bouquet arrangement…. Perhaps that’s why the monarchy went down?

By: Neva Williams

Neva Williams — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 06:10:06 +0000

How lucky you are, with your Peacock neighbors. In my neighborhood, they’d eventually be picked off by Coyotes.

By: Mage Bailey

Mage Bailey — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 03:18:59 +0000

And can we ask what you are planning?

Shall we send you earplugs for the birds?

By: L'autre Monique

L'autre Monique — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:26:39 +0000

Yes, I too remember your raving about a certain GPS which had become a best friend…

‘Overrun by peacocks’, that would explain the rather nonchalant stance from the neighbor’s cat: he’s seen all kinds of them, just old visitors they’d be to him. But new to us! One male is bound to want to impress the females, I’ll bet you and your camera will be ready!

On a side note, I’d love to see the expression on Dolly’s face upon her first glimpse of the giant birds!

By: Josephine

Josephine — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 21:49:48 +0000

I thought you had a GPS that talked you from point A to point B……have you give up on it ?

Still got it, and use it. Sadly, it gets confused when asked to go to new places that are not yet on all the postcode databases.

Love your peacock pictures, they look so regal !
Didn’t know about the superstition though.

By: oldgreypoet

oldgreypoet — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:43:12 +0000

Mary Lee — I think the ‘bad luck’ comes from the old horse-drawn hearses, where the horses were bedecked with peacock feather head ornaments. In London, the superstition regarding peacock feathers in the house is very strong and I’d never, ever allow one in the house. Didn’t know it’d reached out to you!

By: oldgreypoet

oldgreypoet — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:39:49 +0000

I don’t really know too much about this from direct research. Across the main road and up and over the hill behind the house there was a place called ‘Penscynor’, which was a large estate complete with wild gardens and forest area. And a large ‘bird garden’, comprised of enclosed aviaries and free roaming flocks of wild birds, including peacocks. When the estate was sold and split off, the bird gardens had to go and all the inhabitants rehoused elsewhere. Seems the peacocks decided otherwise and went wild, roaming the woods to this day. Come spring time (that’s when the cock bird sprouts his tail feathers for display) they start wandering down the hill and into our estate where they are welcomed with open arms and lots of grub. The pair I have shown you here are the advance guard. I’m informed that we’ll be over-run by peacocks in about a month. Can’t wait!