Here are two photographs (I concede that these are not very good photographs but that isn’t the point of this game). Okay, so you know those newspaper games where there are two pictures that, at first glance, look identical and you have to find the differences? Well, here are two photos that are different from each other in numerous ways but there is only one significant difference. Can you find it?
Daffy: I’m scared, Bubble. Godfrey is approaching me.
Bubble: Stand up straight, Daffy, and he’ll have much more respect for you. Oh, and if he speaks to you, answer in a loud voice, not your usual whisper.
Godfrey: Good afternoon, young man.
Daffy: GOOD AFTERNOON, SIR!
Daffy: Wow, that felt good and he just walked past me – he didn’t tell me off or anything! I just wish I could have looked him in the eye, but I’m too frightened.
Bubble: I can give you daily lessons in eye contact beginning right now, Daffy. Okay, now look at me and try not to blink.
Daffy: I did it, I did it, Bubble! I looked Godfrey straight in the eye for a whole minute. He was asleep but it still counts for my certificate doesn’t it?
Bubble: Well done, Daffy, but I will need to give you a few more lessons [sigh!]
Guinnea fowl [they always chatter in unison]: This feather littering has to stop. It ruins the look of the lawn.
It’s about time we saw Julie about this and reminded her that we were here first and we do NOT shed feathers like those rotten peacocks, especially the white ones. Look at this beautiful lawn – its aesthetics are ruined by white feathers!
Okay, let’s have a chat to Julie right now! The back veranda door is the best place. Come on!
JULIE!!!! JULIE!!!!!!
Oh, that is just great isn’t it. That white peacock or peahen or whatever it is beat us to it and now Julie is laughing at us. It isn’t fair!
Angelina [our smallest white peahen]: Are they gone yet, Julie?
Julie: You can feather-dust the lawn anytime, Angelina.
This is the photograph given to me by Mr Tootlepedal. I had to keep it to myself for a day or so because I was like a child with a new toy; I didn’t want to share it.
A little while ago I asked Mr Tootlepedal if he would give me a photograph and he said of course and asked me to choose, but then I asked him to choose and this is the one he sent me. He isn’t even putting it on his own blog, so it is kind of all mine, and even signed!
I am going to get it framed and put it in the kitchen where I will see it many times every day because I know that each time I look at this bird, my heart will experience a wingbeat.
If you want to know what kind of bird this is you will have to go to Mr Tootlepedal’s wonderful blog.
Tonight one of my blogging friends emailed me a photograph just for me. I had asked him if I could have one of his thousands of bird photographs and I had even chosen a few possibilities. You see I didn’t want to simply ‘steal’ one which is easy enough to do with the internet.
But he sent me a personalized one and he hasn’t even put this photograph on his blog yet, so I think I am the first to see it. It even has my name on it. It is difficult to describe how much this photograph of a bird with its wings holding it up, and a cheeky expression on its face, has rendered me dust-free and reminded me that when I first began this haphazard blog, it was all about wings.
I thought of maybe inserting this photograph here but no way – not now. Now, it is just mine!
Thank you, Tom.
Today is in the dustpan
except for what we planned.
The visitors brought some sweet delights
and I stopped Godfrey’s angry bites
The taxi driver picked Ants up.
but saw my tears and asked ‘what’s up?’
I told him of our history
and he extended his hand towards me.
The days are getting bittersweet
and breathing sometimes seems a feat.
The happy cancels out the sad,
the sadness cancels out the glad.
If I were to go way back in time
I’d find a more specific rhyme.
My heart is torn away from me
and I just want to be left to be….
a bee
on a flower
in the sunshine
or else a perfect syllable.
Our three white peafowl are treated as inferior beings by the coloured peafowl (except for the two who flirt with each other).
Thanks for the leftovers guys!
The only one of our geese whose gender I know for sure is Godfrey, which makes him a gander of course. As for Pearl, Ola, Woodroffe, Seli and Diamond, I have no idea, except that Ola and Pearl seem smaller, friendlier and more polite than the others so I am assuming they are girls. This is Pearl who may or may not be wondering what s/he is too!
Lately there has been a great deal of flirtatious behaviour happening between the gang, which I have prudishly been turning a blind eye too. But today, with Anthony’s help (he is being taxied out for the day, and is much less prudish), I have decided to watch this flirtatious behaviour so I will know which of the gang members are female. That way I will be able to keep an eye on any possible eggs etc.
Watching gender games between geese is not for the faint-hearted.
1. Identify the bully [this is Godfrey, the godfather of ganderdom].
2. Contemplate what to do with the bully situation [Bubble and Baby Turkey contemplating Godfrey].
3. Plan out a strategy.
4. Walk away from the bully.
5. Attack the bully if need be [Baby Turkey attacking Godfrey, with Bubble supervising so that Godfrey doesn’t get hurt, but is taught a lesson].
6. Turn the other cheek [Woodroffe and Diamond demonstrating this].
7. Ignore the bully and leave him next to the rubbish bins for at least one hour!
jmgoyder 