Start spreading the news

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The sun rises late in Mu-Mu Land this morning. A seagull which has lost its way caw-caws as it flies in confused circles around The Hill. A startled thrush darts out of the beech hedge and a robin trills a sweet song above the stile.

Across the valley, the sad, lonesome voice of Russell's Crow, defiant and desolate, rings out around the village. I fancy he is calling for his lost soul mates, devastated by a fox last week. He cries out, like Macduff: 'What, all my pretty chickens, and their dam, at one fell swoop?'

Down the lane, Pelly Sheepwash is keeping watch over her flock and my timeshare hens. We are hoping Mr Sheepwash's thorough digging-in of the chicken-proof fence will deter this blood-hungry animal. Or maybe the fox was caught by the hunt-that-is-not-a-hunt which clattered through the square last weekend, causing me to pull a calf muscle as I turned quickly to get the camera.

And this morning, as I hobble along the ridge with the dogs, I can clearly look across to Russell's Crow's pen. Expecting to glimpse the sad sight of a solitary figure atop the hen coop, I am surprised to see what appears to be lots of white hens scurrying around him. Are they the ghosts of hens past? Zombie chickens? Are they hell as like. Replacements, that's what they are. Russell's Crow wasn't grieving, he was showing off.

It wasn't Macbeth he was quoting from. His little town blues are melting away as he makes a brand new start of it. By pretending to be Frank Sinatra. I can hear the crashing finale of Big Band music now.

'And find I'm king of the hill, top of the heap...'

That's about it

Love Maddie x

Comments

  1. Jude23 October 2009 at 10:48

    Hobble??
    Have you broken a toe too? Absolute agony.............

    ReplyDelete
  2. Reg Skoda23 October 2009 at 13:08

    I think your first instinct was right. They're the zombie chickens spreading blogging awards across the countryside...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Buggles Balham High Road23 October 2009 at 15:37

    They are Reg. We thought our next door neighbours were building a dog kennel at the top of their garden until today when I went and had a peep and - there are chickens pecking the ground - or are they Zombie Chickens spreading those awards?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Pondside23 October 2009 at 15:58

    Roosters are, after all, males - and have you ever seen an unattached widower?.......of any age?
    We lost our entire flock last year and have yet to replace it. The coop sits sadly empty and I resentfully buy my eggs at the grocery store.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Frances24 October 2009 at 00:27

    Oh, you are so funny!

    From New York, NY, I send tributes to your very own R Crow. Guess that he has got what it takes.

    xo

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hilary25 October 2009 at 13:42

    Males. they're rarely fickle. ;) You painted a fine image complete with sound effects.

    ReplyDelete
  7. English Rider25 October 2009 at 18:33

    Ghosts of hens past? Great thought. I really enjoyed this post.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Calico Kate27 October 2009 at 18:25

    Have just been catching up with everything - I am so sure you have done better than you think you have in your exam - but lett us know how it goes.
    This is a damn fine cockeral picture.
    And I hope that the teeths are feeling better now.
    CKx

    ReplyDelete

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