Saturday, March 11, 2017

Understanding.


The grass under the bird feeder has been worn away. This is where Sophie goes ferreting for sunflower seeds. Her first morning port of call.


Aude, the  bipolar decaratrice, is late. She's put a can of Farrow and Ball 'Clunch' on the back seat of her little Peugeot. She's not secured the top on properly and as she turns out of the women's cooperative drive the can falls over. The back seat of her little Peugeot absorbs much of it. What isn't absorbed forms a not so small lake on the floor carpet. The lady with the cement mixer suggests they put sand on the paint to 'soak it up'. What sounds like a bad idea is aggravated by the fact they use wet sand.


The Old Farmer heads off to the cottage hospital for a check up. I see him walking slowly out into the middle of the lane with the aid of his zimmer frame. He's wearing a red check shirt and what appear to be a pair of grey nylon pyjamas. While we wait for the ambulance I chat to him. He didn't sleep much last night due to the pain. He then tells me with a directness and level of detail that is decidedly un-Anglo Saxon where it hurts. Mano a mano I sympathize profusely. I now understand why he's wearing a pair of loose fitting nylon pyjamas.


In the evening a band of clouds drift line astern across the sky.  What looks like moisture spikes hanging below. I've probably seen this a thousand times but never taken in the simple beauty.

If your going to be interviewed by the BBC never ever do it from home : https://twitter.com/JOE_co_uk/status/840165524038377472





24 comments:

Coppa's girl said...

Sophie? A healthy snack of sunflower seeds? Surely not - where's the fun in that!
So sorry to hear that the Old Farmer is in pain. Perhaps he's been doing too much, when the Belgian lady isn't there to keep an eye on him. As we all know, he isn't the sort to take kindly to inactivity.
Oh dear, was the paint destined for walls in the ROF?

Heda said...

I learn something new from this blog at regular intervals. Never heard of a dog eating bird food. My gorgeous border terrier, who was highly motived by food, never tried to raid the bird table. And I've never seen clouds look that that. They are beautiful but quite strange. So glad the old farmer is well enough to be frank.

Angus said...

Bob is cautious about food. Always sniffs, it. Sophie will eat anything... and does.

Angus said...

Eating sunflower seeds is, I guess, a way of letting the woodepeckers and finches that throng the bird feeder know who's in charge.

WFT Nobby said...

Oh dear, one does feel so sorry for the Old Farmer. I do hope the cottage hospital can help him with more effective pain killers so that at least he can get a better night's sleep. From your descriptions of some of the local's 'costumes', he is at least fortunate that the comfy pyjamas are unlikely to raise eyebrows.
Cheers, Gail.

Elle Clancy said...

I have watched that video 3 times now...and each time I laugh. Sometimes we just need a good chuckle.

Anonymous said...

Sunflower seeds specifically, the variety people eat, are fine for dogs. It's not just for birds. Some brands add it to kibble. My pon likes them too. Also finds them in the garden if squirrels get to the flowers before we do. The only negative is she appears to eat them with shells, we prefer to give her some without shells. That's the magic of feeding raw and cooked. They get a lot of healthy stuff

Unknown said...

Millie also likes the area beneath the bird feeder, but she’s seeking bird droppings, that perfect any time snack.
Poor Aude. The car interior sounds like a nightmare.
The beautiful sky resembles a delicate watercolor.

Unknown said...

Saw that clip yesterday on fb, I laughed my head off. It is just so cute, nice to see funny things make the news. Hope the old farmer feels better soon. Cheers.

Jake of Florida said...

I saw the clip yesterday afternoon and laughed at first, but then I started hoping that Daddy-o would appreciate the glitch for what it was and not take it out on his wife! Hope the Old Farmer has relief from his pains! Glad he has so many looking after him.

Angus said...

I'm sure the man has recognized that he's become world famous and that has to be good for him and his family !

Bella Roxy & Macdui said...

Sunflower seeds and worms? Does Sophie have an identity problem? Or is she just channelling her inner bird...

Saw the clip on the news last night. The funny bit was the woman trying to be 'invisible' grabbing kids.

Jake of Florida said...

I hope you're right. I just didn't like the way he pushed his little girl away.

BaileyBobSouthernDog said...

Bob and Sophie look to be enjoying the sunny day! The sunset picture is stunning. Last summer I told you about the blue bird that taps on the windows of our house to get our attention. He especially likes Bailey Bob. We haven't seen him since early fall. When I opened the shutters this morning there he was! He has been window tapping all day. Spring is here!

Virginia said...

Poor Old Farmer - I hope they sort his pain effectively this time. I loved the clip - the one I saw on Facebook didn't include the little dot in the walked, which made it much more complete. Been thinking - the PONs could outdo those kids any day - Sophie with something she'd dug up from a flower bed, or Bob stealing her toy ... Just sa well you go in person to talk to 'the Suits' Angus!!

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

Last I heard, the BBC interview had 9 million views - Hollywood couldn't have scripted it better unless they'd added a dog!

Our crew also love the leftover bird seed - If I fed it to them on purpose, I've a feeling they wouldn't touch it.

Angus said...

In dog owners gardens sunflowers sprout in the strangest of places !

Angus said...

There is something gloriously innocent about it.

Angus said...

As long as the Blue Birds return all is well with the world.

Angus said...

Sophie will settle for anything non-metallic.

Angus said...

The swagger of the first little girl was wonderful.

Angus said...

Yes indeed.

Angus said...

The damp weather is probably the root cause. With summer on the way he'll soon be looking up.

Angus said...

The owl droppings under the church belfry have been a favourite of two generations of PONs.