The Dash

Hard disk on laptop corrupted.  Fortunately I knew it was going to happen and  I take regular backups anyway, so I was able to backup the data changed since last backup,   and I was able to identify programs that I use, relevant licence keys,  settings, etc. 

DH installed new disk for me, and it's taken ages to reinstall everything.    

I've been doing some housekeeping as a result, and I came across this poem, stored in a long-forgotten email folder since 2007.

THE DASH

I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning to the end

He noted that first came the date of her birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years

For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not how much we own;
The cars, the house, the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard.
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left,
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,
And more often wear a smile
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read
With your life’s actions to rehash
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?

©1996 Linda Ellis

Goodbye my lovely Boys

The Dinner chickens were 20 weeks old at the weekend.  The Boys have not caused any trouble yet, partly because we deliberately hatch late  and partly  because we had a very early developing cockerel who has acted as Cockerel since he was about 6 weeks old. 

However, that lack of aggression can change overnight. We've found that out before with a bunch of Dinner boys a few years ago, where they were all getting along together remarkably well until suddenly they weren't.  We had to separate them off quickly back then, as it isn't fair on the Girls.

We;ve seen a bit of squaring up recently.  They are still juvenile enough that they don't know what to do and both end up running away, but it won't be long.   So, we decided that this week would be the week we culled the first lot. 


We have 11 Dinners, and we decided to take 4 boys this time.  We agreed that Red would stay for now,  no point making a space for another cockerel to fill,  and the 4 biggest boys were taken out.  

This leaves Red,  at least one (maybe 2) cockerels, and 5 or 6 Girls.   Hopefully the forthcoming cold weather will help keep the other cockerel(s) under control until we're ready to do the next batch.
 

We also removed Spike, so the Oldies are currently cockerel-less.  It will be interesting to see if they seem bothered by it.  He wasn't a very generous cockerel, but I do remember that he got them all (apart from Mrs) up on the roof of the coop.    Still, it  may not be for long.  We're probably going to remove the netting which separates the Harem and Oldies for the winter.
The potential bully, Blue Ring, in enry's harem had not been seen causing problens for a couple of days, so she was spared.  

4 plus Spike was more than enough anyway.





 

Surprise!

There was an egg in the Dinner Chickens' nest box today.

They are only 19 weeks old, so it was something of a surprise.

No idea who laid it.