Do you know sometimes I feel like I’m on trial in my own house. All he needs is a gown and a wig and he’d not be out of place in Law and Order.
It all started a year ago to the day when I collected six very bedraggled hens from the British Hen Welfare Trust. I’m sure that if you saw them you’d never eat battery-farmed chicken again but that’s an issue for another day. I brought them home and slowly, their legs strengthened and their feathers grew back. A year later, they are healthy and happy hens and if I’m honest I’m rather proud of that fact.
Along the way there have been mishaps. One died naturally, a passing dog killed one but the other day, we lost a third, my favourite. There she was foraging away in the nettles but by nightfall four had become three. I was gutted. I told Pete it could only have been a pine marten and I was very angry at the pine marten. I could immediately feel a cross-examination coming on. Cue the wig and gown.
“How do you know it was a pine marten?” (PC)
“ Because I do.” (me)
“Did you see it?” (PC)
“No but it was definitely a pine marten.” (me)
Even as the words passed my lips I could see him revving up. I could see him relishing the opportunity to apply reason and logic. To make matters worse there was no body.
“So your favourite hen is missing, there’s no body and you’ve not even seen a pine marten? On what basis are you concluding that the hen is dead and that the pine marten killed it?” (PC)
“Oh sod off.” (me)
There, the conversation was over. He sat there oh-so-damned-right and unsympathetic. I was just as angry with him as I was with the pine marten: not a glimmer of emotion on his face.
Frankly I don’t care about Pete’s logic; I just care about my hens having given them so much love, devotion and care. My hen was gone and the pine marten had taken her. The Defence Counsel gets very irritated with people who irrationally join up dots (he calls it prejudice) but I’m not people, I’m me and I’m right.
I rest my case your honour.
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Why when it was such a sad story can I not help smiling.
It was almost as if you were sitting in my kitchen.
Amanda, I LOVE your blogs! I’m sorry this is such a sad subject and I’m truly sorry for your loss but you had me giggling from the first sentence…
you should write more… I for one, am a great fan x x
………………so then, this Pine Martin……………..is it available for photo shoots Amanda?
I don’t know, maybe peeking round the corner of a Scottish hen house or disapearing up a tree with a recently caught meal?
(said with tongue firmly in cheek!)
Take care and see you in a few weeks time.
I think your entirely right,Amanda,whats logic got to do with it anyway.
God came to me in a dream last night and said “Paul, you can ask me any question you like”. I thought for a moment and said “Did a pine marten kill Amanda’s chicken?”
God’s reply came in a flash “Yes”.
I guess that settles it.