Blissford Voice Today » Issue 27

Egg-eating chickens of Frogham

Editor — Thu, 04 Feb 1999 21:02:48 +0000

Sir, It is with some desperation that I turn to your learned journal, noting that the theme of ‘chicken’ runs through it’s discussion both locally and on the othjer side of the world. A brief background and ‘progress to date’ may set the scene and any helpful suggestions (or recipes) would be mostappreciated: Hilary, Nancy and Wetherby arrived on the 4th July 1998. Accommodation was a large airy wooden house and most of the garden. Indulged over for a good six months they received a good diet with plenty of calcium, grit and remote minerals. The investment of time and food was worth it as eggs began to appear in mid December ….and then disappear. Egg-eating had commenced. Not deterred Eloise spent one Saturday morning ‘blowing’ eggs and injecting it with a warm mixture of hot mustard. Placing the warmed egg in the house with anticipation of the culinary delight ahead for the little beasties….Several minutes later the three birds could be seen pecking the egg…having a drink of water …pecking the egg….Not thwarted we repeated the procedure with a venomous mixture of ‘chilli’…this time they appeared not to require the water. Enjoying the egg and contents ‘al fresco’. The following Saturday saw Tim making an ‘egg catching’ arrangement in the nesting box. A sloping floor to a box outside lined with sacking. Daily we checked the box in anticpation….to find they had decided to lay their eggs elsewhere…and eat them. Desperation has now set in which has been heightened by the report of new egg production at Batletts Common (after only a few weeks of nurturing by all accounts). Any suggestions/solutions or recipes would be gratefully received Yours sincerely Egg-less of Frogham (Tim and Eloise)

Our Chicken Expert Writes

Editor — Thu, 04 Feb 1999 21:01:28 +0000

A cockerel often distracts as it is difficult to eat your own egg with an importunate male clutching your neck feathers in his beak as he rides your back and thrusts at your bottom or try installing a t.v. or move to Blissford, then if all else fails, you can alert the High Sheriff of Blissford as eating your own young must be an offence!

Lost and Found

Editor — Thu, 04 Feb 1999 21:00:07 +0000

Lost- One birch tree from FTFV’s front gate. Last seen last Monday morning. Description – tall, slim, minimal foliage, patchy bark. If spotted, please inform ftfv ASAP

Corrigenda: New Blissfordians

Editor — Thu, 04 Feb 1999 20:57:14 +0000

As the headless horse people gallopped away into the sunset, Liz and Maurice Butler flew into Springhill. Comments have been made on inaccurate information in the B.V, about their background. (we only print gossip-Ed) They are now catching up on the area by reading back numbers of the B.V. Will they survive the experience. Watch this space.

A.C. of M

Benson & Hedges-Reader Alert

Editor — Thu, 04 Feb 1999 20:54:49 +0000

Saturdays tour of the Vale of Blissford with the B.V.s for delivery was a shock. Some nine abandoned gold packets of cigarettes have been strewn blatantly between Post Cottage and ftfv at the Brambles. At the next all hamlet gathering it will be raised with High Sheriff who may consider it necessary to take action. Liz and Maurice will be in the front line of Blissford Hillwatch.

(All properly introduced new neighbours are entitled to the B.V. New Neighbours Weclome Pack (six eggs, a festive clump of Jerusalem artichokes and comp copy of the B.V.! Ed)

Godshill Busy

Editor — Thu, 04 Feb 1999 20:53:41 +0000

Local government has transformed the busy little conurbation of Godshill next door. It had all the appearance of a small town last week with traffic jams, traffic lights and a new cattle grid just before the justly esteemed Fighting Cocks and its dew pond, brimming with succulent faery shrimp (our local delicacy). Fortunately once the installation was complete and the gleaming new defence in place, Godshill has returned to being a sleepy drive through. Presumeably the same team will be moving to Thyme Cottage to install their distinctive new blue cattle grid?

Rambles of a Victorian Lady in Oz

Editor — Thu, 04 Feb 1999 20:52:29 +0000

My dear friends, No doubt you are most anxious as to my welfare, but you may put your minds quite at rest, I am in the most robust of health, as, indeed, is my beloved consort. We have spent some little time familiarising ourselves with this charming little town and have made some suprising discoveries which have quite delighted us. Tuesday last, being a national holiday in these parts, my dearest and I, decided upon a stroll through the towns parks and gardens, which are extensive and most charming, indeed they would well grace a town of many more souls than this, such is their size. During our perambulation, taken in the late afternoon to avoid the most torrid rays of the sun, we were delighted to come upon a footbridge, quite unique, and of a form that I had not chanced upon before. My darling consort, had, of course, seen such constructions previously in his travels and was able to assure me that, although the contrary appeared so, the construction was quite safe and would bear much weight. I must confess that I doubted my darling’s word, as the platform of the bridge was made of single planks, and the whole thing was suspended from two, seemingly very thin, cables which were looped alarmingly slackly from one side of the river ravine to the other. My noble darling was such a comfort to me and was able to quell my very real fears and entice me to cross this construction. I must report that he was quite correct and we were able to cross in absolute safety to the other bank and also back again. It was not until after I had performed this daring feat, that he told me that an army marching across such a bridge would have to break their step and walk in a most un-soldierly manner to prevent the bridge from bouncing itself to destruction, which it would do if marched over in a regular manner. Hearing this, I had to sit down on a nearby bench, quite in a swoon and I declared, most firmly, that I would not be enticed to cross such a bridge a second time. My dearest seemed to find all this most amusing, but, of course, he has the constitution of a gentleman and does not fully understand the delicacy of a lady’s nature. I am quite recovered now, of course, and remain your very good friend,

Katherine de Bunche

Other News

Editor — Thu, 04 Feb 1999 20:50:32 +0000

From Media Mogul Holly

I am very busy learning new skills and researching things for nightlife. This time I am trying to find a Chinese Elvis to front a fast food item no luck yet but Im sure one or two will turn up .

K9 News

Editor — Thu, 04 Feb 1999 20:46:26 +0000

The Admirable Nelson is apparently well at David and Jeans.