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[susiepoos]

Colleagues laugh at me and I'm sure they talk about me behind my back but hey ho! life's too short too worry about that and they're always the first to ask "have you any eggs spare?"

 

It must be difficult for you but just ignore them - they don't deserve your consideration.

[Egluntyne]

Colleagues laugh at me and I'm sure they talk about me behind my back but hey ho! life's too short too worry about that and they're always the first to ask "have you any eggs spare?"

Same here!

[chickenanne]

You have all my sympathies - they sound so over-bearing, over-confident of their views etc, and when there are two people like that it's almost impossible not to end up feeling small in the face if it!

All I can say is, it's up to you how you feel - no-one can "make" you feel a certain way - it's how you react to their behaviour that generates those feelings.

Even if you do feel small, that isn't as a result of some wierd power over you, that's as a result of your own strong feelings and strong reactions. They don't have some power over you or your emotions, and IMO it makes things so much easier when you allow yourself that control.

[Louise]

I gave up worrying what people think of me years ago

 

In fact one of my goals in life is to become the strange woman down the road - you know the one with the cats and the chickens The type the local children are scared of

 

I am divorced, live alone I have the occasional lodger when we have students at work who can't find accomodation but I am always glad when they go and I am happy with my life

 

You are happy with your life so stuff them and if they keep it up find somewhere else to live life is too short to be in a situation that makes you unhappy

[whittlewitch]

Well what can you say they are obviously lovely people, who are very caring, they must be a pleasure to know!!!!!!!

 

The opinions of small minded people like you're landlord/lady should not not be given a second thought. As you can see I have not been a coming on this forum long, but from what I can ascertain it is full of caring, loving people who are on the whole completely besotted with their chickens, so if you a half wit, their appears to be at least another 4271 of them, myself included!

 

I have only had my chickens a few short weeks, but I love them dearly, and I would far prefer to be like you, than like these people, so let them laugh (I know thats easier said than done), because you know that you are better person than they are.

[MedusA]

I know I am known in my street as the mad chicken women. I chuckle to myself as I wheel my wheelbarrow up to the allotments with my wind-up radio set on Radio 4. Do I care what the neighbours think of me? Absolutely not!

 

Be your lovely caring self and carry on talking to the girls. I always do and always will!

 

Your landlord/landlady sound horrible, uncaring and irresponsible. I can't believe they didn't offer to replace the hens their dog killed and pay any vet bills for you!

[cathybc]

excuse me - I am the mad chicken and cat woman!!!!! who are you lot trying to take my title !!!! I walk round the garden 'bokking' on a regular basis, and talk to my pets constantly.

 

Olly's post really echoed exactly how I feel -my long lost twin sister

 

Obviously, I do have moments of concern about my sanity (!), but stuff what others think - enjoy your life however you want to as long as you are not hurting anyone else - unlike your landlords who sound horrible and I am so shocked about what their dog did.

 

And I love coming on here because it makes you feel less isolated when your hands are covered in chicken poo and you wonder if you have gone mad after all......

[Olly]

why, thank you cathyb - I'm glad to know I'm not alone!

 

Nuggywood, it has taken me years to get to this point, I'm happily divorced but I definitely wasn't this confident when it first happened, this is the result of a long process!

 

I care about other people, but don't really care what they think of me. Your landlords are probably more worried about what YOU think of THEM, and they're being defensive by setting up this cosy 'ha ha, look at her' thing. Be happy in what you do, and let other people do their thing.

 

It's just a bit embarrassing when you find you're talking to the cat ... and you're actually not in the garden but out shopping somewhere!

[xChicken04x]

Your landlady sounds like a horrible person.

I'm also one of those people who talks to their animals, do I care? No!

I have two cats, who are my babies, of which I have regular conversations with. The chooks, I'm out in the garden with them all the time, chatting away to. I can even tell the difference between their voices without looking. And then there's our three little ducklings, Jemima, Puddle Duck and Emb, they get spoken too on a regular basis, asked their opinions on subjects "Do you think I should empty your pond now, or tomorrow morning?" You know things like that. Also there's the Cream Legbar chicks, Pom, Biggles and Mrs Doyle. They are in the same pen as the ducks, so usually get asked the same questions. And finally, Zara, our German Shepherd puppy. As she lives in the house, she probably gets the most interesting conversations, such as when the news is on, "What do think of all that then Zara?"

 

I know some people find it odd that I keep chickens/ducks. But you will always get people who dislike certain things about you. I could sell all my animals to please other people but then I'd be miserable without them, so what's the point?

You just be you. Your obviously a lovely caring person and anyone would be privileged to be your friend. Those people are horrible bullies that are obviously very insecure about their own lives, so feel the need to make you feel bad in order to make them selves feel better, so next time they make a comment towards you or make you feel intimidated, you show them you aren't scared of them and they mean nothing to you. Just laugh at them or say something back, they will soon get the message.

 

Your forum friends will always be here for support.

 

(((Hug))))

xxx

[crazygal]

You can never please everybody all of the time (and why should you want to really anyway?). Your landlord and lady sound horrid, and its your life to live as you choose, and as you can tell by all the other posts you are not living it in a disimilar way to others on here!

 

The first thing I did when I got home today was chat to my chickens and cat (and yes- they answered back!!!). There is nothing wrong with loving animals.

 

Any snide remarks about my chickens (and yes I freely admit they are my pets) tend to come from people who grow up with chickens in the past and didn't give two figs about them, they just don't "get" how a chicken could be a pet...well let them think what they think, a lot of other people love coming to see my eglu and chickens and love the eggs too!!

 

hugs to you.

[Nuggywoo]

After reading everyone's posts I do feel a bit better!

 

I'm still unsure though... I don't think I've ever been a confident person unless I'm around animals, or at work.

I think, between the landpeople ( ) and A N Other (well spoken, lives near), they've chipped away at my self esteem to such a degree that I'm defensive almost all the time. I don't like being like that as it's not really me but it IS a defence mechanism.

 

I've tried looking for somewhere else to live but I love it where I am and my cats/chooks are happy, besides which who wants a tenant with 3 cats, 5.5 chickens and a horse (out on loan)?

I'm not in the slightest bit bothered about my divorce (waited long enough), I'm happy with my own company but just feel, yes, intimidated by their actions towards me. I'm not bothered by how plummy they talk but they do tend to be 'cliquey' with the upper class and I don't fit in. Maybe that's it?? I've only lived here 6 years and was relatively happy till about 6 mths ago though I can't pinpoint exactly why.

 

I'm tired of it all. I just want to be happy and smiling again.

 

Sorry for the long post and thanks again.

 

x

[Louise]

Try becoming even more eccentric

 

They won't actually realise you are doing it to laugh at them it would be hilarious

[Nuggywoo]

 

I'll give it a try

[Louise]

Atta girl

[The Dogmother]

"that mad cat lady who talks to her chickens"

 

There's absolutely nothing wrong with that.

 

Like Louise, I gave up ages ago worrying about what people think. Try it - it's wonderfully liberating.

[Lapinou]

Like Louise, I gave up ages ago worrying about what people think. Try it - it's wonderfully liberating.

 

I couldn't agree more! It's about getting used to it though...I'm far more confident now than I ever was about being 'different' and now I think I just have this air of 'just you try making a comment!' 'cos no one ever does now! Now I feel much free-er making choices that suit me and my family regardless of what 'everyone else' does and we're all a whole lot happier as a result

[redhotchick]

I am also "mad chicken lady" with cat.

How terrible for you to lose 2 chickens to their dog. I hope at the very least they financially compensated you. What awful people.

I talk to my chickens and my cat.....well it's only polite, they usually start it.

I love my chickens. Some of my colleagues think it's a bit eccentric, but most people are interested and everyone likes the eggs!

What will you do with 4 eggs a day?

[Rhapsody]

I just wanted to say that I moved to the sticks 18 months ago and it has been made very clear to me by some very plummy neighbours that I do everything wrong on my farm. I used to get quite upset about the way they spoke to me but now I just poke fun right back.

You say you have a horse so you must now how appaulingly cliquey horse folk can be but that doesnt bother you so you must be tougher than you think mate! I've lost count of the amount of ****'s around here who asked me if I'm going to eat my chooks when they stop laying- to which I now reply sure, will they eat their horses when they stop winning them ribbons?

[Lesley]

.

You say you have a horse so you must now how appaulingly cliquey horse folk can be but that doesnt bother you so you must be tougher than you think mate! I've lost count of the amount of ****'s around here who asked me if I'm going to eat my chooks when they stop laying- to which I now reply sure, will they eat their horses when they stop winning them ribbons?

 

Brilliant! - that's one we use around here as well Rhapsody.

[The Dogmother]

I'm always asked the same too Rhapsody - it's the first thing that people ask when they find out that you keep chooks. I find it rather rude TBH.

 

Nuggywoo, if you want to run around the garden with your knickers on your head then go ahead. It might just give those insecure and repressed people a sense of humour.

[Rhapsody]

Oh yes my motto is "I've never offended anyone who matters" (think about it)

[Leicester_H]

Hi

Sorry - can't write long reply right now, but I agree with all the replies above.

Keep smiling, H

[Nuggywoo]

I'll try and condense this

 

4 eggs a day? - Who knows what I'll do with them - I could sell the eggs as hatching eggs? In about 6 mths time it'll just be 4 + 1 pure breed. Same breed!

 

Cliquey horsey lot? - Yes came across loads of them! But the difference was I was secure in my knowledge of horses and it didn't matter to me if I was told someone's horse was better looking, moved better or even had a better name (called mine Goat ) and they all looked down their noses at me - my horse was happy, incredibly healthy (had him nearly 17 yrs) and very well loved (still is by me but as I said he's out on loan ).

 

Claret - I'd love to run around with my drawers on my head but I'd frighten the animals

 

I'd love to tell you all about the LL's but I can't give too much away in case someone in the village is on this forum (though I know they'd agree with me )

 

Re the dogs - no I wasn't offered anything, not that the money would ever compensate as you all know, but they just didn't care! To them chickens cannot be pets - dogs & cats can be and that's the end of that (although cats are their dogs' playthings ) . I really don't want to go into detail about their dogs, there's more and it hurts too much.

 

I'm glad I finally posted my feelings. I was faffing around for about a month before I posted thinking no one would reply (not that I expected it) so to get the advice, caring replies and overwhelming thoughtfulness from you all has given me hope.

 

T xx

 

ps I know this silly, irritating problem is nothing compared to what some of you are going through/have been through and for that I thank you even more.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I'm glad you've got some comfort from the replies. And it's not a silly, irritating problem. It's very personal to you and has obviously upset you a lot.

[Snowy]

Glad you feel a bit better for venting your feelings Nuggywoo, and it's always good to know you are not alone!

 

I did a toddler group BBQ this morning and because it was raining wore a wonderful, leather stetson that I bought in Florida a few years ago and have never had the guts to wear in public. Decided to keep it on when collecting the boy from school - got some strange sideways glances from the yummy mummys, but hey, I was a whole lot drier than they were