Laura & CTB Posted June 25, 2006 Share Posted June 25, 2006 I'm fed up.........I went out to dinner with some friends last night, haven't seen them for ages and was excited about telling them that my dream of keeping chickens was getting closer to becoming reality. All I got was laughter followed by "what about all the chicken poo" and "you'll get inundated with foxes" etc etc This is not the first time this has happened and I'm getting fed up with it. Why cant people just be HAPPY for me! (Okay - rant over - sorry!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted June 25, 2006 Share Posted June 25, 2006 Because life is a bowl of toenails, I'm afraid! Yellow curly ones ! When you get your chickens and find that you're not over run with foxes or knee deep in chicken poo, you can produce some delicious home produced eggs to show your friends instead and I bet they'll change their tune! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted June 25, 2006 Author Share Posted June 25, 2006 Because life is a bowl of toenails, I'm afraid! Yellow curly ones ! OOOh Kate - you've picked the one phobia I have in life!! Nails make me really squeamish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted June 25, 2006 Share Posted June 25, 2006 Me too! I can't bear toes, toenails or feet unless they belong to cute little babies! Good phrase, though, don't you think! Better than "Life's a bowl of cherries!" which, most of the time, it isn't ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted June 25, 2006 Share Posted June 25, 2006 Hey! I have a toenail thing too....remnant from ingrowing toenail operations...But I'll spare you the gruesome details I can't even cut my own nails: Have to get someone else to do it.... shudder shudder.. Anyway Laura, as Kate says, just hold your own counsel.... they'll see ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted June 25, 2006 Share Posted June 25, 2006 Laura,I had exactly this problem when I first got my hens. People were just so NEGATIVE about the hens,& more especiallt about the Eglu. I had lots of "whats wrong with a proper hen house" & "I can make you one for less than £300" from people. Its the same now I have told people we are getting a wormery Alos I have had comments about my passion for recycling....."why bother when no-one else does" Errrr....maybe BECAUSE no-one else does Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted June 25, 2006 Share Posted June 25, 2006 I'm not sure that it's trying to stifle dreams... it's more different dreams and a lack of understanding and imagination. I'm not sure why some people to feel the need to put down ideas that they disagree with, but it is very much a human trait But it was my husbands dream to have the chickens, not mine, and I'm sure I've posted in the past that initially I thought he was mad and attributed it to an early "male menopause" Since I thought that an eglu and 2 hens was preferable to him splashing our life savings on a sports car or running off with a 20 year old blonde I agreed to the hens, but with warnings about him being responsible for clearing up the poo (and that was before I realised how much poo there'd be ). It wasn't meant to be negativity, it was lack of understanding, not deriding the dream, just finding it an odd one . Of course, now I know better, the flock is growing and the chickens have literally changed our lives for the better.... different dreams now So maybe you're friends will change their opinions when you actually get the hens.... or learn to keep their opinions to themselves Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted June 25, 2006 Share Posted June 25, 2006 Well put Kate! I now have two friends who were so sceptical, gagging to get Eglus and chickens: One pair have got chooks, but no Eglu (money) and the other pair, the wife is starting her gradual grind down process on a more resiliant hubsband..... Both scoffed at the idea when we set out on it just over a year ago! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley-Jean Posted June 25, 2006 Share Posted June 25, 2006 Oh Yes !!! I agree with you all. I got over it by being SO enthusiastic about my hens that people just went and didn't feel able to pass an adverse comment. Some fell in love with them, one bought their own eglu, some think they are very cute and some still go And I still keep enthusing wink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bracken Posted June 25, 2006 Share Posted June 25, 2006 You will also find that they will stop laughing at you when they have tasted the beautiful tasting eggs that they produce Then if they are especially keen on the eggs they will expect to get them off you for nothing........then you can laugh at them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted June 26, 2006 Author Share Posted June 26, 2006 Thanks all for your kind words. As it happened yesterday we were clearing out the garage (a most unusual event for CTB who actually began to draw a small crowd of neighbours curious as to what was going on)! We gave away various bags of ballast, cement etc to one neighbour who has just aquired an allotment. I told him about the pending chickens and he was thrilled for me! AT LAST!! So we have already set up a chicken poo for green leaves swap! It's nice to have found someone who doesn't think I'm one lettuce leaf short of a salad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted June 26, 2006 Share Posted June 26, 2006 There are nice, supportive people out there Laura - that sound slike a match made in heaven. When the time comes and the others are hoping for eggs - don't forget to put a decent price on them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 26, 2006 Share Posted June 26, 2006 Sorry to hear you've had negative comments Laura. Don't let them spoil your excitement! Glad to hear work has started on your preparations. Thank you for your lovely card! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted June 26, 2006 Share Posted June 26, 2006 I got laughter from some and the look of Oh another 'kooky' idea from Jayne (me!) I. I don't want to beige rather be 'neon green' if you get my meaning I now find that I have respect from those who laughed, I said I'd do it and I have. Let them laugh, turn the other cheek and watch your life change..they'll soon see the other side. BBx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted June 26, 2006 Share Posted June 26, 2006 I like to think that when I do get a negative comment,it is also a touch of jealousy that I can do something wonderful like keep hens,but they don't have the imagination or inspiration to do anything interesting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted June 26, 2006 Author Share Posted June 26, 2006 I like to think that when I do get a negative comment,it is also a touch of jealousy that I can do something wonderful like keep hens,but they don't have the imagination or inspiration to do anything interesting Cinnamon - I love that idea and thinking about it you are so right it didn't occur to me before but I think there is definately a bit of jealousy going on. Whatever - they are now relegated to the bottom of my egg give-away list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 26, 2006 Share Posted June 26, 2006 My mother has a habit of doing that too - she calls it 'being sensible' Buffie and I had the same rpoblem with her Mike yesterday - he was being a bit 'sensible' about her dreams Sometimes you've just got to go with it and dance around the room with your knickers on your head if you feel like it - it's dreams like that which keep us alive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellcat Posted June 26, 2006 Share Posted June 26, 2006 I hope that Buffie WASNT dancing round Lesleys room with her knickers on her head - think of poor Carl... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 26, 2006 Share Posted June 26, 2006 Sometimes you've just got to go with it and dance around the room with your knickers on your head if you feel like it - it's dreams like that which keep us alive. What a great saying!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linda Posted June 26, 2006 Share Posted June 26, 2006 Sometimes you've just got to go with it and dance around the room with your knickers on your head if you feel like it - it's dreams like that which keep us alive. What a great saying!!! And she's so right, too! Thank you Clare for reminding us all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 27, 2006 Share Posted June 27, 2006 You're most welcome Let's all do a bit of dancing today (maybe without our knickers on our heads - Graham you can wear your stockings if you like ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard T Posted June 27, 2006 Share Posted June 27, 2006 So Clare, are you saying that we've got to have a dream, because if we don't have a dream, how are we going to make a dream come true? And I agree about the dancing. Everybody should dance more often than they do. Even if they're closer to Stan Astaire than Fred Astaire. Richard T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 27, 2006 Share Posted June 27, 2006 You watch too much Disney Richard But it's true. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellcat Posted June 27, 2006 Share Posted June 27, 2006 Thats South Pacific, Clare! I dance round the kitchen (without the knickers on the head..!) when cooking. The neighbours over the back get a reat view and I know I've been spotted when I go and collect my eggs and Steve just smiles.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 27, 2006 Share Posted June 27, 2006 ooh! is this morphing into a South Pacific topic?? is it... I'm as corny as Kansas in August,I'm as normal as blueberry pie. No more a smart little girl with no heart, I have found me a wonderful guy! or is it... I'm gonna wash that man right outa my hair,I'm gonna wash that man right outa my hair, I'm gonna wash that man right outa my hair, And send him on his way. I feel a song coming on.... Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
