So, yesterday, I've called a cab. Wanted to dash into town and grab the last supplies before it all falls apart for god knows how long. He said he'd be twenty minutes. So, I found myself leaning on the gate. Lost in my own little world.
And, I'm gazing out at the track. My unconscious mulling things over. The line of bird bait which is now a permanent fixture and I replenish daily. I had a little film running, in my head;
Dozens of chaffinches. Rung most of them. And, putting the big trap out, for them, covered the bait and so blocked the bigger birds from getting at it. " Seiko ", my cock pheasant. The magpies. Gray crows. And the rooks .....
Ah, yeah! How I've hit pay dirt with the rooks! Nothing to see a dozen or more of them out there now. And, my boss was right, of course; Plain bread brings them in like a magnet. Cunningly, I'd been scattering it all round the bigger trap I have out there. One I made specially, to catch the doves.
But, I realised, as I stared, that that trap, whilst just right for the collared doves, was just never gonna get a rook in. They're just too upright. They could reach in and snatch a bait without ever getting more than a little way in there. I was gonna need a bigger trap.
Went over and studied the one I'd made. Looked closely at the smaller stuff I'd bought in. Yep. I can do this! I have the wire, down the stables. I'll grab a bag of small cable ties, in town.
This'll be a lovely little 'hospital project', to get on with while the world descends into madness. I rang my boss and told him of my plans. Said how I'll be fetching the wire mesh up from the stables, when I go down to feed the horses their supper.
Then, I'd sit here. Quietly working away. Day or few and I'll be catching rooks like there's no tomorrow. What a great way to pass this dead week!
We discussed the techniques I should use for handling and ringing them. Mentally all set. I was pumped! Said I'd next be calling to tell him how many rooks I'd processed!
Taxi came. Off we went. In the creamery yard we cruised past all those lovely rolls of green plastic coated mesh. Exactly what I'd be using. I bought my cable ties and off we went.
All the way home, I'm chattering excitedly. Telling the driver about my epiphany. How I was finally gonna be ringing So Many Rooks! Months it's taken me, to draw them down here. Now, I'd be getting amongst them
Got home. Sorted all my stuff out. Was thinking how happy I'd be, when my friend called me, later. She'd be pleased I had a project to occupy myself.
Went down the stables. Called a cheery 'Hullo!', to the horses. Got them fed. Looked behind the wall for my roll of wire. Not there? Ah. Must have popped it up on the mezzanine.
Looked up. The happy smile dropped from my face. My spirits plummeted. There was barely a two foot scrap end of the bloody stuff!!!
It was with a heavy tread and heavier heart that Ditch tramped his way back to the cottage. Gutted! Nothing to do, now, but sit here, twiddling my thumbs and trying not to think about the black masses, dancing on my track.
They're out there, as I type this. And I'm Already getting cabin fever, from just sitting here with absolutely Nothing to fucking do!!!
God, I fucking Hate 'xmass'!
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