We may not have a pigeonnier.....

But we have acquired a pigeon

Some weeks ago this sad tale began. We noticed a lonely pigeon sitting on the barn roof. It looked at us in that winsome way pigeons have, so we fed it. Well, Richard did, so I blame him. But I did suggest it -just the once.

Next morning he was back waiting at the same spot for more and lo! – he was soon given his own little green plastic dish to put the corn it (Richard puts the corn in it, that is. The pigeon eats it). On occasions Boris joins in with this avian feeding frenzy and brings the girls along to help. Shortly afterwards the pigeon took up permanent residence, roosting on the beams under our covered terrace outside the kitchen door – where we (used to) like to eat. And just to make himself feel at home he started depositing pigeon poo on the terrace beneath him.

You will notice that by now I have decided this pigeon is male.

Richard then tried to accommodate him by putting a sheet of newspaper under where he roosts- so the pigeon moves a few feet to one side to ensure a direct hit onto the terrace tiles. At this point I christened him Sir Crapalot.

Sir Crapalot now has total control. If the little green dish isn’t promptly filled each morning he sits on the little window-sill by the kitchen sink and taps at it with his beak. He follows us around the house tapping on which-ever window he spots us through. I dread the day he finds a wife.

Next week – a recipe for pigeon pie.