Théo and the chickens des Sauches

[MaryJanet]

I'm sorry to say my best option is giving too.

If your uncle were to recommend a charity, which one would he name? I'll make a gift to humbly honour his work.

 

[Perris]

thank you for your thought-provoking ramble ManueB.

I think luck, and its absence, are real things, too often overlooked in modern discussions, which tend to assume humanity can control or is responsible for everything. But I think luck plays a limited part in the sort of disasters you write of. Personal health and society-wise, sometimes when one thing goes wrong by chance, it starts a cascade of other things going wrong, because those things are connected, and their failure is explicable in the circumstances.

If solving these problems was do-able, I think it would have been done by now; instead we tend to create different problems by interfering abroad, however well intentioned that interference may have been (and true altruism is rare indeed). They stand testament to our lack of real understanding of, as well as our lack of control over, these natural and human forces far from our own homes, habitats, and life experiences.

 

[RoyalChick]

Random ramblings

This (very long) post has nothing to do with chickens. I figure I can do that once in a while. It's been quite some time since I wanted to do something on local recipes, but this is not it yet. I will just be rambling because sometimes, like right now, it feels like I spend my days staring at my chickens in a microscope while the world is crumbling around. I want to talk indirectly about the earthquake in Kahramanmaras but more directly pay a tribute to my late uncle.

It has always struck me how Murphy's law apply to some people. A person's life can completely turn around because of a series of unfortunate events : a separation, loosing a job, illness..is it because fate or bad luck stacks against some people, or that one event will cause another ? Or, some would say that maybe the person has some responsibility for not being strong enough to cope ?
I believe this also applies to countries. Some really seem to have drawn the worse cards. Poverty, war, corruption, political oppression, natural disasters, epidemic outbreaks, ineffective or harmful foreign intervention... everything adding up. Haiti has made me, a hardcore atheist, wonder if the word curse could hold some truth. For other countries it has been the downward spiral from a situation that seemed not that bad to a very dark place, I'm thinking of countries with widely different situations, like Lebanon, Afghanistan, DRC, Syria now.

When the state of the world and a particular event hits me in the gut I instinctively think of my uncle, who passed in 2014. First it used to be with a mixture of anger, sadness, and relief that he didn't get to see it because it would have made him so mad. Now it's turning more into a kind of loving memory. We've always been rather close on my mother's family side and two of her siblings died too soon. My uncle was in many ways an insufferable man. He knew everything about everything, he was stubborn and always did things his ways whatever you or anyone that old him. But he was also a man who could not abide injustice, poverty and oppression. When he retired from his career as a civil engineer he went on doing the same job for humanitarian organizations. He travelled to various places in the world but the two countries he stayed the longest, and was the most implicated with, were Palestine and Afghanistan. He was not naïve about humanitarian help, he was a pessimistic man and knew exactly the flaws of the system. But he said it was better to do something than nothing, and the truth was he couldn't stand doing nothing.
As he grew older, he stayed more and more with his wife in France, he became a grand father and that made him much more sufferable and not so impatient. He was 71 when he left for his last to be humanitarian mission to build an irrigation system in Tchad, and he died of heat and dehydration during the travel to get there.
So I think a lot about him with what is going on now. I'm sure he would be moving heaven and earth to go help with the rebuilding even though he would be too old. I'm very reconciled with his death, but not at all with the state of the world. I wish there were more people like him. I'm not one of those, I very rarely take actions against all the things that repel me. I donate money but I doubt it changes anything. One thing my uncle did was to work with local organizations, even if they were more messy and chaotic, on the principle that it's better to teach someone to fish than to give him a fish, so when there is a local organization that seems serious enough like the white helmets I will give to them instead, or simultaneously , to french or international organizations.

This is my uncle Bernard on the day he married my aunt, one of the most wonderful woman I know, but that is another story.
View attachment 3400982

Random ramblings

This (very long) post has nothing to do with chickens. I figure I can do that once in a while. It's been quite some time since I wanted to do something on local recipes, but this is not it yet. I will just be rambling because sometimes, like right now, it feels like I spend my days staring at my chickens in a microscope while the world is crumbling around. I want to talk indirectly about the earthquake in Kahramanmaras but more directly pay a tribute to my late uncle.

It has always struck me how Murphy's law apply to some people. A person's life can completely turn around because of a series of unfortunate events : a separation, loosing a job, illness..is it because fate or bad luck stacks against some people, or that one event will cause another ? Or, some would say that maybe the person has some responsibility for not being strong enough to cope ?
I believe this also applies to countries. Some really seem to have drawn the worse cards. Poverty, war, corruption, political oppression, natural disasters, epidemic outbreaks, ineffective or harmful foreign intervention... everything adding up. Haiti has made me, a hardcore atheist, wonder if the word curse could hold some truth. For other countries it has been the downward spiral from a situation that seemed not that bad to a very dark place, I'm thinking of countries with widely different situations, like Lebanon, Afghanistan, DRC, Syria now.

When the state of the world and a particular event hits me in the gut I instinctively think of my uncle, who passed in 2014. First it used to be with a mixture of anger, sadness, and relief that he didn't get to see it because it would have made him so mad. Now it's turning more into a kind of loving memory. We've always been rather close on my mother's family side and two of her siblings died too soon. My uncle was in many ways an insufferable man. He knew everything about everything, he was stubborn and always did things his ways whatever you or anyone that old him. But he was also a man who could not abide injustice, poverty and oppression. When he retired from his career as a civil engineer he went on doing the same job for humanitarian organizations. He travelled to various places in the world but the two countries he stayed the longest, and was the most implicated with, were Palestine and Afghanistan. He was not naïve about humanitarian help, he was a pessimistic man and knew exactly the flaws of the system. But he said it was better to do something than nothing, and the truth was he couldn't stand doing nothing.
As he grew older, he stayed more and more with his wife in France, he became a grand father and that made him much more sufferable and not so impatient. He was 71 when he left for his last to be humanitarian mission to build an irrigation system in Tchad, and he died of heat and dehydration during the travel to get there.
So I think a lot about him with what is going on now. I'm sure he would be moving heaven and earth to go help with the rebuilding even though he would be too old. I'm very reconciled with his death, but not at all with the state of the world. I wish there were more people like him. I'm not one of those, I very rarely take actions against all the things that repel me. I donate money but I doubt it changes anything. One thing my uncle did was to work with local organizations, even if they were more messy and chaotic, on the principle that it's better to teach someone to fish than to give him a fish, so when there is a local organization that seems serious enough like the white helmets I will give to them instead, or simultaneously , to french or international organizations.

This is my uncle Bernard on the day he married my aunt, one of the most wonderful woman I know, but that is another story.
View attachment 3400982

What a wonderful photo of what sounds like a remarkable man.
I relate to your sentiment about him. My father had fewer practical skills, but spent much of his time working with several African countries to become independent of colonialism. I never really understood it until after he died.
When he was an old man and no longer able to do very much I would find him weeping at injustices he read about in the newspaper.
I have frequently felt ‘glad’ that he was no longer alive to know what is going on in the world.
He was also politically aware and some of what happens today is also better that he not be here for.

 

[BDutch]

Thank for sharing this random rambling ManueB.
Really an uncle to highly respect.
And thanks for your view on the matter Perris which I underscribe largely.

I do think that many (personal) disasters are a result of bad government, people who get super rich (money wise) and have a sick mind wanting to be in control of other people.
Even the horrible results of the earthquake are partly due to bad government, mismanagement and people not wanting to realise how dangerous it is to live in a high building without specially forced construction. People got rich by building cheap. This has caused too many victims.

Personally I stopped giving to solve disasters because of war, bad governments and such. I do/did work as a volunteer for organisations that try to make changes for an better environment. Which is the most urgent matter of all imho.

For me is helping corrupt governments that caused misery totally out of the question. The money can help a few people of course. But even if I give all my money to welfare nothing will change.
Doing (voluntary) work to improve the environment is something that suits me more.

Even my government and Europe are somewhat corrupt (some people in it to the bones). And I believe one best thing people can do is choosing the right politic parties and people with good intentions to make a difference. Another thing we all can do is to live thoughtfully. Think of the impact of your day to day choices before you buy / do things. But to do so you must know what is going on in the world (read thrust worthy news and articles).
I highly respect ManueB and many more people on this forum for the choices they made in life. Even if I do things differently.

Btw, I do believe some people just have bad luck, some have good luck in life. But much of the poverty issues have to do with the nest they are born into (imho). Even sickness and health issues at a young age are more common within some families than others. Also divorces are more common when children grow op in broken up families.

So yes. Bad luck can be 100% bad luck. Good luck can be 100% good luck. But there are often reasons underneath the luck or misery. And a reconciliating God never had anything to do with it (imho).

Example: Do you really believe that the project developers who build the cheap constructed flats in the earthquake area are underneath the collapsed buildings? I don’t think so. They probably build a luxury mansion with strong walls for themselves.

In general: As long as there are people /businesses who get rich over someone else his catastrophe (like the oil industry and the weapon traders getting rich from the war in Ukraine) the people of the world are going in the wrong direction. And catastrophic events will happen more and more.

Hope my contribution is not too long to get bored and not being banned for getting political. I don’t think it has recommendations for whom to choose. Just a pledge to think of other inhabitants (people and animals) on this world before choosing.

 

[ManueB]

Thank you so much for all the well thought replies. I agree with much of what has been said. It's an issue I can't find a satisfying answer for me- I also think interventions, especially of a military or diplomatic nature, often do a lot of harm. But I can't find peace with doing nothing either. I could be turning too soon into @RoyalChick's dad crying when I read the news, it's a good thing I can rant for hours to my partner and he usually agrees (world affairs are one of the only thing we agree on)!

If your uncle were to recommend a charity, which one would he name? I'll make a gift to humbly honour his work.

That's a very kind thought, however it's not simple. I asked my aunt when the US left Afghanistan and she said most of the local organizations could be stopping their project at anytime, especially now women are forbidden to work for humanitarian organizations. So for Afghanistan she said it was maybe best giving to bigger international organizations like IFRC that would be more likely left to continue their work.
My uncle's investment in Palestine/ Cisjordanie had a political component that not everyone would agree with. He worked with palestinian UAWC and Al-Haq. Under the current circumstances I'm not sure these will not be dissolved by the Israeli government. Alternatives would be allmep, a federation of both Israeli and Palestinian organizations, or Anera.

To end on a nicer note, a live from my favorite rock singer ever in the whole world even if she is british, PJ Harvey. Her last album on the subject, the hope six demolition project, may not have been her best musically but it had strong lyrics.

Back to chickens tomorrow .

 

[MaryJanet]

Thank you so much for all the well thought replies. I agree with much of what has been said. It's an issue I can't find a satisfying answer for me- I also think interventions, especially of a military or diplomatic nature, often do a lot of harm. But I can't find peace with doing nothing either. I could be turning too soon into @RoyalChick's dad crying when I read the news, it's a good thing I can rant for hours to my partner and he usually agrees (world affairs are one of the only thing we agree on)!

That's a very kind thought, however it's not simple. I asked my aunt when the US left Afghanistan and she said most of the local organizations could be stopping their project at anytime, especially now women are forbidden to work for humanitarian organizations. So for Afghanistan she said it was maybe best giving to bigger international organizations like IFRC that would be more likely left to continue their work.
My uncle's investment in Palestine/ Cisjordanie had a political component that not everyone would agree with. He worked with palestinian UAWC and Al-Haq. Under the current circumstances I'm not sure these will not be dissolved by the Israeli government. Alternatives would be allmep, a federation of both Israeli and Palestinian organizations, or Anera.

To end on a nicer note, a live from my favorite rock singer ever in the whole world even if she is british, PJ Harvey. Her last album on the subject, the hope six demolition project, may not have been her best musically but it had strong lyrics.

Back to chickens tomorrow .

I have a lot of respect for PJ Harvey too. Her writing and performance are things everyone should reckon with. She offers a lot of uplifting catharsis, often in a way that highlights the darker sides of human nature. How she manages offer transcendence from the darker explorations of her creativity shows how masterful she is.

 

[BDutch]

@ManueB , just curious,
Where are you original from? And was a love affaire the only reason you ended up in the part of France where you live now?
(Of course you don’t have to answer if you don’t feel comfortable with it. )

 

[ManueB]

I have a lot of respect for PJ Harvey too. Her writing and performance are things everyone should reckon with. She offers a lot of uplifting catharsis, often in a way that highlights the darker sides of human nature. How she manages offer transcendence from the darker explorations of her creativity shows how masterful she is.

You have a much nicer way of describing her work than my "she's the best even though she's a Brit" . I was telling my partner three days ago that one of my regret was never having seen her live (unlike most artist I really appreciate that I got to see at least once). He said I had to track her tour and next time she comes to France he'll take two days off to take care of house and chickens so I can go see her

@ManueB , just curious,
Where are you original from? And was a love affaire the only reason you ended up in the part of France where you live now?
(Of course you don’t have to answer if you don’t feel comfortable with it. )

I'm born in Paris and stayed there until I was 27, though I would have liked to leave earlier. I arrived in Nice in 2006 for professional reasons, because my family was near by, and thinking I wouldn't stay. I met my partner in 2012, we began coming here on weekends and I think we began thinking seriously about coming to live here at the end of 2016. I was actually the one pushing for it. My partner liked the idea but was a bit anxious to live in a house that belongs to his father as they have conflicting ideas on...a lot of things .

 

[ManueB]

The temperature is going back up, the days are lengthening, and the chickens are happy about it. Yesterday it was still -8 in the morning but it got warmer during the day, and today I had lunch outside for the first time in a while, and didn't have to keep the wood stove burning during the day.
The chickens had two good days on the whole. Gaston is growing more and more bold and I think Théo is slowly realizing that he should also be afraid. But he's still challenging him all the time.
Yesterday both groups had small adventures venturing further away from their usual zone. Gaston's team discovered the bee's shelter (the hives are not here now, we migrate them for winter) and I took Theo's gang with me to the field under their yard, but for a short time because they were quickly afraid.
This morning Gaston's pullets were in a panic trying to find a new nest. They get thrown out of the coop and they have decided the hole in the wood stack isn't good anymore. But they couldn't find a suitable nest, however hard Gaston tried in all kind of places, and everyone was beginning to panic. In the end Léa did not lay for the third day in a row, Merle found a new place in the old barn and Piou-piou resigned to her usual nest in the old barn as well.
Poor Blanche laid yesterday and today again even though she is molting now and her comb is pale. She's the ex-batts that lays the most when she would need to use all ressources for healing.
And I'm glad to say that for the first time since I don't know when, Théo protected Chipie from Blanche tonight when they went roosting. I really hope it is a sign that they are patching things up!

Pictures are mixed from yesterday and today. Luckily the sky was blue both days so it doesn't really show .

 

[MaryJanet]

I was telling my partner three days ago that one of my regret was never having seen her live (unlike most artist I really appreciate that I got to see at least once). He said I had to track her tour and next time she comes to France he'll take two days off to take care of house and chickens so I can go see her

Excellent!

She's always had very good stagecraft and from that video it looks like she has been exploring a little more theatricality in recent years, both in the music and in its performance.