Pigeons and poodles

I have had a few bad days, but I think I am recovering *touches wood*. From those days I mean, not from Myalgic Encephalomyelitis altogether.
The question ‘what would you do if you were cured from M.E. tomorrow’ pops up on the internet, from time to time. I do not like this question, it haunts me on those days I struggle.

It would be great to spend a week at Chris Packham’s place. He is one of the presenters of Springwatch and the author of the memoir Fingers In The Sparkle Jar. I am not talking about candle light dinners, instead I am thinking about walking the English countryside and having interesting discussions about nature and art. My art works are known to touch people, though not always in a good way. But I think he could stomach it.
Mainly, I would love to pick his brains about all those things in nature I don’t understand. For instance why the pigeons in our garden were making out at the end of September. They were sitting high up the tree where they spent many Spring days mating. That I understand. Spring is for finding a partner, smooching, to be followed by a nest of chicks. But why would they get all lovey-dovey weeks later? The two pigeons were not mating during that afternoon in the early Autumn, but indeed they were all over each other.
No, I am not confusing Chris Packham with Chris Isaak, for those of you who often read my pieces. I do prefer brains over biceps. Give me a smart man any day! Besides, I already have the best partner in the world, with plenty of biceps. This means I am risking to embarrass him by not referring to his brains.
I can imagine sitting in his garden, Chris Packham sharing his knowledge, while the dogs are playing in the yard. Dogs? Yes dogs, poodles to be precise. I am not that good with dogs, but the least I can do is try to stomach it. Or pretend to. And then Martin Hughes-Games – his Springwatch co-host – would be popping round for a cup of tea, telling me all about his adventures with a Giant Centipede. Now that could be a bit painful, if it turns out that I did read the book A Wild Life by Hughes-Games, but not yet the memoir. Oops.

But who am I kidding? This whole story is rather painful. Of course I am not cured tomorrow, I am not that silly. I have been ill for over a decade, if it ever changes it won’t be overnight. Perhaps now you understand why I dislike this question. I would be very happy if I only recovered for half the woman I used to be.
While contemplating this, I see a single pigeon high up the tree. And I can’t help but identify myself with this creature. Is it having a bad day? Perhaps it is too tired to lift its wings, while its partner has gone for the day. The bird might be unable to put one foot in front of the other. Eh.. well… do pigeons have feet? Or should I say to put his one talon in front of the other? Chris Packham: help me, please!

You can read about the things I mentioned such as
my art – Visual Pollution;
my review about the book by Martin Hughes-Games – In bed with a monster;
and Chris Isaak – Lie to Me.

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This post is also available in: Dutch