One for the twitchers...

[sonnetpete]

Found these two feathers on the drive at lunch time on my way to collect the post. Any idea what bird they may be from? With my luck it'll be something boring....

 

[Channel Hopper]

A sallyrand ?

 

[sonnetpete]

A sallyrand ?

Not likely, they would be ostrich feathers.....

 

[rolfw]

Possibly a female pheasant Pete?

 

[sonnetpete]

Ah, that would make sense, I saw one last week at the top of the drive that my Breton Spaniel desperately wanted to chase. I wasn't sure if it was a grouse or a pheasant but that perhaps narrows it down. Surprised to see one given that it isn't long since the hunting season closed.

 

[rolfw]

There'll be a large residual population post hunting season Pete, the wild birds tend to be a little more canny and even the farm bred birds, become cleverer after surviving a season.

 

[sonnetpete]

Actually, I don't know why I mentioned hunters, as in 10 years I've never seen a hunter carrying something that he's shot. Perhaps it's something to do with the Calavdos affecting their aim....

 

[Channel Hopper]

I thought the proper Calvados was no longer allowed, is there a reasonable substitute ?

(one that causes complete tooth loss/total sterility ?)

 

[PaulR]

I thought the proper Calvados was no longer allowed, is there a reasonable substitute ?

I think you're thinking of Absinthe. It was the wormwood that was the problem.

 

[Channel Hopper]

Nah, I know the history of Absinthe, this was something to do with the orchard owners drinking the stuff (after heating it up), wiping out whole family lineage.

Ah, possibly this

The old Normandian habit of consumption of hotCalvados is associated with an increased risk of oesophageal cancer compared to other alcoholic beverages. The role of alcohol consumption in the risk of oesophageal cancer is well established. The first metabolite of alcohol, acetaldehyde is a potential local carcinogen in humans. Accordingly, different acetaldehyde concentrations in different beverages could account for some of the variations in cancer risk with regard to the type of alcoholic beverage. Eighteen samples of farm-made Calvados were collected in Normandy. Samples of commercially available beverages were purchased, including factory-made Calvados, other spirits, wines, beer and cider. The samples were analysed gas-chromatically for acetaldehyde and ethanol concentrations. All results are expressed as mean ± SD. The mean acetaldehyde concentration of all Calvados samples (1781 ± 861 μM, n = 25) differed highly significantly (p < 0.001) from that of all wine samples (275 ± 236 μM), from all other spirits samples (1251 ± 1155 μM, p < 0.05), and from all beer and cider samples (233 ± 281 μM, p < 0.001). Farm-made Calvados and farm-made cognac had the highest mean acetaldehyde concentration of the measured beverages. The high concentration of acetaldehyde combined with possible effects of the high temperature at which Calvados is consumed could account for the increased risk of Calvados-related oesophageal cancer.

 

[pgh13]

I can think of a few places it could be reintroduced to advantage.

 

[sonnetpete]

..this was something to do with the orchard owners drinking the stuff (after heating it up), wiping out whole family lineage....

Have never been offered Calvados on it's own heated. However, it's very common to add it to your coffee which probably has a similar effect. Most farmers with orchards (and that may well account for 99% here. I have three cider apple trees and a couple of cider pear trees) distill their own higher specific gravity Calva. Last time I had 'home brew', it was poured from a plastic two litre coke bottle and topped my half empty coffee mug to the brim. There are of course deaths through cancer here and maybe oesophageal cancer is a significant percentage of that figure. Amongst the farming community there is also a high life expectancy, it's not uncommon to see obituaries for locals in their 90's and a fair few centenarians.

 

[PaulR]

...distill their own higher specific gravity Calva. Last time I had 'home brew', it was poured from a plastic two litre coke bottle ...

We were given some eau-de-vie a few years ago by our next door neighbours in France. All we've ever dared do with it is touch our tongues against a wetted spoon as it completely anaesthitises whatever it touches!

Amongst the farming community there is also a high life expectancy, it's not uncommon to see obituaries for locals in their 90's and a fair few centenarians.

The said neighbours are paysans. She is is 91 and her brother must be 94 by now. Lovely people.

 

[sonnetpete]

We were given some eau-de-vie a few years ago by our next door neighbours in France.....The said neighbours are paysans. She is is 91 and her brother must be 94 by now. Lovely people.

So, it really lives up to it's name!!! You should be drinking, not licking....