Thanks to a post by Dawn Treader recently, it got me thinking about the owls I own.
When I was a lot younger, I once commented that my husband Greg reminded me of an owl - he wore large metal-rimmed spectacles that were fashionable in the 60s and 70s (the sort John Lennon used to wear) and was very wise. He was a radio journalist who ended up in the BBC World Service Newsroom, so was very knowledgeable about all sorts of things to do with politics and world affairs.
Having made this observation, I then found I was inundated with presents of owls by people who needed some clues for what to give me for birthday or Christmas presents or a souvenir from their holiday. Not real owls of course, but china ones, glass ones, fabric ones, vases, mugs, pictures, doorstops, jewellery and keyrings.
Over the decades I have accumulated so many that I have now had to say 'No more, please', as my shelves and walls are groaning with them. If at some stage in the future, I need to downsize my home, I shall be hard-pushed to know what to do with them all.
The collective name for owls is a Parliament. A Parliament of Owls. So here is my 'Parliament' for you to feast your eyes on.
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| I have even been given socks with owls on |
12 comments:
Thanks for the mention! Wow, that's an impressive collection. I didn't know about a parliament of owls being an established collective name - I just associate it with one of the Narnia books by C.S. Lewis, where it is indeed used about a gathering of owls to decide things... (lol) (The Silver Chair, chapter 4.)
That’s a serious amount of dusting to be done each week, I suggest Parliament is abolished.
Yes dusting them is a pain. I tend to do the ones in the front regularly but I do a mammoth dust once every 3 months of the ones at the back as they all have to come off the shelf and then go back on again !!
That is quite an impressive parliament of owls, Addy!
It's always like that, isn't it; you mention something you like, and everybody jumps at the chance to find gifts for your birthdays and at Christmas. A friend of mine's favourite animal was the turtle, since early childhood. From her teens onwards, she was given turtles in any conceivable shape and size, until, like you, she had to stop it.
My favourite animal is the fox, and although it is easy to detect a "fox" theme in my flat, I am nowhere near the overflowing shelves. And as for socks or other wearable items, those are the best presents anyway, because they are not just nice but also useful. (I am wearing socks with a Hannah Dale fox on it as I am typing this; nice and warm for this wintery weather.)
Oh my, you do indeed have a collection of owls bar none, most excellent
I suppose they use the word parliament for the collective noun because owls are considered to be wise like those who work in Parliament (although I'm sure many would disagree with that).
Yes, the socks are at least useful. As for the rest, they take a lot of dusting!!
Maybe my collection would be enough to be entered into the Guinness Book of Records.
Here in Sheffield, the nickname of Sheffield Wednesday F.C. is The Owls. The mascot is a fellow dressed up in a massive owl costume. His name is Ozzy Owl. You have a most impressive collection of owls Addy.
I collected owls years ago.....not got as many as you though!
Maybe I could put him on my shelves too
I seriously have far too many.
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