General Chat

The donkeys on the sands at Weston-super-mare. Not the place but the donkeys. There is a photo of me just days away from second birthday holding a donkey's halter and surrounded by several other donkeys.

Apparently it was Port Erin, Isle of Man and I was very fond of riding a donkey, suddenly parents noticed I had disappeared (they didn't care) but Dad knew his daughter. Yes, there was I, leading a string of donkeys along the beach followed by a grinning owner.

I know I love donkeys but had forgotten it went that far back.

:-D :-D :-D

Great memory Chris :-D :-D..I do have a photo of me at the age of about 4 on a Donkey on the beach at Westward Ho! in Devon.That would have been in 1958.I never did get to lead a string of Donkeys :-(..Now I would have loved that :-D

I remember donkeys on the sands in Scarborough.

There is a photo somewhere of me aged about 10 riding a donkey, I was dressed to the nines, wearing that year's new coat .........

We went there on Oldham Wakes Week which was always in the second or third week in June, and it was usually bitterly cold.

I had another photo from about the same time of Dad in a deck chair on the sands, wearing a raincoat, a 3 piece suit under it, and a trilby hat. His hands are pushed deep in his pockets, and he is obviously very cold

I've never been to a beach where there were donkeys :-(

Maggie you have been deprived - anyone know where there are still donkeys on a beach?

If so tell Maggie
<3 <3

I love donkeys, even though the only donkey I have been in contact with was my sister's.
When she and her family lived in Ireland, her husband was given a foal, that they named Clarry.
She looked cute- but hated females!! - which was probably why he was given it! :-(

Had my toe trodden on by donkey on the beach at Ryde, Isle of Wight once.

There is a donkey sanctuary on the island which is well worth a visit if you like donkeys.

maggie ............

your story of the donkey who hated females reminded me of the German shepherd dog that hated females.

I was in a certain women's hall of residence in Liverpool which was actually 5 neighbouring Victorian houses, each with large gardens (now converted into very expensive flats!). There was a problem with prowlers, and a night time guard was hired.

The next step was that he suddenly had a German shepherd companion ............... allegedly donated to the hall by the actress/comedienne Thora Hird.

and yes, that dog hated women :-S

It had to kept on a close leash until after midnight when it was anticipated that all the female residents would be safe indoors.

Chris in Sussex - thanks for the link - all too far away :-(

Sylvia - why does this happen?

the hate of women???

One could say that it was a result of something happening .................. animals learn quickly when someone ill treats them.

But that seems facile.

I wonder if another theory for some could be the same as asking why do some men turn out to be misogynists? They're not necessarily gay, but just hate women

We had an external examiner for my final exam at Liverpool ....... a very well known geneticist from Oxford, well-regarded, top man in the field, but also well known for being a misogynist.

He had tried to refuse to have women admitted to his college or to lectures, then ignored them when he failed.

There were only 4 students in my year, the first time the Honours course had been offered, and all women.

In their wisdom, the oral exam was given in the middle of a practical exam, and we were taken out one at a time and led into the prep room at the back of the lab. This was a long narrow room ............. the examiner sat at one end, as far away as he could get from us.

It was the hardest exam I ever had just because of his attitude. He reduced one of the others to floods of tears.

And we had to go back into the practical exam after he'd finished with us.

He was our major professor's long-time mentor, and the top person at that time in the subject, but still ...................

Hmm, my sister's anti-female donkey was a female.

I suppose there's always the chance she's useless with animals!

The cat she has at the moment is a right bolshy monster - always has been to my sister, but was as sweet as pie with my late brother in law.

If anyone - that's ANYONE - including my sister, who feeds her, tries to stroke her, and she's not in the mood, she doesn't ignore you, walk away, or bop your hand with her paw - oh no!
It's all claws out for a major raking, and possibly a 'caterwaul' thrown in for good measure!!

My sister has had her since she was a kitten, has never been cruel to her, and says 'She's always been like this'.
I asked her why she didn't show the cat who was boss when she was small, by, say, 'removing' the cat from her lap if she got a strop on and bit or scratched, and maybe using the word 'NO' occasionally. Sister thought that was 'cruel'.
I know my brother in law taught the cat that she wasn't HIS boss.

Personally, I think half the problem is that the cat isn't allowed out.

The cat is shut in the bedroom when lots of people come around. (she has been known to 'stalk' young children and go for them)
One day she was accidently let out of the room. Without thinking, I just picked her up to return her.
I was halfway up the stairs when I became aware that she was glaring at me, and, had I looked at her, she would have struck, so I put my hand firmly on her chest. She couldn't lash out, as I was holding her front legs down, and couldn't reach my hand to bite it, so she let out a horrific banshee howl/growl/snarl in frustration!
I'm sure my sister thought I'd swung her around by her back legs :-0

Anyway, the cat's now 11 or 12. Sister's put up with her for all this time....

My cats (who are siblings, but not best buddies) are told off if they spit at each other - only one still does this, the very small female, Betty. She's also likely to spit at me when I put Flea stuff on her - the only time I ignore it, but she comes back in 10 minutes for a cuddle.
They've never 'gone' for anyone either in my house or garden.
If they don't want to see anyone, they disappear (usually upstairs).
I do end up with lacerations and claw marks - one has non-retractable claws, but is very affectionate, and will attempt to get my attention with his paw - but the claws get me first :-(

well, yes, I would say that your sister let the cat get away with that behaviour when she was young, and should have corrected her

But otherwise, what's that song from The King and I .................

it's a puzzlement???

The list of beaches may be incomplete.........
There were certainly donkeys on Dymchurch beach in Kent last summer.