THE SELFISH FANCIER
by Jim Emerton
In 8 years of solid writing on the world of pigeon racing, I have been open and revealed all to the fancy at large, although I see myself as a poet/philosopher! In my youth I was as selfish as it needed to be to realise my objectives in breeding, racing and selling. After a good run, and with age I contemplated the fact that the sport was a greater concept than mere dominance in racing. There is the human and personality side to it, the promotion work and the teaching and intellectual sphere of it. Writers contribute to the creative and imaginative side of literature. The selfish man keeps his secrets and knowledge of, say, feeding and supplementation to himself, like guarding the Holy Grail or the elixir of life. Beware of shallow little reports in the media and filter what you are told, it may be laced with bovine faeces! I believe only what I prove to myself! Although like a moral imperative I act as a mentor to some friends in the fancy and it fuels me with pleasure - a little compassion goes a long way. It pays to pick your people in life that have a positive feel about them.
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Elimar - June 2014
