Last night for the last time at the marking of Perpignan regarding the "heavy long-distance event" in 2023 at our local "Union & Liberté" based in Ghent-Merelbeke.
A pigeon lover is fortunately "twice blessed" and never loses hope... once you’ve tasted the sport, you remain a lover "until the box!" The "losses" due to the bad weather conditions in the previous flight from Narbonne are "barely or not yet processed," and they are back ready at the marking table for this concluding "classic" of the heavy long-distance.
With a "doubled" number of participating pigeons compared to last year (now 186), we can call this a success. And... furthermore, there is now the created collaboration with Ronse (now 271 pigeons marked) which we can label as a bonus across the board this year. So now 457 "Perpignan flyers" in the regional collaboration!
The visionary board that achieved this can rightfully be proud... it is "something" towards which many will have to strive to ensure the viability of our sport! Perhaps a "food for thought" to expand this collaboration with a light long-distance program for the future… something for the board to reflect on during the dark winter months.
"Union & Liberté" has a broad, forward-thinking board and a group of volunteers who are fully committed to the sport and its members. There is the ideal location with ample parking easily accessible via the access roads, the operation of the cafeteria under our own management, and the well-ventilated marking offices.
The travel baskets are impeccably "clean and tidy," and there are facilities for "loading and unloading" in the immense parking lot. One can find everything for every "discipline" from sprints to heavy long-distance!
There is the more than "healthy" cash situation, and moreover, every member has the right to view the accounts and cash reports and has a say at the annual general meeting to present a proposal or initiative. "Union makes strength" is held high here! In short, a "socially" engaged board that does its utmost to create something for "everyone." There are the annual barbecues, food festivals, and breakfast meetings… the spouses of the fanciers are not forgotten either.
We wrote it already… the last flight on the "heavy work," and some are already looking forward to enjoying a short vacation or outing with the whole family… time to restore the "balance" in family life now that Dad has more "time" again! Others are already forging plans for 2024… renovation of the loft accommodation… hammer, saw, and paintbrush are always within reach of the dedicated fanciers. It is also now time for the sworn "fondmen" to train the young birds for the shorter distances. Time on a pigeon loft and the happenings around it never stands still!
Thanks to our hobby, we remain "fit in body and mind," so physically healthy and exercise our brains against "aging issues" that are unfortunately all too often linked to the aging process.
Pigeon sport is and remains a social affair and commitment… there on our pigeon loft, we are "lords and masters" within our "small" kingdom. We can dream away beautifully… yes… dreaming is allowed and should be… as long as there is hope and life. If you can and may organize your life into different chapters, how "rich" are you as a "person"?
Hereby a special thanks to the many engaged individuals within our association who make it possible for us to continue practicing our sport without worries. I intend to be the voice of all our members. Without them, it’s "exit" for pigeon sport… far too few people reflect on this! A kind word, a nice gesture, or a "pat on the back" requires little to no effort and gives them the energy to continue on the chosen path.
Luc