Not everyone gets a turkey at Christmas

Jan 1 2008 by Matthew Aplin, South Wales Echo

Not everyone gets a turkey at Christmas

ALLAN Lewis had a colourful visitor over Christmas who just doesn’t want to leave – a peacock!

Mr Lewis, 77, of Bridgend Road, Aberkenfig, Bridgend, was in his back garden with his dog, Tess, when the spectacular bird flew into undergrowth by a railway line.

Mr Lewis, a grandfather of four, said: “I just thought ‘that’s the last I’ll see of him’ – but the next day there he was scratching with my chickens in the back garden.

“He has been coming and going ever since and hops between about five houses which are just off the main road.

“He has a beautiful blue neck and back with yellow-gold on his shoulders.

“I haven’t seen him with his fanned tail but it looks as if he has lost some feathers because he is a bit sparse there.”

And the peacock has found an unlikely friend in Tess the Labrador.

Mr Lewis said: “Tess just stares at him and the peacock just stares back.

“I think the peacock must be used to people as he doesn’t seem too bothered about me at all.

“I quite like having him here in my garden. I don’t know what he feeds on so I have been giving him bread and potato peelings. He eats them up fine!”

Since setting up residence in the pensioner’s garden, Mr Lewis’ family say the bird has become the “talk of the town”.

Mr Lewis added: “We are all astounded by it. It doesn’t seem to want to leave.”

Mr Lewis’ daughter, Tracey, 47, who lives in Llanharan, said: “When I first heard the story about it from dad, I thought it was a joke. Then on Boxing Day afternoon I saw him for myself.

“People have been winding dad up about it saying only rich people in grand country houses have beautiful peacocks like that!”

matthew.aplin@mediawales.co.uk