Percy The Parrot
Dear Listers,
Near the end of October, the List was discussing Bodmin Moor and the Jamaica
Inn. I mentioned that I had stayed at the Inn and had a photo of Percy sipping
*some beverage*. A Lister emailed me an interesting story, which I posted to the
List with her permission.
Since we are now at the Jamaica Inn for our Christmas party, I shall re-post her
story.
"I used to work at the Inn in the kitchens and restaurant and know Percy
very
well. She has a nicotine addiction as a result of being in the bar for years and
plucks her feathers to get the nicotine off. She also quite likes a tipple or
two from the regulars, so she was moved to the breakfast room.
Unfortunately, she is not the original Percy!!!! A long time ago, the regulars
in the pub had a bet that got out of hand on a drinking session. It resulted in
the original Percy having HIS head bitten off. I know this is quite grim but
that's the local legend of Percy the parrot. She will swear and curse at you,
too, and numerous times I had to convince children that she spoke a foreign
language when they were talking to her. She also likes to drink ribena from a
wine glass!
The area surrounding Jamaica Inn is always covered by fog no matter what time of
year it is. It is quite possibly the eeriest and scariest place I have ever
worked. Two bedrooms being haunted, I never took up an offer of chambermaid! The
kitchen next to the restaurant is also very spooky. I was working one night and
we were closing down for the evening. Then I heard footsteps coming from the
kitchen towards me so I went to the kitchen and there was no one there. So I
went back to work and there they were again. They were getting closer and the
hairs on the back of my neck were on end, so I ran to the hotel reception to
find all the restaurant staff and manager there counting out the tips! There had
been no one in the kitchen.
I was seventeen then and I do miss the place. It has an ambience and I think
everyone who visits there comes away with some love for the Ol Inn. They collect
Percy's feathers as she pulls them out to keep for when she dies as they are
going to put her in the taxidermy museum!"
Best wishes,
Ann
Lucky Clotted Cream-W-B
The Viceroy -------------