Like Fandango I also have a very large and very old pear tree in my garden off Brockley Rise. The tree seems to have good years and bad years: this was a good one with loads of fruit, but most of it would have needed a scaffolding tower to access it.
The pears seem to have a very short shelf life: they go off very quickly so you need to eat, cook, bottle or ferment them fast.
Pears in brandy is probably the easiest, if expensive, way to preserve them!
No parakeet attacks as yet, just an increasing colony of squirrels that destroy the small fruit.
Interested to hear about your ideas about making some perry: it was once a very popular drink in these parts, hence Perry Rise, Perry Rise and Pearfield Road.