Quackers and Honkers!

The day was wearing on, a watery sun low in the sky, dappled the higher leaves in the nearby forest. The lad and I had recently returned from a stroll. Now I was sitting in the garden, sipping tea, enjoying the end of the autumn day.

A chin rested itself on my knee.

‘What’s up Bing?’

His nose pointed upwards.

‘Seems to be a lot of activity up there guv.’

‘Ah well you see, we’re on one of the flight paths for Heathrow airport, also, other planes are making for Stansted, Luton and…..’

‘No, I was thinking of honkers, quackers and flappers and such!’

‘Oh geese and ducks eh?’

‘Very likely guv,’

‘Ah.’

‘The thing is aged G, what are they all up to? I mean why are they going this way and that, here, there and so forth and such like?’

‘Well most of ‘em are off to other places for the winter. I’m not much of a ‘twitcher’ as we call folk who watch birds, but generally, our flighty friends decide to beetle off to places they most like to spend the winter months, at this time of the year.’

‘Oh.’

‘We of course on the other hand, rather like the old hearth and home.  Ah yes, the delights of being snug and the prospect of Christmas, with all the joys that that can bring.’

‘You’re rambling guv. I’m sure you’re probably right, but it makes a chap wonder whether he should be somewhere else?’

I caught the earnest expression, and tried my hardest not to smile.

‘Bingo?’

‘Yes guv?’

‘I think you know the answer really, don’t you?’

‘Well….?’

‘Would you miss seeing Tom and Angela every day?’

‘Oh rather!’

‘And lets face it, can you imagine what an old grouse I would be, if you didn’t spend time keeping me on my toes? And, what would Alison think if you were somewhere else? Not to mention your pals at the stables?’

‘Lummy, I hadn’t thought of that old poop.’

‘Ah well Bingo, just because some folk go flying off to other parts, doesn’t mean we all have to eh?’

‘You’re blooming right guv.’

Feeling rather pleased with my efforts, I stupidly added.

‘Just think of how lazy I’d be if you didn’t get me out and about?’

‘Even when it’s drizzling guv?’

This was an extremely salient point, based on a recent stroll....more of that another time!

‘Yes….well….um…oh…..yes!  Even when it’s drizzling!’

The hooter sniffed the autumnal eve.

‘I’m mighty glad I don’t have to go who knows where.’

‘I’m glad you don’t have to as well young Bing.’

‘I’ll remind you of that old wheezer, next time you’re pretending to snooze, and we should be out and about!’



'M'mmmmm.......

...................I'd never doubt it….no, never doubt it.’