'Waiting for Dogo'….(with apologies to Mr Beckett!)

Today, it was a toddle up into the forest close by our house - ‘Lyons’

‘Why’s it called that guv?’

‘Well you see it’s a corner house….ha.ha!’

‘That’s funny?’

‘Well it could be called amusing. If you happen to remember the Corner Houses owned by Lyons.’

‘Would Tom and Angela?’

‘Er….no.’

‘Anyone else?’

‘Well you would have to be of a certain age, to remember them.’

‘Ancient like you eh?’

‘Hey steady on Bing, I’m not quite in my dotage yet.’

‘You see guv, using words like 'dotage' definitely ages you.’

‘M’mmmm….’ It was time to change the subject.

‘So do you fancy a stroll?’

There was a blur before my eyes, and within moments the lad was sitting patiently beside the front door drumming his tail on the door- mat, with impatience!

Receptacles, for bagging-up any outdoor ablutions, (Bingo's I hasten to say!) were slipped into a jacket pocket, lead located….and we were off.



The sun was up and running, so with a light heart we trundled up the slope, and into the ancient forest. I panted my way up to the high beeches, and sought a fallen trunk to regain some wind!

‘You okay old totterer?’

‘Um…(pant) yes….I think (pant) I’ll be fine in a moment.’

About forty feet away, two squirrels scurried about some newly fallen leaves, quite clueless of our proximity, they gambolled and bounded around.

The boy watched all this with keen interest.
Finally, having spotted us, they froze and eyed us from behind twitching noses.

‘Cor, Squirrels eh, guv?’

‘Cor indeed Bingo.’

The grey duo bounded away and disappeared behind a large Holly bush.

We sauntered down the slope, in the distance a bridle jingled, and soon the rider appeared, halted…the horse did what horses often do….

‘Blimey guv, have you got a big enough bag for that lot?’

‘Um….I think we'll give that a very wide birth, thank you very much!’

‘Oh.’

The rider tapped her helmet with her crop, and being well bred, I’m sure the horse, if it possessed a hat, would have raised it in our direction.

Down the old familiar paths of leaf mould, and finally, back to the house.

Okay so I’m getting old….but ‘Lyons' is not a bad name….for those that get it!

A little weary I wandered into the lounge……….



.....................No chance of a sit down then Bing?