All about being out and about.....and so forth!

‘Guv?’

The guv is somewhere else.   In short, he’s leaning on a tree trunk with the young hound looking up at him, head slightly cocked and patiently waiting for the mind of the aged relic to return.

‘Guv!’

The breeze is delightfully warm this morning, and it wafts gently through the trees and bushes, flitting past the old poop and on into the forest.

‘G-G-Guv!!’

A squirrel pauses in its daily routine, and wonders why the dog is taking such a keen interest in the odd geezer staring vacantly into space.

‘OI!’

‘M’mm?’

Bing, for this is that very hound, sidles slowly up to the gent and paffs him in the midriff.

‘What?  Oh I say er….’

‘Good heavens he’s back with us……….but for how long I wonder?’

‘Really Bing I was merely um……’

‘Hello he’s going again.’

‘Bingo, I’m not going anywhere.’

‘That’s just it guv, you’ve become rooted like the tree you’re leaning on.  Some chaps, I’m mentioning no names, but SOME chaps are wanting to continue on their stroll, however slow it’s turning out to be.’
 

‘M’mm?’

‘Cor, he’s drifting again. Look old poop, I’m going to trundle off at speed, and you’ve got about 12 feet of lead to play with until it goes tight and I yank you off your feet!’

‘Oh I say.’

‘Sorry guv, but desperate measures are required when a chap means to do what a chap means to do!’

And so the two figures continue their perambulations, the threat being sufficient to get the old poop moving.

After what has been months of pretty ordinary weather, the ancient forest is delighting in what has been, several days of warmth. Light is streaming through the upper branches of the beech trees and everywhere agrees with this upturn in temperature, and is rejoicing in this delightful time.

One of the meanders is reached. The water level has already receded, revealing little beach type areas. What’s left of the stream lazily twists and turns through the forest and will eventually join the river Roding.  This in turn, empties into ‘Old Father Thames’ which, as you may or may not know, keeps ‘rolling along’ out, out with the tide and the waiting world beyond.

Meanwhile.

Back here in the forest, the old poop is the one now being patient, as his companion carefully inspects the surrounds, which contains the scents of deer, fox and squirrel. Oh, and mint…….

‘Having a snack guv?’

‘A Polo mint is hardly a snack Bing.’

‘A Polo? Perhaps not, but a whole tube?’

‘Still, not a snack, and I don’t think I could manage a whole tube either, cheeky!’

‘Really? Well I won’t contradict you guv.’

‘Thank you Bing.’

‘No, not while you have a snack or three for me!’

‘I see.’

A bridle-path is reached.   If the pair turn right, ‘Lowtown Camp’ or ‘The Lost Pond’ can be visited.

Perhaps, another day.

At home, grass needs to be cut and who knows how long this decent weather will last?

‘Must we go home guv?’

‘I think we must Bing, the lawn needs…’

‘Hoovering guv?’

Suddenly the hound is keenly leading the way back, and the listening forest can be left in peace.

Besides……

‘There’s cycling on the box guv!’