Call My Bluff. (Fickle Friend).

It’s the time of year when the grateful Employer insists that I take a week’s holiday. I have to take a week in the spring, a fortnight in the summer, a week in the autumn and a week in the winter. Not bad at all I hear you say, but you have to have worked a lot of years to stack up holiday entitlements like that. Then of course there’s the work, not everyone’s cup of tea.

I had planned with great skill, a few jobs, and the bare minimum that I could get away with. I’d also managed to get booked into the Dentist, book the car in for a service, and promised my Barber a rare visit. It’s Tuesday and I’m having quite a nice time of it. The Dentist had fitted me in nice and early. Eight o clock, meaning I was up and about and had walked the Mutt across the fields for forty-five minutes, as well as having showered and stuff. I was home in time to say cheerio to Owen as he left the house for the School Bus.�?Oh Dad! I meant to say last night…I need a heart for Biology tomorrow…a dissection class.

I spent at least three hours in my car visiting fourteen different Butchers shops. Not one heart. The nearest abattoir is thirty miles away; I draw the line at that kind of Parental zealousness. At least I got a haircut. Jake also had an extra walk at midday.

So went the day. Pleasantly frittering away the hours looking for the heart of a sheep or pig for Owens education. It was getting on for four and I wanted to walk the Common as much as Jake did. Boots on, waterproof, gloves, stick…C’mon Jake! We were strolling down Chamberlains Lane, Jake had missed a fox crossing our path, I stopped to watch him slink into the far side of the field. Vernon, with Scott joined us.

As Vernon and I chatted, Jake and Scott investigated a lady walking in our Lane. She was a little put off when two large black dogs trotted up to greet her. I joked with her, �?He won’t bite, I fed him before we came out, and he’s not really hungry enough�? She laughed and stayed a while, watching the fox skulking in the hedges. I asked where her dog was…EVERYONE is walking dogs at this time of night�?there is no evidence of a sense of humour …She tells us that she is on her way to the stables to walk her daughter home. As she left Vernon and I, she called Jake…�?I could fall in love with this one though…come on Jake…come with me!�?The bugger only DID! I’ve never seen him so taken with a stranger; he followed her happily to the stables without a backward glance.

I followed on a few minutes later, imagining that he was being a right bloody nuisance. There he was, sat bolt upright at her side as she talked with some friends. “Jake! Shall we finish that walk now!�?

The Lady was very complimentary about his manner and his training. I practically had to drag the bugger away.

Das disgusted.