As good as it gets

I took Bunty for a walk yesterday. She has been whining a lot the last few days and someone suggested that I exercise her more :( Anyway, we walked up to Safeway (I had to buy Deet) and then back along the river. In total about 4 miles. I let her off the leash in the park by the river (shhh) so that she could run a little, and she did. She had a whale of a time. The river has burst its banks along the park that we were in, so there was lots of shallow "lakes" for her to paddle in and drink. At one point I thought she might got for a swim, but she got up to her chest and then when her bum got wet she decided not to go any further. But I digress. It was quite amazing walking along. Even walking along the streets to the river from Safeway. Because there was no one else around. No one even in their back garden. The only people I saw were roofers. And there were several lots of roofers at work. It was truly beautiful. The sky was blue, the trees fluorescing with energy, and the birds seranading us as we strolled along. Then in the park, being dive bombed by the dragon flies as we walked in the dappled shade of the large trees, to be near the water, in the silence of nature, was so relaxing. I know Bunty enjoyed her walk, and her run, and enjoyed being able to sniff at something for longer than I wanted to stand still for. This is what we should all be living for. The chance to just be at one with the planet, to enjoy the natural sounds of wild life going about their daily business. Last night, on our evening perambulations, Bunty and I saw a pair of pelicans on the river! I have only seen Pelicans (outside the zoo) in the Mediterranean, so I was awestruck by the sight of them, gliding over the water, landing and then being swept back downstream by the strong current. An awesome sight.


Our back garden is full of birds and dragon flies too, but because we live on a busy street, there is always the sound of other people driving by on their way to do something irrelevant to me. And then when there is a moment of peace, the fire engines blast their sirens to alert the traffic of their intentions to turn onto the Avenue. Oh and I forgot the trains! As if to remind me one is now blowing its horn as it approaches the junction. But even all that man made noise doesn't stop me from enjoying my garden. I spent several hours reading a George Baxt novel (The Bette Davis Murders) in the sun yesterday. Bliss. I might retire to the garden to sit beneath my blue floral umbrella, and read Agatha Raisin and the Murderous Marriage. Then again, I might just sit and enjoy the sounds of nature, the sight of the river rushing past at full speed at the bottom of the garden, and the blue skies above.

This is about as good as it gets.