Out Of The Fog

My Dear Fellow,

It was very Spring-like today at the Gyle. I went for a walk at lunchtime, because I need that. I need to get out of the office. I'm a bit like a dog in that way, I need to be walked and long to be outside. To be clear, I do not need a leash and I very rarely pee on things.

Everywhere there were signs of Spring and I took a lot of pictures, but I liked this one the best. There is something about the humble dandelion that I appreciate. It's not a showy flower, but it's just so cheerful. 

The Gyle is actually okay on days like today. Only in one direction though. If you look over your shoulder or utilise peripheral vision you will ruin it. Keep looking straight ahead and it can be pretty. I felt my spirits rising just looking around me today, and if I were a younger man I might feel the urge to cavort and chase fillies.

I suppose the reason that particular metaphor came to mind is that today was Horsey PM's last day on the job. I was sorry to see her go. I'd enjoyed her company and she was good at her job too. I'm going to place her at equal 3rd in my list of all-time PM's alongside Sue H which is pretty high praise.

But what I liked best were her stories about her animals. She had two horses, a sensible one and a bonkers one. She told me she went to get the bonkers one in the field one morning, but it was misty and it had affected his mood.

"He took one look at me and took off. Into the fog - out the fog - into the fog - out the fog," she said. "I eventually grabbed him in the fog and was leading him back when I slipped on some mud and landed right on my arse."

She looked up to see both the bonkers and sensible horses looking down upon her. They looked shocked. 

"WHAT YER DOIN' DOWN THERE, MUM?" said Horsey PM doing her best impression of two startled horses.

She raised herself up which freaked them out more. 

"Then they both took off," she sighed. "Into the fog - out the fog - into the fog - out the fog..."

She also had two dogs - Jura and Scamp. Scamp was not a graceful dog and had even managed to break his leg "falling out of bed". Horsey PM watched him like a hawk but one day she was so worried watching Jura attempt to chase a deer in the forest she completely forgot to watch Scamp who managed to fall 50 feet down into a gully. 

"I was completely freaked out," she said. "He wasn't hurt but he couldn't get out. And I knew if I attempted to follow him into the gully I'd be stuck too."

She ended up calling the fire brigade who arrived with a 4x4 truck and a winch. 

"Scamp was SO grateful," she said. "I'm not sure how the fireman felt though, with Scamp climbing all over him and giving him a gratitude wash with his tongue."

I'll miss those stories. Animals and nature make every day better. Offices would be much better things if they were full of dandelions, dogs and bonkers horses, but sadly no-one consulted me. I'm left feeling that, every day when I charge out of that revolving door and run for my bus that I'm coming out of the fog myself.

El P.