Categories: uncategorized
Date: 11 April 2006 17:05:12
Amongst others so far this week: a rat, which ran across the street in front of me early Monday morning (shudders!); a black cat, spotted loitering with intent near the churchyard THIS morning, and a couple of hours later rush hour traffic was brought to a halt by a suicidal swan attempting to cross the carriageway. I was just heaving a sigh of relief on seeing him finally reaching the safety of the pavement, when blow me, he turns straight round again and starts to make his way back across the road again! I took out my phone, but who do you contact at 8 a.m.? Swanbusters? I didn't think that the police would be too amused at a 999 call, even if swans are protected by HM The Queen Herself. Environmental Health maybe? I'm sure the dog warden wouldn't mind diversifiying. But the local governmnent offices aren't open that early. So, much against my better nature, I had to leave poor Sydney, as I've named him - to manage as best he could.
Another, really exciting spot - for Mr Miff and self at least, was at Havenstreet Steam Railway during the Wightmeet last weekend - when somebody came by leading a distant relative of Miffdog, a Petit Griffon Vendeen. Typical picture here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petit_Basset_Griffon_Vendeen. Actually, according to his owner, who'd acquired him as a rescue dog, he was a cross between a PGV and a GBGV (Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen). (The Basset bit, comes from 'basse' meaning low to the ground; to put it politely, like a sausage). Researching the breed just now, I've learnt that other variations - apart from Miffdog (Basset Fauve) include something called a Briquet Vendeen, which sounds even worse. Dredging up my French from Strasbourg days, I'm under the distinct impression that a Briquet was a type of firelighter! Maybe Eutychus can put me right on this one?
Like Rosamundi, I'll blog about the Wightmeet later. Procrastination again!