budgie

thunder and rain blow by. to vineyard. more pools than puddles. stream is riverine. vineyard’s getting muddier. not staying. norbury or last wednesday? last wednesday. huge dog or puma? big boxer possibly, with big cat amble. gentle giant probably but i’ll just let him pass. stops at top of my path but doesn’t look down. ambles on. avoid quagmire of bridleway. alternative becomes long drag into wind. jumped by sausage dog in car park at front of downs. straight down. birds either side peep incessantly as pussyfoot down endless spill of leaves. wonder if it’s my stripes. no choice but to pussyfoot through swamp. new neat hole in track where ground has just sunk. bury hill, groundhog day... not, as pass familiar dog walker. look at dog... dog walker says hello... and so do i. ah, the other alsation that runs at me. runs at me. budgie cries owner. stand still. budgie runs into me and barks and sort of air bites my hands as we wait for owner to catch up. it’s a new routine. didn’t know it was called budgie - perhaps badger was budgie. two or three slow moving cars don’t stop for me at zebra crossing. thank the one that does. who changed the rules? by church, through park in the dark. windsurf for a minute or so. one is better than none.