Just saw my sworn enemy in the paddock, with the horses, or near, at twilight. Gave him a good “shout out”.
I turned corner in the orchard, bare foot damp, delicious grass underfoot, excercising the dogs. So dark it is these days at 9m or just after. How this beautiful summer is slipping away like a pubescent child on the cusp of adulthood -and saw comforting shape of the horses grazing. Then saw the small, red haired vermin, very close to me with the brilliant , white blob on end of the brush. He looked back at me briefly A Juvenile – perfectly formed, but nevertheless my sworn enemy . Thought of my pet rabbit eaten by fox in cage when I was child. Discovering brains only, like a slab of liver.
Then my peacock, Prince earlier this year, wing ripped off, tail feathers in the river sticking up, nodding in the breeze.
Without in the least expecting it, on sight of this varmint, I shouted with real passion after him as he scarpered into the near dark woods, “Tally Ho! you BUGGER”
Lucky we don’t have neighbours.
The River Files 