So go the faraway sounds of shotguns.
Sounds that echo against the village valley walls
And bounce around the Church, now silent without its vicar.
It's a common background to most Sundays here.
Clay pigeons
A weekend playtime for " country folk "
Dorothy and I are sat in the graveyard.
Well I am sat
She is crouching
And we both are waiting for the
Pupupupups to stop.
She is watching me carefully and because I seem confident
She is becoming braver at the sound of gun fire
Albert joins us and butts his head against hers
It's the first official greeting I have seen between the two
His natural confidence boosting her fearfulness in spades
And in typical bulldog style she sniffs at his bottom with some gusto
I notice that the colours of the graveyard trees are beginning to warm.
And I photograph the most colourful of them as the faraway shotguns continue to blast away
Dorothy and I do another circuit around the church with Albert following us at an angle
He is obviously pretending that it was the way he originally intended to go.
Cats have a strange pride about them
'Put' or 'pup'?......or 'pop'?
ReplyDeletePup
ReplyDeleteLovely Autumn colours :)
ReplyDeleteIt's getting there
DeleteAnd so delighted to see that if there had been any icy wariness between Albert & Dottie it's well and truly melted now. Al must have a real penchant towards bulldogs.
ReplyDeleteI think Dotty chased him into the bathroom and he beat the shit out of her
DeleteNow she knows who's boss, so woe betide Dottie if she rebuffs his lovey-dovey greetings.
DeleteI can see why nursing was a perfect 'calling' for you, not only for humans, but also for your furry family. You always know the right things to do. They are lucky to have you.
ReplyDeleteThank you chuck
DeleteSo glad to hear Albert head butted Dorothy in a gesture of friendship.
ReplyDeleteHe does love his dogs so
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ReplyDeleteTake a hike Klara Karimaghai. You are not wanted here.
DeleteWe've got that very same nuisance every Sunday near us. Can't understand what the pillocks see in it. Might be something to do with their self-image. Why can't they do some volunteering or learn to play the trumpet or something useful like that. Or would that be too difficult?
ReplyDeleteI guess it's a skill
DeleteCompletely agree.. that and the never ending fireworks!
Deletealbert has a new friend!
ReplyDeleteYou have the shooters, I had divers. when I lived in Laguna Beach next to the ocean every weekend 6am we were woken by the crash bang slam of the car doors as the divers went to enjoy the quiet ocean.
ReplyDeleteSo cute that Albert and Dorothy are getting along. Albert is such a sweet cat. I also like that she is looking to you for help.
parsnip
I have to be alpha male
DeleteOh, that Albert! I just love him.
ReplyDeleteHe's aclever animal ...so far he's had to cope with 3 bulldogs 3 Welsh terriers and a scottie
DeleteClay shooting is a city boy pursuit around here. They come and pretend they are country boys but they aren't.
ReplyDeleteAnd they dress so well
DeleteAlbert seems to be one brave cat.
ReplyDeleteHe's tough as shit
DeleteYou create such wonderful snapshots of moments in time, John. It's a gift, do you know that?
ReplyDeleteI'm glad Dorothy and Albert are getting along.
They've had their moments
DeleteIs any actual hunting done in your area? Clay pigeon shooting is good practice for bird shooting, or even rabbits.[moving targets].
ReplyDeleteYes lots of shoots lots of estates
DeleteEvery Thursday and Sunday here the official hunt is out , the avarage age seems to be about 85 and they spend a lot of time looking for their lost dogs . We keep out of the garden when they are hunting because they are not bother who or what they shoot at , I fail to see why they do it but they seem to see it as there right , at least it is only clay pigion shooting .
ReplyDeleteThe pheasant shoots are just as noisy
DeleteI am sure they are, here they are after deer and wild boar , and they are not too concerned if they shoot the odd person .
DeleteI do not like guns and that includes guns that are used for sport. Why can't these people find other hobbies like basket-weaving or vegetable gardening?
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to shoot a clay
DeleteMost dogs hate the sound of distant shotguns, except Springer Spaniels, who are as mad as fuck. I have never yet met a sane Springer.
ReplyDeleteI m not a fan. Too bouncy
DeleteToo mad.
DeleteI had a Springer x collie cross and he was the most loyal dog I've ever had.
DeleteCrosses are saner than pure breeds I think.
DeleteMy lovely lily used to hear a shot and run in the opposite direction but now she is braver.On holiday though there was an army camp practising most days and so we headed off on another route.I'm not looking forward to November as from then on, where I live there will be fireworks until January x
ReplyDeleteIt's so important to train dogs with noise and traffic. Forty is terrible with cars as was my scottie maddie.
DeleteWe now sit by the main road for a half hour a day, sharing cheese
Thanks for that reminder John as shortly I think I may have some training to do with a new dog who has lived for a year in rescue x
DeleteThere's a range within half a mile that can be heard above the motorway at the end of the garden. It seems odd to have silence here.
ReplyDeleteAre you sure it's not the local drug gangs?
DeleteAbsolutely positive. I don't allow guns on my patch 😋
Deletehttps://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/17984630.police-appeal-two-people-stabbed-flintshire-last-night/
DeleteOdd the way the tower seems to be canting to the left.
ReplyDeleteIt was me being " arty"
ReplyDeleteAhhh, the peaceable kingdom, with a serene Dorothy and Albert, except, of course, for the blam-blam-blam in the distance. Life is good.
ReplyDeleteHugs!
Pretty, nearly that time of the year here. I haven’t had the shotgun out of the case in years.
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy these glimpses into the family dynamics of your animals. Not ever having had a critter in my life, I find your analyses fascinating.
ReplyDeleteThis post is like a page in a book such lovely story telling John a feel good book about country life.
ReplyDeleteGlad that Dotty and Albert are getting on better...it's nice to have harmony in a cottage. Your churchyard looks perfect..pity about the guns.
ReplyDeleteJo in Auckland
I think Albert is a remarkable cat. Most of all I am impressed about how he goes on walkabouts with you all!
ReplyDeleteHave you ever had a cat before behave in such a unique way?
Our cats have always done this too. First Archie when we lived in Oxfordshire, he would walk for miles with us and the three dogs, and here Ginger comes round the paddock twice a day with us.
DeleteWhen Jasmine the sheep started joining in too we used to wonder what people thought as they drove past and saw 2 dogs, 1 cat and 1 sheep doing laps of the paddock :-)
Our Bok was petrified of any loud bangs; Billy couldn't care less.
ReplyDeleteRosy used to hate the 'pup, pup, pup, of the shotguns. She would cuddle up close and sit by the cupboard where her Thunder Jacket was kept.
ReplyDeleteMe and Alan are founder members of the Clay Pigeon Preservation Society. (The Clap Club) Something we started one silly day when we lived down South.
I hate the sound of gunfire, even if it’s skeet shooting. But still it’s better than the gunfire we would regularly hear in he city of San Diego.
ReplyDeleteAlbert is a great cat and very accepting to changes. If it could only be so easy for humans.
ReplyDelete