Thursday 30 January 2014

Beware madmen in the park....

So it's around 8 a.m. in Duthie Park and we're being treated to another spectacular sunrise, but you will just have to imagine it 'cos you know who forgot the camera.

Anyway, for the first time this year, we run into our friends George (genial human) and Darcy (lively black dog of mixed provenance). After exchanging New Year hugs, together we walk clockwise round the park. I can't tell you how confusing this is. I mean Gail and I always walk anticlockwise. What is Gail thinking in agreeing to this lunatic suggestion of George's?

Further evidence that George is not the gently spoken, agreeable and sane gentleman I had hitherto taken him for comes when my flappy little ears catch some of the conversation between him and Gail.

Oh yes, George had been visiting his son in Ullapool over the holiday period. Yes they had had a fine time, and, he mentions quite casually, as if this was something that a regular person would do, they had enjoyed the traditional New Year swim in the sea. And no, they were not wearing wet suits.
Ullapool in Winter (photo by Graham Lewis@flickr.com) 
Did I hear aright? Sea swimming? In Northern Scotland? In the middle of winter? And this George chappie doesn't even have any furs, save the snowy white ones on his head.

Really, you just don't know what sort of a person you're going to meet in the park these days. You might have been happily accepting the odd dog biscuit from them for years, and then suddenly they reveal some deeply disturbing and unsuspected character trait.

Gail thinks I am over-reacting. "It was just a swim, Bertie, some folk enjoy this sort of thing, get over it. We are not all water averse. And it isn't as if there are icebergs in Loch Broom."

My suggestion that we steer well clear of George in the future is, I fear, going to be ignored.

22 comments:

  1. It sounds like something I would try - I jumped into da swimming pool when I were just a baby puppy - and it were November! Of course, November in Texas are not exactly January in Scotland, but still . . .

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  2. We're with you, Bertie. Anyone who willingly dunks HIMSELF in an icy loch is a bit titched, we think. And he wasn't even muddy.

    XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy

    Bella and I are unsure about Scottish Independence. Sounds good but might have to be a dependent sort of independence. Also, will the Royals still be allowed go to Balmoral to kill things?

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  3. Hari OM
    ............................aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.... Okay yes. Each to his own.

    But aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr............

    Hugs and wags, YAM-aunty xxx

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  4. I think you're OK until the next New Year approaches. Then you'd best keep Your Gail away lest she be tempted to take you on a wee swim.

    Kisses,
    Dexter

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  5. BBBBRRRRRRR is all we can say. Keep away from water Bertie, Gail might have got some ideas from George. Have a tremendous Thursday.
    Best wishes Molly

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  6. Hmmmm....Just wonder if Gail is gonna follow George's lead and start ice swimming?????

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  7. Always go with your instincts Bertie! Best to stay away from heretofore kind man for fear you get tossed in for an artic swim!!!

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  8. Now you know you have to protect Gail from some crazy whim that might overtake her senses when the New Year strikes.

    Wirey love,

    Just Harry

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  9. We are with you on the NO SWIMMING in the Winter thingy. Stand your ground.. or Sand.. or Mud.

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  10. We are with you on this one, you just never know!

    The Mad Scots
    Pees; may not have been icebergs, but we bet he had ice cicles !

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  11. To each his own. But stay away from George and large bodies of water, OK?

    gussie

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  12. Eeek swimming in the winter with no wetsuit? That doesn't sound like fun, don't get mixed into that one Bertie!

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  13. Dear me he walks the wrong direction...I expect he has brain freeze from swimming in the icy waters....stay clear of men walking the wrong way who swim in icy waters
    Hugs madi your bfff

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  14. Bertie, as aways your wisdom is spot on, utterly mad

    retro rover

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  15. Dawling Bewtie,
    I am thowoghly shocked to heaw this tale..i aways thought that gentlemen fwom Scotland wewe a civilized and sensibull bweed, and now this????? Swimming in icy watews wifout being fowced to? And in the noode? Thank dog that you have not inhewited this pawticoolaw twait, but then you awe a bwilliant and sensibull poowe wiwy boy. Hoomans awe a stwange bweed..well, i needn't tell you, and vewy clumsy as well as evidenced by mommi and yoow Gail's young athlete fwiend.
    I'm afwaid, unless you cum and look at my pootew wif yoow skye en tific knowledge, my posts will be few and faw between, but west assoowed you awe aways on my mind and in my heawt
    Smoochie kisses
    Asta

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  16. I guess if they were fortified with liberal doses of a good scotch whiskey - they might not of felt the cold :)

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  17. We agree with Reilly and Denny - clearly the people have been drinking!

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  18. Dat's too crazy cold-- better keep an eye on him....

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  19. In the sea in Ullapool ? In winter ? George must have an excellent cardiovascular system.

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  20. Pee ess, bewtie..my time undew the tabill in the cafe was vewy well spent indeed..gots sum beef cheeks, yummmmmmm..wish you coold have been hewe to shawe it wif me
    Smoochie kisses
    Asta

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  21. But Bertie... maybe he was just trying to freeze his sperm.

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