Her new book is called 'Diary of a Dog-Walker'. It's by Edward Stourton - journalist, BBC broadcaster and owner of Kudu, a handsome and endearing Springer spaniel.
Mr Stourton is a literary kind of a chap, as you can tell from the following extract:
".... dog walking becomes like reading a novel, or watching a play ..... The novel the Dog and I enjoy in Battersea Park is at the Jane Austen end of the market ..... Here, at home in his local park [Clapham Common] he has a south London life that is more Trainspotting than Pride and Prejudice ..."
You will understand the Pride and Prejudice reference when you read that:
"... I was once approached in [Battersea] Park with an unsolicited marriage proposal, conditional, of course, on a full inspection of his pedigree (the lady in question, with a home off the King's Road and a weekend shooting habit, could not have been a more suitable bride, but sadly the pedigrees revealed that his father was her grandfather). "
Well all this set me wondering, and I asked Gail which book or film she feels we enter when out for our morning trot around our local park.
She thought about it a bit, and said did I know that Duthie Park is featured on the first page of an Ian Rankin crime novel, 'Black and Blue', and is the scene of a gruesome murder? But then she thought some more and said that in reality everyone we meet in the park is friendly and will stop for a chat, and we see the same cast of characters every morning, and she prefers to think of our time there as an urban version of the gentler Scotland of 'Dr Finlay's Casebook'.
I would love to know whether any of my friends feel they are taking part in a novel or play or movie on their daily outings, and if so, which one would it be?
Oh Bertie, I often think of Local Hero when Boris and I walk along our local beach. The book sounds good. I'll look out for it.
ReplyDeleteBertie - Having just seen the old farmer in a tartan cap and string vest the answer is easy . Clochemerle.
ReplyDeleteWe'll have to think about it and get back to you.
ReplyDeleteXXXOOO daisy, Kendra & Bella
I'm with Scotsmad, I am gonna have to think about it.
ReplyDeleteMy Vickie is not that well rounded in her reading material.
But if it was a song, it would be "Love Is The Master" by John Denver
Yep, that makes us both sit taller and grin.
Thanks for helping us take a minute and stop and think
Bert
Hummmmmm considering how "difficult" my peeps can be, at times.. I suppose my life would be a mixture of a Comedy and a Horror flick. I'm just sayin.
ReplyDeleteThanks Bertie that sounds like a good one
ReplyDeleteBenny & Lily
We'll have to think, too. An interesting question you pose, Bertie!
ReplyDeleteBertie, I had to go away and think about it!!
ReplyDeleteWhat about the 39 Steps lol!!
Ground Hog day comes to mind on some of the walks!!! but if you think I am lucky and go to the pub with dad 4-5 times a week Eastenders, I tell yea the things I hear I just cannot repeat unlike the BBC repeats lol!!!
have a good week
See Yea George xxx
That sounds like a great book!
ReplyDeleteI fear that momma would characterize my walks as "still life with mastiff" given the leisurely pass at which I amble. I am not sure if there is a book to go along with that.
ReplyDeleteSlobbers,
Mango
Hey Bertie what a great thought.
ReplyDeleteWell considering Mom and I don't go for many walks cause Mom cannot walk that well, I do believe it would be something like "Crutching along with Tessa" BOL
woos, Tessa
I don't get to go for very many walks since my mom person has sickies, but when I do go it's a big celebration. Is there a book about that?
ReplyDeleteNubbin wiggles,
Oskar
We are going to have to look for that book - it sounds really interesting!
ReplyDeleteSam
What an interesting idea Bertie! wow, we'll have to think about this. Not only what book our walks are now, but maybe what book we would like them to be as well. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHm, I guess I will has to think about that one. Mum says when we go on holiday it like the animals of farthing wood since they like to try and spot wildlife and she imagines me running on ahead and spotting/scaring them all off first.
ReplyDeleteHmm this is very difficult Bertie. Think our book would definitely need to feature bird watching..... of the feathered variety of course!
ReplyDeleteMolly, Taffy, Monty and Winnie
Darling boy the picture of your little head on top of the book has made PL2 want to crawl through the computer and kiss you At the thought of this Archie starting laughing and has not( 5 hours later) stopped because he said she would get stuck. We think that the book would be something about life in the nut house or maybe life in the naughty lane or How to drive your owners batty. Pl2 says she loves Ian Rankin and has not read the newest book and can't wait... Love A+A
ReplyDeleteGood posting to get us thinking.
ReplyDeleteI'd have to say the film of our daily walks would have to be "That Darn Cat".
I did some very impressive gymastics/ballet leaps on my lead yesterday when a particularly aggravating cat got me all riled up. The LOTH says I'll slip a disc if I carry on like that.
BOL at your comment about the fish factory on my blog. We used to get a nice aroma of coffee from a factory in nearby Tutbury, and on a very clear day you get Marmite from the other direction!!
Love and licks, Winnie
Love and licks, Winnie
Hi Bertie, we loved catching up on the experiment results - what a hoot! Our daily walks have prompted various replies, I think I am more of your Indiana Jones type, keen to explore and dive into any situation, Louis is more of your sneaky chappie, and fancies himself in a Kung Fu type film ready to pounce at a moments notice, our Mum says we're more like Dumb and Dumber - now that's just rude isn't it?! Dex & Lou xxx
ReplyDeleteJed has been nursing a vey slow to heal wound since April, with two surgeries, so right now our lives would also resemble Groundhog Day in their dull repetitiveness. We're a Two [Three, if you count mama] Musketeers family - we all go or no one goes. We like adventure and we sure could use a queen's ransom in diamonds, so that book would work for us. Of course, that could change next week.
ReplyDeleteJed & Abby
hey Bertie,
ReplyDeleteWhat an excellent question! So thought provoking, and very intellectual. See, you do have a scientific mind! :-) [I just read your letter to Mayor Frankie Furter and felt very sad for you. I think you are much too hard on yourself. As Thomas Edison said, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."] So cheer up, Bertie! You are a great scientist!
I wish I could answer your question but it is so deep that I must think on it. Really, supurb question!
Suka
p.s. Your mom, Gail, left a very funny "P.S." on the comment you left us on our blog! :->
Very interesting. We think that if we were to be part of a novel/book it would probably be something weird and funny, like a Dr.Suess story book! Yertle the Turtle or Horton Hears A Who. BOL.
ReplyDeleteSmooches,
BabyRD & HOotie
Moma said she wants to think about this one ... carefully. We think it's gonna provide yet another distraction. Time will tell.
ReplyDeletejake and Fergs
OK. After only a tiny bit of thought ... Moma admits she daydreams (that's what it takes ... it's what she wishes, not what we experience) that we are some happy go lucky dogs in the fields of Yorkshire, running with the cast of James Herriot characters. All of 'em.
ReplyDeleteSomeday (in our dreams)
Jake and Fergs