So first we had a cheery wave and a "hello Gail and Bertie" as Simon, one of Gail's former colleagues, zoomed past at the helm of a tandem.
Simon now works at Shell, whose offices are a couple of miles up the hill on the other side of the river, and he rides to work with a blind fellow employee on the back of the tandem, and has been doing this for many years. I guess even I, Bertie, would have to approve of this use of a bicycle.
Of course Gail was too slow with the camera to get a picture before they had shot off beyond the park gates.
Next we ran into a couple of community support wardens.
I want to report that I stopped them in their tracks, so struck were they by my extreme handsomeness. I do not agree with Gail's theory that they paused to chat because they were bored and in need of diversion.
The conversation went thus:
Female warden: "Och he's affa bonnie."
Male warden: "Fit's his breed? It's a schnauzer, no?"
Female warden: "He's nae a schauzer, he's an Airedale, ken?"
Male warden: "Och, I hivnae a clue. But I love coming tae the park and seeing a' the different kinds o' dogs."
Gail : "Well in fact this one's a wire-haired fox terrier. Sort of similar in shape to a schnauzer or an Airedale, but different colours". Then, changing the subject, "Is this a routine patrol or has there been a problem?"
Male warden: "We're just here deein' a wa'kaboot, tae mak sure a' the responsible dog owners are being responsible, ken?"
Gail: "Most of the folk who walk their dogs in this park seem OK I think."
Female warden: "Aye, there's nae many pit bulls in these pairts."
Gail: "No indeed. Oh well, best be on our way. Bertie, that's enough ear rubs for now. Have a good day."
Can one ever have enough ear rubs?
