So I’ve swapped Misty and Milly for a couple of weeks for their American cousins. That’s Henry (the small white one) and Murphy (the bigger brown one).
Pardon?
I don’t think that they bark with American accents, no.
Anyway… Sorry, what!?
No they don’t walk on the wrong side of the path either. And before you start again let’s not get into the whole potato, potarto/ tomato, tomarto argument o.k. We’d be here all day.
As I was about to say, I’ve been taking the lads out for a walk. In the morning, when it’s cooler – sorry, I just had to get that dig in. Is it raining back home? Oh dear!
But. And as so many things are over here, this is a big BUT. No, with one ‘T’, dear – there is a difference. Can I carry on now? Thank you.
But, when me and the girls go out in dear old Blighty we usually venture down the cut – oh, apologies again, that’s a Black Country phrase meaning ‘along the canal towpath’ – the most dangerous thing we are likely to encounter is a slightly miffed duck, annoyed because we haven’t brought it some bread.
Here in Fulshear, Texas, the new housing estates tend to be surrounded by water. Like a moat around a castle. And very picturesque it is too. Egrets stand by the bank looking all, well egrety actually, the banks are lush green grass, fountains fount. Lovely.
Hold on. What’s this? A sign. Let’s just take a look… WTF!
I thought those ripples in the middle were a bit big for any sort of fish I’ve ever seen the fishermen of England drag out of the Staffordshire and Worcester canal. And although the grass is neatly trimmed for the first foot or so, isn’t that long grass a bit too close to the path? Dogs don’t hiss over here, do they? And what ‘other wild life’? Mice? Raccoons? Grizzly’s? The sign’s not very specific is it. I mean I went to Alaska once and believe you me bears really do shit in the woods. I came across some (bear shit not bears). It was still steaming. It was probably still steaming in the extremely short period of time it took me to hurtle back to a place of safety.
Well, I mean! Honestly! These are new estates. What are they trying to do? It must be the modern day equivalent of getting the covered wagons into a defensive circle in case of attack and the 7th cavalry aren’t around for protection. Any enemy of note isn’t about to come crawling through the grass to pinch the barbecue while you’re not looking are they? No one’s likely to swim across the lake to have an illicit bounce on your trampoline are they?
And what if poor Fido goes missing. Slips out of the back gate or a hole in the fence in the middle of the night. Are you going to go looking? Too right – nor me matey! One wrong move could be fatal. Stick your foot in a puddle accidentally and the next thing you know you’re doing the death roll tango with a ten foot reptile! The only thing you’ll find of your best friend the next day is a tuft of fur and some frightened poo. Leave well alone, that’s what I say.
Next time me and the boys go out hiking I shall take a lot more notice when they start to bark in whatever regional accent they’re using. For all I know they’re shouting, ‘Big scaley thing with teeth. And his tail ain’t wagging.’
You can buy guns here you know.
Excuse me – I’m just popping down to Walmart for an AK47.
Actually it’s been rather warm here today. I was out in the garden in just me T-shirt.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You had me smiling David. My brother lives in Houston and I’ve yet to visit him there. They also have a lot of water around them. I’m not sure if you’ve enticed me or put me off going!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh you’ve got to come over. Just bring a ten foot cattle prod 🤠
LikeLike
Well, not ‘just’ the T-shirt – I had my gardening gloves and purple clogs on, obviously!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Purple clogs! You devil you!
LikeLike
Bring a AK back for me?
LikeLike
*an
LikeLike
What are you wittering on about now? I’m on me holidays you know – I don’t have time for this, I’m busy doing nothing. Cue music…
LikeLike
Bring me an AK47. I expect you can get six packs from Wal-Mart? I’ll take one in “Nearly Midnight”, if they’ve got that colour. They probably sell the embroidered shoulder straps as well. Will pay you in hoof hardener when you get back.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Dream Big, Dream Often.
LikeLike
I was trying to imagine what a bark would sound like in an American accent… Barrrrk?
LikeLike
Actually, that sounds more French than American…
LikeLike
They’re Texan, so it’s more of yelp with a Southern drawl YAYPE! 🐶
LikeLike
Yikes! No not quite your genteel English country walk with the dogs!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This made me smile. I lived in NC for 14 years and there were lots of things there that could kill you, alligators, snakes, rednecks with Ak-47’s, you name it.
LikeLiked by 1 person