THE LADY IN THE RED DRESS

   Good morning dear reader and welcome to a sunny/cloudy/soggy Sunday at Comb Towers. I hope you are well and enjoying the mostly lovely August weather, although this morning it really can't make its mind up what to do, so is throwing a bit of everything at us. We welcomed the rain a couple of weeks ago and now thankfully, the sun is here again. Indeed, I am very thankful as we are doing our bit for the family and dog sitting, (a chestnut coloured labrador), whilst they take their summer holiday. I am not a huge fan of dog walking in the pouring rain, or walking in the rain at any time come to that, so long may the sun shine.

   Six thirty prompt every morning, dog and I sashay forth for our morning constitutional - he all bright-eyed and bushy tailed; me slightly less so at that time of day, but I gradually awaken and by the time we get to the recreation field, I am ready to run about with him. He's a very big dog, strong and muscular and quite a sight as he thunders towards me at full tilt. I move out of the way pretty sharpish I can tell you, or he would take me off my feet.

   The village is very quiet so early in the morning; most of the dog walkers come out eightish onwards, so on our walk we have the world to ourselves, other than the occasional cyclist and one or two folk making their way to work at the small trading estate at the top of the village.

   One morning I passed a beautiful lady,  very well-groomed, wearing a bright red dress and with strappy white sandals on her feet. Her blond hair was piled high on her head and a tiny leather handbag slung across her body. She looked lovely and I asumed she was making her way to work at the trading estate. She beamed at me and called out a cheery 'good morning.' I responded in kind and then dog and I went on our merry way.

   A good half an hour later as dog and I walked down the road to home, the lady in the red dress passed us again, going up the road - so she wasn't going to work at the trading estate after all. She had done the same walk as dog and I, but in reverse. (Only missing out running about the field I suppose). All those farm roads in those strappy sandals!!

   I told Spouse about it over our morning cuppa together. 'Fancy dressing up like that for a country walk,' says I. Spouse looked pityingly at me. 'She wasn't dressed like that to go for a walk,' he said.  'Well, she was,' I retorted.  'You're such a numpty,' he said.  'Thank you for that,' says I. 'So, clever clogs - why was she dressed like that and out walking?'  'She was going home,' he said. I looked at him blankly. 'What do you mean, "she was going home"?'  Spouse stared hard at me and repeated, with emphasis, 'She was going home ... Get it ?  ... She hadn't been home ... And she was beaming, you said.'  The penny dropped 'Oh ... Oh ... I see. Wow, lucky lady. She certainly had a big smile on her face.'

   And you'll never guess what, dear reader - well, I bet you can. The next day Spouse was up with the seagulls and out the door with doggo, but came home very disappoined. No lady in a red dress or any lady in any dress come to that. Just a lycra-clad cyclist!

   Dog and I are back to our early morning ramblings, but no sign of the beautiful lady. I hope she is still smiling wherever she is. Spouse sometimes takes his turn in early morning dog walking - still hopeful - and what if he did meet up with her? ... Dog is with us for a while yet, so we shall wait and see what this week brings.

   I hope it brings lovely weather for all of us, especially those away on holiday. We are halfway through August already and the evenings are beginning to draw in, so stay safe and enjoy the sunshine whilst it's here. We are not away on holiday yet, so all being well, I'll see you next week.