Sunday, December 1, 2024

December starts with a small victory.

 

A northern  December morning. Sunrise is at 8:19 and sunset a mere seven and a bit hours later. The positive way to look at this long winter darkness is to remember that in three weeks time the days will start getting longer.


Strange tracks in the sand down on the beach. A small white animal can just be seen moving slowly towards the sea.


It's a seal pup that's got separated from its mother and is dragging itself from the sand dunes down towards the water. It manages a couple of yards , stops to rest, then does a couple more. It does not move in a straight line which makes a 200 yard journey more of a 400 yard expedition. Progress is agonizingly slow. By the time it's got halfway to the waterline it's exhausted. 


We stand by the seal for a full half an hour protecting it against friendly but inquisitive dogs out for their morning run on the beach. Owners are happy when I politely ask them not to let their dogs stress the wee thing. There is genuine concern for the pups safety . Of course there's always one who shows another side of human nature. An exceedingly snooty forty something woman in a waxed Barbour jacket tells me it's most certainly not my right to stop her dog doing what it wants. I bite my tongue and position myself between her lively young Giant Schnauzer and the worried pup. She wanders off muttering ... but with her dog now safely on its lead. ' Thank you for being so understanding. What a well behaved dog you have  ' I say to her arrogantly turned back as she storms away. It's rarely dogs that cause problems. The same can't always be said for their owners.


Never has a half hour been so fraught with anxiety. Sunday mornings are a peak dog walking time. Finally a Hallelujah moment. With a flick of its tail the pup is into the water and off into the waves. This is its natural home.  So helpless on land so lithe in the water. We see it heading off to the sandbars at the mouth of the estuary where it will hopefully find its mother. December starts with a small Advent victory.


This : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBDdLgBO0Nw and this which puts it in perspective  :https://tracksontracks.substack.com/p/life-exploding-in-every-direction

A British take on music in restaurants :https://www.alexoconnor.com/p/please-stop-playing-music-everywhere

On the radio Sunday morning Scottish music for those in hospital :https://youtu.be/rqxVz1D6low?t=71




14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for linking that article about Sam Cookes Blowing with the wind it was really insightful. Yes, it's rarely dogs that cause problems.

Anonymous said...

I meant to say , but didn't, that the line that the peter Paul and Mary version is like angels round a campfire is so brilliant.

Anonymous said...

Thank you both for your humanity.

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
You two are the best... that guardianship has surely earned you points on some list or other. And I shall carry that choral piece to a place it will be enjoyed... YAM xx

jabblog said...

Well done for safeguarding the pup. Some people are so entitled, but the majority are reasonable human beings.

Coppa's girl said...

How nice to know that you took time to guard the young seal pup. The snooty woman is beyond my comprehension, if she lives locally she must know how vulnerable young seals are. I do hope it found it's mother.

Fay said...

A perfect musical choice.

Susan said...

Well done for protecting the seal pup and well said about owners!

Travel said...

Thank you for being there, and for sharing.

WendyAnn said...

You and The Font were truly in the right place at the right time. Thank goodness you were there before the entitled snooty woman came along.
Wendy (Wales)

Jim Davis said...

Good on ya both for protecting that little guy! The utter lack of compassion from some people is truly astonishing and disheartening. You did well to hold your tongue, not sure I would have been able to.

Anonymous said...

Brava & bravo for looking out for the little seal - pox on the inane dog owner...

Stephanie said...

A "small" victory perhaps but I rate it a first class one. May the little one be safe.

Janice said...

Your early morning walk timing was perfect to help a pup who needed some. Even if you have to deal with a snooty person. Thank you.