Dog walkers are a friendly bunch so it is normal for me to nod, wave and exchange a few words with people, whether I know them or not, as Flossie and I walk around the neighbourhood.
During the pandemic many have discovered the remote parts of the countryside we usually have to ourselves. So there’s now a great deal of nodding, waving and exchanging pleasantries to get through on a our daily peramble.
We frequently see the same faces as we stroll down our local lane and I always give drivers a wave to thank them for slowing down and giving us some space. There are some regular drivers who now wave and smile at me first. It’s all rather congenial.
It can be awkward to greet people while I have Flossie on the lead in one hand and a full poo bag in the other. Inevitably, I end up waving a swinging poo bag at some. I hope they appreciate the gesture for what it is and don’t think I’m threatening them with a faecal weapon.
And, even though I wear glasses, my eyesight is not the best. I don’t always recognise people, particularly through the glare of a windscreen, but I greet them enthusiastically anyway. I believe it’s preferable to wave at a stranger and risk looking slightly odd than to blank someone, even if it is with my dangling poo bag in hand.
Last week, as we traversed a field I could see what I thought were the heads of two or three walkers about to cross the stile. I raised my hand in a friendly greeting. They didn’t respond.
After a minute or so, I wondered why they didn’t seem to be gaining much ground and thought they must have stopped to admire the countryside.
As we got closer, I realised that I was looking at the heads of some rather tall cow parsley, bobbing in the breeze.
I am definitely due an eye test.
As published in the Bath Chronicle, 23 July 2020
Suzy Pope is a certified copywriter and newspaper columnist specialising in pets, business and lifestyle. If you would like help with a writing project, please get in touch.
