2 weeks ago I took Sparrow for a walk in the park, on a Thursday morning - he was then attacked by two dogs; first chased by a rotweiler called Sam, then Sam's friend, Sylvie, an American Pit Bull thought it would be a fun game to try and kill the much smaller Jack Russell. Promptly clamped its teeth around Sparrowmaticus's throat and squeezed. I went beserk. Utterly and completely. Ending up smacking this dog with the back of my umbrella - eventually even sticking my hands in its mouth trying to force its jaws apart. Its owner eventually realised that this was more than a game and then tried to get her dog off mine. Sparrow had two punctures in him - I took the day off and took him to the Vet where he got injections and a course of antibiotics. I also rang the police - they came around on Friday - I had also taken the Friday off - to take my statement and to see what the pup looked like after his attack.
The short story is: everyone in the park, all the dogwalkers are now scared of walking their dogs in the park as this woman - dogwoman to those of us who have experienced the awful day - is still bringing her dog (the rottie) to the park - the other one, she told me, a week later, when I happened across her in the park, is undergoing obedience training. I pointed out that Sylvie should be muzzled as it is clearly not a well dog; especially as it had not only attacked Sparrow but also another dog, a border collie and its owner had to beat it off with a stick! She said nothing, talking over me. I also told her that the police want to speak to her about her dogs and the fact that she can't control them - well, she ignored that too. But agreed to pay me Sparrow's vet fees. Frankly, I couldn't give a damn about the vet fees, all I want is for her dog to be under control. Or for her to completely stay away from our small park - everyone is now scared of bringing their animals to the park - am half tempted to get a giant great dane or something to become Sparrowmaticus' guardian.
Grr.
What else...
Oh! I spotted the kestrel in the park - here he is: absolutely gorgeous!
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/lilifae1973/Kestrel2.jpg
Other than that, just working, just writing and reading.
And my gosh - have we got a tonne of books to work our way through - I have "discovered" the charity shops and their fantastic selection of really arbitrary books. I have bought tonnes - enough to keep me busy for a few weeks, maybe a few months, at least. Which is rather amazing, taking into consideration what an addict I am.
I have also submitted a review of Mike Carey's The Devil You Know to www.fantasybookspot.com - so we see if anything comes from that - hoot, hoot - hold thumbs.
Other than that, waiting for Christmas to happen - walked around a pedestrainised Regent and Oxford Street on Saturday and MY GOSH, it was amazing - I think they should make it a permanent fixture. It was such an odd feeling walking down a quiet, traffic free Regent Street and being able to look up at the shops and buildings and SEE what an amazing place it was - modernism vying for attention right beside oldie worldie. Grand. And needless to say it was a bumper day for retailers - they must have made shedloads of money.
