BROWN TINTED SPECS...

It's raining, there's a distinct autumnal nip in the air so what better moment for a slightly sad update on the 'hood. I love to tell stories here of my to the untrained eye sometimes insalubrious 'hood - the idiosyncrasies that make it so special to me. But unfortunately, not one but two of those quirky things have been erm, compromised and since I mentioned them here before, I'll have to mention them again.

First of all, since I wrote this post about Mr Rose's voodoo house every time I've driven past him he has indeed been ranting and railing (so that's why I thought that!) at people passing by/the world. I must have caught him on a good day when I had that little chat with him. The other day I walked past when he was sitting on his porch. Unfortunately I raised my hand to wave at just the moment I saw the crazed look in his eyes. I could still hear him shouting (very possibly in tongues) half a mile down the road. Poor bloke, I don't know if he has anyone coming in to look after him or other support but he seems to be getting worse each time I see him.

A couple of months ago I went to see Thomas the horse and found the field he used to graze in padlocked up, with a notice from Network Rail saying it was their land (see photo above). Oh yes, that's much better, all chopped down and desolate instead of providing a place to graze for a lovely docile horse. Network Rail claims to be intending to use the plot for a 'community project'. Hmm, wonder when that will happen. I have a suspicion the horse's owners were using the land for 11 years; after 12 by law it would have belonged to them, so on the padlock went. The field is right next to a school and a playgroup and I would always see people bringing their kids to see the horse. I ended up speaking to people I never would have had the chance to normally, who said they brought their kids each year (he was only there in the summer) and that their children had never seen a horse before. Of course, why would they have, living in a poor urban area with no access to the countryside. (Cue slightly amusing interactions: child: Mummy is that a pony? mum: It's a donkey. me: it's a HORSE.)

I've tried to be an annoying busybody and approach Network Rail about it but haven't had any response at all. Now my neighbour and I are trying to find a disused garden around here where they (there are two of them - a horse and a baby shetland pony) can go to graze freely. Their owners look after them so well but are currently reduced to walking them around on a leash like dogs - they have nowhere to go and have been kicked out of the local parks.

Ohlala it's hard to keep the whole Amelie/Mary Poppins vibe alive these days - and I haven't even told you about the blokes on motorbikes wearing balaclavas who chased me along the pavement last week. No real harm done, just a mild heart attack.

{p.s. D.V. is hard at work cogitating on your questions - there's a bit of a romantic theme to your issues, which is most exciting.}