Days like this

Not my best time of year really, we're way beyond that magic window where the sun is warm and the wind smells of burning leaves; we're into that cold, flat time which reminds me of evenings with no sunset, just a darkening grey that your eyes can't pick up; reminds me of wellington boots, waterlogged river fields and dogwalks I didn't want to be on at the time. All the trees are naked in the gloom, and three hours after getting in from work, I'm still chilled to the bone.

Of course, the fun factory sending me out into the cold, cold nastiness at six fifteen am; and then keeping me there for four hours; and then sending me for four more hours in a chiller store; and the road back being completely bunged, and us having to navigate the town centre in one of our best battlebuggies (never feels right, that) adds to the chilled effect. My brainy brain is frozed. And I've got to get my stuff together and head down south to see buddies.... Running a bath to reboot my body.

So, onto nicer things. The small lad is operational again, doesn't quite have his full vim back but it's coming. He's got a big gap in the fur on his back but it's clearing up and so's the wound. Ended his compulsory house arrest yesterday in just the same way he did first time he went out on his first serious patrol, years ago.... on his timing. I walked in from work, blocked the lounge door with the briefcase and then he just sidestepped it and me from where he'd been hiding in the other corner of the hall. A quick jump into the garden, a flick of the tail and a "yeah, what?" look over his shoulder. Classy beast.