Digigran

Edward is pictured in the Skoda pick-up as a v. young pup.
(He loves the pick-up and usually feels v. safe when sitting on the passenger seat)
However...


Just when I thought that nothing more exciting could happen to Edward this week, my beloved, usully the most reliable of men did something rather silly.
Our garden in Nottingham is infested with grey squirrels, who, dissatisfied with the accommodation provided by a splendid range of trees surrounding the property, have taken to squatting in the attics. Squirrel Nutkins they are not. They leave evidence of their destructive habits by the scattering insulating material from the atticsover the borders nearest the house. They also bury conkers everywhere- especially in my pots.They dig up bulbs and I am sure they eat them.

Digidoc enraged by the assault on his property, determined to eradicate the newest little pest and all his family. In D.doc's defence, the said squirrel had already destroyed three bird feeders and a newly planted tree. To accomplish this he purchased a humane trap from the pet shop, which he loaded liberally with mixed nuts.
Of course the aerial rat (D.doc's term) could not resist these treats as they were the very best of nuts,Waitrose organics, left over from a dinner party. One squirrel was successfully trapped. This left Digidoc with something of a dilemma. How to dispose of the creature ?

Although D.doc detests grey squirrels, he is v. tender-hearted re all animals and is unable to kill them. (Perhaps it's an extension of the Hippocratic oath). He decided to liberate it in the woods , which line the Via Gellia, the main road to our Derbyshire cottage from Cromford.
He put the cage and its contents in the back of our small pick-up truck, placed Edward in the front seat of said vehicle and drove into the Peak District. Once outside Cromford, he drew into a lay-by, selecting a spot where folk often stop to leave out scraps for the local wild life, including peanuts for the squirrels. Gingerly he lifted out the cage.

Now, as I have perhaps told you before, Edward is very keen on chasing squirrels and noticed this manoeuvre. Eager to be part of the action, he jumped around in the van's cab, scrabbling to get out so vigorously that he mangedsimultaneously. to lock both doors and set off the wipers

Unfortunately,Digidoc had left the keys in the ignition with the engin running.
What to do? All windows were securely closed and there was no obvious wayto get in. The cab was getting hotter and hotter and Edward was beginning to pant- soon he would be gasping for breath. Digidoc loves his pick-up truck- See why here , but he loves Edward more,
See above, a picture of the pair taken outside the cottage.

So resolutely, he selected a large rock from the verges and began to smash it against the side window. The window did not break immediately but after several attempts finally imploded, spreading shards of glass everywhere. Edward, cowering in the foot well was unhurt but very traumatised. Surprisingly none of the many lorry drivers or motor cyclists who passed the scene stopped to see what was going on!

The pair arrived at the cottage, both looking very sorry for themselves.

I nursed Edward on my lap and spoke soothing words to them both.
But I could just imagine the comments if I had contrived to lock the dog in a car and come home with a busted window. I know who would have been blamed and it wouldn't have been the dog!
Still it makes a good vignette and is a diversion from the marking.