Yesterday dawned gray and foggy. (I mistyped that as "doggy," but I suppose it was that, too.) Olga, as usual, began the day by exploring the back deck where we later had some excitement, as you'll see below.
Overall we had a very low-key Christmas. I spent most of the morning reading a thriller that I picked up for free at a school book swap, "Two Nights in Lisbon" by Chris Pavone. It was pretty good and certainly diverting. I kept thinking I might walk into town, but I knew everything would be closed so ultimately there didn't seem to be any point. Instead, Dave and I took Olga for a walk on the beach.
Another day, another photo of Olga in her sweater.
I was glad Dave went with us. He hasn't left the cottage much since we got here, but I think as tired as he feels, it will help him heal to move around. We didn't walk far, but far enough for a big black poodle-ish dog named Charlie to glom onto us and follow Olga like a lovesick teenager. Charlie's owner kept calling him, and Olga -- mostly disinterested in other dogs, even in her prime -- displayed only passing enthusiasm at his presence. But he stuck with us, until something finally clicked in his brain and he suddenly bounded away.
Here are some of my beach finds. The painted rock is curious. I guess someone did an art project and then threw it back?
After dark I walked down the road to find a house Dave and I had seen from the bus the previous night. It was madly, wildly overdecorated with Christmas lights and I thought it would make a fun photo, but sadly, it was all dark. I guess whoever owns it went elsewhere for Christmas day. Hopefully tonight it will be lit again.
Along the way, I passed several houses where clusters of people could be seen gathered around dining tables under warm lamplight. It was all very cozy.
Last night, Dave and I had our chili and watched "Pretty Woman," which I don't think I'd seen since it came out back in 1990 or so. It's a strange movie. As I told Dave, it's a misogynistic movie that masquerades as empowering. But it was easy to watch and basically a feel-good story.
Around 4 a.m. this morning, Olga flew off the couch and ran to the back door, upending her dog bowl and making a tremendous racket. I turned on the lights and found Wally the Whitstable Fox wandering around on our back deck. Despite the barking dog and I both on the other side of the glass, Wally was quite unconcerned and took his time sniffing, rubbing his face on the deck, pulling up a strip of wood and disappearing and reappearing repeatedly. (Wally may actually be Winifred, I'm not sure.)
This fox was not scared of anything. I walked Olga around the garden on her lead this morning, afraid she'd see the fox hanging around and go flying off the deck and hurt herself. But I guess at some point we'll have to let her out on her own again.
Today is Boxing Day, and a lot of places will be closed, but I'm hoping to get into town and maybe find the odd pint at a pub. If not at least maybe I'll get in a good walk.
Wally seems quite at home on your back deck, and totally unfazed by Olga‘s and your presence.
ReplyDeleteA quiet Christmas is all you needed this year, I imagine. Being out every day for a gentle walk in daylight is certainly going to make a difference with Dave‘s healing process.
Yes, I've kept in mind what you've said about being in daylight, and I try to get Dave outside more!
DeleteI think people are painting stones and leaving them for others to find...
ReplyDeleteInteresting video..of Winifred unless male foxes squat for a quick pee...she knew that you were safely behind glass! She had an impressive brush...longer than the ones who go through your garden at home?
Good call on the Winifred/Wally question -- you're right, she must be a Winnie!
DeleteFoxy looks as if he/she is waiting for a gift......left over Xmas dinner? Olga is relatively calm......Lexi would have been screaming and scrabbling at the glass!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your walk and pint.
You may be right. Perhaps whoever stayed here before us gave her a treat! That's about as wound-up as Olga gets nowadays.
DeleteThere is no escaping foxes today.
ReplyDeleteThey are everywhere! I think they fill the ecological niche occupied by raccoons in the United States.
DeleteMesmerising fox video Steve. I am surprised that the fox didn't urinate on one of the Buddha heads - as a deliberate kickback to all human philosophising. I am sure the pubs of Whitstable will be open today. I hope you venture inside "The Old Neptune" and report back.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure the fox is all that conscientious about where it urinates! I did go to the Old Neptune but wound up sitting outside as the place was very busy.
DeleteIt looks like Wally has been there before. Such beautiful animals, but why did the little stinker decide to peel apart the deck?
ReplyDeleteYeah, I have no idea! Maybe it was just bored?
DeleteYou are entering the age of foxes it seems. I hope Dave will continue to recover from his medical ordeal and that you found a good pub.
ReplyDeleteI watched "Pretty Woman" on a British Airways flight in August 1990 from Delhi to London. The flight was almost 24 hrs late departing and the plane was strangely empty, maybe 25 passengers in a jumbo. My six year old daughter had a fine time exploring the various rows and floors and cabins and all the fancy hand lotions in the bathrooms. She made a nest with a stack of blankets the staff, quite bored and underworked, gave her and settled down to watch the movie, which she absolutely loved. When we arrived in Heathrow, we were faced by thronges of reporters and cameras and it eventually transpired that the original plane - the one that was meant to depart from Delhi - had been kidnapped by Saddam Hussein in Kuwait and somehow the media was convinced we had escaped from there. But somehow BA had a eventually sent a second plane.
What a memory associated with "Pretty Woman"! I was on a flight like that to Johannesburg once in the mid-'90s. I think there were about 40 of us on the plane. I had a whole row to myself. That rarely happens these days!
DeleteThere is a character on the television show "Yellowstone" that has a wolf that continues to appear periodically at points in his life. Perhaps you have the same thing but in fox form.
ReplyDeleteGads. Tim was addicted to that show.
DeleteHa! They are my spirit animal! I haven't watched "Yellowstone" but I might get to it one of these days.
DeleteI wonder what the fox found so fascinating about your deck. Maybe Olga sniffing out an unfamiliar dog smell. that beach is so rocky, at least that part. Minnie would hate it with her little feet.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to take a guess that other guests at that B n B have eaten out there and left food debris around. He's scavenging.
DeleteThere may be food smells, or dog smells. Who knows? We thought the beach here would be sandier than it actually is.
DeleteIt seems as if that fox would have been the slightest bit wary of your dog. He seems to know that there is a pane of glass between them though. Foxes seem to be able to adapt themselves to almost any environment.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it seems very secure out there, knowing the dog can't get to it!
DeleteI wonder if the fox checks the garbage. Too late this time. She's beautiful, looking pretty young and healthy. I guess Whitstable is a desirable shore residence among the vulpine crowd.
ReplyDeleteWell, as you may recall, I had to pick up all the garbage the first day we were here because some animal tore into the bags. She could be the culprit!
DeleteI'll guess that at least one or two prior occupants have left treats for Winni.
ReplyDeleteI think you're probably right!
DeleteFoxes really are very intelligent, aren't they? They remind me of cats in some ways. Their curiosity, mainly. I think that one wanted to come in and join all of you, make friends with Olga, perhaps get a bite to eat, settle on the rug and be warm.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I've read too many fairytales.
I wonder at the behavior of pulling up the strip on the deck. Was it just an amusement?
They will come inside if given the chance. I once had one walk into our living room in West Hampstead. I don't know where Olga was but fortunately she missed the whole thing. I don't know what was going on with the deck -- maybe that area smelled good from prior food spillage, or maybe the fox was just entertaining itself.
DeleteThat fox almost seems domesticated.
ReplyDeleteThat is the way of foxes in Britain now Red.
DeleteUrban foxes certainly learn to live in close proximity to people, but if I'd opened the door she would have been gone in a flash.
DeleteWhat a nice vacation you're having--sounds wonderful. There's a fad over here for kids painting rocks and leaving them for others to find. The finders often post them on local Facebook pages to bring it full circle. Keeps them all occupied I guess!
ReplyDeleteMaybe that's what was going on? Leaving a painted rock on a beach seems pretty optimistic. There are a LOT of rocks out there!
DeleteI do love foxes, they seem half canine and half feline. Glad you guys had a good day and Dave got some fresh air. Olga reminds me of our dogs, on the alert for intruders:)
ReplyDeleteWhen she's awake, she's a pretty good watchdog! (Except that she can't really hear anymore.)
DeleteWhat a great video of the fox. I notice that Olga quietly watched it while it was on the deck and only barked when it was leaving.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a pleasant Christmas Day.
She was saying, "COME BACK HERE!"
DeleteBased on that quick squat, I'm thinking Wally might be Winifred. However, I still have grown boys (dogs!) who often squat. Amazing how still and quiet Olga was.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I think she is Winifred, actually. I know nothing about fox toilet habits, though!
DeleteThat fox video is excellent - I especially like at the 50 second mark when s/he peeks around the corner of the post - ha!
ReplyDeleteShe was definitely keeping an eye on us. I think the others are right that she was hoping for a treat.
DeleteGoodness, foxes follow you everywhere, Steve! Glad you are having a relaxing holiday and hope Dave feels stronger soon.
ReplyDeleteHa! I think they just ARE everywhere, at least in England.
DeleteLoved the video. Wally is awfully handsome -- a beautiful creature. And Olga has some fizz in her! I'm glad you went for a walk and Dave came, too. Nice beachy finds! Hope the lights come back tonight!
ReplyDeleteYes, Olga gets quite ornery sometimes. She would have run after that fox like a shot if I'd let her out. (At least as fast as she could move these days.)
DeleteThe foxes in your videos are much bolder than the foxes I see in Massachusetts. In Massachusetts, they move quickly and only stop briefly to survey for any threat.
ReplyDeleteI am glad to hear Dave joined you and Olga for a walk. The fresh sea air and exercise is good.
I guess they're just more used to having people around? Which is funny because I imagine people are more of a threat to foxes here, where fox-hunting is a traditional pursuit, than in the United States.
DeleteThat First Capture Of Olga Girl Rocks !! A Happy Ol Gal In Motion - Pleased To Read About Mr Dave And His Upgraded Spirits - Thats Definitely A Bonus To The Trip
ReplyDeleteKeep On Keeping On ,
Cheers
She was in a bouncy mood out on that deck! LOL
DeleteInteresting that Olga did not bark until the fox disappeared off the deck. Maybe she wanted it to come and play.
ReplyDeleteI think she was mad that it dared to leave!
DeleteI would love to know how many foxes there are in England, rascals are everywhere, more numerous and comfortable around populated areas than Coyotes in AZ. Happy Boxing Day to you & Dave.
ReplyDeleteInteresting question! According to this hunting-related web site, there were more than 350,000 foxes in the UK in 2018. An older estimate (1995) had almost 200,000 of them in England alone.
Deletehttps://www.gwct.org.uk/research/long-term-monitoring/national-gamebag-census/mammal-bags-comprehensive-overviews/fox/
I like your finds and it sounds like you are having a good time. Did you get your pint?
ReplyDeleteI did indeed! :)
DeleteI like that brown rock with what appears to be a speckled insert. I think the fox is a little wary, not coming too close to the doors, but still brave enough to hang around even with Olga and you right there.
ReplyDeleteThat is a very strange rock. It looks like the brown rock had cracks which were filled by sediment, creating a sort of grout.
DeleteWhat a cute little fox! Olga doesn't think so though. :)
ReplyDeleteShe thinks it looks delicious.
Delete