As autumn approaches, Teddy ruminates on the changing season and his human translator, Helen Stockton, puts it into plain words
This month contains one of those special days that is dear to my heart. I’m not referring to Halloween, although that certainly has its merits for the discerning canine.We occasionally get children trick or treating, knocking on the door. If they want tricks, I can lend them the apprentice, but if they’ve got treats, I’m sitting nicely!
No, the day I had in mind is 4th October which is World Animal Day. As I’m of a furry disposition myself, this has got to be a day worth celebrating. Apparently, this date has been chosen because it coincides with St Francis of Assisi’s special day. He is the patron saint of animals and the environment, so he also gets a tail wag from me. Some churches invite animals in at this time of year, to be blessed, but I don’t think ‘Her Indoors’ would take us. I’d bark, which is not really in keeping with the hallowed atmosphere of a church, and the apprentice would want to play with all the other animals, so chaos of a furry kind would ensue!
Apparently, 4th October is the date that, traditionally, swallows are supposed to disappear. Before people knew better, and life was governed by folklore and superstition rather than social media and fake news, it was generally believed that swallows hibernated at the bottom of ponds. Whilst this sounds laughable now, if you give people the benefit of the doubt, which is something I am constantly doing as a dog, swallows do seem to be here one minute and gone the next.
They are also associated with water as they skim low, catching flying insects. We often see them out on our walks, doing the same over fields, and sometimes we stop and watch them. They are one of ‘Her Indoors’ favourite birds. She is always sad when they disappear in the autumn but happy when they reappear in the spring.
Anyway, migrating to sunnier climes as the weather starts to deteriorate in this country, then coming back as it begins to improve, sounds like a very sensible idea to me. I would like to try it myself to be honest, and avoid all those wet, miserable walks, being forced to wear my coat. Unfortunately, however, I cannot fly, and most airlines will only allow dogs in the hold which is no good for me. I like my creature comforts.
Still, the swallows don’t get to enjoy crisp mornings, and evenings in front of the wood burner. And flying to Africa sounds frankly exhausting, so I think I’ll just take to my bed and wait it out. In these enlightened times, we know the sun and the swallows will always come back.
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