October 2011

Greenland Dock has some great skies at this time of the year.  The sun is getting lower and the colours picked up in the trees around the dock and in Russian Dock Woodland Park can be amazing.  But all is not well in the park.  

The Docker was out there one morning a couple of weeks back, walking Freddie Dog.  After entering the part from Lady Dock Path, The Docker turned left over the bridge, as that walk is quite pretty, winding up and around the clumps of trees when he started to catch up with a man walking three spaniels.  

Freddie is always interested in other dogs and its good for them to socialise with others.  The man turned to call one of his spaniels and noticed it was interested in Freddie Dog and ran in a panic over to his mutt and put him on the lead, really un-neccesarily, thought The Docker, and casually asked if there was a concern.  There is nothing worse that some judgmental dog owner being precious about their pedigree dogs, looking down on little old Freddie Dog.  Anyhow, the bloke said something about his dog getting aggressive so The Docker offered the oft used suggestion passed between dog owners across the land, to perhaps keep him on a long lead for peace of mind.  

Well, a mini version of hell broke loose as the man looked up at The Docker with venom and fury at such an unjustified comment being passed his way and screamed "Don't tell me what to do,  YOU F*****G C**T.  Braving up, The Docker, who had taken a few paces away from the guy turned back and walked straight up to him, seeing that he was a fairly strong looking fellow but in his late fifties maybe, this guy looked not unlike Alf Garnet.  

"Do you know who you are talking to?" said The Docker, regretfully as the answer had already been aired to all within earshot.

"YES, YOU, YOU F*****G C**T, I'M TALKING TO A F*****G C**T, YOU F*****G C**T.  WHAT?! WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO, YOU F*****G C**T.  

The Docker sensed he was not going to get satisfaction at 8am in the morning with some Alf Garnet Lookie Likie screaming abuse at him so he casually walked away in the direction of the underpass going towards the dock.  As it happened, Alf Garnet and his trio of precious spaniels also casually walked off in the same direction.  The Docker occasionally glanced over his shoulder to see what Alf was up to and it was as if nothing had been said.  Poor old Freddie Dog was a little shaken, but settled down after his breakfast.