Back to the Goyt

I switched off the engine and sat in the car for a few moments taking in the familiar but recently much neglected view. I opened the window and listened to the silence. Lilly was getting restless in the back and the Munch who had agreed to come for a walk with me wondered aloud why we weren't getting out. I thought about explaining about the silence but as he had his ipod earphones in decided not to bother.

It was good to be back. Don't know why I stayed away. Inertia? Idleness?

Lilly raced off and then back, worrying us to throw the ball for her while she waited for some Grouse to fly off for her to chase. So intent on the ball was she that she ignored some hapless chap in jogging bottoms and a well worn tee shirt. Normally she would have given chase, deaf to my pleas and commands.

No curlews though. Only a few grouse well out of Lilly's range. So we walked along, father and son, and happy excitable collie, all lost in our various worlds and thoughts.

As we got back to the car, as the light was fading, I heard that familiar cry. Far off across the valley beyond the Wildmoorstone brook, faint, but a curlew nonetheless. "Did you hear that?" I said excitedly to the Munch.

"Yer wat?" he said. He had his headphones on drowning out the silence, so I just smiled and said "Nothing don't worry about it." Then added "me old", just to wind him up.