There are some rather interesting people who live near me.  In fact, they make me seem quite normal and boring.

For starters, there’s the interestingly dressed lady and her three legged dog.  I am fascinated by this woman because she is ALWAYS walking her dog.  Morning, noon and night. I think this is why he only has three legs because she has worn one of them down.  I went on a mission a few months back to get a photo of her and ask her why she is always walking. Of course, the minute I decide to do this she eludes me.  I’m either in the car and can’t stop or in my pyjamas staring out the window when she passes and, well, I wouldn’t want to frighten the crap out of her.  But I’m not giving up, as much as she tries to give me the slip, I will have my moment.

Then there’s the running man whom I refer to as Spencer Davis.  He runs ALL THE TIME. He must be in his seventies, as thin as a rake and he, like the walking lady, runs morning, noon and night with a massive grin constantly plastered to his face. Perhaps the wind has just made him stick like that, I don’t know.  Again, I am intent on shooting this man and asking him why he is always running. Maybe he’s forgotten where he lives or is in a perpetual nightmare? The problem is, he just whips past me at speed and I’m really not a runner.  I think I’m going to have to trip him up to get what I want.  I am convinced that  he and the three legged dog lady would make a great couple, if they ever got to see each other of course.

And eventually there’s the bird man.  Here he is with his Barn Owl.

Now this man is always taking his owl for a saunter up and down the High Street shops, round the block, near the river, like you do.  This weekend I went to the riverside festival and there they were.  And there was I with my camera.  And there were all the public getting in my way as I tried to capture the moment. Fortunately, mushy peas and mint sauce were going for £1 at the nearby pea stall and the onlookers took off at the thought of a bargain,  leaving me free for a few seconds.

As you can see on his T-shirt he clearly has a dog.  It could be a stuffed toy but I’m not so sure.  Have I ever seen him walk his pooch?  No.  Never.  He walks his owl.