Why I can’t sit on the fence – Gulf News

Theres a young cat that has likes the lavender plants that I grow Image Credit: AFP

I could never sit on the fence. Yes, I am opinionated and Im lucky enough to have an audience for those views, but I could never sit on the fence. Its wobbly, rotten in places and needs to be replaced come the spring.

Ive talked to my neighbour, Postman Pat as I call him he does work in the Post Office and he just shrugged when I broached the subject with him. Social distancing? Thats fine to a point, but its more a case of antisocial distancing. Its not like Im knocking on his door every half-hour wanting to borrow a cup of sugar or a used tea bag. Not at all. Fences do make for good neighbours, after all. But come the spring, well have to do something.

The hardware superstore had an offer on last week for two big buckets of fence stain for the price of one. Given Postmans Pats reaction to doing the work now, I cant see the fence stain being used anytime soon. Maybe hell warm up by then.

Theres ayoung cat that has discovered the lavender plants I set by the side of the fence. As bold as you like, it comes by each day yes, over the rickety fence from Postman Pats yard and checks out the bushes and plants. It has taken to the lavender, lying in it, rolling around, covering itself and Ive even seen it nibble it. It just ignores me when I stand at the patio doors, wave like a madman and chap my hands and yell at it. I guess Postman Pat must think his new neighbour is nuts and shouts at cats. Yes I do, but no, Im not nuts.

Theres also a cheeky little robin that lives in a big holly bush at the corner of the garden. It skidaddles when the feline with the lavender fetish comes rolling and sniffing. I guess it doesnt want to see if the cat has a thing for him and his feather friends either.

An occasional visit from starlings

ordered a new bird feeder online and as soon as it came I put it up and filled it with winter seed suitable for small birds. The robin has been brave enough to try it a couple of times. Mostly, the bird feeder attracts sparrows and an occasional swoping visit from some starlings. They remind me of gangsters, a small mafia, lots of jostling between the silver-dotted black-suited gang members trying to figure out who can muscle in on the action. They all skiddadle when the cat with the lavender fetish comes by for its fix.

Postman Pat isnt too happy. Ever since I put the bird feeder up, some of the sparrows waiting for the swallows to go hang out on his washing line. Thats fine. Except they do it when Postman Pat has hung out his uniform shirts. Birds and clean washing dont make for a good mix. I want to suggest that he gets a cat the lavender-loving one belongs to another neighbour. But that might not be a good idea because that one might take to living in my lavender patch if its so inclined. Then hed think I really am nuts waving at another lavender-loving cat.

The big holly bush at the corner of the garden needs to be pruned back its all going into Postman Pats backyard too. I dont want to do it because its the robins perch. The trouble is if Postman Pat cuts the branches back that are growing through the rickety fence into his backyard, itll make the whole thing look lopsided and could kill off the holly bush itself. Then where would we be. Maybe its better to just fix the fence instead but Im undecided on that now.

Mick OReilly is the Gulf News Foreign Correspondent based in Europe

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Why I can't sit on the fence - Gulf News