So … there I was at 6.45am happily leaping out of bed and going for a 90 minute walk with Coco …

A mad dream you ask?

No … just a new kind of reality for lolling Liz.

I’ve been more vertical than horizontal in the last week … since Coco found me.

Linda, one of my great readers and commenters from Arizona left a lovely comment yesterday about the blog and how people enjoy commenting on it.

To me the so called mundane details of daily life are … magic.

I think people enjoy reading about daily life in a small town … where fun happens nearly every day … where people stop and chat with each other … where beauty (in the people and landscape) is everywhere …

In a world that sometimes feels too big, mad and sad … the tales of small town living (where big thoughts and actions can also coexist) … appeals to people.

I have people stopping me in the street and saying how much they enjoy reading the blog … that it makes them see their own town in a new light.

Here’s a challenge for you … for the rest of the day ‘look and see’ your town/city with fresh eyes.

So … yesterday evening Maggie and I took Coco and the dog pack [John Joe, Millie (totally blonde dog with single digit IQ), and Boysie (Adrian's dog)] to Garadice Lake.

Coco sat quietly on my lap and just looked on with astonishment as the 3 big dogs barked and went back and forth in the car.

We went to Garadice lake … so beautiful … and let the dogs run free.

Mags and I walked under the canopy of the trees as the rain poured down … narry a drop touched us and it felt like being in a very special place.

Coco was great and played along with the dogs but never strayed too far from me … I’m the alpha female of her pack.

We walked a full circle over an hour and came to grave yard.

Mags told me about one of the old men who is buried there. He had a long life and outlived all his mates. His only companion was a wee dog. On his gravestone there is an etching of the dog. Adrian Smith did that one as well.

If the sun shines this weekend we’re going to go back to the lake for a picnic.

So … up again at the crack of dawn and I was looking forward to a new walk that Mags had told me about.

You go down the main street from my house … and along the way you see some great buildings.

This is our Credit Union.

Credit unions are like community banks … they are run by locals and they are deeply value driven … unlike banks (may they find a special place in hell).

I am about to close my bank account and just have a credit union account. The women in there are always friendly and helpful.

This is Smyth’s Pub … a great place for a pint and lunch by the fire. They also do dinner on the weekends in the restaurant.

I haven’t eaten there (no one has asked me … boo hoo … sad Lizzy) but I hear from other people (you know … the ones with mates) that the food is great.

Right next to Smyth’s is our County Library.

It is a wonderful piece of contemporary architecture and I love the juxtaposition between it and Smyth’s – old and new - both of value.

I live in the library and the staff are always helpful and friendly. You can access free internet and computer time. They also have an amazing history archive.

And just at the end of Main Street is the canal.

This is Lock 6 and there are a lot of boats in the marina.

We kept walking out of town and about 2 minutes walk brings you to Locoboat (love that name … are they crazy boats?).

They are a French company that hires out barges.

Coco and I walked briskly along the path for about 10 minutes and then came to the entrance to Lock 5 and a hikers path.

Lynda and Derek … you’ll love this place for your walks.

You enter a road and the beginning of a marvelous view.

Keep walking and you have the canal on your left and views of the hills and sheep.

Within minutes you come to the lock.

A boat was moored there … how peaceful would it be to sleep there?

On your right is a wooden gate that you go through and voila … you’re on the hikers path.

At 7.30am the sun was kind of twinkling in and the birds were doing their morning chorus … it was very engaging.

Coco ran free sniffing and playing and checking things out … she doesn’t stray far from me.

I meanwhile was ruminating on … the need to get some waterproof walking boots ... hmmmm … then I’ll need a wet weather jacket …. hmmmm … what colour? …. red to match Coco’s collar …. wonder if they do decent looking walking trousers … hmmm …. this walking lark has potential … blah blah blah

As I walked my soaking feet along I realised that in the week Coco had found me I had walked more than the rest of the year (bar Paris … but that’s special) … and I enjoyed it.

We were walking back when Coco decided to squiggle under a 4 strand barbed wire fence and investigate the foliage.

I tried calling her back but she ignored me.

So … I just walked away.

Alpha females control their pack by withdrawing attention (works with humans too).

Sure enough … Coco started to run towards me … straight at the barbed wire fence.

She was trying to get through the strands … ouch.

I ran to her and yelled ‘Sit … Stay’.

She did.

I then pushed her down (she hasn’t learnt ‘down’ yet) and pulled her under the bottom strand of wire.

We both had a fright … and I have a couple of interesting barbed wire cuts.

Coco is fine.

We sauntered back and dropped in to the Forge to say hi to Dee. That’s her with Coco.

I’ve said it before … that shop is an amazing treasure chest of …. everything.

It’s a great place to drop in to and see who’s there … and stay for a chat.

The fruit and vege man is parked outside my door. He’s there every Friday.

I bought a pile of stuff from him last week and it all came to only 13 euro.

Got a grapefruit for breakfast and will do a bigger shop later.

I think I’ll have lunch in the Moo Bar today and then I’ll be playing with the kids in the Sunny Funny Garden.

We’ll be planting Busy Lizzies as a border to the path and checking for strawberries and tomatoes.

A lovely day.

Have a good one yourself.

Liz