Let me guess, the cogs are turning as you dig out the Hugh
Grant Rom-Com which first coined that phrase. But on this occasion I am quite
happy to plagiarise, as there is no more eloquent way of summing up what was a
tragic loss in my life.
Confession: I am a creature of habit. You could set your
watch by the humdrum of tasks that make up my average Tuesday for example. Anyway,
a daily acquaintance who similarly you could set your watch by was the 8.40am
viewing of an exotic duck in my local park. I am fortunate enough to, at this
time be peddling to the office, unless of course it’s raining, in which case
your watch will be very out, as I take the bus.
Not wanting to sound like an M&S advert but, this is not
just any duck. No, this duck was the only one of its kind in the park. Brightly
coloured and seemed to keep himself to himself. It is due to this
self-inflicted solitude that he first caught my eye. From then on, sure enough
at 8.40am he would be there waiting on a waterlogged branch which served as a
convenient perch.
Given the title of this piece, you can probably see where this
is going. After weeks of looking out for him proudly watching over the pond,
yesterday morning I received a shock. Not wanting to make a CSI worthy
analysis; it appears that my dear friend had got caught on some rubbish on his
perch and would no longer be brightening my days.
This is not a sermon about litter-louts much as I despise the
practice. It is however, a challenge to you to look for the simple pleasures in
your humdrum. It may not be a colourful duck but whatever works for you. Let it
be a window of joy in the mundane.
Oh, and by the way, it was ‘About a Boy’
