I cut across country on dry back roads until I found myself at Stoke Goldington, next to the allotments. It wasn’t too cold. There was a man working on his allotment, perhaps starting the year as he meant to go on. I introduced myself and he told me his name was Clive. I took a few posed photographs, then, as I didn’t want to take up his time, asked if I could take more photos while he carried on working.

Clive was pruning back his Autumn raspberries and weeding. He showed me his range of different garlics, and under a cover, the allotment’s well, very handy for watering. We chatted as we both worked.

I felt I’d done what I needed to with the camera, so I left Clive to his allotment and headed for Olney, via Weston Underwood. In Olney I saw a woman doing something with a brass name plate on a building and a screwdriver. It was only a glimpse, but it seemed worth a photo so I parked up in the Market Place and walked back towards where I’d seen her, at the end of Weston Road where it joins the High Street South.

But first I saw something was going on in the barber’s shop by the junction. The shop is being refurbished, but will be reopening again soon. (See the photo) I took a few photos then crossed the High Street South and walked up Weston Road.

The woman had gone; perhaps she was removing the brass plate and was just finishing the job when I rode past. I couldn’t work out where I had seen her. Oh well. I walked back to the bike at sat next to it, on the bench by the war memorial and waited for something to happen.

I idly took a few photos but nothing blog worthy, and was framing up another shot and heard, “Is that yours?” and I took the photo and looked round to see a man with a dog. He was asking me about my bike.

This was Marcus and his dog Cody. Marcus told me that Cody came from Romania, and I realised that he was a rescue dog. My Dad has had rescue dogs for years, and the latest two were also rescue dogs from Romania. We talked about motorcycles for a while, and I took some posed photos of them both.

It was time for us all to go. Marcus and Cody went on with their walk. I put the camera away, pulled on my helmet and gloves, and rode off. I knew where I could get a cup of tea, at my brother’s house. It was mid afternoon and now I really needed one.