It seems all my life I lead head first think later … the family will happily vouch for this.

After the bushfire, while we lived in the rental house on the hill in our local town, I decided to go for a walk. I am not really a walker, never needed to with farm work but off I set.

First I intended to go just to the corner of Fitzroy Street and back … but I then wondered what was behind the lovely house on the corner  – so I turned the corner, peered into the garden and continued.

I looked at some lovely gardens – it’s a nice part of the old town  – and turned right into George Street. (Old town  – Royal street names, George, Victoria, Albert, Fitzroy”¦). I should have turned back but true to my usual head first form I didn’t.

Anyway, then, I wondered which stables were behind those trees at our back fence… so walked along and found it.. hairy trotters fetlock deep in mud… but then thought oh well I am half way I will just go round and come in the other end of our street.

WRONG….I found that George Street curves round to the back of the local racetrack, adding another half mile before I could get back to Fitzroy Street.  Oh well, I thought, a gentle stroll wouldn’t hurt (fool).

I passed more nice gardens and a cocky in an aviary that kept calling hello to me in seductive tones. By this time I was finding I was aerobically ok, but my hips were screaming.

So I lent on someone’s front fence for a bit of a rest while thinking, it’s ok, Fitzroy Street is downhill from this end…

I struggled on – paused for another rest while watching some fool trying to flail his way out of deep shubbery on the local golf course…. turned into Fitzroy Street… damn…  and of course the first bit is up hill… oh well… I leaned on the occasional rubbish bin to ease the hips. If anyone had come out they would think I was stealing their bottles.

I admired the beautiful old houses along the street, one glorious spring garden, a couple of hideous TFBV looking totally out of keeping, and then about six houses from home I could hear the confounded loudest clock alarm in the universe going off… in our house. From six houses away.

It’s a wonder the neighbours hadn’t taken up a petition for its removal. My goodness I’d have signed it myself!

The stairs to the front door of that house are steep, and I needed the handrail to help me up in my dilapidated state… I threw open the door, ran to the alarm clock and slammed it off…. blessed silence. Tammy the mini foxie appeared from under the doona where she had no doubt been covering her little ears.

I headed for a cool drink, a book and a nana nap in the sun in a chair on the back verandah thinking – next time Fran – think first.

It’s time the impulsiveness took a rest.