A walk in 3 parts

 Dog terrified me this morning!

At 07:30 I needed to head for the doctor to have some bloods taken (checking to see if my Thyroid has stopped running rampent).

Neither of the chaps in my house were happy to help out with dog walk, though husband did say he'd do it if absolutely necessary. I couldn't risk dog not getting her walk so I spent early morning staring at the sky willing it to at least begin dawn. Basically it wasn't going to happen.

So at 06:45 I'd put on dog's lit collar (which isn't going to last long, having been through the wash after last week's rolling) and I was at a local recreation ground, standing just in the field as close to the unlit car park as I could get. All was going reasonably well. I was comforted that, for once, dog was running after ball and bringing it back so it was getting exercise. I was even clever enough to bring a torch so I could find her poo in the darkness.

Then suddenly dog ran towards me. Stopped with a skid and staring over my left shoulder leapt back 3 feet in terror. Then with her tail between her legs she sprinted off into the darkness.

I don't need to tell you my reaction to this - I mean what would your reaction be! I swung the torch around in a 360, but couldn't see anything. Every ounce of my being wanted to get back in the car and lock it. However, I had to walk into the pitch black following the small band of red I could see around the dog's neck. 

I managed to get the dog on the lead and for once was massively grateful that she was barking her head off at.... nothing!?!

Got back in the car and was about to drive out of car park when somebody turned up with a dog with a flashing light on it. I stopped and asked if I could walk with them, they kindly agreed. 

Eventually got home and I took the dog around the block on the long lead just to finish off a full length walk.

So I've still no idea what spooked dog, but she certainly spooked me.

And I have to finish this with a feminist rant. I am NOT scared of ghosts, I don't believe in monsters - but I find it totally unacceptable that as  woman when it gets dark I get nervous to leave the house until it's at least a little bit light. Because I'm afraid of being attacked by a man.

I'm also absolutely furious with any men that get angry because women talk about this. They take it personally and think we're talking about all men. We're not talking about all men, but every woman has had at least one experience in their lives when they were punished for leaving the house after dark. Instead of getting angry or pissed off with women for feeling this way - turn your anger on your fellow men and make it clear that it's unacceptable that society leaves women feeling this way.

I even know women who take a gym membership out in the winter, because they no longer feel safe doing their normall running in the darkness. So not only do those men who are preditory create fear of leaving the house, but they also cost money.

So if you are reading this and you are a man who is pissed off with me for writing this. Next time you go out start a conversation with your mates about how unacceptable it is that women should be made to feel this way. That's how you can make the difference.

If you're a woman that disagrees with me, then you've clearly had a very lucky life and I raise a glass to celebrate you for that. x