Growing up in the middle of London has made me a big wimp when it comes to animals.

[Pat Vegas]

I was having a smoke outside last night when I saw a mole on the grass and I nearly **** my pants :-(

I didn't know what it was.

[Monty91]

because they are regularly spotted hanging around in built up areas.

It's become the new "Aren't policemen getting younger" imo.

[Pat Vegas]

I then started to worry that Mr Mole had no chance against the fox.

But any foxes I've seen leg it immediately as soon as you move. the only funny thing I saw once in a quiet street was on one street corner a fox. across the road on the other corner was a cat. They were just staring each other out.

[Peter]

A mole is pretty cool. I have never seen a mole.

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

The increasing urbanisation of our towns and cities has simply caused them to be removed from their natural habitat.

As they have become more exposed to human life they are no longer afraid or as afraid of us, and indeed they are more afraid of us than vice versa.

I would see them quite often in Dublin, weekly in fact. Scampering, or whatever a fox does, across a road or more often than not in the field behind my house. Quietly going about their business and sheep and cows graze.

[Jake]

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

I think I may turn my hand to poetry, perhaps writing in general, as I grow older.

[Ashberto]

London hasn't really grown outwards for many a decade. Even in Palmers Green* it has been a while since it was all fields, I expect.

*I have never been to Palmers Green, where I believe young Patrick lives.

[Berni]

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

Many times in fact.

There was a wonderful Indian restaurant there which we used frequent when we were so utterly f**king stoned of our minds all we could focus on was wonderful curry.

It was Palmers Green or the Indian Ocean on Holloway Road. Both culinary gems.


Now, I don't live in the countryside as such, though not far. A five minute drive, or 15 minute walk as would be your angle, and I am among the wonderful Dublin mountains.

The "field" behind the house is just that, a rural idyll among the suburban sprawl where cows and sheep hang out, and where I often have to go to retrieve the lad's football.

Soon to be houses mind you, 270 of them.

But we* are of course fighting it.

*others

[Jake]

For all your talk you're just a bloody tourist aren't you.

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

[Ashberto]

I only went to Barking for the first time the other week.

[Ashberto]

All houses now, I'm told.